Jets Waste Offensive Outburst In Costly 38-33 Loss To Raiders

The Jets had their best offensive performance in some time on Sunday, but it wasn’t enough as their defense and special teams unit failed to hold up their end of the bargain.

In addition, when the offense had a chance to take a late lead, it came up short once again as the Las Vegas Raiders held on for a 38-33 win at MetLife Stadium.

New York took an early lead on a short field goal by Jason Sanders, but the Raiders drove downfield on their first possession to take a 7-3 lead on a Kirk Cousins 12-yard pass to Brock Bowers.

After another Jets field goal, they got the ball back and took a 13-7 lead on Geno Smith’s 18-yard pass to Isaiah Williams, but the Raiders retook the lead immediately as Dylan Laube returned the ensuring kickoff 95 yards for a score.

The Jets scored twice more before halftime to lead 23-14 as Smith threw another touchdown pass to Adonai Mitchell, then New York kicked a field goal just before half time.

Prior to that kick, the Jets had been outscored 107-6 in the last two minutes of the first half during the Aaron Glenn era.

The Raiders soon got back into the game, as Cousins wrapped up another good drive with a two-yard pass to Bowers.

The Jets responded immediately though, scoring on their next possession on a Braelon Allen 21-yard run.

Las Vegas once again scored a touchdown on their next drive as Cousins’ 1-yard run made it a 30-28 game.

Then, having forced the Jets to punt for the first time all day, they took a 35-30 lead with 11:33 to go on Cousins’ 2-yard pass to Jalen Nailor.

The Jets got back into the red zone with under five minutes left, but their drive stalled yet again, so Sanders made another field goal to cut the Raiders’ lead to 35-33 with 4:31 remaining.

However, the defense’s inability to get a stop cost the Jets once again and Las Vegas were able to run out most of the rest the clock.

Matt Gay’s 53-yard field goal made it a five-point game with 27 seconds remaining.

Smith’s Hail Mary pass was intercepted in the end zone by Jeremy Chinn to clinch the Raiders’ win with seven seconds remaining.

Here are the key takeaways…

- The Jets got off to a terrific start, as they were inside the Raiders’ 5-yard line just three plays into the game. However, some of the issues that have been blighting them in recent weeks immediately resurfaced as the drive stalled and they had to settle for a field goal.

After the Raiders’ first touchdown, the Jets again got into the red zone but again ended up with just a field goal.

- New York stayed aggressive, though, taking advantage of a Las Vegas defense which is statistically one of the worst in the NFL. The Jets scored on each of their first six possessions, including on a couple of red-zone touchdown passes by Smith, who had 146 passing yards by halftime.

However, the Jets completely lost their momentum in the second half.

- It wasn’t just the passing game that was working for the Jets because Allen’s recent great play continued as he had 121 rushing yards by halftime, then went in untouched from 21 yards out early in the second half.

He ended up with just 147 yards, though, as the Jets had less success running the ball after halftime.

- Despite the offensive success, the defense struggled all day. The defensive line was always going to be shorthanded without T’Vondre Sweat and David Bailey, although Will McDonald had a big third down sack in the first half to force a rare punt.

- The Jets made a concerted effort to get Garrett Wilson involved this week, going to him often in the first half, including on a 31-yard pass on the very first play of the game. Mitchell also had a big game going up against Eric Stokes as he racked up a career-high 142 yards on seven catches.

Wilson ended up with six catches for 83 yards, but his longest catch of the day was negated by a penalty.

- The Jets’ rookies, Omar Cooper and Kenyon Sadiq, were hardly involved in the game plan, though, which goes to show how difficult it is to involve everyone.

Following back-to-back 100-yard games, Cooper wasn’t even targeted, although Sadiq did have a spectacular leaping catch in the second half.

- For all his big talk during the week, Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty was mostly a nonfactor as Las Vegas featured rookie Mike Washington more heavily instead.

Jeanty had just one carry for one yard entering the fourth quarter. However, his 45-yard catch and run set up a go-ahead score in the fourth quarter.

Game MVP: Raiders QB Kirk Cousins

In the matchup of two quarterbacks who are well into their thirties, it was Cousins whose team got the win as he passed for 247 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for a touchdown.

Highlights

Geno Smith to Garrett Wilson on the first play! https://t.co/JIl1Olx72a

— SNY Jets (@snyjets) November 1, 2026

Will McDonald gets the third-down sack ???? https://t.co/OatTNNgtsD

— SNY Jets (@snyjets) November 1, 2026

Geno Smith ➡️ Isaiah Williams for the score! https://t.co/54YlyulhuT

— SNY Jets (@snyjets) November 1, 2026

Geno Smith finds AD Mitchell for the touchdown on 4th and 1 ???? https://t.co/6FzW95esab

— SNY Jets (@snyjets) November 1, 2026

BRAELON ALLEN'S HUGE DAY CONTINUES. He runs it in from 21 yards! https://t.co/dxUmzGY9OW

— SNY Jets (@snyjets) November 1, 2026

WHAT A THROW AND CATCH! GENO SMITH CONNECTS WITH AD MITCHELL! https://t.co/78BCZI5lGQ

— SNY Jets (@snyjets) November 1, 2026

What's next

The Jets are back on the road next weekend to face a tough test against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.