Raiders rookie kicker walks it off

GLENDALE, Ariz. — In a fight to see who really wanted the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft, the Cardinals prevailed.

The Raiders won the game, but they lost ground in the race that may matter more in the end.

Rookie kicker Daniel Carlson hit a 35-yard field goal as time expired to give the Raiders a 23-21 win, improving their record to 2-8 on the season and dropping the Cardinals to an identical 2-8.

“I wasn’t trying to make the moment too big and just do what I could for my teammates,” Carlson said. “It’s fun to celebrate after a kick like that.”

Carlson missed a 35-yard field goal at the overtime buzzer for the Vikings in Week 2. That game finished in a 29-29 tie, and his final missed kick made him 0-for-3 on the day. The rookie Minnesota drafted in the fifth round was waived the next day.

Derek Carr’s 32-yard connection with rookie Marcell Ateman and 20-yard pass to Seth Roberts late in the fourth quarter set up a manageable field goal for Carlson, who sent the Raiders to a victory they might’ve been better off not having. Even so, the Raiders will take win No. 2 however they can get it, regardless of how putrid the opponent.

“The one I missed in Minnesota was probably from 35 yards and I think this one was too, so it was kind of cool to get an opportunity again like that to be able to pull through for the team,” Carlson said.

Raiders wide receiver Brandon LaFell injured his Achilles on a 24-yard leaping catch midway through the third quarter, and he didn’t return to the game.

The veteran and Super Bowl champion entered Sunday as Oakland’s No. 1 receiver with knee injuries rendering Jordy Nelson and Martavis Bryant inactive. LaFell caught a 5yard touchdown pass to even the score in the second quarter, and the catch on which he suffered his injury was his only other grab on the afternoon.

“We think it’s bad,” Raiders coach Jon Gruden said. “We don’t think it’s good . ... That guy’s playing great football for us.”

Gruden will more than likely have more clarification on LaFell’s injury at his Monday afternoon press conference.

Cardinals’ Josh Rosen came into Sunday’s game one of three quarterbacks with at least 100 pass attempts and more interceptions than touchdown passes (five touchdown passes, eight interceptions).