Jason Kelce Defends Raiders After Shutout Loss: 'What Matters Is How You Respond'
The Las Vegas Raiders faced a brutal 31-0 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 7, with their offense failing to score a single point. However, Jason Kelce, the veteran center for the Kansas City Chiefs and older brother of tight end Travis Kelce, isn’t writing off the Raiders just yet.
In a candid interview on the "New Heights" podcast, Jason shared his thoughts on the Raiders’ shutout loss, offering an honest and supportive perspective on what it takes to bounce back from such a tough defeat.
Staying Resilient in the Face of Adversity
"The Raiders didn’t score a single point, but that doesn’t mean they’re done," Kelce stated. "People are going to write them off after a game like that, but I know what they’re capable of. I’m not about to sit here and say they’re finished. Everyone has bad games—what matters is how you respond."
Jason Kelce’s words highlight a key principle in football: resilience. A tough loss can feel like a crushing setback, but it’s what happens after the game that truly defines a team. Kelce’s perspective emphasizes that, despite the Raiders' offensive struggles, their season is far from over. The team has shown promise, and their future performance depends on how they recover and regroup after a difficult loss.
The Importance of Accountability
Kelce’s comments come as a reminder that success in the NFL is not determined by one game but by the collective effort over the course of a season. For the Raiders, this loss serves as a learning experience—something they will need to grow from.
“What matters is how you respond,” Kelce continued, acknowledging the importance of mental toughness and accountability. In the face of such a humbling defeat, the Raiders will need to look inward, assess their performance, and refocus their efforts for the games ahead. Kelce's message is clear: bad games happen, but how a team bounces back is what will shape their season.
A Defining Moment for the Raiders
As the Raiders move forward, they will need to demonstrate their resilience in the coming weeks. With several key players, including tight end Darren Waller and defensive lineman Maxx Crosby, stepping up in previous seasons, there’s no question that the Raiders have the talent to recover from this loss. The team will have to dig deep, maintain their focus, and prove that they can execute at a higher level.
In the NFL, it's common to see teams struggle at times, but the ability to bounce back separates the contenders from the pretenders. For the Raiders, this loss is a wake-up call, but it’s also an opportunity to rise to the occasion.
Looking Ahead
With their bye week coming up, the Raiders have some time to reflect and make the necessary adjustments. Kelce’s belief in their potential is a reminder that the team isn’t defined by one tough outing—they’re defined by their ability to bounce back stronger. The key for the Raiders will be to stay focused, learn from their mistakes, and continue fighting for a playoff spot.
As Kelce said, "Everyone has bad games—what matters is how you respond." The Raiders have an opportunity to prove that they can respond in the right way.
Buccaneers Deliver Bucky Irving Verdict Ahead of Week 8
In Week 8, ahead of a matchup with the division rival New Orleans Saints, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers once again left no doubt about whether or not running back Bucky Irving and wide receiver Chris Godwin would return in time for the game. They will not.
Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles delivered the bad news on Wednesday, October 22, ruling out both Irving and Godwin immediately (per FOX Sports reporter Greg Auman).
With a bye week upcoming in Week 9, it’s certainly not a shocker that both Irving and Godwin will get another game to recover, but what is concerning is how quickly Bowles has been ruling them out. Last week, the news came on Monday — ahead of a Monday night showdown a full seven days away.
In Week 8, the news comes on a Wednesday, which is a slight improvement, but certainly nothing to write home about.
Clearly, Irving and Godwin are not close enough to returning where Bowles feels a few extra days could be the difference. They are a long way away from retaking the field.
With that in mind, it’s fair to wonder if Irving and Godwin will even be ready to play following the Week 9 bye.
Tampa Bay’s Week 10 matchup with the New England Patriots is a full 18 days from today (October 22). The assumption was that Irving would be back by then, at the latest, but the lack of clarity from Bowles and the Buccaneers leaves room for doubt.
Why Didn’t the Buccaneers Place RB Bucky Irving on the Injured Reserve?
The nature of Irving’s recovery timeline has been strange. When he first suffered his injuries, only a foot sprain was reported, and the estimated absence was maybe one week.
A few days later, it was revealed that Irving also suffered a shoulder injury, and after a long cryptic social media message from the running back, we have not really seen or heard much from him since.
That was back on October 5, and at that point, it was reported that Irving could miss several weeks.
If the Bucs had transferred Irving to the injured reserve before their October 5 matchup, the Saints game would be absence number four. Meaning he’d be eligible to return from IR after the bye.
However, Tampa Bay chose not to place Irving on IR, and now every week that they wait is another four weeks that he’d be forced to miss. Basically, at this point, it’s far too late to place the RB on the injured reserve.
Why the Bucs chose not to do it when they initially found out about his shoulder injury is a mystery, but there are two likely reasons. One, the training staff was unsure how long Irving would miss, or two, he suffered some sort of unexpected setback.
Hopefully, Irving can retake the field for the Buccaneers in Week 10.
Bucs OLB Haason Reddick Also Expected to Miss Week 8
It’s not just Irving, Godwin and Mike Evans that the Bucs will be without in Week 8.
Per Tampa Bay Times beat reporter Rick Stroud, veteran outside linebacker Haason Reddick is also expected to miss the Buccaneers’ final game before their bye week.
So, Tampa Bay will be without key players on both sides of the football. Fortunately, they’ll be up against the 1-6 Saints, but you can never take any team too lightly in a league like the NFL.
