The Las Vegas Raiders' most productive tight end duo in the NFL, Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer, each committed costly fumbles in a 38-17 loss to the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on Sunday. Both players had fumbled only once in their careers before doing so 3:22 apart in the third quarter.
Bowers lost the ball first after being stripped in traffic at the San Francisco 31-yard line, just two plays after an interception by Treydan Stukes had given the Raiders life while trailing 28-17. "I can't put the ball on the ground," Bowers said. "I blame myself for that." He finished with seven catches for 111 yards and a touchdown.
The Raiders regained possession on a fourth-down stop, and Kirk Cousins hit Mayer for a 24-yard gain down the seam. Mayer was hit just short of the goal line and fumbled at the 1-yard line. "I honestly don't know what happened," Mayer said. "I'm not entirely sure. I just know I can't lose a ball like that at the 1. It's unacceptable at the end of the day."
Las Vegas later drove inside the 1-yard line again early in the fourth quarter, but Bowers was ruled out of bounds just inside the 1 on a 33-yard catch. Coach Klint Kubiak did not challenge, a quarterback sneak lost 2 yards, Mayer scored but was flagged for offensive pass interference, and Cousins threw an interception in the end zone on the next play.
Cousins threw three interceptions to go with the two tight end fumbles, totaling five turnovers. "When you turn it over five times, you're not going to win," Kubiak said. "Ever." Cousins noted the defense created opportunities in the second half, adding, "It's disappointing not to capitalize on those opportunities and cut the lead they had."
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
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