Posted By Caden Fitzwilliam On 18 Nov 2025 Comments (0)
It was a quiet moment, almost unremarkable—until you realized what it meant. Daniel Carlson stepped onto the field at Allegiant Stadium just 11 minutes into the first quarter, the crowd holding its breath. The Las Vegas Raiders had just pounced on a fumble by Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, and now, with the ball at the 19-yard line, all they needed was three points to seize momentum. Carlson, cool as ever, nailed a 35-yarder. Good. The scoreboard read 3-0. The Raiders were up. But here’s the thing: that field goal was the high point of their night.
Turnover to Points: A Perfectly Executed Drive
The sequence was textbook. Third down, 12 yards to go. Prescott, under pressure from Maxx Crosby, tried to thread a pass to tight end Dalton Schultz. The ball sailed behind him. Intercepted? No—fumbled. The Raiders recovered at the Cowboys’ 19. Four plays. Negative two yards. Just 76 seconds on the clock. No touchdowns. Just pure, clinical field position football. And Daniel Carlson delivered. Broadcasters didn’t miss it. Joe Davis, calling the game for ESPN, said: "THREE POINTS OFF THE TURNOVER. AND CARLSON NOW 13 OF 17 ON THE..." The stat held: Carlson was 13-for-17 on field goals this season, a reliability that’s become the Raiders’ quiet backbone.The YouTube highlights from NFL, uploaded the next day, captured it perfectly. At timestamp 123: "THIRD DOWN AND 12. END ZONE SHOT. TUCKER, THE THROW BEHIND HIM. BUT. TURNOVER." At 209: "35-YARD TRY." At 217: "GOOD SNAP, GOOD HOLD. THE KICK IS -- GOOD." The rhythm was flawless. The execution, flawless. And for the first 30 minutes, it looked like the Raiders might actually win a primetime game.
Carlson’s First-Half Masterclass
By halftime, he’d done the impossible: scored every single point for the Raiders. Three-for-three on field goals—35 yards, 38 yards, and a 41-yarder late in the second quarter. At timestamp 612 in the highlights, the announcer noted: "HE’S THREE FOR THREE ON THE NIGHT AND HAS ACCOUNTED FOR ALL THE POINTS FOR THE RAIDERS IN THIS FIRST HALF." Nine points. All from Carlson. No touchdowns. No big plays. Just a guy who never misses when it matters.And yet, the Las Vegas Raiders still lost. 27-17. The offense went silent after the first half. Prescott, who’d looked rattled early, settled in. CeeDee Lamb caught a 14-yarder to spark a Cowboys drive at timestamp 367. The defense, once relentless, cracked. The offensive line, which had protected Carson Wentz well in the first half, collapsed under pressure. The Raiders’ offense managed just 82 yards after halftime. It wasn’t a collapse—it was a surrender.
Why This Loss Hurts More Than It Should
This wasn’t just another Week 11 game. It was a chance for the Raiders to prove they belonged in the AFC playoff conversation. They entered the night with a 5-4 record, one game out of the final wild card spot. The Cowboys? 7-3. A win here would’ve been a statement. Instead, they watched their lead evaporate like desert heat. The Raiders.com recap, published the next day, put it bluntly: "Raiders shine early, fade fast in primetime loss to Dallas Cowboys." The headline says it all. The offense looked like a team that had forgotten how to move the ball. The defense, once one of the league’s most aggressive units, looked exhausted.And the kicker? He was the only one who showed up. Carlson, born in Overland Park, Kansas, and now in his seventh NFL season, has become the most consistent player on this roster. Drafted 167th overall by the Minnesota Vikings in 2018, he was traded to Las Vegas that same year—and he’s been the steady hand ever since. In a league obsessed with flashy quarterbacks and explosive receivers, Carlson is the quiet anchor. He doesn’t get the headlines. But when the game’s on the line, you want him on the field.
What Comes Next? The Road to December
The Raiders now face a brutal stretch. Their next game is on Sunday, November 24, 2025, at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, against the AFC West rival Denver Broncos. A loss there, and they’re two games back with just five left. The Cowboys, meanwhile, move on with momentum. Prescott’s 285-yard, three-touchdown performance in the second half showed why they’re still a title contender.The NFL’s 105th season, which began as the American Professional Football Association in 1920, is now entering its most critical phase. For the Raiders, it’s not just about wins and losses—it’s about identity. Are they a team that can win big games? Or are they just a team that makes field goals?
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Daniel Carlson’s performance compare to other kickers in Week 11?
Carlson was one of only two kickers in Week 11 to make three field goals in a single game, joining Tampa Bay’s Ryan Succop. His 35-, 38-, and 41-yarders were all made under pressure, with no other Raiders scoring. He finished the week as the NFL’s third-most accurate kicker (13/17), trailing only Justin Tucker (15/16) and Harrison Butker (14/15). His consistency has been the Raiders’ most reliable offensive weapon this season.
What led to the Raiders’ offensive collapse after halftime?
After scoring 17 points in the first half (all from Carlson), the Raiders’ offense managed just 82 total yards and one first down in the second half. Quarterback Aidan O’Connell struggled with timing, and the offensive line allowed three sacks. Dallas adjusted by blitzing more, forcing quick throws. The Raiders’ play-calling became predictable, relying too heavily on short passes and runs into stacked boxes. No receiver caught more than three passes after halftime.
Why was Maxx Crosby’s pressure so critical early in the game?
At timestamp 571 in the highlights, broadcast analysts noted Crosby’s shift to the middle of the line disrupted Prescott’s rhythm. He forced the errant throw that led to the turnover. Crosby recorded two pressures and one sack in the first half, his most impactful performance since Week 5. His ability to collapse the pocket early gave the Raiders’ defense the edge—until Dallas adjusted their protection schemes in the second half.
How does this loss impact the Raiders’ playoff chances?
The Raiders’ playoff odds dropped from 58% to 34% after the loss, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index. They now trail the Broncos, Chargers, and Steelers in the AFC wild card race. With three divisional games left—including two against the Chiefs—the margin for error is gone. They need to win at least four of their final five games to have a realistic shot, and that means fixing their second-half offensive woes immediately.
What’s the significance of the Raiders’ location in Las Vegas for this game?
Allegiant Stadium’s retractable roof and electric atmosphere made this a marquee primetime event. But the Raiders’ home-field advantage has been inconsistent since moving to Las Vegas in 2020. This was their third straight home loss in a game televised nationally. The fan base, once energized by the move, is growing restless. Ownership, led by Mark Davis, now faces pressure to make a coaching or front-office change before the offseason.
How does this game compare to past Raiders-Cowboys matchups?
This was the first meeting since 2021, when the Raiders won 24-19 in Dallas. Historically, the Cowboys have dominated the series, winning 11 of the last 14 matchups. But this game was different: the Raiders led at halftime for the first time since 2002. Still, they lost for the 10th time in 13 meetings since 2000. The pattern is clear—when the Raiders get ahead, they tend to unravel. Carlson’s field goals were a reminder of what’s possible… and what’s still missing.