The Las Vegas Raiders are looking to turn their season around, coming into their Monday Night Football game against the Green Bay Packers with a 1-3 record on the year. Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels isn’t making that task easy, as he cost his team dearly with a brutal clock management mistake at the end of the half that fans took notice of.
Green Bay was stopped on third down with 1:44 remaining in the second quarter, seemingly giving the Raiders plenty of time to extend their 10-3 lead before the end of the first half.
That would have been the case, except McDaniels opted not to call a timeout after forcing the Packers to punt. Green Bay ran the play clock all the way down to nearly zero on the play clock, and the Raiders ended up getting the ball back with 55 seconds remaining in the half.
Curious clock management from Josh McDaniels and the Raiders.
After a third down stop, they elect to not use one of two time-outs. After the Packers punt, the Raiders get the ball back with only 55 seconds left in the half. pic.twitter.com/LakLuX2x64
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) October 10, 2023
That decision cost the Raiders over 40 seconds on their final drive of the half. That additional time would have come in handy for Las Vegas. They ended up getting into field goal range, but their 53-yard field goal attempt was blocked by a Packers defender.
The Raiders do get into field goal range.
But after using both remaining time-outs, they have to essentially burn a play on third down instead of trying to get closer.
Daniel Carlson’s 53-yard attempt is partially blocked and misses badly. pic.twitter.com/300nC1Qyao
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) October 10, 2023
If McDaniels had called the timeout in that situation, they would have had far more time to potentially get closer for a field goal attempt, or even potentially have enough time to score a touchdown.
Fans took notice of this decision and completely blasted McDaniels for this decision.
My God is Josh McDaniels a gutless coach. Doesn't call a timeout after stopping the Packers deep in their own territory with so much time to make a drive. #NFL
— Jr (@DbScooper6) October 10, 2023
So the Raiders lost 40 seconds, then ran an awful jet sweep, all for a failed 53 yard FG attempt…I thought Josh McDaniels was suppose to be an offensive genius?
— Mike Woodard Jr (@MikeWibsJr) October 10, 2023
Josh McDaniels doesn’t call a timeout after 3rd down & wastes 40 seconds. Raiders go down the field but have to settle for a 53 yard field goal instead of having 40 more seconds to get more yards. Raiders miss the kick.
Josh McDaniels is awful
— Adam Samuels (@SamuelAdams_12) October 10, 2023
Clock mismanagement by Las Vegas off the charts on this drive. Josh McDaniels is not a good head coach.
— Brandon Matthews (@RCDiscussion) October 10, 2023
And…another strange timeout/no timeout situation…weird
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) October 10, 2023
why is McDaniels not calling a timeout
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) October 10, 2023
McDaniels has already been criticized plenty by Raiders fans this season following poor decisions. And it is becoming increasingly obvious that he is drastically harming this team, not helping it.
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.