Josh McDaniels Says Raiders Needs To Learn How To Finish Games

The Raiders put up 17 points through the first half Monday night, but Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs slowly chipped away at that lead, delivering a heartbreaking blow to Las Vegas.

One play that stood out after the final whistle was an attempt by coach Josh McDaniels and the Raiders to go for two points, and the lead, instead of tying the game with a field goal. The two-point conversion failed and the team would end up losing 30-29.

“We’re right there at the end,” McDaniels said. “We have to learn how to be able to finish some of those games, that’s what we have to do. And that’s my job.”

The Raiders’ coach went on to say Tuesday the team did things that worked periodically, but Kansas City is a team that doesn’t lay down and quit.

“I think our team realizes you can compete with them, but there’s a difference between just being in the game and being able to close the game and those are the lessons we’re going to have to learn soon,” McDaniels said.

Through the team’s four losses, they’ve lost by a combined total of 14 points. Their biggest loss of the season came in Week 2 against the Cardinals when the game was decided on a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown in overtime.

“I think it’s becoming more clear to them and I think experience and actually getting it done under pressure gives you confidence that you can do it again,” McDaniels said. “And we did some of those things a week ago against Denver and we had our chances yesterday. Nobody can sit here and say we didn’t have opportunities last night. That’s not a true statement. We had every opportunity to really do a good job of trying to win the game. Whether that was getting further ahead after the first half or coming from behind and closing the game out, somehow, someway on offense at the end of the game. I don’t think anybody here is discouraged about the fact that we’re not close. I think now it’s about what do we need to do at practice, what do we need to do to carry it over to the games to be able to make the plays that are winning plays at the end so that we have an opportunity to close out a lot of these close games? Because that’s what the NFL is, it’s a lot of close games every week. And when you start learning how to win them, and finishing them, you start to get a confidence and swagger about yourself, and then when you get in the next one, you feel good about it.”

Additional Updates From The Raiders Coach

One of the bigger stories to come out Monday was after the game, Davante Adams was seen shoving a person as he walked through the Arrowhead tunnel. McDaniels said he didn’t have any update on the situation, not knowing if the league would levy any punishment.

“I support Davante wholeheartedly as a human being,” McDaniels said. “As a person, he’s a great guy. I know that was an unfortunate situation. We obviously don’t want any of our guys to be doing anything like that and he knows that. He’s very well aware of that.”

McDaniels also noted that Darren Waller’s injury was hamstring related and doesn’t expect him to be out long.

🔴🎥 Live: Head Coach Josh McDaniels addresses the media from the Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center. https://t.co/BFRMZWSexg

— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) October 11, 2022

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