The most explosive play on the night for the Las Vegas Raiders in the Motor City went for 75 yards into the end zone.
But it was from Silver and Black CB Marcus Peters on a defensive pick six.
The rest of the night was marred with offensive inconsistency and QB Jimmy Garoppolo, through three quarters, throwing for just 62 yards. Now, at 3-5 overall following their 26-14 loss, the demands for the Silver and Black to make a quarterback change continue to grow.
Jimmy Garoppolo Struggled Against Lions
Garoppolo didn’t get the chance to surpass the 100-yard mark throwing until there were five minutes left in the fourth quarter, and that was on a catch and fumble by RB Josh Jacobs, which was eventually recovered by teammate WR Jakobi Meyers.
But on that same drive, Garoppolo had wide receiver Davante Adams wide open, and the closest Lions defender five yards behind — the ball was overthrown.
It was an evening that saw six sacks and no touchdown throws for Garoppolo, as the Lions turned loose on defense in the second half.
The #Lions defense has turned it on in the second half 💪 pic.twitter.com/QkjSwQbFsg
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) October 31, 2023
And again, fans called out Garoppolo — including pointing out some bad looks on his end.
Jimmy G had Jacobs open for a short gain, Mayer in the flat, or Renfrow open over the middle. Nah let me throw a duck to Davante Adams in double coverage. pic.twitter.com/6mbN7EfQfh
— Khaled (@khaled74) October 31, 2023
That play was thrown toward two defenders who were locked onto Adams. Jacobs, meanwhile, was open with only a coverage linebacker to beat for the first down.
But it wasn’t just film study that had Garoppolo’s name attached to fan posts. Other fans piled on the signal-caller.
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“Jimmy G is so bad. The fact that he even looked decent in SF is a testament to Kyle Shanahan,” said analyst Ben Ross on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Even former Carolina Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart ragged on Garoppolo.
Jimmy g standing in that pocket like he ain’t been touched all night 😂
— Jonathan Stewart (@Jonathanstewar1) October 31, 2023
Is It Time for Las Vegas To Make a QB Change?
Has the “Garoppolo Raiders” experiment officially run its course?
On social media, Las Vegas Review-Journal Raiders insider Vincent Bonsignore began to wonder if it was time for a switch. Sitting at 3-5 on the season and a whopping three games behind the Kansas City Chiefs for the AFC West, the question doesn’t seem all that far out.
Fair to wonder how many chances Jimmy G is gonna get tonight before @Raiders make a change.
— Vincent Bonsignore (@VinnyBonsignore) October 31, 2023
One more sports writer, Matt Fitzgerald, formerly of Barstool Sports and Bleacher Report, reminded fans that the Raiders actually passed on QB Will Levis at No. 17 — the same Levis who tossed four touchdown passes in his NFL debut on Sunday.
Meanwhile, one Raider fan let it be known that it’s time for Garoppolo to take a seat. Another even said that Garoppolo looks lost in the same system he was in while with the New England Patriots.
Did Garoppolo Own Up to Dismal Night?
Garoppolo ended his night going 10-of-21 for 126 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception.
Those kinds of numbers will spark heavy criticism from any fan base and members of the media. How did Garoppolo take it though? And did he own up to his dismal night?
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“You have good days and bad days. Today was a bad day. No sugarcoating it,” Garoppolo said to reporters after the game. “I mean, it is what it is. So, you just have to play better. Myself, I have to play better. A lot of little things will solve some problems.”
Garoppolo, gracefully, admitted he needs to play better. And while the Raiders aren’t anticipated to be players at the NFL trade deadline, per ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, which rules out adding extra QB competition, that still doesn’t guarantee that Garoppolo’s job is safe.
With the team now two games behind .500 following an off passing night, Garoppolo has placed himself in a position where he could get yanked for rookie Aidan O’Connell or veteran Brian Hoyer if the problems from Monday’s game carry over.
However, Vegas might be stuck between a rock and a hard place with Garoppolo having signed a three-year, $67.5 million deal to join the Raiders this offseason. It might be a tough pill to swallow benching your “franchise” QB in his first season with the team.
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