Raiders sharpen in second preseason game but lose to 49ers in closing seconds

San Francisco kicker Jake Moody kicks a 59-yard game-winning field goal as time expires during an NFL preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025. Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Greedy Vance Jr. (41) defends. Photo by: Steve Marcus

Maxx Crosby blew up back-to-back plays, Brock Bowers made a leaping grab along the sideline and Ashton Jeanty powered in a touchdown.

The Las Vegas Raiders inched closer towards looking regular-season ready Saturday afternoon at Allegiant Stadium despite losing to the San Francisco 49ers 22-19 in their second of three exhibition contests this year.

The defeat snaps the Raiders’ streak of two straight ties in the preseason dating back to a game against the 49ers last year. San Francisco kicker Jake Moody nailed a 59-yard game-winning field goal as time expired after a Jaylen Mahoney interception thrown by Las Vegas third-string quarterback Cam Miller with 21 seconds to play.

The result was disappointing for the silver and black but secondary to the product the team showed when their starters were on the field.

It was a strong one, in stark contrast to a “sloppy” outing at the Seahawks last week.

Most of Las Vegas’ first-string players stayed in for two series — Crosby exited after one as the most notable exception — before coach Pete Carroll began tapping into his depth at the end of the first quarter into the start of the second.

The Raiders were up 10-3 on the 49ers when their starters exited. Jeanty ran in a 1-yard score on his second straight goal line attempt for the game’s first touchdown to cap an eight-play, 41-yard drive.

A lot of eyes were on the rookie running back out of Boise State after an underwhelming preseason debut, and he delivered in the second game. Jeanty broke a host of tackles and finished with seven carries for 33 yards including a 13-yard gain for his longest rush of the day.

He also caught a pass in the flat for two yards, staying upright despite a big hit that made the crowd gasp and sent him to the medical tent for a look at his shoulder. But Jeanty stayed in the game and kept chugging behind an offensive line that had far fewer leaks than it did against the Seahawks.

Right guard Jackson Powers-Johnson and right tackle DJ Glaze helped spring Jeanty by creating a big hole on his best run.

Quarterback Geno Smith meanwhile effectively spread the ball around starting with a 28-yard connection to Bowers who went over San Francisco safety Ji’Ayir Brown for the catch.

Smith finished with 55 yards on 6-for-8 passing with the only two incompletions coming via deep balls forced to rookie standout Don’te Thronton.

Las Vegas was balanced among its receiving options with 14 different players recording at least one catch.

Crosby was one of two primary standouts defensively by logging consecutive tackles for losses in the first series. The other was safety Jeremy Chinn, who stymied San Francisco’s second possession by lining up on the line of scrimmage before dropping into coverage and intercepting a pass by quarterback Mac Jones.

That set the Raiders up with the short field that they capitalized on for Jeanty’s score.

Las Vegas’ pass defense otherwise proved mediocre, giving up 284 total yards with completions on 26 of 36 passing attempts. San Francisco starting quarterback Brock Purdy completed five of seven passes for 66 yards in his one drive of action, but then Las Vegas stiffened in the red zone.

The 49ers settled for the first of five made field goals by kicker Jake Moody, a 30-yarder. Moody missed one in the second quarter, while Las Vegas’ Daniel Carlson was a perfect 4-for-4 with a 54-yard make.

Las Vegas returns to action for its preseason finale on Saturday August 23 at the Arizona Cardinals.

Stay tuned to lasvegassun.com for more coverage of the Raiders’ preseason game with the 49ers later.