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Patriots Defeat Raiders 49-26 Old Raiders Shine

December 14th, 2008 No comments

In December 2003, Brett Favre came to Oakland just days after suffering his fathers passing and torched the Raiders for 399 yards over the air and 4 TD passes. Favre led the Packers to a 41-7 victory over the Raiders that Monday Night.

Today, on another cold December, Matt Cassel also learned of his fathers passing before coming to Oakland. With half the passing yards, Cassel  similarly followed suit to torch the Raiders with 4 TD passes and led the Patriots to a 49-26 win over the Oakland Raiders. With the Patriots, Dolphins, and Jets all winning this Sunday, the AFC East’s three-way tie for first remains unchanged.

As heavy rain fell on the Oakland Coliseum (McAfee recently dropped their sponsorship), the game ended early as New England jumped to a 21-0 lead with three minutes left in the first quarter. The Patriots dominated the Raiders over the air and ground game with recently departed Raiders shining through the clouds. Despite Asomugha’s best efforts, Randy Moss caught 5 passes and scored 2 TDs while Lamont Jordan returned from injury to run 97 yards on the ground including a 49-yard TD run.

After the game, Lamont Jordan had this to say about his return to Oakland:

“I was definitely happy for him [Randy Moss], especially the way the Oakland media had no good things to say about him. … We came here together to wear the Oakland uniform and to try to turn that program around. It didn’t work out and we both left on bad terms.”

Despite New England’s large lead, the Raiders at times had the opportunity to close the gap. Higgins amazing speed burned the Patriots junior varsity secondary for a 56-yard touchdown while Justin Miller, who recently supplanted Higgins on kick returns, ran a kickoff to the house in a 91 yard run. But the Raiders stalled in the redzone when Jamarcus Russell through a pass short of Ronald Curry who seemed to be reading a separate book, much less page

The Patriots scored the most points any team had on the Raiders in 2008 and all but 3000 of the Coliseums sold out crowd stayed past the 3rd quarter. I’m trying my best to stay positive, but let’s put this season behind us and renew our sense of hope for the 2009 season.

The Raiders host the Houston Texans whom won their last 4 games in Oakland next Sunday. Next week’s game’s slated to kick-off at 1:05 PM.

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San Diego Handedly Beats Oakland 34-7 On Thursday Night

December 5th, 2008 No comments

In the 11th straight meeting between division rivals Oakland and San Diego, San Diego handedly beat the Raiders 34-7. The Raiders lone score came from Justin Miller’s kickoff return towards the end of the first half. For a rival series where the Raiders have failed to make the slightest competitive, getting blown out by more than 10 points in the last 4 meetings, the Chargers completely shut down the Raiders last night.

It didn’t help that Andrew Walter, who in 15 games has only threw 3 touchdowns and 16 interceptions, came in for Jamarcus Russel who injured his right ankle at the end of his first half. Russell himself played another poor game, throwing 2 interceptions and fumbling the football near the Raiders endzone in the first quarter.

After a brilliant Raiders red zone stand holding the Chargers to a field goal, the game quickly went out of reach as the Chargers went into the half leading 27-7 with only a late Miller kickoff return to put the Raiders on the board.

Tom Cable came into this game hoping to build momentum for the Raiders. After all with a win, the Raiders would have tied San Diego for second in the AFC West and the team still has youth to build upon for next season. Instead, the Raiders came out, continued Raiders football of the post-Buccaneers Superbowl eras failing to move the ball on offense and committing stupid penalties during crucial times.

The Raiders have a tough schedule ahead, and their next game is at home against the New England Patriots.

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Raiders Lose To Chiefs 20-13 Second Time Around

December 1st, 2008 1 comment

 

Russell Completed Just 35.7 Percent Of His Passes Sunday

Russell Completed Just 35.7 Percent Of His Passes Sunday

The Raiders opening drive was like no other. For the first time in 52 games, the Raiders looked as if they would score a touchdown on their opening drive. A big pass to Zach Miller, a hook and ladder from McFadden to Curry, and the Raiders were a few yards from scoring. Sadly, the drive stalled and the Raiders settled for a 23-yard field goal from Janikowski. But all looked good, the defense had been holding Tyler Thigpen and the Kansas City running game, and the Raiders moved the ball well.

 

There was only one problem, the Raiders got too cute. On the Raiders second drive, they methodically plowed to the KC 25 yard line. But after stalling again with back to back to back incomplete passes, the Raiders ran a fake field goal play on 4th and 10. Lechler took the snap as if he were setting up for the field goal, Janikowski streaked to the left, except Lechler’s no Chris Paul, and Lechler’s no-look behind the back pass missed Janikowski completely and KC would return the fumble for a touchdown.

Jamarcus Russell finished the day competing 10 of his 28 passes with no touchdowns or interceptions. Fargas ran for a hard fought 82 yards on 18 carries and a touchdown, but fumbled the ball on a crucial drive in the fourth quarter. While McFadden was still being used sparingly and given only 7 carries for 13 yards.

I’m all for the Raiders trying new things to stir the players imagination and to get the offense moving, but a fake field goal run with the kicker on 4th and 10? Really? With the AFC West the way it is this year, the Raiders with a win were still mathematically in the race for a playoff spot. Had they pulled off the win, the Raiders would tie San Diego for second, and three games out of first. But I’m just having dreams, let’s spend the remaining games developing the team.

The Raiders gear up for a short break this week as they travel to San Diego for Thursday Night Football.

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