Pete Carroll, Geno Smith return to Seattle with Raiders

SEATTLE (AP) — Pete Carroll played a new role in familiar territory Thursday night, with his first preseason game as coach of the Las Vegas Raiders coming against the Seattle Seahawks.

The former Seattle coach clearly felt at home before the 23-23 tie, talking with many Seahawks players on the field during warmups and generally being his outgoing, energetic self.

“It was cool to be here. I loved it here,” Carroll said. “But it didn’t translate to something crazy for me. It was just an opportunity to play in a great setting. Thanks to the league for putting us in this game. They figured it out, it was a good idea, and it's been a good one to look forward to.”

Carroll said the only time the familiar setting changed the experience was when he caught himself looking for the wrong uniform when watching replays on the video board.

“There were a couple times guys made plays and I’m looking at the screen in the end zone, and I thought it was our guys making plays,” he said.

Carroll spent 14 seasons in Seattle, going 137-89-1 and putting together double-digit victories eight times over a nine-year stretch.

He was at the helm for some of the most memorable moments in team history, including the 2013 Super Bowl championship with the dominant “Legion of Boom” defense, before the Seahawks parted ways with him after the 2023 season.

Las Vegas starting quarterback Geno Smith also made a return to Seattle. Smith revitalized his career with the Seahawks, signing in 2019 as the backup and then becoming the starter in 2022. He was selected AP Comeback Player of the Year when he led the league with a 69.8% completion percentage and threw for 4,282 yards and 30 touchdowns.

Smith started, but only played one series. He completed one of three passes for 15 yards.

Smith was appreciative of the warm reception he got from the Seattle crowd.

“It means everything to me,” Smith said. “It’s always fun when you can go back to a place you love, and I thought it was really good for me and it was a great experience.”

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (7) looks to throw the ball during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Maddy Grassy)

From left, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock, wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and wide receiver Jake Bobo talk with Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll, right, before an NFL preseason football game Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo, right, talks with Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll before an NFL preseason football game Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock hugs Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll before an NFL preseason football game Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll reacts after an interception by the Raiders during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, left, greets Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll as Seattle Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock looks on before an NFL preseason football game Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll, center, tries to grab a sign that reads "Bigger Bust-Geno or JaMarcus Russell?" before an NFL preseason football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll hugs Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald after an NFL preseason football game Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll leaves the field after an NFL preseason football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (7) looks to throw the ball during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Maddy Grassy)

From left, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock, wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and wide receiver Jake Bobo talk with Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll, right, before an NFL preseason football game Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo, right, talks with Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll before an NFL preseason football game Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock hugs Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll before an NFL preseason football game Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll reacts after an interception by the Raiders during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Rasmus Dahlin scored a pair of power-play goals and the Buffalo Sabres won for the 14th time in their last 16 games, 5-2 over the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday night.

Mattias Samuelsson, Jack Quinn and Ryan McLeod also scored goals, while Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 20 saves. Josh Doan and Tage Thompson had a pair of assists each for a Sabres team that had just 14 shots and was coming off a Monday night loss to Florida.

Owen Tippett and Trevor Zegras scored for the Flyers, who lost their fourth in a row. Dan Vladar started in net and made three saves in the first period before getting injured and being replaced at the start of the second by Sam Ersson, who made six saves.

Dahlin gave the Sabres the lead at 9:30 of the first period, his first goal since Dec. 20.

Samuelsson made it 2-0 with 4:47 left in the first. Samuelsson now has eight goals this season, one more than his first five NHL seasons combined.

Quinn scored at 4:22 of the second to make it 3-0 before Tippett scored his sixth goal in his last 12 games midway through the period.

Dahlin’s second power-play goal of the night made it 4-1 after two. The Sabres had been on a 1 for 21 stretch on the power play before Wednesday night.

Zegras scored on the power play to make it 4-2 before McLeod added an empty-netter in the last minute.

The Flyers said Vladar will be reevaluated after the game.

The Sabres lost Josh Norris to an upper-body injury after he assisted on Dahlin's second goal.

Flyers: Visit Pittsburgh on Thursday night.

Sabres: Host Montreal on Thursday night.

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/nhl

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen makes a save during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)