It’s just yet another tough year for the Raiders.
Las Vegas lost a heartbreaking one to the Miami Dolphins on Saturday, falling 26-25 thanks to Ryan Fitzpatrick’s ability to throw a football without even looking.
The Raiders put themselves in that position after the team opted to milk the clock late and settle for a field goal instead of going for a touchdown.
Gruden defended his call while speaking to reporters:
“The play was to eliminate all the clock and all the timeouts and put them back with their back against the wall with 19 seconds left,” Gruden said. “I don’t regret it. I didn’t want Fitzpatrick to have the ball. … I didn’t want him to be in a four-down situation. He’s a gunslinger; he was hot. That’s all I can say. I don’t regret it one bit. I just regret the results.
“But 19 seconds left, on your own 25-yard line, with no timeouts? I’ve called plays a long time. The probability of getting that done is remote.”
Former NFL Pro Bowl lineman TJ Lang had a blunt message as he delivered a bit of karma to the Raiders head coach:
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“All those times Gruden said on MNF that I need to be better, hey John, you need to be better,” he tweeted.
The Raiders end their season next week against the Denver Broncos. If they win, it will be just the fourth time since 2003 that the franchise has finished a season 8-8 or better.
