Raiders defeat Jets as benched running back Ashton Jeanty struggles
Las Vegas secured a 38-33 victory on Sunday after starting running back Ashton Jeanty saw limited playing time following pre-game comments.
The Las Vegas Raiders managed to snap a four-game losing streak on Sunday by defeating the New York Jets 38-33 on the road at the Meadowlands. However, the game drew significant attention due to the unexpected benching of starting running back Ashton Jeanty, who saw very limited action following controversial remarks made earlier in the week.
Ahead of the matchup, Jeanty publicly criticized the New York defense, stating that a couple of players on the opposing squad did not want to tackle. The second-year running back's remarks provided the Jets with immediate bulletin board material and sparked intense reactions from analysts and former players alike.
Former NFL head coach and ESPN analyst Rex Ryan sharply criticized Jeanty for his comments, questioning the running back's performance on the field and labeling him harshly during pre-game coverage. Ryan pointed out that Jeanty had struggled to meet expectations and produce meaningful numbers during a difficult first half of the season for the Raiders.
When Sunday's game kicked off, Jeanty was notably absent from the offensive backfield for the majority of the first half, not receiving a single carry until the final minutes of the second quarter. Because Jeanty was not listed on the team's final injury report, observers speculated whether head coach Klint Kubiak had benched him as a disciplinary measure for his pre-game trash talk.
Other analysts suggested the limited workload might have been an effort to rest the running back, who has been managing various lower-body injuries and totaled only 64 rushing yards over his previous three games. With the Las Vegas bye week not scheduled until Week 13, resting the tailback against the Jets was considered a possibility by some commentators.
Regardless of the reasoning behind his absence, Jeanty posted a dismal performance when he finally took the field. He finished the game with just nine yards rushing on two carries, marking his lowest rushing total since his rookie season, though he did contribute three receptions for 64 yards.
In Jeanty's absence, backup running back Mike Washington Jr. stepped up and delivered a strong performance for the Raiders. Washington, a fourth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, carried the ball 25 times for 83 yards, helping lead Las Vegas to the hard-fought 38-33 victory and bringing their record back to 4-4.
The win provides a much-needed morale boost for the Raiders as they attempt to turn their season around following a four-game skid. Meanwhile, questions remain regarding how team leadership and Jeanty will address his reduced role and the fallout from his pre-game comments moving forward.