We saw the worst play of the year for the defense of the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday, in a campaign full of candidates for the worst play of the year.
The ridiculous penalty of the Arden Key face mask, the burst coverage, the incredible courage of Ryan Fitzpatrick, all enabled the Miami Dolphins to kick a winning field goal to achieve an impressive 26-25 win over the Raiders at Allegiant Stadium in a week 16 game that took them out of the playoff. All of this happened after the Raiders took the lead with 19 seconds left.
Even a two-day cooling-off period did not lessen the pain for Raiders coach Jon Gruden. On Monday, he called the play “horrible”, “a shame”, “a shame” and “terrible”.
“I’m sorry because we lost the game in the most horrible move I’ve ever been associated with,” lamented Gruden. “You have 19 seconds left with no time limit on the 25 yard line. For us not to leave the field with a victory, it is a pity, it is a shame and it is a reflection only of me. We have and we have to do a much better job than that … It all comes down to a bad move and it still sticks to my stomach the wrong way now.
Seriously, who can blame you?