Live coverage: Raiders’ Carlson kicks walk-off, game-winning field goal

By Case Keefer (contact)

Published Monday, Dec. 20, 2021 | 2 a.m.

Updated Monday, Dec. 20, 2021 | 5:07 p.m.

The Raiders now have a chance, and that’s all they can ask for.

Las Vegas beat Cleveland 16-14 Monday evening at FirstEnergy Stadium to get back to .500 on the year, 7-7, and a game out of the AFC playoff picture. Daniel Carlson nailed a 48-yard field goal at the end of regulation to give the Raiders the victory.  

The Raiders gave up the lead for the first time with 3:45 to play when Browns quarterback Nick Mullens threw a four-yard touchdown pass to Harrison Bryant. The victory wasn’t easy despite about half of Cleveland’s starters being out and in the COVID-19 protocol even after the game was delayed two days.

Las Vegas was in control in the first half via a strong defensive performance led by some unlikely stars like much-maligned safety Jonathan Abram and backup cornerback Brandon Facyson. The Raiders scored on their opening drive when Derek Carr found Bryan Edwards on a 5-yard fade route, but they never found the end zone again.

In addition to his game-winner, Carlson made kicks of 24 and 40 yards. Las Vegas carried a 10-0 lead deep into the third quarter when a turnover changed everything.

Derek Carr got hit by the Browns’ Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and lost the ball, which was recovered by Porter Gustin at the Raiders’ 47-yard line. Nick Chubb took over from there, breaking loose for a long run and then adding a 4-yard touchdown run.

Carr ended up 25-for-38 on the day with 236 yards. Chubb gained 91 yards on 23 carries.

Mullens, pressed into action with both Baker Mayfield and Case Keenum testing positive for the virus last week, averaged only 4.9 yards per attempt but was reliable when it mattered.

After his late touchdown, Carr threw an interception to the Browns’ Greedy Williams on the next drive. But the Browns couldn’t gain a first down and punted the ball back to the Raiders.

Carr didn’t let his second chance slip, and got just close enough for Carlson to come through. Among the four AFC teams the Raiders are tied with in the AFC standings at 7-7 are the Broncos, which they will host Sunday at Allegiant Stadium.

Check back to lasvegassun.com later for more coverage and read below for live updates from throughout the game.

With about four minutes to play, the Browns have their first lead of the evening at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Nick Mullens scrambled on fourth-and-5 from the 6-yard line and found Harrison Bryant for a touchdown. Cleveland 14, Las Vegas 13.

The Browns have come alive in the second half after a fumble by Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, and now have a chance to escape with a victory despite a large portion of their team being out of the game in the COVID-19 protocol. The Raiders have 3:45 to piece together a game-winning drive and will just need to get into field goal range to at least take the lead.

Daniel Carlson makes second field goal

The Raiders needed a big drive to answer the Browns’ first score, and they seemed to be getting it until stalling just outside the red zone.

Las Vegas settled for a field goal and leads Cleveland 13-7 at FirstEnergy Stadium. Carlson’s second field goal of the day was good from 40 yards. Derek Carr played on the drive despite getting hurt on a play where he lost a fumble to the Browns on the previous possession.

Carr has gone for 160 yards on 17-for-26 passing with Foster Moreau currently the Raiders’ leading receiver at four receptions for 44 yards.

Browns convert turnover into points

Everything was going swimmingly for the Raiders, and then Derek Carr fumbled to give the Browns new life.

It’s 10-7 Raiders with 4:33 to go in the third quarter after the Browns just converted on a short field to score a touchdown on a 4-yard Nick Chubb run. Carr’s fumble, forced by Jeremiah Owusu-Ooramoah and recovered by Porter Gustin, gave Cleveland the ball at Las Vegas’ 47-yard line.

The Browns scored in less than three minutes. It initially appeared that David Njoku came down with a touchdown pass from Nick Mullens but his heel was out of bounds, leading to Chubb scoring on the next play.

Raiders stall inside 10 but add field goal

Nick Mullens infamously flummoxed and flatlined the Raiders in his first-ever start at quarterback three years ago with the San Francisco 49ers. He’s not repeating the performance so far today with the Cleveland Browns.

The Raiders lead the Browns 10-0 after making a field goal shortly before halftime at FirstEnergy Stadium. Daniel Carlson knocked through a 24-yard field goal without any trouble to add to an earlier touchdown throw from Derek Carr to Bryan Edwards.

Carr had two incompletions in the goal line sequence and also a failed scramble attempt, but has played well on the day. He’s at 108 passing yards while completing 13 of 18 attempts.

Backup Peyton Barber is the Raiders’ leading rusher with 37 yards on four carries after Josh Jacobs sat out one drive.

The Browns’ offense has only 52 yards on 17 plays with Mullens having gone 8-for-10 with 40 yards.

Bryan Edwards scores first

The Raiders scored a touchdown on their opening drive for only the second time in the last six games.

On third-and-goal from the 5-yard line, Derek Carr connected with Bryan Edwards on a fade route for the score. Las Vegas’ drive accounted for 78 yards on 11 plays in just over seven minutes. Carr went 8-for-8 with 77 yards against a beaten-up Browns’ defense, while Hunter Renfrow hauled in two catches for 19 yards.

It’s 7-0 early in Cleveland.

Raiders also down a couple players against shorthanded Browns

The Raiders protested the delay of today’s game at the Browns, and now may be even more unhappy with the rescheduling.

Las Vegas has lost a couple players for the game since Saturday’s scheduled kickoff, notably including cornerback Nate Hobbs who was placed on the COVID-19 list. Linebacker Will Compton, a vocal part of the Raiders’ resistance to the change in date, is also out for personal Raiders.

Las Vegas’ other inactives are linebacker Denzel Perryman, tight end Darren Waller, tackle Jackson Barton and defensive lineman Kendal Vickers. The first two are hurt while the rest are regularly inactive, meaning no one in that group of four players was a surprise.

The Browns’ COVID-19 situation also didn’t get significantly better despite the extra time as they’ll be without quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Case Keenum to leave Nick Mullens in for the start. Other key players who didn’t test negative twice in order to be eligible include wide receiver Jarvis Landry, safety Ronnie Harrison, defensive end Jadeveon Clowney and tackle Jedrick Wills.

Pregame

The Raiders feel like most of the breaks have gone against them during a 1-5 post-bye week stretch that has seemingly sunk their season, but they may have caught one in their favor this week. A COVID-19 outbreak left Cleveland’s roster decimated, and the NFL insisted it wouldn’t move the game from its scheduled Saturday time slot. The league eventually caved and pushed the game back, allowing the Browns a chance to get more players back. They’ve had more than 20 members of the roster and coaching staff test positive, including coach Kevin Stefanski, quarterback Baker Mayfield and wide receiver Jarvis Landry. The expected absences had the betting bouncing from Raiders+6.5 to -4.5. Where it lands by kickoff is anyone’s guess, as the home team, currently back to favored status, is unlikely to be at full strength. It’s a golden opportunity for Las Vegas to get back into playoff contention.

Favorable matchup: Quarterback Derek Carr vs. Browns’ secondary

The Browns’ pass defense was already reeling, having given up 270 yards on 27-for-38 passing to Baltimore Ravens backup quarterback Tyler Huntley last week, but then wasn’t spared by either injuries or the rash of COVID-19 cases. Cleveland could be without four of its five starters in the defensive backfield, with top cornerback Denzel Ward the lone one coming into the game without any issues. If Carr, who’s second in the NFL in passing this season with 3,926 yards, is given enough time — granted, that’s a big if — he should be able to find openings down the field. Or maybe nearer to the line of scrimmage, as slot receiver Hunter Renfrow has been by far his favorite target while tight end Darren Waller has been out with a knee injury. Renfrow was one of the only bright spots of last week’s 48-9 blowout loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, as he hauled in a career-high 13 receptions for 117 yards.

Problematic matchup: Defensive end Myles Garrett vs. Raiders’ offensive line

The All-Pro Garrett is coming into the game healthy and creates a nightmare matchup for Raiders right tackle Brandon Parker. Carr was pressured consistently against the Chiefs, and much of it was from Parker being unable to hold blocks. The fourth-year veteran is far from Las Vegas’ only problem up front. Guards Alex Leatherwood and John Simpson have struggled just as much to keep the Raiders’ offense out of sync. Cleveland’s secondary hasn’t improved as much as the franchise hoped this season, but it’s continued to be disruptive up front largely because of Garrett. The former No. 1 overall pick is second in the NFL with 15 sacks and is currently one of the favorites to win the Defensive Player of the Year award. The Raiders will need to have a plan for him, likely one involving frequent double-teams with either Leatherwood or a tight end providing help to Parker.

Gamebreaker: Defensive end Malcolm Koonce

Not many edge rushers start their NFL careers with sacks in each of their first two games, let alone ones who weren’t even on the active roster for most of the year. But that’s what the rookie third-round pick out of Buffalo has done for the Raiders over the past two weeks. Koonce has gotten an expanded role with veteran Carl Nassib out with a knee injury, and he’s made the most of it to add to the Raiders’ pass rushing riches. Starting defensive ends Yannick Ngakoue and Maxx Crosby have been among the team’s best players all year. Backup Clelin Ferrell rated as the Raiders’ top performer last week against the Chiefs by Pro Football Focus’ grading system. With Koonce also producing, the Raiders have been able to maintain the “wave” of defensive linemen that defensive coordinator Gus Bradley likes to employ to keep everyone fresh.

Big Number: 51.1

That’s the average distance in yards on punts by the Raiders’ A.J. Cole this season. He’s tied for the post-merger NFL record with former Raider Shane Lechler, who also averaged 51.1 yards per punt in 2009. Las Vegas is inundated with problems on offense and defense, and hasn't been great on special teams either. But that’s largely because of mediocre coverage units. Led by Cole, the specialists themselves have been outstanding. Kicker Daniel Carlson has made 28 of 31 field goal attempts on the year, including five of six from 50-plus yards. The Raiders have been campaigning for Carlson to make his first Pro Bowl, but his close friend Cole should be a shoo-in for the honor with what could turn into a historic season over the final four games. Washington’s Sammy Baugh will still likely hold the all-time single-season record with an average of 51.4 yards per punt in 1940, but few in the modern day have kicked the ball as well as Cole has this season.

Best Bet (6-7): Josh Jacobs and Nick Chubb under 149.5 combined rushing yards

Pickings are incredibly slim in the prop markets this week, presumably as books use caution regarding both weather and COVID considerations. The former might be a little bit overblown to inflate this number thinking both teams will be mostly confined to the run game. Yes, it’s supposed to rain — but not pour — and it will be windy, but not too windy. No current forecasts have winds reaching 20 miles per hour — usually the magic number for affecting passing offense — during game time. Neither the Browns nor the Raiders have run the ball well recently, either. Cleveland has been one of the best rushing teams in the league behind Chubb at his best, but he’s been banged up the past few weeks. There’s talk that he’s back to full strength to take on Las Vegas, but the Raiders should have a game plan centered on slowing him.