Geno Smith's Uneven Start Raises Doubts Over Raiders' 75M Deal

Geno Smith's Uneven Start Raises Doubts Over Raiders' $75M Deal

Geno Smith and the Las Vegas Raiders suffered their third straight loss after a narrow 7–10 defeat to the Denver Broncos. It marked the Raiders’ seventh loss in nine games, further deepening concerns over their struggling season.

Pressure and Performance

Smith faced relentless pressure as the Broncos sacked him six times. Despite a solid defensive effort from Las Vegas, fans were frustrated watching their highly paid quarterback falter. Smith's inconsistent start has many questioning whether his two-year, $75 million extension was justified.

Pre-Game Expectations

Heading into the Thursday Night Football game on November 6, expectations were high. Many believed the Raiders could end their losing streak after Smith’s standout performance the previous week against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

He threw four passing touchdowns with a 74.4% completion rate in that matchup, although the Jaguars edged out a 30–29 win.

Broncos’ Dominant Defense

This season, Denver has been one of the NFL’s top defensive teams, leading the league with 40 sacks, along with 100 quarterback pressures and 38 knockdowns. They have also allowed the second-fewest passing touchdowns to opposing teams.

Smith’s Season Under Pressure

So far, Smith has completed 66% of his passes when pressured but has been sacked 21 times and shares the league lead in interceptions. The key against Denver’s aggressive defense was quick decision-making.

According to Next Gen Stats, Smith’s average time to throw is 2.86 seconds.

Author’s Summary

Geno Smith’s struggles under constant pressure raise serious doubts about the Raiders’ $75 million investment and their ability to rebound this season.

International Business Times UK — 2025-11-07