If you’re checking your phone or refreshing your browser asking, what was the score of the Raiders game, you aren’t alone. It’s been a rollercoaster. To be perfectly honest, following the Silver and Black lately feels like a full-time job that doesn't pay particularly well in terms of emotional stability.
The Las Vegas Raiders recently wrapped up their 2025 campaign, and if you missed the finale, they faced off against their division rivals, the Los Angeles Chargers. It was one of those games where the score tells one story, but the actual play on the field tells a completely different, much messier one. The final score was 24-10 in favor of the Chargers.
It wasn't pretty.
Breaking Down the Numbers: Why the Scoreboard Looked the Way It Did
Numbers don't lie, but they sure do omit some context. The Raiders went into that matchup looking to find some semblance of offensive rhythm. They didn't. Instead, the scoreboard reflected a stagnant offense that struggled to convert in the red zone, a recurring theme that has haunted head coach Antonio Pierce throughout the latter half of the season.
A 14-point deficit in the NFL can feel like a mountain when your run game is stuck in neutral. Zamir White had a tough go of it, finding very few lanes against a Chargers defensive front that seemed to live in the Raiders' backfield. When you can't run, you can't play-action. When you can't play-action, your quarterback is basically a sitting duck.
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The Quarterback Conundrum
Aidan O'Connell and Gardner Minshew have been swapping spots like they’re playing musical chairs. In this specific outing, the lack of consistency under center was glaring. You saw flashes—a beautiful 20-yard strike to Davante Adams here, a gritty scramble there—but the sustained drives just weren't there. That's how you end up with 10 points. You get a field goal, one lucky break for a touchdown, and then a whole lot of punting.
The Defensive Effort That Deserved Better
It’s actually kinda tragic when you look at how the defense played. Maxx Crosby is, quite frankly, a biological anomaly. The man does not tire. He recorded another two sacks in the loss, flying off the edge with the kind of desperation you usually only see in playoff games.
The defense kept the Raiders in it for three quarters. Honestly, at halftime, with the score sitting at 10-3, there was a genuine sense that Las Vegas could steal one. But the defense can only stay on the field for 40 minutes before they start to crack. By the fourth quarter, the fatigue was visible. Missed tackles started piling up. The secondary, which had been disciplined early on, gave up a couple of chunk plays that ultimately iced the game for Los Angeles.
Context Matters: The 2025 Raiders Season in Review
To understand what was the score of the Raiders most recent game, you have to look at the trajectory of the whole year. This wasn't an isolated incident of "bad luck." It was the culmination of a season defined by "what ifs."
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- Injuries decimated the offensive line by Week 9.
- The transition to a new offensive scheme took longer than anyone anticipated.
- Close losses became a psychological hurdle the team couldn't quite clear.
Experts like Hondo Carpenter have noted that while the culture in the locker room seems improved under Pierce, the execution on the grass remains inconsistent. You see it in the penalties. You see it in the clock management. The 24-10 loss to the Chargers was a microcosm of the entire 17-game stretch: high effort, stellar individual defensive performances, but an offense that just couldn't stay out of its own way.
What Most Fans Get Wrong About the Raiders' Performance
People look at a 10-point output and assume the talent isn't there. That’s a bit of a lazy take, honestly. Brock Bowers has shown he is the real deal at tight end. The kid is a mismatch nightmare. The problem isn't a lack of weapons; it's the distribution of those weapons.
If you watch the film, you see receivers running open into space, but the ball is either late or the pressure forces a check-down. It’s frustrating. Fans in the Black Hole deserve better than a team that settles for field goals on 1st-and-goal situations. The Raiders finished the season with one of the lowest red-zone conversion percentages in the league, a statistic that explains why so many of their scores ended up in the teens this year.
The Home Field Advantage (Or Lack Thereof)
Playing at Allegiant Stadium is a unique experience. It’s gorgeous. It’s loud. But it often feels like a neutral site game because of the sheer number of visiting fans. When the Raiders are down by two scores, that "home" crowd can get quiet real fast, or worse, get taken over by the opposition's chants. This has a tangible impact on the players, especially the younger guys who are still trying to find their footing in the league.
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The Path Forward: Fixing the Scoreboard for 2026
The score of the last game is a permanent mark on the record, but it serves as a roadmap for the front office this offseason. General Manager Tom Telesco has his work cut out for him. You can't go into another season with a "wait and see" approach at the most important position in sports.
- Prioritize the Quarterback: Whether it’s a high draft pick or a massive swing in free agency, the Raiders need a definitive QB1.
- Bolster the Trenches: Maxx Crosby needs help. The interior defensive line showed promise but lacks the depth to sustain a full game of high-level pressure.
- Scheme Consistency: Constant turnover in the coaching staff is the enemy of progress. Pierce needs to decide on a vision and stick to it, even if the early results are shaky.
Looking back at what was the score of the Raiders against the Chargers, it’s clear that the gap between being a "scrappy loser" and a "playoff contender" is narrower than it looks. A few made plays, a bit more protection for the passer, and that 24-10 loss could have easily been a 21-17 win. But in the NFL, "almost" doesn't get you into the postseason.
Moving Beyond the Box Score
If you're a bettor or a fantasy manager, the Raiders' scores this season have been a nightmare to predict. They’d play the Chiefs tight and then get blown out by a sub-.500 team the following week. It’s the inconsistency that kills you.
As we head into the draft cycle, expect the conversation to shift entirely toward the offensive line. You can have all the elite receivers in the world, but if your quarterback is horizontal half the time, the score is going to stay low.
Actionable Next Steps for Raiders Fans
If you're looking to stay ahead of the curve and not just react to the final score every Sunday, here is how you should approach the upcoming months:
- Watch the Senior Bowl and Combine: Pay close attention to the offensive tackles. This is the Raiders' biggest area of need if they want to improve their scoring output.
- Monitor the Salary Cap: The Raiders have a decent amount of "dead money" falling off the books. Look for them to be aggressive in the second wave of free agency to fill out the roster depth.
- Analyze the Coaching Changes: If there are shifts in the offensive coordinator role, expect a change in the Raiders' scoring patterns. A more modern, spread-heavy approach might finally unlock the potential of their pass-catchers.
The score of the game might have been a disappointment, but the off-season is where the real wins are built. Stay tuned to the local beat reporters and avoid the national "hot take" artists who don't actually watch the 60 minutes of tape. The Silver and Black have a long road back to the top of the AFC West, but the pieces are—mostly—already on the board.