LAS VEGAS — Jarrett Stidham, recent off his first profession begin wherein he handed for 365 yards and three touchdowns, gathered his Las Vegas Raiders teammates and apologized.
He was sorry for not having the ability to end off the San Francisco 49ers and their No. 1-ranked protection within the Raiders’ 37-34 additional time loss at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday.
“I feel each single individual on the group stated, ‘Man, get out of right here with that. You balled out and you probably did your factor,'” stated Raiders receiver Davante Adams, who was on the receiving finish of seven Stidham passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns.
“We have got to discover a approach to assist him — defend just a little longer, catch a number of extra balls and get a number of extra first downs, a number of extra factors, and it may have been a dream state of affairs for him, too.”
Such was the bittersweet feeling within the Raiders’ locker room after they fell to 6-10 with their fifth blown lead of at the least 10 factors — they led 24-14 within the third quarter — to be formally eradicated from the playoff race.
As a result of whereas Stidham was additionally picked off twice — the primary on a batted ball on the line of scrimmage, the second in OT when he was bumped by left deal with Kolton Miller as he was bull-rushed into the quarterback by Niners defensive finish Nick Bosa and Stidham’s deep shot to Adams down the left sideline fluttered harmlessly into the ready arms of security Tashaun Gipson — he earned the respect of a roster that had identified solely Derek Carr because the starter.
Carr, the group’s starter since his rookie season of 2014, was benched on Wednesday and, by mutual determination, is staying away from the group the ultimate two weeks of the season.
However whereas Carr by no means appeared really comfy in first-year coach Josh McDaniels’ system, it is the one NFL scheme Stidham, acquired in a Could 13 commerce with McDaniels’ previous employer, the Patriots, has identified since being drafted by New England in 2019.
Raiders tight finish Darren Waller stated Stidham was educating the gamers the scheme throughout OTAs and minicamp.
“When everyone was simply studying issues — what does this phrase imply? what does that phrase imply? — Jarrett … was pointing guys in numerous instructions and was working with confidence again then,” stated Waller, who caught three passes for 72 yards, together with a 24-yard TD.
“So, he is aware of every part — [the playbook] did not should be watered down or simplified [Sunday]. He may hop proper in and do every part we have been doing.”
Stidham grew to become the second QB for the reason that begin of 1950 with at the least 350 passing yards and three passing touchdowns in his first profession begin, alongside the New York Jets’ Mike White in Week 8 of the 2021 season in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Stidham completed with 122 extra passing yards than another Raiders QB making his first profession begin, eclipsing the 243 yards Todd Marinovich threw for in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs within the 1991 regular-season finale.
These Raiders additionally misplaced that day.
“I simply wished to go on the market and play free right now,” Stidham stated. “Try to facilitate the offense and [find] a solution to win. We simply fell brief just a little bit.
“Robust to finish that approach, however we have one other week right here that we’re all on the identical web page on how we have to end the yr.”
McDaniels, in the meantime, stated he didn’t alter his recreation plan a lot in making the change from Carr to Stidham.
“Whoever performs quarterback for us goes to have the identical alternative,” McDaniels stated of adjusting calls on the line. “In the event that they study the system and perceive the way to use it, that they had the identical alternatives. We did not actually name the sport radically completely different right now than we might have in any other case. And I believed Jarrett took benefit of the alternatives that had been introduced to him.”
With Carr all however gone for subsequent season, rumors have begun that McDaniels and basic supervisor Dave Ziegler, who additionally got here from New England, will pursue one other veteran QB already acquainted with the system.
However whereas the Tom Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo storylines will warmth up, Stidham might need given the entrance workplace one thing else to chew on.
“He balled,” stated Raiders operating again Josh Jacobs, the league’s main rusher with 1,539 yards. “He balled, man. He was calm and picked up within the huddle … you could not inform he was a backup, for actual.
“That is among the best defenses, if not the most effective protection within the league, so for him to go on the market and do what he did, I really feel like that is chatting with his marketing campaign as ‘The Man.'”
The Raiders’ protection was impressed as properly.
“Jarrett performed his ass off,” defensive finish Maxx Crosby stated. “Dude is a competitor … trying ahead to him enjoying his ass off subsequent week, too.
“You see a man like him, tremendous fired up and getting hype and speaking his s—, it is cool. Yeah, I’ve received a ton of respect for him.”
It is only one recreation of a misplaced season — the Raiders had been anticipated to return to the playoffs after ending 10-7 final yr and making upgrades to the roster and altering regimes. However Stidham’s efficiency, past his skill and willingness to increase performs together with his legs and roll out and take hits, additionally gained over his teammates.
Like on the large shot he took from Talanoa Hufanga and Samson Ebukam on his 60-yard TD go to Adams, one among Carr’s closest mates since their school days at Fresno State and a significant motive the receiver got here to Las Vegas.
“I noticed Jarrett simply sticking with me, sticking with me, sticking with me and I discovered a void within the protection and located a solution to get behind it,” Adams stated. “He caught in there and threw it.
“He got here and greeted me on the sideline with blood between his tooth. That is what you need out of your quarterback. I am actually pleased with him. He is a troublesome man, man. He isn’t the most important dude and he sticks in there. He will search for his guys and he will discover a solution to get it completed.”
ESPN Stats & Data contributed to this report.
