The Las Vegas Raiders suffered another tough defeat at home, losing 24-10 against the Browns on Sunday. Las Vegas dropped to 2 wins and 9 losses for the season. Quarterback Geno Smith had a brutal day, getting sacked 10 times by Cleveland’s defense.
After the game ended, Smith appeared to flip off fans while leaving the field at Allegiant Stadium.
Geno Smith’s gesture follows rough performance and fan boos
The Raiders’ offense couldn’t get anything going all game long. Smith completed 27 of 42 passes for 238 yards with one touchdown and one interception. The constant pressure from Cleveland’s defense made it nearly impossible for him to find a rhythm.
Smith missed several key throws that could have kept Las Vegas competitive. Those incomplete passes came before the Browns extended their lead to 24 to 3. The home crowd grew frustrated as they watched another lackluster performance unfold.
Fans at Allegiant Stadium started booing Smith during the game. Their disappointment was clear after watching the offense struggle so badly. The negative reaction from the crowd seemed to reach a breaking point.
As Smith walked off the field after the loss, he appeared to use his middle finger toward fans. Video captured the moment that quickly spread across social media. It marked an ugly ending to an already terrible day.
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Smith wasn’t the only quarterback caught making the gesture on Sunday though. Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers also flipped off cameras at Soldier Field. The big difference was that Rodgers directed his toward the cameras, not his own fans at home.
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The day got worse for Las Vegas when offensive coordinator Chip Kelly got fired. His dismissal came immediately after the disappointing performance. The Raiders clearly felt major changes were needed.
Smith didn’t talk about the finger gesture during his postgame comments. He did take responsibility for the loss though. Smith said it’s on him to make better plays and find ways to win games.
His season statistics paint a troubling picture so far. Through 11 games, Smith has completed 66.6% of his passes for 2,367 yards. He’s thrown 13 touchdowns but also 13 interceptions, showing inconsistent decision making.
The sack numbers are especially concerning for Las Vegas. Smith has been brought down 41 times already this season. His 29.4 QBR ranks dead last among all NFL quarterbacks at 32nd.
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