Raiders HC Pete Carroll responds to brewing quarterback controversy

Numerous mistakes and turnovers against the Chicago Bears on Sunday led to the Las Vegas Raiders dropping to 1-3 on the season. The Raiders turned the ball over four times (three were interceptions of Geno Smith) and had a potential game-winning field goal blocked.

Following the game, Raiders head coach Pete Carroll was asked if he was considering starting Kenny Pickett against the Indianapolis Colts after Smith's performance against the Bears.

"No. Nope. We're not there," Carroll said.

The question seemed fair for a team that dropped two games below .500 at the end of September. Smith went 14-of-21 passing for 117 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. He played his worst game of the season against a banged-up Bears defense that was without its top two cornerbacks, Kyler Gordon and Jaylon Johnson.

Worse, the passing game should have been helped by an incredible rushing attack. While the run game had been stuck in the mud for the first three weeks, rookie running back Ashton Jeanty finished with 138 yards rushing, and the Raiders had 240 yards on the ground on Sunday.

Las Vegas Raiders are sick after loss to Chicago Bears

Carroll said Smith was "sick" about his play on Sunday because it wasted a great performance by Maxx Crosby and the defense.

"You can't expect to turn the ball over like that and win," Carroll said. "It doesn't happen, but we overcame it because the defense was so spectacular in the first half making those stops. They were great, and it gave us a chance. The score could have been ridiculous after the first quarter, but it wasn't, and so we learn. We grow, and we have to do better. I know Geno [Smith] is sick."

Smith has thrown for 948 yards, six touchdowns and seven interceptions this season. He signed a two-year, $75 million contract extension in April after the Raiders sent a third-round pick to the Seattle Seahawks for the quarterback. 

In August, the Las Vegas sent a fifth-round pick to the Cleveland Browns for Pickett, a former first-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers.