Despite playing at MetLife Stadium, the New York Jets found themselves in an environment that felt like a road game during their 38-33 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. A notable contingent of Raiders fans filled the stadium, creating a disruptive atmosphere that affected the Jets' offense.
"It’s on me," said Jets left tackle Olu Fashanu, referring to a false start penalty caused by crowd noise. "I’m not going to say it’s because of the crowd. No matter what the environment is, I have to be locked in and hearing the snap count. Kudos to the Raiders fans. Obviously, they travel well, but that’s not an excuse. I have to be better."
The Raiders' last visit to the Jets in a non-COVID-19-restricted season was in 2019, and with the Raiders enjoying a surprising 3-0 start to the season, their fans were eager to support the team. This excitement persisted despite a subsequent four-game losing streak.
"They had some fans in the building and we have to handle it," receiver Garrett Wilson commented. "It’s a home game, regardless. Protect our home turf. We’re sitting there at 2-6. We have to give our fans a reason to come out. I get it. As a team, we have to operate regardless of the noise."
Raiders cornerback Eric Stokes actively encouraged the fans to amplify their noise in the fourth quarter, which they did, often drowning out the home crowd.
"The silver and black was out," Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak noted. "We heard them, they were loud, and they supported us from pregame, through the game, and especially in that fourth quarter. That was really special, so I’m really grateful for our fans."
Quarterback Kirk Cousins described the fan presence as a "pleasant surprise." He recounted not realizing a touchdown had been scored until he heard the Raiders fans cheering, looking to the crowd for confirmation.
Jets head coach Aaron Glenn suggested that the Raiders' 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the first half, which gave them a 14-13 lead, was a turning point for the crowd's energy. "It just sucks the life out of the whole building," Glenn said. "Because I thought our fans were in it. I thought they did a great job of creating momentum for all of us."
Raiders fans seized the momentum, contributing to the disruptive atmosphere that ultimately played a role in the Jets' defeat.