The Raiders' Gardner Minshew did enough against the Chiefs to remain the starting QB… for now

LAS VEGAS – First, a reminder to Las Vegas Raiders fans who saw Jayden Daniels' game-winning “Hail Mary” pass for the 16th time: The Raiders never caught him.

The Washington Commanders never took him with the second pick. I will never trade down. The Raiders chose not to sign free agent Gardner Minshew II instead of trading him for Daniels.

All right, let's talk about Minshew. He was actually pretty good in Sunday's 27-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. He apparently fumbled in the fourth quarter when the football was taken away from him while he was fighting for an extra yard. But he completed his first eight passes and gave the Raiders a 10-7 lead early in the second quarter.

He rolled out and made throws on the run, and with precision. The back-shoulder throw to Brock Bowers at the end of the first quarter was something wonderful. But the Raiders didn't take advantage of his hot hand and insisted on running the ball.

And worse, they allowed the Chiefs to take Bowers away. Bowers had three catches for 39 yards on the Raiders' first two scoring drives and didn't touch the ball again until 3:56 remained in the game.

This happened on National Tight Ends Day against a Chiefs team that came into the game ranked second in allowing receptions and receiving yards to tight ends.

“Yeah, man, he’s one of those guys that the ball usually just finds, and I think we have to do better at that,” Minshew said. “I think if he's doing his thing, we're better off throwing him the ball. He makes good things happen.”

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Bowers has already recorded 52 catches this season and will have to carry a greater load with the recent addition of receiver Davante Adams.

“Early in the game plan, obviously (Bowers) is always a part of it, but I thought Kansas City obviously did a good job in terms of pressure and getting the ball out quick,” coach Antonio Pierce said. “You have to throw it to the open receiver.”

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Antonio Pierce's decision leaves the Raiders in limbo with a narrow loss to the Chiefs

And apparently you have to force the running game even when it's not working. Running back Alexander Mattison finished the game with 15 yards on 14 carries, and although he has struggled to score at the goal line in the past with the Minnesota Vikings, the Raiders gave him the ball three times in a row from 4-4 at the end of the third quarter. yard line. Net result: zero yards.

Nine months after Zamir White rushed for 145 yards on 22 carries in a 20-14 win over the Chiefs, he rushed on all two carries and lost one yard on Sunday.

Jakobi Meyers was back after missing two weeks with an ankle injury and gave the offense a huge boost. Not only can he use his experience and tenacity to get open at times against No. 1 cornerbacks, he also helps free up Tre Tucker for easier matchups. Meyers had two catches, including a touchdown, on the Raiders' first 12-play, 70-yard drive.

Welcome back, Mr. Meyers#KCvsLV | 📺 @paramountplus pic.twitter.com/Q1NdgML78o

— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) October 27, 2024

“Yeah, Gardner got off to a good start,” Pierce said. “I thought he made some good throws… had a little rhythm. Even on this back, it's a damn good job. I thought I saw him throw a block to the wide receiver out there.

“I mean, listen, everyone struggles. I thought these guys were competitive. All I can ask of them is to fight for four quarters and we did that.”

Minshew is definitely fighting to turn things around after being benched after five games for Aidan O'Connell, only to return to the lineup last week when O'Connell broke his thumb. He didn't throw an interception against the Chiefs – for the second time this season – but lost a fumble and now leads the NFL with 11 turnovers.

Recently signed Desmond Ridder and undrafted rookie Carter Bradley were also active for Sunday's game, but expect Minshew to have done enough to retain his starting spot for next week's road game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Minshew finished 24 of 30 for 209 yards and two touchdown passes and probably could have done more if the Raiders had continued to play open like they did on their first two possessions. The offensive line still struggles at times, and Minshew stood firm against the blitz, taking some big hits while completing passes.

Minshew was also praised by his teammates as a calming influence during a rocky season in which the head coach questioned his players' performance and asked their star receiver for a trade the day after a win.

“This guy is one of the mentally toughest guys I know,” Tucker said. “Whenever he has a substitution and I look at him in the huddle, his face doesn’t change. He's not hectic or anything.

“What I really love about him is that he stays the same the whole game. That Minshew Mania face. As we always tell him: We will ride or die for him.”

At least until the bye week after the Bengals game.

(Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)