Greatest Comeback Ever? Patriots Rally to Beat Falcons in Super Bowl LI

Whew, welcome in to the full recap of Super Bowl LI in what will be remembered as one of the all-time classics. Tom Brady and the New England Patriots come back after being down 3-28 to beat Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in the first ever overtime in Super Bowl history. The Lombardi trophy comes home for a fifth time to New England. 

What...a...Super Bowl. This game was as close to what I have predicted in my preview on Wednesday. But, I didn't expect the Falcons to jump right out of the gate over the Patriots. The Falcons had everything going their way and then the 4th quarter happened. The old saying goes: "those who do not know their history are doomed to repeat it." The Patriots have a history of coming back under Tom Brady, but not in this magnitude. That was the Falcons' ultimate downfall. They sat on the lead knowing full well that the Pats had a chance as long as Tom Brady is breathing. Well, the Patriots used their experience and made the Falcons pay for it. 25 unanswered points in the 4th quarter and overtime combined and the Patriots had to work for every single score. Houston Rockets' coach Rudy Tomajanovich's quote of "never underestimate the heart of a champion" stood true tonight through the Pats and ironically enough, it happened in Houston. 

Atlanta Falcons

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Grady Jarrett, 5 tackles, 3 sacks. Who is this Grady Jarrett guy? I'm sure Falcons fans know more about him than I do. But he was an unsung hero for the Falcons' defense tonight. Based on research, the guy had 4 total sacks in his career. Tonight? 3 sacks against Tom Brady in a Super Bowl. This is what makes the Super Bowl great. You never know who was going to step up. Add Grady Jarrett tonight. He was a big beneficiary on a Falcons' front that was applying all kinds of pressure on Tom Brady.

Julio Jones, 4 receptions, 87 yards. As a Fantasy Football owner, I have been privileged to draft this guy for three straight seasons (even though I choked on all of them). Turf toe and all, Julio knew he would get a tough test against the Patriots' secondary, but he still made some unbelievable plays. Like I said in the comments, in 50/50 balls, in tough throws, virtually Julio is going to make a play. He made some of those tonight (the tough toe drag in the fourth quarter).

Taylor Gabriel, 3 receptions, 76 yards. He showed up big time in the third quarter, particularly when the Falcons executed some of their play action passes during that quarter.

Robert Alford, 11 tackles, 1 INT, 82 yards. In the 2nd quarter when the Patriots were driving, Alford did a good job reading Tom Brady's eyes to get the Pick 6. Yes, it's a losing effort, but he's going to be remembered as the guy who intercepted Tom Brady in the Super Bowl.

(-)

Coaching adjustments. The biggest negative for the Falcons. Why on earth would you sit on a 28-3 lead when you know that Tom Brady has a history of leading the Patriots to big time comebacks? It is just absolutely inconceivable. You have them on the ropes, so keep putting your foot on the gas! Dan Quinn and Kyle Shanahan are going to be questioned big time about this 4th-OT collapse. The Falcons are going to be remembered as a team that blew a 28-3 lead in the Super Bowl because of bad, conservative adjustments from the Falcons' coaching staff.

Vic Beasley. I don't think Vic Beasley was mentioned all game long. He only had 1 pass defensed in the entire game! I'm sure he applied some pressure on Brady, but 15.5 sacks in the regular season and he was a non-factor in the stats. Certainly this could be two reasons: 1) the Patriots' O-line did a great job double teaming him in pass rushing situations or 2) the Falcons' coaching staff did not turn Vic Beasley loose enough. Those could be the primary reasons why the Falcons' best pass rusher was a no-show tonight. 

New England Patriots

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Tom Brady, 43 of 62 passes, 466 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT. Tom Brady, I can't wait till you retire! You've broken my heart too many times as a Raider fan and as an obvious Patriot hater! But, no question, Brady's heart and passion was on display during the 4th quarter and overtime in this game. This guy is a first ballot hall-of-famer without any doubt. Down 3-28? No problem. He is no stranger to leading the Patriots back from large deficits. After tonight, he just further cemented his legacy on the game, leading the Patriots to an epic comeback in Super Bowl history. 

James White, 6 carries, 29 yards, 2 TDs, 14 receptions, 110 yards, 1 TD. Obviously Brady would get Super Bowl MVP, but if there's ever another Patriot who deserved MVP honors, it's this man James White. He stepped his game up when the Patriots were trailing in what was an insurmountable Falcon lead. The Falcons played soft throughout the 2nd half and James White was able to burn them with big chunks in the passing game. He scored a crucial two-point conversion to cut the deficit to 10. He scored a TD, which set up the game-tying two-point conversion. And he scored the game-winning TD in overtime.White picked up all the slack when LeGarrette Blount and Dion Lewis were getting nothing in both the running and passing game for New England.

Julian Edelman, 5 receptions, 87 yards. Edelman's crucial catch in the 4th quarter will be known as the "foot catch!" Just my opinion, but anybody can come up with a better one. As the Pats' go-to-receiver, he had a rough game. He was making drops. Brady overthrew him a lot in this game. But, Edelman came up big in the clutch. He had three Falcon defenders on him for that catch and the ball never hit the turf. Edelman's catch will live forever in Patriots lore.

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The first half. This is the only negative I can think of for the Patriots. They dug themselves quite a hole during that half. As experienced as they are, you would think they would start hot. But, miscues and turnovers put them in that slow start.

Conclusion

As the headline reads: greatest comeback ever? It's definitely up there. From an NFL standpoint, this is going to stand as one of the greatest comebacks of all time. Think about it, it's the Super Bowl and this was the first time that a Super Bowl went into overtime. The score is 3-28, this game was, by all account, O-V-E-R. The Falcons were going to win it. But the Patriots kept playing like champions and they played to win. Brady-Belichick, greatest player-coach duo in sports? It's arguable. Brady as the Greatest Quarterback of All Time? Arguable. This will escalade into an endless debate by analysts after tonight. For Brady, is this it? He's got nothing else to prove. But one thing's for certain, as long as Brady and Belichick are in New England, the Patriots will continue to be Super Bowl contenders. For the Falcons, it's heartbreaking to blow a lead like that. But that team is young. They have an explosive offense. The potential of the defense is shown throughout the postseason. But, the NFC South is a wide open division. The Panthers might come back strong after a Super Bowl hangover from last year. The Saints are gonna try to build a win-now team with Brees' window closing. The Bucs made some strides this season and will look to build off of that. There's a lot of questions and uncertainty for the Falcons. But, they just have to preach consistency and use this loss as motivation to come back and win it all. They'll certainly be back as long as they keep that hunger. But, as fans of football in general, we got our money's worth with this Super Bowl. What a game. Thank you guys for following my coverage of Super Bowl LI. It's going to sad without football, but the offseason is coming shortly. I'll be back. Time to turn my attention to basketball season full time. I'll see you guys later.

Congrats New England Patriots Super Bowl LI Champions!

(Not Again!!!!!!!!)

Super Bowl LI - New England Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons 2nd Half Open Thread and Discussion

This is the 2nd Half Open Thread and Discussion of the Pats-Falcons matchup in Super Bowl LI! Like in the 1st Half Open Thread, everyone's invited to chime in in the comments section. Leave a comment below and share your thoughts on the game.

OT

NE 34 ATL 28

Rudy Tomjanovich said it best "don't ever underestimate the heart of a champion." I gotta give credit where credit is due, Tom Brady, time and time again, has proven to be a living legend in comeback victories. The Falcons gave the Patriots one heck of a scare, but no game is ever over as long as Tom Brady is on the field for the Patriots. What a game. It was like the equivalent of seeing Michael Jordan willing the Bulls to a one-point victory over the Jazz in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals. Unbelievable, just unbelievable. Stay tuned for the full recap after the Lombardi presentation. 

Q4

NE 28 ATL 28

Everybody catch their breaths. This has turned out into an unbelievable game. But, this is why as long as Tom Brady is on the field for the Patriots they have a chance to come back. And they have turned this from 3-28 game to a tie game all nodded up at 28. Wow, first time that the Super Bowl is going into overtime. This Super Bowl, for sure, is going to be replayed years from now. 

Q3

NE 9 ATL 28

How many ways can things not go the Patriots' way? Julian Edelman and Chris Hogan made a few drops. That has been the Patriots' story all game long. And just when the Patriots built momentum on James White's TD to cut the deficit after the Falcons scored off a Tevin Coleman TD, Stephen Gostkowski's shanks the PAT to the right. Will Tom Brady have another magical 4th quarter comeback? This game is far from over and I'm sure the Falcons know it.

Super Bowl LI - New England Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons 1st Half Open Thread and Discussion

It's Super Bowl Sunday! Welcome in to the 1st Half Open Thread and Discussion of Super Bowl LI between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons. Everyone's invited to chip in, leave comment below, and share your thoughts on the game.

Q2

NE 3 ATL 21

To say this half was stunning is a cliche. But, this is one shocking start. I'm seeing a lot of parallels between this start and the start on Super Bowl XLVIII when the Seehawks jumped to a 22-0 start over Peyton Manning and the Broncos. This was on me and a couple of analysts, we underestimated the Falcons' defense big time. I said in the first quarter, considering both defenses were doing well, it was a matter of which defense will bend and break first. I forgot about the question of which defense will make the most plays for their team? And so far, the Falcons' defense is doing exactly that. They forced a fumble on LeGarrette Blount to get the Falcons' offense going and Robert Alford late in the quarter got a Pick 6 on Brady! This is Tom Brady we're talking about! And of all places, he throws a Pick 6 in the Super Bowl! Atlanta's defense came to play as evident in the fast 3 and out. Matt Ryan and the offense are feeding off their energy as Devonta Freeman has a rushing TD and Ryan connected with Austin Hooper on a TD pass. For the Patriots, they did move the ball well. Tom Brady managed to connect with Julian Edelman and Chris Hogan. James White and Dion Lewis got a couple of nice plays. But, the Falcons are following one of my keys that they need to pressure the Hell out of Brady. 2 sacks, a whole lot of quarterback hits and quarterback pressures. With this deficit, the Patriots we'll have to abandon the run and get Martellus Bennett, Julian Edelman, and Chris Hogan involved a lot. Meanwhile, the Falcons are licking their chops on that scenario as they'll likely stick to their game plan. Well, enjoy Lady Gaga's performance. The 2nd half will open up shortly after.

Q1

NE 0 ATL 0

We expected a shootout, but after one, it was a quarter dominated by defense. But overall, I thought the Falcons won this quarter. First possession of the game, they forced a quick 3 and out on the Patriots. We were questioning whether or not Matt Ryan and the Falcons had the jitters, but they showed no signs with a big run by Devonta Freeman. Patriots moved the ball better in their first possession, but the Falcons' D-line managed to get pressure to force another 3 and out. Both defenses are doing a solid job containing the opposite quarterbacks. The question now is, which defense will bend and break first as the game goes on?

Super Bowl LI Preview - New England Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons

Super Bowl 51 is just a few days away. You know what that means. Welcome in to yet another Super Bowl preview provided by yours truly on this blog. This year's matchup should be a good one as the AFC Champion, New England Patriots take on the NFC Champion, Atlanta Falcons. Tom Brady and Bill Belichick look to cement their legacy as one of the greatest QB-Head Coach duo in NFL history, bringing the Patriots to a fifth Super Bowl title. The Falcons have not been to the Super Bowl since 1999 when they took on the Denver Broncos in John Elway's farewell season. They'll look to win their first title behind Matt Ryan, the projected league MVP and Julio Jones, arguably the best receiver in the league. Like my previous posts in doing these previews, I give a little background to how they got to the Super Bowl, referring to their rosters and statistics, keys for both teams, and finally, I make my score prediction on who wins. Let's roll!

New England Patriots

These guys just keep winning. For over a decade, the Patriots associated themselves with two names, Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. The resume speaks for itself since their arrival in New England: 7 Super Bowl appearances, 4 Super Bowl titles, an undefeated season in 2008, multiple AFC East titles. With Belichick on the sidelines and Brady commanding the Patriot offense, the Pats are almost a lock to make it to the Super Bowl and go all the way every year. However, things were a little different this season to start. Tom Brady did not start the first four games because if in case you guys weren't following, Roger Goodell laid down the hammer and suspended Brady for the first four games because of "Deflategate." That should minimize the Patriots' championship aspirations right? But the Patriots continued to live by Bill Belichick's mantra of "Do Your Job." The Patriots started the season winning 3 out of 4 games during Brady's suspension. Jimmy Garoppolo? Jacoby Brissett? Who are they? Obviously, they're Brady's backups, but nobody expected the Pats to start the season 3-1 behind those quarterbacks. Well, Garoppolo learned the Patriots' system for two years now, so that's understandable. But overall, the first four games of the 2016 season without Tom Brady exemplified the Patriots notion of "next man up." It was a testament to the methodical preparation and coaching of Bill Belichick, Josh McDaniels, Matt Patricia, and others.

Since Brady came back in Week 5, the Patriots were almost in "God Mode." They loss to the Seahawks in Week 10 when Brady returned. Still, they were unstoppable going 14-2, ensuring that the Super Bowl went through them in the AFC. But, they did lose some key assets to their roster. Rob Gronkowski was placed on season ending I.R. (Injured Reserve) and in a surprising move, they traded away Jamie Collins, a key defensive player, to the Cleveland Browns. That wasn't the first time they traded a key defensive player away as they traded away Chandler Jones, their best defensive player, to the Arizona Cardinals during the offseason. Despite all that, their defense remained a solid unit. Offensively, Chris Hogan and Malcolm Mitchell have stepped up to be Brady's go-to-receivers, taking pressure off of Julian Edelman. Martellus Bennett has held down the Tight End position admirably since Gronk went down. LeGarrette Blount resurrected his career and the Patriot running game, rushing for 1,161 yards and 18 TDs. Also, the mid-season return of Dion Lewis adds to the Patriots' arsenal on offense. The Patriots did get a tough test against the Texans in the divisional round because of their top defense (look what they did to my Raiders in the Wild Card round), but Brock Osweiler threw 3 INTs and Dion Lewis went off for a rushing TD and a kickoff return TD for 98 yards. In the AFC Championship, they had an easier time, cruising past the Steelers and their trio of Big Ben, Bell, and AB. The Patriots have had a historically good rapport against the Steelers in AFC Championship games with Brady and Belichick.

Atlanta Falcons

Somebody call the fire department because the Falcons' offense is on fire! Matt Ryan has put together a spectacular season, throwing for 4,000+ yards with 38 touchdowns and 7 interceptions during the 2016 season. There's no question that Matty Ice deserves the League MVP this season. Obviously, he has Julio Jones to throw to, but the front office of the Falcons did a nice job acquiring more weapons to add to Ryan's arsenal. They acquired Mohamed Sanu from the Cincinnati Bengals, who was a solid complementary receiver to A.J. Green. Rookie, Austin Hooper emerged as a go-to Tight End for the Falcons, something they haven't had since Tony Gonzalez retired in 2013. Perhaps none bigger is the acquisition of Pro Bowl Center, Alex Mack, from the Cleveland Browns. The acquisition of Alex Mack helped bolster the left side of the Falcons' O-line, a unit that already consist of solid players like Jake Matthews and Andy Levitre. On the defensive side, Vic Beasley had a "Khalil Mack-lite" jump in his 2nd year in the NFL as a pass rusher, recording 15.5 sacks after registering 4 sacks in his rookie season last year.

Not a lot of people expected the Falcons to make it to the Super Bowl. Teams like Green Bay, Seattle, and Dallas were ahead of them as the likeliest NFC teams to make it to the big game. Rightfully so, a majority of the Falcons' losses were really obscure. They loss to the Chargers because of a failed 4th down call. They loss to the Chiefs when Eric Berry returned Ryan's pass off a 2-point attempt. They get manhandled in Philadelphia against a rebuilding Eagles squad. It's like, how could a team like them make the Super Bowl? On the more impressive side, I think the wins in Week 4 and Week 5 against the two previous Super Bowl teams in the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos was the coming of age on how good this team is. In the Panthers game, Matt Ryan and Julio Jones were the first quarterback-wide receiver tandem in the Super Bowl era to go for 500+ passing yards and 300+ receiving yards. The next week, they stunned the NFL world winning against the Broncos and their dominant defense in Denver. They gave other teams the blueprint on how to beat the Broncos' defense. That is you run the ball against them and for a little extra, you have an explosive pass catcher out of the backfield (Tevin Coleman caught 4 passes for 132 yards and a score that game). They put the Seahawks on the ropes in Seattle in Week 6! That is until Matt Ryan threw a costly INT to Richard Sherman. But, Matty Ice redeemed himself a few weeks later when he lead the Falcons to a comeback win over Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. In the postseason, the Falcons were playing lights out, putting the clamps on the same Seahawks and Packers teams en route to their 2nd Super Bowl berth since 1998-99. Those two victories definitely opened everybody's eyes and realize this Falcons team was legit. The Raiders did lose to the same team in Week 2 and I along with the rest of the Raider Nation can breathe a sigh of relief that our Silver and Black lost to the eventual NFC champions.

Keys for the Patriots

Obviously, shadowing Julio Jones is the top priority for the Patriots. Super Bowl XLIX hero, Malcolm Butler has a daunting task of covering arguably, the best receiver. But he should be good hands if either Devin McCourty or Patrick Chung provide Safety help over the top. The Falcons have struggled running the ball throughout the postseason as evident in both games against the Seahawks and the Packers. Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman could not get anything going. The Patriots have held running backs under 100 yards rushing in this postseason run. The defensive front should have a field day to stifle any running plays the Falcons call. However, Freeman and Coleman are really good pass catchers, so the Pats are going to need their linebackers to cover a lot of ground when the Falcons run screen passes or check downs with either Freeman or Coleman. Lastly, the defense need to pressure Matt Ryan just enough for their defensive playmakers in the secondary to generate turnovers. They're not a unit that will out-muscle the other on the line of scrimmage, which is why they don't have a lot of sacks from their front seven. However, they'll pressure with exotic blitzes and sub-packages. Offensively, it is essential that the Patriots get their running game going early. LeGarrette Blount should pose as a more physical matchup that the Falcons' run defense have faced this postseason. Dion Lewis and Chris Hogan are going to be X-factors. Lewis provides that change-of-pace back for the Pats and he is very dangerous in open space. Hogan has been playing well this postseason and he's going to need the hot hand since the Falcons are likely going to zone in for Edelman and Bennett.

Keys for the Falcons

Based on observing the Falcons' postseason play, Matt Ryan and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan have done a masterful job in spreading the around to several different receivers in order to beat both the Seahawks and the Packers. Back then, the offense just revolved around heaving the ball to Julio Jones and hope he can make a play. Now, the Falcons have a ton of weapons to take pressure off of their elite receiver. Devonta Freeman, Tevin Coleman, Mohamed Sanu, Justin Hardy, Taylor Gabriel, Austin Hooper, Levine Toilolo, Patrick DiMarco, Aldrick Robinson, the list is just endless for names that Matt Ryan can deliver the ball to. If anything, Matt Ryan himself is a weapon as he proved in this postseason that he can still scramble out of the pocket and make plays with his legs. They have a solid O-line that could Ryan some adequate time to let plays develop and that is possible considering that the Patriots don't have an elite, game-wrecking D-line. This is probably the most dangerous offensive unit that the Patriots have faced all season long. As mentioned, the Patriots will give Ryan some exotic looks, but Julio Jones' presence could give Atlanta's aforementioned receivers time to shine if they are up for the challenge. Element of surprise should be the emphasis of Matt Ryan and the Falcons' offense. Defensively, the Falcons are solid, but they are missing some key guys. Their best corner, Desmond Trufant is loss for the season, so that could spell problems for their secondary when game planning against Julian Edelman, Chris Hogan, Malcolm Mitchell, and others. If I'm Dan Quinn, I'd give Steve Spagnuolo a call. Because the key to containing this Patriot offense is if the Falcons' defensive front pressures the living hell out of Tom Brady. Move Vic Beasley around and turn him loose for that to happen.

Prediction

I'm going to be a part of the consensus that this Super Bowl has the makings of a shootout. You have two great quarterbacks playing at the highest level. For the 2nd straight year, we'll see an MVP quarterback going up against an all-time great quarterback. I think this matchup will come down to two things: 1) which team makes the fewest mistakes and 2) which quarterback will have the ball in his hands as the clock ticks down in the 4th quarter. The Falcons are likely at risk to have jitters to start because most of their players have not been to the Super Bowl. In contrast to the Patriots, they've tasted the Super Bowl and won not so long ago in Super Bowl XLIX and a majority of their roster from that season remains in tact. I think as the game rolls on, the Falcons will overcome their jitters and mount an offensive rally behind Matt Ryan. But, the Patriots are the more experienced and more disciplined football team. It's hard to pick against Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. In all likelihood, the Patriots will get the last possession and Tom Brady will once again live up to the "Tom Terrific" nickname, orchestrating yet another a game-winning drive en route to a fifth Lombardi.

NE 34 ATL 31

Raiders Bounced Out of Wild Card Round vs. Texans

Welcome in to the long-awaited full recap of the Raiders' Wild Card matchup vs. the Houston Texans where the Raiders make their postseason debut for the first time since 2003, but headed for an early exit as they lose to the Texans 14-27.

Raider Nation, this team deserves a standing ovation. I will stand up for a moment and clap for this team on one heck of a magical season that we'll remember. It was a season full of heart attacks, high blood pressures, and being driven to the point of insanity, but it was all worth it for double digit wins and a playoff berth. I could be mad that this team lost its first playoff matchup in a long time, but this team earned their stripes, gritting and grinding throughout the whole season in order to break 14 years of utter mediocrity and dysfunction. Unfortunately it didn't end well the last two weeks. But, this Raiders team will be remembered as the team that broke the playoff curse.

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Defense. The defensive unit as a whole played well. Yes they allowed three touchdowns, but what else can you do when the offense couldn't generate anything and are turning the ball over? I said in my preview that the defense has to blitz Brock Osweiler. Surprisingly, Ken Norton Jr. listened to what needed to be done in order for the defense to step up for Connor Cook. He blitzed! He actually blitzed. And it worked a majority of the time. Brock was rushing on his throws because of the pressure. The defense tried to put their offense in good position, forcing three and outs the majority of the game. When they were on the field for too long, that is when the Texans started to score. Khalil Mack lead the unit with 11 tackles. He was doing what he did best, stopping the run and putting pressure on Osweiler. Some turnovers would've been appreciated. They had a couple of chances, but the ball was going the Texans' way.

Jalen Richard, 5 punts, 68 return yards. Richard didn't do his damage in the run game, but he did so in the return game. His 37 yard punt return was probably the highlight of the game because if it weren't for that, the Raiders would've been shut out through three quarters. Richard did all he can to put the Raiders in good field position, especially on that return where he bounced off a defender and took it to Houston territory. That helped set up the Raiders' first score of the game off a TD run by Murray as the Raiders went no-huddle on offense.

(-)

Wide receivers. This position being non-existent was just what Connor Cook and the offense needed. When Andre Holmes is the leading receiver with 50 yards and the only receiver to have a TD, that's when you know the receiving corps didn't do good. Michael Crabtree had 33 yards and a couple of drops. Amari Cooper only 10 yards and had a drop off a deep ball from Cook. Most of these were mistimed or underthrown passes by Cook. That's what happens when you have a rookie who hasn't seen any first team reps until now. That results in a drop in production by the receivers. Then again, Houston's secondary is underrated.

Running game. The Texans' run defense only allowed one rushing TD by Murray. Murray and Washington each had a nice run of 10 yards or more, but everything else was non-existent. It couldn't get any worse for Cook as the run game was stagnant. Texans just kept stacking the box and they predicted every run play that the Raiders called and executed. Their run defense is one of the best for a reason and there's nothing that the offense can do because they needed it to take pressure off Cook.

O-line. When I looked at the notification that Donald Penn was out, I knew that the offense would be in big trouble. Menelik Watson could not hang with Jadeveon Clowney at the left tackle spot. Austin Howard let Whitney Merciless get by him with ease to get to Connor Cook. To make matters worse, Rodney Hudson went down for a bit. Jon Feliciano had to take over at Center. The Texans were licking their chops that because they could blitz with ease. Luckily, Hudson returned late in the game to avert disaster or we could've seen a lot of pre-snap penalties and Connor Cook on the ground.

MVP

Jalen Richard, 5 kick returns, 38 yards, 5 punt returns, 68 yards

It's hard to decipher who was the MVP of this game, but the way Richard he played today, he deserves MVP. Cook needed good field position to work with and Richard had a couple of good returns to put the offense in position to score.

Conclusion

As I said before, it's a bitter end to the season. We've had a magical run, but unfortunately injuries just had to crush aspirations of going deep in the playoffs. But, Raider Nation this is just the beginning. All winning teams have steps. They win, they get playoff experience, and they are ready to compete for a Super Bowl. Unfortunately not most teams have that formula. Most of them are one and done. But, Reggie McKenzie, Jack Del Rio, and even Mark Davis have rebuilt this roster and re-established this program to compete long-term. They're putting this team to become something that matches the likes of the Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, Baltimore Ravens, etc. Those teams continue to think long-term and build through the draft. Look what that got us. Khalil Mack and Derek Carr in 2014. Amari Cooper in 2015. Karl Joseph in 2016. They've found some awesome value picks in the middle-later rounds rounds and diamonds in the rough in the undrafted free agent market, such as Marquette King in 2012, Latavius Murray in 2013, Gabe Jackson and T.J. Carrie in 2014, and DeAndre Washington, Vadal Alexander, James Cowser, Jalen Richard, Darius Latham, and Denver Kirkland in 2016. The future is bright Raider Nation and they will get better with this loss. With everyone healthy, especially Derek Carr, they will be in position to make noise and go all the way. Don't take this loss personally. I know I'm not. This is just the first chapter of the Raiders' return to dominance. The later chapters will get better from there. But, this season has been special. It really was. And I am privileged to have covered and witnessed a playoff game for the Silver and Black. I was only 9 when the Raiders made their last playoff appearance until now. This means a lot. With the way this team is trending upwards, I'm excited for next season to arrive. Thank you Raider Nation for following me on this wild ride of a season. I will post up a Season in Review post some time next week and I'll be back for Super Bowl LI, so I'm not quite done with football yet. But I'll see you guys next season.

2017 NFL Playoffs: Wild Card Weekend - RAIDERS @ Houston Texans 2nd Half Open Thread and Discussion

The 2nd half of the Raiders-Texans matchup on Wild Card weekend of the 2017 NFL Playoffs. As usual, leave a comment below and share your thoughts on the game.

Q4

OAK 14 HOU 27

Sorry guys, I'm gonna have to take myself out early in this 4th quarter. I have somewhere to be in a few minutes, but the open thread will still be available until the end of the game. Regardless what happens in this game, it has been a magical season to remember. This is just the beginning after breaking a 14-year playoff drought. I'm proud of this team for bringing the greatness of the Raiders back. I'll be back for the full recap in a couple of hours. 

Q3

OAK 7 HOU 20 

This was a brutal quarter to watch. None of the teams put up points, but the Raiders couldn't put up anything to swing the momentum in their favor. Connor Cook is getting rattled out there. With the O-line banged up and the receivers getting shut out, this offense is a sitting duck out there. The defense is doing its job, but they're getting winded out there for being on the field too much. If this score holds up, this is going to be a moral victory here. 

2017 NFL Playoffs: Wild Card Weekend - RAIDERS @ Houston Texans 1st Half Open Thread and Discussion

Welcome to Wild Card weekend of the 2017 NFL Playoffs. This is the first half of the Raiders' road playoff matchup vs. the Houston Texans in NRG Stadium. Leave a comment below and share your thoughts on the game.

Q2

OAK 7 HOU 20

The first half of this game is what you expect with a rookie quarterback in Connor Cook. The Texans' defense are giving him all kinds of exotic looks and as a result, too many underthrown passes by Cook and he threw a pick on a screen pass to Jadeveon Clowney. But, the playcalling isn't helping either. Musgrave once again is playing it safe establishing the run and calling quick passes that result in nothing. On the score by Tay Train, they started being aggressive with a no huddle, which worked! They can't let the Texans defense substitute because they have too much talent and depth on that side of the ball. Defensively, they are being gassed out, but they had a great start. I think Ken Norton Jr. read my preview that the Raiders needed to blitz and they are bringing the heat on Osweiler. I think Houston's offense is starting to figure the blitzing pattern out, but then again, the Raiders' defense is being gassed out because of quick, conservative possessions. Bill Musgrave has to consider opening up the playbook more and try to look for the Tight Ends more please? Because obviously the Texans' secondary have Coop, Crab, and Roberts covered. The 2nd half will open up shortly. 

Q1

OAK 7 HOU 10

Nice start on defense, but slow start on offense until the last drive. I said this in my preview, Ken Norton Jr. has to open up the playbook and blitz Brock Osweiler. So far, Osweiler can't handle the pressure and the Texans' offense couldn't figure them out. Offensively, conservative as usual to start. They started deep into their own territory and disaster happens. Cook throws an INT, which sets up Lamar Miller's easy TD. But now Musgrave ends his conservative stuff, implements no huddle and it ends up with a Tay Train TD. They need more of that to get back into the game. 

Raiders AFC Wild Card Preview: @ Houston Texans

Raider Nation, we've been waiting for this moment for a long time. Welcome in to the preview post of the Raiders' 2017 Wild Card matchup vs. the Houston Texans at Houston. First time for everything, but I'll be helped big time considering the Raiders did play the Texans this season in a 20-27 victory down in Mexico City. I'll be placing a lot emphasis on the Texans because hey, "know the enemy."

Considering a regular season matchup between these two teams happened, there shouldn't be any surprises. But, the teams will make little changes to their game plan than last time. Definitely there'll be a big time adjustment on the Raiders' sideline since Connor Cook will be starting at quarterback. 

In all honesty, the Texans are better than what most people give them credit for. Yes, they have an anemic offense having a quarterback problem with Tom Savage and Brock Osweiler. But they've had success with their running game. Lamar Miller posted an 1,000 rushing yards campaign in his first year with the team. Their defense is criminally underrated. And the fact that they've done so without J.J. Watt all season is pretty impressive. Luckily, the Raiders don't have to worry about Watt, but Jadeveon Clowney has been coming into his own late this season and he's slowly, but surely living up to the hype as the #1 overall pick in 2014. Whitney Merciless is another pass rusher that the Raiders also need to account for. Romeo Crennel, the Texans' defensive coordinator, is probably salvinating on Connor Cook starting and will obviously put together an exotic defensive game plan to confuse the rookie out of Michigan State.

During the regular season meeting with the Texans, the Raiders looked really flat. But remember, they were coming off a bye and a big Sunday Night victory over the Broncos. Also, Mexico City has a very ridiculous altitude below sea level. They couldn't run the ball early on and full credit to the Texans' run defense for stopping the run game. Vince Wilfork can still eat up space and the Texans held opponents under 100 yards rushing per game during the season. However, the Raiders did beat them in other ways. Carr was able to find Murray and Richard out of the back field and they burned the Texans' defense with the half back screen game. Of course, Olawale had that big TD to tie the game up on the wheel route. Defensively, the Raiders were being gassed and they couldn't off the field on third down. It seemed like every third down play, Osweiler found C.J. Fiedorowicz over the middle for a first down and from there, the Texans continued to gash the run D with Lamar Miller. But, bend but don't break, the defense made critical stops when needed.

Everyone says it, the playoffs are a whole different ball game in the regular season. The Raiders put themselves in this position to on the road and possibly, go all the way. For Connor Cook, a Wild Card game as his first professional start is gonna put some pressure. Ball security and game management is going to be crucial for him. He made a couple of turnovers in the Broncos game, but those will happen when a rookie steps in against one of the best defenses in the league. As I said before, the Texans' defense is underrated, but they are beatable. 

Offensively, the offensive line is going to be a big time key for this matchup. Although, Penn and K.O. went down last Sunday, hopefully the initial prognosis is minor and that they'll be ready to go Saturday. If it stands, Penn, Osemele, Hudson, Jackson, and Watson have to impose their physicality against a stout defensive front and keep Cook clean all game long. Cook is going to need the run game to function so that he won't have too much pressure. That starts with the O-line to push around defensive linemen and create big running lanes. Murray, Richard, and Washington need to have the best games of their careers rushing-wise. They're very capable pass catchers out of the backfield, but if they can run through the Texans' stout D-line, it's going to make them harder to cover. The Raiders have relied on Coop, Crab, and Roberts in the passing game, but the Texans' secondary have been decent in keeping receivers in check. So Bill Musgrave, for Pete's sake, get Walford and Rivera involved as much as possible. They're going to help Cook big time. Then again, Walford and Rivera have to do their part to catch the ball since the Tight End position has been anemic all season long with their drops. 

On the defensive side, it's time for Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin to feast. Mario Edwards, Jr. already has two games in to knock off some rusts after being out for the majority of the season. Hopefully, we see Stacy McGee back in action to help bolster the defensive front. Also, Karl Joseph returns to reinforce the secondary. The pieces are in place for Mack and Irvin to wreak havoc on Osweiler. Osweiler ran over this defense and threw the ball at will. But now, he's facing a much stronger front. The key is that Ken Norton Jr. needs to call his best defensive gameplan as a coordinator. Honestly, he owes us with all the shortcomings all season long despite having better talent to work with than his first year. Place major emphasis on containing Miller, Hopkins, and especially Fiedorowicz and any other Tight End over the middle. Bring the heat on Osweiler and blitz!

This should be exciting. First playoff game in a long time. If the Raiders execute a great gameplan and follow any of the keys I mentioned on both sides of the ball, they have a very good chance of winning. It's time for them to stop moping about Carr's injury. Obviously, their heads weren't in it in the biggest game of their lives last Sunday with the AFC West up for grabs. Believe in Connor Cook and win this game by any means! I'll see you guys on Saturday.

Raiders Fumble Away AFC West Crown

Welcome in to the full recap of the Raiders' final matchup of the 2017 vs. the Broncos in Denver where the Raiders had a chance to capture the AFC West, but they couldn't as they lose big time 6-24 and dropping from the #2 seed to the #5 seed en route to a Wild Card matchup with the Houston Texans.

Title of this post is pretty self explanatory. It is disappointing because this game was what the team's been playing all season and even last year when Jack Del Rio took over the helm. They wanted to win the AFC West. That's the main goal. But, they fell short. This is a bipolar reaction. They lost the division, but at least they ended the playoff drought. That, alone, is what we should be happy about. But, yeah the end result hurts. 

(+)

Connor Cook, 14 of 21 passes, 150 passing yards, 1 TD. The INT and the fumble are a pair of blemishes on Cook's first regular season game, but that will change once he becomes more assimilated with the team. Like I said, if you guys recall my post about the 2016 draft, the Raiders drafting Cook confused me. I knew that McGloin's contract was up after this season and Carr was the unquestioned starter, but I thought we didn't need another quarterback. I'm happy to feast on some crow after this. Inactive all season and he looked fantastic. Most of his throws were on the money. It was up to the receivers to make the plays. I know Coop made a play to secure Cook's first TD, possibly the only highlight of the game. A lot of improvement needed, but Cook was the silver lining here and from this day forth, I'm done with Matt McGloin. He's no longer Matty McG in my book. It's time to "Cook" on Saturday.

Marquette King. King downed the Broncos inside the 20 yard line six times this game. He had a lot of air time here. He did his job, pinning the Broncos deep. But, the defense couldn't stop them.

Brynden Trawick, 9 tackles, 1 INT. Nate Allen went out with a concussion. Keith McGill was taken out after a few series. Trawick is a special teams player at best, but he filled in admirably at the safety position playing next to Reggie Nelson. Trawick's INT on Siemian almost changed the momentum, but not much. Still a good play.

(-)

Defense. I keep seeing flashbacks of 2011 when the Raiders previously had a chance to win the AFC West, but the defense under Chuck Bresnahan failed big time. Welcome to the sequel here. Giving Siemian and the Broncos offense the first score of the game said something. This was a lackluster effort. It seemed that they didn't care and played with no sense of urgency on what is on the line here. 

Penalties. 13 penalties for 125 yards. But, I'll give a little leeway here. These refs were absolutely atrocious today. A push by Mack late in the 2nd quarter is a personal foul. Really? Blatant holds on Mack, no flags. Really? Some holding and illegal blocking on the Broncos' special teams, they call a 15 yard penalty on the Raiders' special teams after the punt. Really? They got McGloin's roughing the passer call correct. But everything else, questionable. 

Running game and O-line. Didn't impose the same physicality like on the Sunday Night game in November. Credit to the Broncos. They know Carr is out and McGloin and Cook are unproven, so they just kept stacking the box. DeAndre Washington broke out a couple of good runs, but Jalen Richard and Tay Train were held in check. The O-line needed to take over this game, but they were pushed around. The formula that worked last game didn't work. It's that simple.

Coaching staff. Jack Del Rio didn't prepare this team well. Awful game planning from Bill Musgrave and Ken Norton, Jr. Soft, conservative, you name it. I give them credit when the coordinators do a good job, but I really don't think they're the long-term answer here. Awful defensive playcalling by Norton as it has been all season. Musgrave, understandable he wanted to ease Cook and McGloin in the situation, but still garbage. O-line's main strength is the left side, Musgrave proceeds to run it to the right. He also wasted two downs by calling up pass plays. He better open up the playbook next season.

MVP

Connor Cook 14 of 21 passes, 150 passing yards, 1 passing TD

Nobody deserved MVP after this game, but the way Connor Cook looked here, he deserves it. The offense moved well at times and it's up to him to get up to speed as the Raiders prepare for the playoffs. 

Conclusion

If history tells us, it is possible for the Raiders to go all the way to the Super Bowl as a Wild Card team. Think the 1980 Raiders with Jim Plunkett and Tom Flores. The Packers recently did it in 2010. Yes, this is kind of pushing the envelope since they're going into playoffs with a rookie QB, but stranger things have happened in football. You just never know. The Raiders may have lost their division aspirations, but the Super Bowl aspirations are very much alive. There's no denying it's a tough road since the Raiders have a possibility at playing in 4 road games (counting the Super Bowl) and they just have to grind it out and overcome all odds like they have been all season long. What we saw out of Connor Cook today, hopefully nobody waved the white flag yet. They just have to put in the reps and get ready to go onto Houston on Saturday.

Well, I haven't thought about what I would do differently during the postseason. But, I think I would start off previewing the matchup before the actual game. So you guys might see a Raiders-Texans Preview post before the game and most of it is going to analyze the opponent and I'll give out keys to a win. I have a bonus considering the Raiders played the Texans this season in Mexico City, so expect a post probably Wednesday or Thursday. I won't do an annual Season in Review post until it is completely over. So hang tight. I'll see you guys on Saturday. 

Week 17: For the AFC West Crown! - RAIDERS @ Denver Broncos 2nd Half Open Thread and Discussion

The 2nd half of the Raiders-Broncos matchup in Mile High. Raiders win, they win the AFC West. As usual, leave a comment below and share your thoughts on the game.

Q4

OAK 6 DEN 24

Nothing else I can say here. The Chiefs have the AFC West under wraps. On to Houston. Enough said. Stay tuned for the full recap.

Q3

OAK 6 DEN 24

Well, there goes McGloin's shot at possibly starting for another team. The last scoring drive from Connor Cook is definitely encouraging to see. There's a reason the Raiders jumped ahead in the 4th round. I questioned the pick, I thought he wasn't ready. But, I'm happy to eat some crow right now. These are definitely valuable snaps that Cook is getting with the first team. Especially in all likelihood, the Raiders are going to open up the postseason in Houston against the Texans.

Week 17: For the AFC West Crown! - RAIDERS @ Denver Broncos 1st Half Open Thread and Discussion

Welcome in to the 1st half open thread and discussion of the Raiders' final regular season matchup vs. the Broncos at Mile High. We already know the stipulation here: Raiders win, they win the AFC West. Leave a comment below and share your thoughts on the game.

Q2

OAK 0 DEN 17

Talk about a dumpster fire start. Did they absolutely think Denver was going to lay down for them for the division? The way the Raiders are playing, it seems like it. The defense is allowing this Broncos offense to run all over them with ease and of course, flags are involved against the Raiders. This is not how Derek Carr would've want this team to play without him. I'm sure of it. This is a really pathetic start. Offensively, the Broncos' defense continue to put 8 in the box against the run and they're doing a good job accounting for that. Matt McGloin had a couple of good throws, but a lot of them were way off. He had Coop open in one of the drives and just completely missed. And now, it's likely McGloin is questionable to return after a rough hit and Connor Cook comes in despite not seeing a lot of action. I thought Cook's throws were on the money for a guy who hasn't seen regular season NFL action and hasn't had a full grasp of the playbook. But overall, we need to see better effort from the Raiders. The Chargers aren't doing them any favors against the Chiefs. Philip Rivers 2 INTs, both of them resulted in Chiefs points. Do you want the division and a first round bye or not? Hopefully, that's the question Jack Del Rio asked the team in the locker room.

Q1

OAK 0 DEN 7

It feels like this team wants to give the reins to Kansas City with the way this started out. The defense gave up an opening drive TD, 2nd time they've done it this season. Really inexcusable to have Siemian and the offense make it look easy on the first drive. Offensively, McGloin looked good in some short passing situations, but nothing else. Running game is off to a slow start. The Raiders want to win the division, they have to start playing like they want it.

Raiders Beat Colts, But Carr Injured

Raider Nation, I'm sure you have the same sentiments as I do. Truly, this was the worst Christmas gift we could ask for. The Raiders took care of business against Andrew Luck and the Colts in a 25-33 victory, but if you guys have not heard the news, Derek Carr is injured with a broken fibula and is out indefinitely for the season. We could be celebrating that we're 12-3 and hopefully with a KC loss tomorrow, the Raiders will clinch the AFC West and a possible first round bye in the playoffs. But the Raiders just lost the heart and soul of this team and it affects the morale of the players and the morale of us, the Raider Nation.

This post will be an informal full recap of the game. I was able to listen to portions of the game on 95.7 The Game with Greg Papa making the call while I was doing my last-minute errands for the holidays. The final score is deceptively close. Offensively, the Raiders pounded the Colts through the air and on the ground. Derek Carr outperformed Andrew Luck this game, throwing for 228 yards and 3 scores while Luck managed more yardages with 288 yards and 2 scores, but he also committed 2 INTs. On the ground game, DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard were absolute studs today. DeAndre was the bigger stud as he broke out for 99 yards and two scores. Richard had 66 yards on the ground, but caught a receiving touchdown. I remember hearing Greg Papa's call on one of Washington's TD runs and the highlights after I got home. Washington was making the Colts defense miss. We also gotta give credit to the left side of the O-line. Penn, Hudson, and K.O., there's a reason why the left side is in the Pro Bowl. They absolutely demolished the Colts' D-Line to give Washington a big hole for a 2nd rushing TD.

Carr's injury was a big blemish, but there are also a few more negatives. Two missed PATs by Janikowski was an obvious negative. After seeing the highlights, the 2nd PAT by Sebass after Carr found Richard for a TD was blocked. However, those minor things come back to haunt teams at the end. And considering we're talking Andrew Luck and the Colts, the missed PATs are scarier. Another negative, the team was penalty happy during the 4th quarter. I was looking through the live feed of my Yahoo Sports app and I keep seeing "Oakland committed a 10 yard penalty" or "Oakland committed a 15 yard penalty." The offense was in Indy territory and then several penalties backed them up big time back into their own territory. This was all before Carr went down after twisting foot as the Colts' Trent Cole came in with the sack. Overall, the Raiders finished with 10 penalties for almost 100 yards. Really inexcusable, especially when they had such a big lead.

The other thing that grinded my gears here was that the Raiders were going for the knockout pass with Matt McGloin under center in over 4 minutes in the 4th quarter. A McGloin incomplete pass stopped the clock at 4:04 in the 4th quarter and the Colts were down by two possessions. Essentially, they just saved the Colts from using a timeout when they had two remaining plus the two-minute warning. In that situation, run it, and force them to use that timeout. I'm sorry, I still have nightmares abotu the game against the Lions in the 2011 season. Carson Palmer threw an incomplete pass to Chaz Schilens and ultimately, Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson came back to beat them after being down two scores. Back to the present hour, on the next Raiders possession, they did it again, but thank goodness Coop made the acrobatic catch to seal the deal. Those kinds of plays can give the coach and offensive coordinator major props or major scrutiny.

This team has to find a way to pull together. Yes, Carr is the engine that keeps the Raiders moving. Losing him sucks. It absolutely sucks. And it definitely punched us in the gut. We have all these Super Bowl aspirations after clinching the playoff berth last week in San Diego, but Carr's recent injury put a halt to that for the moment. It is now in the hands Matt McGloin. We know McGloin can ball. We've seen it first hand in 2013 even though those games didn't translate into wins. We have to remember, McGloin hasn't seen action as a full game starter since that season. I'm not counting the Bengals game last season since he took over for Carr when 25% of the game progressed. Obviously, Connor Cook is not ready. The team has to rally around McGloin as the quarterback. We have to rally around McGloin. This team also has to rally around Khalil Mack because he's gonna take on bigger responsibilities as the team leader now that Carr is likely done for the season. I've seen a lot of fight and resiliency in this team all season long. They have to continue to embody the motto of "Just Win Baby" and continue to do so "by any means." But it's also important to send Carr good wishes and support for a fast, full recovery. That's our quarterback. And we hope he comes back stronger than ever to lead the Raiders to greatness for years to come. I'll see you guys next week.

Raiders Top Chargers to Clinch Playoff Berth for the First Time Since 2002

Welcome in to the full recap of the Raiders' Week 15 matchup vs. the San Diego Chargers in San Diego where 14 years of no playoffs come to an end as the Raiders beat the Chargers 19-16 to clinch a playoff berth for the first time since the Super Bowl season in 2002!

Playoffs? We talking about playoffs? You kidding me? Playoffs? Yes we are! And damn, does it feel great! I've been waiting for this moment since I was 9 years old. They came so close in 2011 and the Chargers just had to spoil our hopes and dreams. That's not happening this time around Chargers. Not this time. No question, the start was concerning as the defense allowed an opening touchdown for the first time in forever. The offense committed two turnovers in scoring position. But, we should know by now, coming from behind has been the narrative for the Raiders this season. As Khalil Mack would say: by any means. And the Raiders just found a way to win and punch their ticket to the postseason.

(+)

The running game. Latavius Murray as usual, lead all running backs in rushing with 81 yards on 13 carries. Jalen Richard had 36 yards on 6 carries. DeAndre Washington, welcome back, had 23 yards on 5 carries. All of the running backs were running hard out there and were finding the right holes that were opened up by the O-line. Aside from the fumble in the first half, Murray rekindled a little bit of his 2014 form, finding the holes and making quick decisions. He made the running game explosive and that proved to be the difference maker. Richard and Washington had some solid runs in the first half. I've said it countless times that I love our running back by committee and today, they showed how effective they are when all three get touches.

Michael Crabtree, 6 receptions, 60 yards, 1 TD. Broken finger? No problem. Arguably, his best highlight today was that close call TD he had in the end zone for the Raiders to tie it up before the first half ended. Whenever Crabs has a bad game, he just goes to work and bounces back. It was evident last week in the Kansas City game where he was pretty much bottled up. Today, he bounced back with a solid game and pretty much dominated all the targets.

Bruce Irvin, 4 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble. The Chargers knew they had to account for Khalil Mack and they did. Mack was held without a sack today. That was the queue that Bruce Irvin needed to step up and create some pressure on Philip Rivers. And Brucie came through, especially late in the 4th quarter. He got a big time sack to put the Chargers back almost into their own end zone to create 4th down. When the Chargers went for it, Bruce put the heat on Rivers again and it forced Rivers a throw to Reggie Nelson for the INT. 

Sebastian Janikowski, 4 field goals, 1 PAT. How bout that? Sebass is the last remaining player on the active roster the last time the Raiders made the playoffs. It's gotta be special for him and he turned back the clock as the old reliable Sebass. The offense couldn't get anything going, Sebass came through with a couple of field goals for the Raiders to stay in the game. Offense stalled at the end of the game and Sebass delivered with a clutch field goal to put the Raiders up three. He almost missed again, but that kick just squeaked inside the uprights and the Raiders would eventually hold on to the lead.

(-)

Red Zone offense. There's no question Carr being in shotgun formation 100% of the time is costing the Raiders some red zone opportunities as of late. They've been good all season long. In scoring positions, the Raiders committed 2 turnovers. Murray had a fumble which was bad. Carr had an INT, which was also bad. They tried to go for the knockout blow, but the Chargers goal line defense stood tall. We have to hope that pinky finger heals up soon so the offense can start turning up the jets again.

MVP

Bruce Irvin, 4 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 force fumble

BRUUUUUUUUUCE!!!!!!! As I said, the Chargers had their attention on Mack and Irvin stepped up when it mattered the most. The guy can close out a game when called upon.






Conclusion

We going to the playoffs! We going to the playoffs! Kansas City lost today and the Raiders are back in first place in the AFC West. This season has been such an emotional roller coaster, but Raider Nation, we've stuck through and our team delivered by any means necessary. No matter how far the Raiders finish after this season, this is going to be a magical season to remember regardless. Reggie McKenzie, Jack Del Rio, and Mark Davis all deserve a round of applause as each had a role on bringing back the winning ways of the Raiders. The division is theirs to lose now. Win out and clinch that first round bye. Playoffs baby! PLAYOFFS!!!!!! I'll probably see you guys next week for the game against the Colts. There's a lot of stuff I have to do on Christmas Eve, so let's see how it goes. Stay tuned for an announcement.

Week 15: RAIDERS @ San Diego Chargers 2nd Half Open Thread and Discussion

The 2nd half of the Raiders-Chargers Week 15 divisional matchup with a playoff clincher on the line. As usual, leave a comment below the post on your thoughts on the game.

Q4

OAK 19 SD 16

I am so elated right now! It's happened! It's finally happened! We're playoff bound!!!!!! Oh man, another down-to-the-wire win. It didn't go as well as planned, but the Raiders are always known to come from behind and win it at the end. I'm proud of this team. 14 years of mediocrity and not seeing a single game in January is over! More to come in the full recap.

Q3

OAK 13 SD 16

The Raiders managed to put a scoring drive in place to start the 3rd quarter finally. But, unfortunately they have to settle for a Sebass field goal. They just can't seem to get into the end zone. Meanwhile, the Chargers made it look easy on their first drive, putting together a TD. However, Josh Lambo's missed PAT makes it a one possession lead still with the Raiders in possession of the ball. Welp, hearts racing in the 4th quarter again. Let's see if the Carr-diac kids can do it again like they have all season long.

Week 15: RAIDERS @ San Diego Chargers 1st Half Open Thread and Discussion

Welcome to the 1st half open thread and discussion of the Raiders' Week 15 divisional matchup vs. the San Diego Chargers. Leave a comment below to post your thoughts on the game.

Q2

OAK 10 SD 10

This team just finds ways to overcome. The offense and defense got off to a really slow start. As mentioned, the defense allowed an opening drive TD in a long time. But, they've stifled the Chargers all game long and only allowed a field goal. The offense, Murray had a bad fumble. Carr had a bad interception. If it weren't for those turnovers, we would be talking a possible two possession game right now. The Raiders were in good position to score, putting up solid drives, but instead of TDs, let alone field goals, they turn it over. They managed to get it going in the 2-minute drill at the end of this quarter. The running game has been a constant this game so far. Richard, Murray, and Washington each did their thing. It's good to see DeAndre Washington active. I feel the running game is much better when the Raiders have their three-headed monster in the backfield. Murray found a great hole for 30+ yards. And, how about Michael Crabtree? The man never ceases to amaze us with his hands and concentration on where the chalk is to stay in bounds. Clutch TD catch by Crabs to end the half to tie it up. Now after that drive, that should at least build the momentum up for the Raiders. They get the ball to start in the 2nd half and to be honest, I haven't impressed with the offensive playcalling when they get the ball to start. They have to take advantage and take the lead early. Kansas City lost to Tennessee earlier today. The Raiders have to capitalize on every opportunity given to them. The 2nd half open thread will open up shortly.

Q1

OAK 3 SD 7 

A lot of  jitters to start. The defense has not allowed a opening drive TD this season and what happened? Philip Rivers finds Travis Benjamin for a deep TD. That was pretty bad coverage. They had to account for Benjamin to remove the deep threat. Offense started slow, got better, and Murray's fumble just took the air out of a very solid drive that was set up by Richard's running. Game is close though as the defense has started to put the clamps on after allowing that opening drive TD.

Raiders Rally and Pull Away vs. Bills to go to 10-2

Welcome in to the full recap of the Raiders' Week 13 matchup vs. the Buffalo Bills. The Raiders get to that magic double-digit number to keep pace for a playoff spot, beating the Bills 24-38 while scoring 21 unanswered points in the 2nd half.

We have to start getting used to this feeling. The way Buffalo came out of the 2nd half, things just looked bleak. It's like "welp, we gotta just forget about this game and move on to Kansas City." We're just used to the feeling that because the Raiders are down by too much, we can already sense a loss coming in. This team, they just won't be denied. No matter what the score is, no matter the situation, they will continue to fight until the end. And as a result, Carr took this game over for the offense. Mack took this game over for the defense. The legend of the 2014 draft continues to unfold before our very eyes.

(+)

Khalil Mack, 7 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery. You can't stop him, but you can only hope to contain him. If it weren't for a couple of blatant holds that the refs missed, Mack would've blown up the stats sheet more. There is absolutely no question Mack is a DPOY candidate. The Bills may have fooled him on a couple of plays, but you don't want to piss this guy off. Mack taking on the Bills' O-line and absolutely wrecking them. He forces the ball out of Tyrod Taylor's hands, setting up Nate Allen's free INT and when the Bills were driving, Mack once again strikes with a strip sack and fumble recovery to seal the deal. What a beast!

AC/DC/MC. Triple threat! Derek Carr, 19 of 35 passes, 260 yards, 2 TDs. Amari Cooper, 2 reception, 59 yards, and 1 TD. Michael Crabtree 7 receptions, 74 yards, and 1 TD. But, mostly Carr has played a big part here. Shotgun formation all day long. The offense went off to a slow start, but he still willed the Raiders to yet another offensive rally. Crabtree had a key drop for a game tying TD in the 1st half, but he made up for it with a TD to get the rally going. Coop was quiet all game long until he shakes off a defender for the go-ahead score for the lead. Coop and Crab keep showing why they are one heck of a tandem and it helps when they have a ball-slinging quarterback like Carr.

Perry Riley Jr., 10 tackles. Perry Riley is proving to be yet another waiver-wire steal away from the Redskins. The Raiders definitely missed him last week against Carolina. LeSean McCoy is a elusive runner to stop and Riley stopped them in his tracks when needed.

Running game. The Bills had a majority of control on the run game, but once the 2nd half hit, Murray and Richard hit it to another level. Murray finished with 20 carries on 82 yards and 2 TDs. Jalen Richard racked up 53 yards on 9 carries. Tay Train has proven enough he is a goal line threat with his size. But how about Richard? I thought he ran hard out there and found some really good holes and running lanes to help out the run game. Overall, the 2nd half was where the run game found its groove and Murray and Richard are building up that reputation as "Thunder and Lightning."

Mychal Rivera, 3 receptions, 57 yards. It's a crime that I didn't put Clive Walford on the positives last week because he stepped up. This week, it was Rivera who picked up the slack. I'm telling you if this Tight End position gets going, the Raiders are going to be invincible offensively. Walford had a quiet game today, but Rivera stepped up to be Carr's security blanket when Crabtree, Cooper, and Roberts were being covered.

(-)

The slow start and the start of the 2nd half were pretty much the only negatives this game. It's a testament to way this played and how they rallied to win this game. Not a lot of negatives.

MVP

Khalil Mack, 7 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery

Encore Mack! Encore! Every day we're reminded how lucky we are that Mack fell to the Raiders at the #5 pick in the 2014 draft. When it's his time to take over games, he just goes full on beast mode regardless what the stats say.



Conclusion

10-2! Back at the 1st place spot in the AFC! If I told anybody 4 years ago the Raiders would've started a season 10-2, I would've gotten laughed at and people would say I was delusional. But, this year it's definitely real. As I said before, regardless of the outcome, this team just won't throw in the towel. It's what Jack Del Rio said in the beginning of the season: last year, they knew how to compete. This year, they know how to win. The will to win is undeniable on this team. But, not a lot of time to celebrate as the Raiders have a date with destiny with the Chiefs on Thursday Night. It would've safe to assume that the Raiders would look ahead and the Bills would take advantage of that, but they just take it one game at a time. Now definitely, they can put the Chiefs on the bulletin. Despite this magical start, the critics are saying it all the time: "the Raiders can't the beat the Chiefs." "The Chiefs will jump the Raiders and steal the AFC West from them." Chiefs this. Chiefs that. We are tired of this Chiefs talk. Yes, Arrowhead Stadium is always a tough place to play at. But look, the Raiders handled the crowd noise at the Superdome in New Orleans. They've handled a lot of noise on the road and they are 5-0 on the road. The Chiefs had two weeks to prepare in the first matchup. This time around, it's a level playing field with each team coming off short weeks. The bad news though, I will not be covering this game, which totally sucks. I still have one more week into the semester and I always have a night class on Thursday. But I will find a way to keep track of this game because this is huge and could decide the AFC West. I won't see you guys on the blog, but let's go Raiders! Go into Arrowhead, shut up all the Chiefs talk, and just win!