Report: Aidan O’Connell Steps Up, Takes Blame for Botched Snap in…

The Las Vegas Raiders’ 2024 season has gone down the drain, though they still have opportunities to play spoiler for teams in the playoff race.

Take, for example, their most recent matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, who remain the class of the AFC despite their perceived step back. The Chiefs haven’t been the same offensive unit they’ve come to be known for, but they are still winning games due to their combination of staying on schedule offensively and their stout defense.

Las Vegas came into the matchup as massive road underdogs but somehow found a way to make things interesting in the second half after they clawed their way back into the game. Aidan O’Connell, serving as the team’s starter after Gardner Minshew was ruled out for the remainder of the year due to a broken collarbone, led the Raiders downfield and had them in field goal range, but unfortunately, a bumbled snap cost them a chance to score and take the lead.

Afterwards, O’Connell took responsibility for the bad snap via Jack Murray of Bleacher Report:

“It’s completely my fault,” O’Connell said. “I was looking out to the right and trying to make sure guys were set and I started clapping. In my head I was thinking signal the ball to get the ball but when I start clapping that tells Jackson that he should snap the ball.”

O’Connell went on to defend Jackson Powers-Johnson, who in real time looked like he snapped the ball too early:

“Jackson did exactly what he should have done,” O’Connell said. “I clapped too early and that’s how the football bounces some time….there’s nobody to blame but myself.”

It’s good to hear O’Connell take accountability for the last play, but at the end of the day, the results are the same. The Chiefs have gotten away with close victories like this one all season, but it must sting more for the Raider,s who should have won had that error not occurred.

The bright side is that O’Connell put the team in a position to win, and that is at least something worth taking solace in.

Earlier in the season, the Raiders finally made the decision to trade away Davante Adams after the two sides failed to get on the same page. After the move, members of the organization deemed dealing Adams away as business as usual.