The Las Vegas Raiders traveled to the Emerald City for the first time since 2022 to take on the Seahawks at Lumen Field. The game ended in a tie, with a final score of 23-23.
The Carroll & Spytek Era Begins
It was an uninspiring performance in the first half. The Seahawks dominated the trenches on both sides of the ball. Seattle played three starters along their offensive line (LG-Grey Zabel, RG-Anthony Bradford, RT-Abraham Lucas), but played zero defensive starters.
Geno Smith played one offensive series. He completed 1 of 3 passes for 15 yards. His lone completion was to Tre Tucker. Smith’s two incompletions were drops, one by Jakobi Meyers on a screen pass and the other by Dont’e Thornton Jr. on a back-shoulder throw near the sideline.
Rookie Ashton Jeanty rushed for -1 yards on three carries. The Raiders’ offensive line gave him no favors. Jeanty had no space to operate.
“We started really poorly,” Carroll said. “We didn’t run the ball very well in the first half. We didn’t do much of anything very well.”
It’s Miller Time
Rookie quarterback Cam Miller entered the game down 10 with 9:39 remaining in the fourth quarter. Miller provided an offensive spark. He connected on 6 of 7 passes for 76 yards and one touchdown. The touchdown throw was a perfectly executed play by both Miller and receiver Shedrick Jackson. Jackson ran a slant and go (sluggo route), Kam Alexander bit on the slant, leaving Jackson wide open for the score.
In a tie game with twenty-five seconds remaining, Miller showcased his mobility and poise by driving the Raiders into field goal range to win the game. Seattle blocked Daniel Carlson’s 55-yard field goal attempt as time expired.
Defensive Standouts
Pete Carroll and Geno Smith were not the only ones returning to Seattle; Jamal Adams also made his triumphant return. The former Seahawk was one of the few bright spots in the first half.
The Las Vegas Raiders signed veteran Jamal Adams to a one-year contract on July 22nd. With the Raiders, Adams has made the transition from safety to Will linebacker. He flashed at his new position, recording three solo tackles. Adams played fast and physical, showing no signs of rust after competing in his first game in over 235 days.
Safety Isaiah Pola-Mao had a solid game. He put a halt to the Seahawks’ opening drive with a diving interception of quarterback Drew Lock.
Isaiah Pola-Mao re-signed with the franchise on a two-year deal worth up to $8.45 million earlier this offseason. He is the cousin of NFL Hall of Famer Troy Polamalu. Pola-Mao is projected to be the Raiders’ starting free safety this season.
The Greatness of the Raiders Is in Its Future
The Raiders’ 2025 draft class donned their NFL uniforms for the first time on Thursday night. Here are the stats and snap counts from Preseason Week 1:
| Player | Preseason Week 1 Stats | Total Snaps |
|---|---|---|
| Ashton Jeanty | 3 Attempts, -1 Yards | 10 |
| Jack Bech | 1 Rec, 5 Yards | 27 |
| Darien Porter | 1 Solo, 1 Assisted Tackle | 26 |
| Caleb Rogers | Allowed one pressure at Left Guard (PFF) | 51 |
| Charles Grant | Allowed four pressures at Left Tackle (PFF) | 43 |
| Dont’e Thornton Jr. | 1 Rec, 17 Yards | 14 |
| Tonka Hemingway | 2 Solo, 1 Assisted Tackle | 32 |
| JJ Pegues | 1 Assisted Tackle | 27 |
| Tommy Mellott | 1 Rec, -2 Yards | 7 |
| Cam Miller | 6/7,76 Passing Yards,1 TD | 17 |
| Cody Lindenberg | 2 Solo, 2 Assisted Tackles | 27 |
–Follow Dan Loya on X @DLoya_NFL
