Daniel Carlson’s Missed 48-Yard Field Goal Proves Costly in Raiders’ Narrow Loss to Broncos
Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson missed a crucial 48-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter, sealing a 10–7 defeat to the Denver Broncos and underscoring his recent struggles. The chilly Thursday night in Denver carried an air of suspense as the Raiders set up for what could have been a game-tying kick.
With 4:30 remaining on the clock, Carlson took his stance. The crowd’s energy surged, filling the stadium with quiet anticipation. When the ball left his foot, it drifted wide right — a heartbreaking miss that erased the Raiders’ hope of equalizing and securing momentum for a late push.
“The miss wasn’t just a blip on the stat sheet—it was a turning point.”
This was Carlson’s only field goal attempt of the game. Though he had successfully converted an extra point earlier, the missed 48-yarder became the defining moment of the night. As the final whistle sounded, the scoreboard read 10–7 in favor of Denver, leaving the Raiders to reflect on a lost opportunity.
Once regarded as one of the NFL’s most dependable kickers, Carlson has struggled to find his rhythm lately. Thursday’s miss marked the second time in three games that he finished without a successful field goal attempt, a worrying trend for both him and the team. Across nine games this season, his numbers suggest inconsistency and mounting pressure.
Author’s Summary
Daniel Carlson’s late missed kick against Denver exposed deeper confidence issues and cost the Raiders a chance to recover in a tightly contested 10–7 defeat.