Gruden: Losing close games 'a reflection of the head coach'
The Las Vegas Raiders are all but certain to be sitting at home in January for the third straight season under head coach Jon Gruden after falling in overtime to the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday.
Los Angeles edged Las Vegas 30-24, handing its AFC West rival a fourth loss in the last five games. A Hail Mary against the winless New York Jets earned the Raiders their only victory over that stretch.
"It was tough. I'm really proud of our coaches and our players. We did a lot of good things tonight," said Gruden, according to Mark Maske of the Washington Post. "But you've got to win these tight games. And oftentimes, that's a reflection on the head coach."
"It's on me," he added.
The Raiders had their chances to win the game and keep their playoff hopes alive despite losing Derek Carr to a groin injury in the first quarter, most notably a fourth-and-goal from Los Angeles' 5-yard line in overtime.
Gruden opted to kick the field goal instead of going for the game-winning touchdown, giving his divisional foe a chance to steal the game.
Jon Gruden says if it was a little closer than 5 yards on that fourth down play in OT, he would have considered going for it. He felt like taking a lead with that little time left in OT was the right play #Raiders
— Adam Hill (@AdamHillLVRJ) December 18, 2020
Chargers rookie quarterback Justin Herbert did just that, carrying his team down the field and sealing the win with a 1-yard rushing score. The Raiders fell to 7-7 on the season, and their hopes of earning a wild-card berth are likely over.
Las Vegas appeared on course to reach the postseason after starting the year 6-3, which included a road win over the reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs. The AFC West club finished 4-12 and 7-9 in Gruden's first two years back in charge.