Overview

• Las Vegas fell to Los Angeles on Sept. 15 in a nationally televised game that doubled as a fresh chapter in the long-running Carroll–Harbaugh rivalry.
• The loss came on Carroll’s 74th birthday, underscoring his return as the NFL’s oldest head coach after an offseason hire backed by Raiders leadership.
• A week earlier, the Raiders opened with a 20-13 road win over the Patriots, fueling early optimism about Carroll’s impact.
• NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Carroll kicked through a whiteboard in a WWE-style pregame meeting before Week 1, citing unnamed attendees who said the message resonated.
• Carroll’s overhaul includes reuniting with quarterback Geno Smith and installing new pieces on offense, moves praised by analysts such as Terry Bradshaw as fitting a disciplined, energy-driven reset.