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!

Week 13: RAIDERS vs. Buffalo Bills 2nd Half Open Thread and Discussion

The 2nd half of the Raiders-Bills Week 13 matchup. As usual, leave a comment below to post your thoughts on the game during the half.

Q4

BUF 24 OAK 38

That was a long 18 seconds. The comeback kids. Better yet, the "Carr-diac" kids do it again and Mack showed why he's a force in the league. We should be proud of this team. It doesn't matter what the deficit is. They just won't give up and now the Raiders have willed themselves to 6 straight wins and piling onto this magical season at now 10-2. Stay tuned for the full recap.

Q3

BUF 24 OAK 23

This has been the narrative of the Raiders this season. Never count them out! The Bills came out of the gate scoring 14 unanswered points. I'll admit that was pretty frustrating to see the defense let up on those two scores. But, here come the Carr-diac kids again. Carr finds a pass to Michael Crabtree to cut the lead to eight. Jalen Richard had a good return and a couple of good runs to set up the Tay Train for a TD. All of a sudden it wen from 24-9 to 24-23. Do not count these Raiders out! Let's see if this team has another magical 4th quarter comeback in place.

Week 13: RAIDERS @ Buffalo Bills 1st Half Open Thread and Discussion

Welcome to the 1st half Open Thread and Discussion of the Raiders' Week 13 matchup vs. the Buffalo Bills. Leave a comment below and post your thoughts on the first half.

Q2

BUF 10 OAK 9

Old, reliable Janikowski with all 9 points for the Raiders. It is a much-needed field goal to cut the deficit to 1 point. The offense had some strides here and there, but they've been hampered by a pair of penalties and a couple of dropped passes. Carr did a good job using the hard count to draw the Bills defense off sides to extend the play more. Despite being limited with the shotgun formation due to Carr's injured pinky, they've put together some methodical drives, just couldn't get it into the end zone. Crabtree's drop on the Raiders' 2nd to last drive hurt. Roberts had a drop before that too. The execution is there. But like I said, penalties are nullifying big plays and of course the drops. The defense is playing really short-handed, but they're doing as much as they could preventing Tyrod Taylor and LeSean McCoy from fully taking off. Despite the goal line touchdown, the defense is not breaking. Excessive shotgun formations are definitely hurting the run game. Latavius Murray and Jalen Richard have found some holes, but the Bills' front has been stout for a majority of the game. The Bills get the ball back. Defense needs to force a quick 3 and out. The offense is slowly, but surely finding its groove and should get going in the 2nd half. The 2nd half open thread will open up shortly.

Q1

BUF 3 OAK 3

Early defensive battle in this game so far. The Raiders had a couple of big play opportunities, but as usual, penalties are nullifying those big plays. Amari Cooper had a big play, illegal formation. Jalen Richard had a big run, holding. Meanwhile the defense is bending, but not breaking, holding the Bills to just 3 points on their first drive. Nice job by Bruce Irvin on not giving up on the play after being pancaked by Mike Gillislee. But, the Bills are threatening again to score. Let's see if the defense can hold them to a field goal again.

Raiders Hold on to Beat Panthers for First Winning Season Since 2002

Welcome in to the full recap of the Raiders Week 12 matchup vs. the Carolina Panthers where the Raiders pull it out yet again in a roller coaster thriller, beating the Panthers 32-35 and posting their first winning season since 2002, standing at 9-2.

I'm not lying to you when I say this, I have some tear drops falling while I'm posting this recap. I was 9 years old the last time the Raiders had a winning record. I've had blurry memories on those days with Rich Gannon, Tim Brown, Jerry Rice, Jerry Porter, Zack Crockett, Tyrone Wheatley, Charles Woodson. Season after season, they've gone 4-12 and 5-11. Throw in some 2-14, 3-13, 7-9, and 8-8 when Lechler and Sebass were arguably the best players on the roster. Too many player turnovers with Randy Moss, Warren Sapp, Andrew Walter, JaMarcus Russell, Bruce Gradkowski, Justin Fargas, Robert Gallery, Richard Seymour, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Roland McClain, Darren McFadden, etc. And too many coaching turnovers with Norv Turner, Tom Cable, Lane Kiffin, Art Shell, Dennis Allen, etc. Just looking at that list leaves you with some nostalgia and a lot of pain inside. Now, you can put that all to rest! Add this game to the list of polarizing victories this season. The first half, the Raiders looked dominant. They were gonna run the Panthers out of town. Then, the third quarter happened when Carr dislocated his pinky. Not the sight you want to see, but never underestimate his toughness in finishing the game out. The Raiders have overcome a lot of adversity in the 4th quarter. To them, this was normal. Blew a 17 point lead? No problem. Win the game by 3. Great win.

(+)

Derek Carr, 26 of 38 passes, 315 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT. Carr is a certified tough guy. That's the Mamba Mentality that Carr has. If you're a Laker fan and Raider fan like myself you'd understand how Kobe played. Didn't matter if he had foot injuries, knee injuries, finger dislocation, he still played through the pain and willed the Lakers to a victory. There's nothing that can hold this "Carr" down. He was solid throughout the whole game, especially in the first half. Then after that pinky injury, he did throw a pick to Thomas Davis, but he still kept playing and as usual, laid it all out on the field to keep this team rolling to their first winning season.

Khalil Mack, 5 tackles, 1 strip sack, 1 fumble recovery, 1 INT, 1 TD. Whew, that's a lot of stats from Mack. Like I said, I was fired up when Mack had that pick 6 off a Cam Newton screen pass. He could've totaled a lot more sacks, but he kept feasting on the Panthers' O-line and applying a lot of pressure on Newton. There's nothing much to be said with Mack. He is a beast. And when Mario Edwards and Aldon Smith come back, he's definitely going to turn it on in the sacks. This game, he showed he can do it all.

Michael Crabtree, 8 receptions, 110 yards. Oh no, Crabtree has played like garbage the last two games. As Aaron Rodgers would say: "R-E-L-A-X." He did promise he was going to come back strong after the last game and he lived up to it. Crabtree, the best hands in the league, was back this game. And talk about a clutch catch from Derek Carr's deep ball to put Jano within field goal range to win the game. Give the "King Clutch" title back to King Crab!

Bruce Irvin, 3 tackles, 1 sack. Before Cam Newton goes to sleep, he checks under his bed for Bruce Irvin. Aside from Von Miller, Irvin has been a thorn on the side for Newton. This dates back to the Seattle Seahawks days. The stats sheet might show Irvin had a quiet game, but he was applying a lot pressure on the edge to make Newton as uncomfortable as can be.

(-)

The third quarter. Yes, momentum swung in the favor when Derek Carr got hurt for a brief moment. But, if anything, the team as whole has to keep playing at that moment. Keep the momentum going forward instead of giving it up. As mentioned, the Panthers scored 18 unanswered points. Hopefully this young team learns to play regardless of the situation, especially when the franchise quarterback gets hurt.

Running game. Once again, the running game gets stuffed by a very big, physical D-line. We have to give credit to the Panthers' defense in that category. The one silver lining is that they gave up a goal line TD to Murray, but other than that, their run defense played lights out.

Secondary. Oh man, I saw T.J. Carrie getting burned. Sean Smith got burned, although he did play an "OK" game. Antonio Hamilton was on the field when D.J. Hayden got hurt. Speaking of Hayden, we might as well change his name P.I. Hayden. He's solid when he's a nickel corner at best. Considering Amerson was inactive, it was frustrating watching the secondary give up big plays to keep Carolina hanging.

MVP

Khalil Mack 5 tackles, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery, INT, TD

"No doubt." "By any means!" First defensive player on the board in my MVP list this season and it couldn't be more fitting. Mack formally introduced himself to Cam Newton this game and he gets his first pick 6 and 1st fumble recovery off a strip sack. The Untamable Beast!




Conclusion

9-2! Say it with me now, 9-2! Regardless what happens this season, this is going to be something to remember. There are a lot of football games left though to get to the "P word." Hopefully Carr's finger turns out to be okay because we're gonna need him for the stretch run. This team gives us heart attacks, but as long as they win in the end it doesn't matter. Now addressing the elephant in the room: the NFL could decide on Aldon Smith's reinstatement possibly on Friday because that's the expiration date of his 60-day reinstatement window. With no Mario Edwards in sight, this news could give the defense the spark they need to play better solid football. So stay tuned for that. But, five games left. The Raiders' remaining road games are against division rivals and they get Buffalo next week and Indianapolis on Christmas Eve. Next week's matchup could be a trap game because the Raiders could be caught looking ahead to the pivotal Thursday Night rematch vs. the Chiefs in Kansas City. But as long as they continue to take it one game at a time, the sky is the limit. Happy days are here again. The Raiders have compiled a winning season finally! Now let's keep the train rolling! Just keep chalking up those W's! I'll see you guys next week for the game against the Buffalo Bills.

Week 12: RAIDERS vs. Carolina Panthers 2nd Half Open Thread and Discussion

The 2nd half of the Raiders-Panthers week 12 matchup. Leave a comment below the post and share your thoughts on the half.

Q4

CAR 32 OAK 35

I have seen it all from this team already this season. Down 17 on the road, they come back to win with a two-point conversion. Set the record for most penalties in one game, still win. Some controversial calls, still win. Blowing a 17 point lead and the franchise quarterback getting hurt and they still find a way to win. This team will not bow. They will not give up. The will to win burns bright in this team! Al Davis is smiling somewhere up in the skies. After 14 painful seasons, we finally have a winning season! Stay tuned for the full recap.

Q3

CAR 25 OAK 24

Wow, the first half was awesome. The start of the 2nd half not so much. Our worst fear of Derek Carr getting injured has manifested itself. The Raiders were putting together a solid offensive drive to start and then it just crashing down when Carr got his pinky finger dislocated on the snap. Matt McGloin comes in and didn't do much. The Panthers cashed in the opportunity, scoring 18 unanswered points. 12 of them was when Carr was out. The next 6 was off a turnover from Carr throwing with a glove. This quarter sucked the air out of the momentum that the Raiders had. They've overcome a lot of adversity in the 4th quarter. Let's see what this next chapter will unfold.

Week 12: RAIDERS vs. Carolina Panthers 1st Half Open Thread and Discussion

Welcome to the 1st half of the Raiders' week 12 matchup vs. the defending NFC Champions, Carolina Panthers. Leave a comment below the post on your thoughts during the half.

Q2

CAR 7 OAK 24

Now that was a fun quarter to watch! The Panthers are better than what their record indicates, but the Raiders are not taking anything lightly. All three phases are running well: offense, defense, and special teams. If it weren't for that roughing the passer penalty on Stacy McGee, the Raiders would've pitched a shutout so far. This is the kind of performance we've been waiting for from the Raiders all season long. I'm still fired up on that pick 6 by Khalil Mack to close out the quarter. That was a great athletic play to read the misdirection throw by Cam Newton. The negatives I can only pinpoint is that running game is not doing so well. The Panthers' D-line are doing a great job keeping the run game in check, but Tay Train was still able to punch in one rushing TD. Then, the last few offensive possessions I thought were a little too conservative. Some quick 3 and outs, pretty dangerous to leave all those points on the field for Cam and the Panthers offense. This should be a complete blowout right out of the gate. But, there's satisfaction to be taken in with this dominant first half performance. Derek Carr is distributing the ball well and the offense is just putting together solid, methodical drives to gas out the Panthers defense. The defense is creating a lot of pressure on the Panthers and their banged up O-line. Now, 2nd half, usually in the past, when the Raiders were up by this kind of margin, they put their foot off the gas and let the game be a lot closer than it is. They need to "keep pounding" on this Panthers team. No ifs, ands, or buts. Make the necessary adjustments and run the Panthers out of the Coliseum and straight out of Oakland! The 2nd half post will open up shortly.

Q1

CAR 7 OAK 7

So, Cam Newton gets his wish for the refs to call more roughing the passer calls. Defenses still do it, but when it's the Raiders, the flags come out immediately. But, aside from that, great start for the Raiders holding the Panthers to nothing on their first possession. Carr and the offense had a pair of very methodical drives. I gotta give Musgrave credit for a solid game plan to start. But going back to the last drive by the Panthers, I thought that penalty was questionable. No way Stacy McGee would've stopped his momentum going forward. But, gotta live with it. Still more football to go.

Raiders Overcome All Odds to Notch 5th Road Win vs. Bucs

Welcome in to the full recap of the Raiders' thrilling matchup vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where the Raiders, with the odds against them throughout the whole game, still managed to just win baby, defeating their Super Bowl 37 nemesis 30-24 in a wild overtime finish.

*911 what's your emergency? Yes, I need some medical assistance because my Raiders are driving me nuts with all these wild game winners and penalties!* How did we win that game? I don't know. Not a lot of things went right for the Raiders which we'll further discuss in this post. But, the will to win. This what that young team displayed out there today. The will to win burns bright on this team. I'm just happy right now. I can't even think right now on what to write. But, let's get right down to business.

(+)

Derek Carr, 40-59 passes, 513 yards, 4 TDs. The CARR-diac kid does it again. The odds were stacked against the Raiders offense big time. Too many pre-snap penalties, holding calls, and all kinds of absurd penalties. How the heck does Carr keep a confident poise? This is why he's our quarterback. That winning mentality Carr has is head above shoulders. He was awesome. No interceptions too, which was pretty astonishing even though he did have that fumble in the 1st quarter. Carr weathered the storm and showed up big time in the 2nd half.

Amari Cooper, 12 receptions, 173 yards, 1 TD. Man, Coop going up against Vernon Hargreaves today took me back when I discovered his talent during the Alabama-Florida game two years. Blake Sims was just heaving it to Coop all game long because the Gators' secondary had no answer for him. Today, it was the same story. Coop got the best of Hargreaves once again. He had the critical drop though at the end of regulation which would've inched Janikowski closer, but this was great bounce back game after Jalen Ramsey kept him in check last week.

Seth Roberts, 3 receptions, 69 yards. 1 TD. That 1 TD is a big one. Big Shot Rob(erts)! He is quite a lucky charm when he scores a TD. When Seth scores a TD, the Raiders win. What a big play on a 4th down to win the game. Black Jack Del Rio rolls the dice again on 4th down and Carr finds Roberts over the middle for a walk off TD. The kid is absolute clutch.

Running game. Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington broke out big yards for big gains. Latavius Murray plowed his way in between the tackles. The running game was pretty solid today despite all the penalties. All three did their jobs to churn up some yardages to take pressure off Carr a little bit.

Khalil Mack, 7 tackles, 2 sacks. The sacks will come. That's the mantra when it comes to Khalil Mack and Mack notches his first multiple sack performance this season. Jameis Winston is a solid scrambling quarterback and Mack managed to get his hands on him as well as doing his job containing the run.

(-)

Penalties. I have a lot of NSFW today to say about the penalties, but I'm gonna try to keep a clean mouth for this post. What a *profane* fest in this category. It was already bad in the first half. The opening of the second half, I thought they had it down, but they just started to become ridiculous by the 4th quarter to overtime. The Raiders committed penalties like it was 2011 when they set the record for most penalties in the season. Today, they set another record in that category in just one game. ONE game. When I was watching on my TV, every penalty called on the Raiders, I feel like I was transforming into a diabolical sociopath. We know, we're accustomed to the refs being against us. But, this was inexcusable for the whole team, especially when they haven't traveled back after last week's win against Jacksonville. Jack Del Rio, the coaches, they have to do a better job in holding these players accountable. I haven't been this upset with the penalty plague since they actually set the single season record in 2011.

Sebastian Janikowski. Sebass has been the Raiders' most consistent player to put points on the board, but it is becoming harder to trust Sebass in game-winning situations. I had flashbacks to that Arizona Cardinals game in 2010 when Bruce Gradkowski set up the potential game-winning field goal. Then, Sebass missed it wide left from 32 yards out. He had two potential game-winning field goals this game. He missed in the 4th quarter and missed in OT which almost cost the Raiders the game. Thank goodness, the defense stepped up big time to get Winston and the Bucs' offense off the field to bail out Janikowski's misses.

MVP

Derek Carr, 40 of 59 passes, 513 passing yards, 4 TDs

"That's my quarterback." ~ Michael Crabtree. Carr refuses to let the Raiders lose their first road game of the season. Tremendous guts and poise by Carr to remain level-headed and orchestrate another beautiful game-winning drive and an awesome overall performance.




Conclusion

"Oh, Sunday Night." "Oh Sunday Night!" The Raiders had to take care of business in Tampa Bay to wrap up their Florida road trip before looking towards the Sunday Night matchup vs. Denver. Now, the stage is set for a big time AFC West matchup. Against the Bucs today, the Raiders show they can win on the road against all odds. Now, next week they have to find a way to win at home against all odds. This is a big stage for this young Raiders' squad. A national audience will be watching them. They have to prove they are for real and beat the Broncos to keep pace in this tight AFC West race. But, what a hard-fought win today. 5-0 on the road, 6-2 overall, it's just too surreal. They need a couple more because the magic number to get into the playoffs is 10 wins. The Raiders should get out of Florida and start game planning against the Broncos. Let's get that win on national TV where the millions and millions will be watching and they will know the Silver and Black are back! I'll see you guys next week for that game at a later start time on Sunday.

Week 8: Florida Road Trip 2/2 - RAIDERS @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2nd Half Open Thread and Discussion

Here is the 2nd half open thread and discussion post of the Raiders-Bucs matchup. Leave a comment below the post on your thoughts of the game.

OT

OAK 30 TB 24

Seth Roberts...you are the man to end that game the way it did! So many ways the Raiders almost threw that game away to lose their first road game of the season. Missed field goals by Sebass. Setting the record for most penalties. But I don't know how they did it. The most stressful game of the season for sure. 5-0 on the road! I'll be back for the full recap post. I gotta take some meds or something. 

Q4

OAK 24 TB 24

Two key plays highlighted the end of that 4th quarter. The wide open dropped pass by Coop and Sebass misses the game-winning field goal. How long my heart can take this pounding? I don't know. But, man the Raiders had a pair of chances to win in regulation in what is a penalty *profane* fest. We head into OT, let's see if the Raiders can notch another W on the road.

Q3

OAK 17 TB 10

I'm happy about the fact the Raiders made the necessary adjustments and got back into this game with with 17 unanswered points. But, these penalties. Completely unacceptable when the team has the momentum in this half. Now, King shanked a punt to give the Bucs good field position and they have all the momentum to tie this up. Offense and defense has played lights out till the last few minutes of this quarter.

Week 8: Florida Road Trip 2/2 - RAIDERS @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1st Half Open Thread and Discussion

Welcome to the 1st half open thread and discussion for the Raiders' Week 8 road matchup vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Leave a comment below this post on your thoughts of the game.

Q2

OAK 3 TB 10

Well, you can't ask for rough start. There are a few highlights in this 2nd quarter. Jamize Olawale breaking out for a 68 yard explosive pass play. The running game giving Tampa Bay's defense all kinds of looks. But aside from all that, the Raiders managed only 3 points throughout the first half. This game is bringing out the Raiders of the last 13 years of losing. They are shooting themselves in the foot with a lot of pre-snap penalties, holding penalties, personal fouls, and unsportsmanlike conduct. It's the story of the season, but the Raiders have had more penalties this 1st half than all season long. This is a team that stayed in the state of Florida and the Buccaneers had to travel from California and they look sharper than the Raiders out there on the field for the first 30 minutes. This team has to regroup and start playing like they have on the road all season long. They have to settle down and limit the penalties. There's a lot more football left to play. The 2nd half post will open up shortly.

Q1

OAK 0 TB 3

Okay, the Buccaneers had to travel over 1,000 miles to travel back home to Tampa while the Raiders stayed in Florida. It's supposed to be the Bucs having a bad start. Quick 3 and outs by the offense is something that can't happen. Costly penalties account for that too, particularly with the unsportsmanlike conduct on Crabtree. The defense is losing a lot of key players. Sean Smith and Perry Riley, Jr. went down. The Bucs offense has an advantage and they could just use Mike Evans' size all day.

Raiders Pummel Hapless Jags to Open Up Florida Road Trip

Welcome in to the full recap of the Raiders' Week 7 road matchup vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars where the Raiders remain perfect away from Oakland, soundly beating the Jaguars 33-16 to open up the two-game Florida road trip.

I know a win against the Jaguars does not gauge the barometer around this team after a loss against the Chiefs last week. But, like I said in the 2nd quarter, this was exactly how the Raiders should handle the Jaguars. The Jaguars are a weak team and the Raiders should be expected to beat them. And plus, we were expecting a game where the Raiders would put up a complete performance and not give us heart attacks. We got that wish here this game. The Raiders did a give up a touchdown when the game was out of reach, but advanced statistics show that the Raiders destroyed the Jags big time.

(+)

Defense. The defense still needs to do a little more maintenance check in terms of giving up big runs and big plays. There's no denying that. But I'd say this was more of their better games this season. They came out to play. There's absolutely no way that they should surrender over 400+ yards against a team with a weak O-line, no running game, and a quarterback who's known to turn the ball over. David Amerson and Reggie Nelson both had INTs. Khalil Mack had his 3rd sack of the season, could've had his 4th sack if Bortles didn't choose to shuffle pass the ball at the last minute. Still a lot of room to work with, but the defense played a lot better than the last 6 weeks. 

Latavius Murray, 18 carries, 59 yards, 2 TDs. I said it last week, we should all write to Tay Train and apologize because his presence was definitely missed in the running game the last two games. In this game, you could see the difference on the performance of the running game this week. On the Raiders' first touchdown drive, Carr barely threw the ball. They just ran it down the throat of the Jaguars' defense. Tay Train's return definitely gave the running game a boost.

Marquette King, 5 punts, 59.6 avg, 1 carry, 27 yards. I keep forgetting to put Marquette King on the positive list all season. His leg is such a luxury weapon. On the stats sheet, he pinned the Jaguars inside the 20 yard line 4 times. Of course you have the punt where the Jaguars' returner fumbled the ball to give the Raiders some good field position off the turnover. Blake Bortles and the Jags were getting bad field position to start because of King's leg. And yes, his 27 yard run off a botched snap was the best highlight of a 4th quarter penalty fest. He is a weapon.

Derek Carr, 22-36 passes, 190 yards, 1 TD. A solid bounceback game for Carr after a nightmarish game against Kansas City. Obviously, this game was tabbed as Carr vs. Bortles. Bortles may have dominated the stat sheet, but Carr got the win and managed the game well. He didn't have to be great. He made the necessary passes when needed. His long bomb to Michael Crabtree before the end of the 2nd quarter broke the backs of the Jaguars' defense. Accuracy, turnover-free, exactly the game Carr needed.

Michael Crabtree, 8 receptions, 96 yards, 1 TD. Jalen Ramsey was containing Coop all game long, leaving a lot of opportunities to Crab. What can I say at this point? Yes, he had a bad game last week, but he's the constant among this receiving corps. I've ran out of words on what to say about King Crab, he's terrific.

(-)

Big plays. Penalties are also a negative, but the refs felt like they needed more air time on T.V. This was the only legit negative that the Raiders had this game. Big run by Chris Ivory. Big catch and run by Marquise Lee. The defense still has some things that they need to clean up. They almost played like they did the last 6 weeks when they gave up such big plays to an atrocious Jaguars offense coordinated by Mr. Vanilla, run-up-the-middle Greg Olson. 

MVP

Marquette King, 5 punts, 59.6 avg., 1 rush, 27 yards

What a weapon to have on special teams! He pinned the Jags 4 times inside the 20 and is one of the major reasons why the Jags couldn't get much on offense. Really, we forget about his athleticism too. Just another day in the office.

Conclusion

Overall, much-needed bounceback game for the Raiders. And this is a game where they've proven they could beat a team that they should beat. And, I'd say this was a sound victory from the Oakland Raiders. They destroyed the Jaguars in literally every category and in all three phases of the ball: offense, defense, and special teams, especially on special teams. I'll admit I couldn't stop laughing that the Jaguars were getting awful field position. The Jaguars' returners were slipping out NSFW language when King was pinning them deep. It was great. And this was a great team win. Hopefully, this Florida retreat pays dividends to the chemistry and unity of this team. They get another favorable matchup against the Bucs in Tampa and the Bucs have to travel considering they're playing the Niners here in my hometown of Santa Clara. Perfect opportunity. The Raiders need to take care of the Bucs first before looking ahead to the Sunday Night game of epic proportions vs. the Denver Broncos. I'll see you guys next week for the Tampa Bay game.

*On another note: I will be posting my regular season preview for the Lakers' 2016-17 season as the NBA approaches. Stay tuned for that tonight.*

Week 7: Florida Road Trip - RAIDERS @ Jacksonville Jaguars 2nd Half Open Thread and Discussion

This the 2nd half open thread and discussion of the Raiders-Jags matchup. As usual, comment below the post on your thoughts on the game.

Q4

OAK 33 JAX 16

The end to a quarter that seemed like it lasted forever. You can thank the penalties for that. The run by Marquette King in this quarter, what a call. That could've spelled disaster, but King's athleticism is seriously underrated. The Raiders took the "take no prisoners" mentality to heart and decided to run up the score to make seem like this game is close as indicated on the scoreboard. But, we finally get that decisive win where all three phases dominated this game and definitely a great bounce-back win after a terrible loss to the Chiefs last week. More to come in the full recap.

Q3

OAK 23 JAX 9

To quote the late Dennis Green in a spin off quote: "the Jags are who we thought they were." They don't have a running game and the O-line is not great. The defense is doing a good job making Bortles one-dimensional. Like the Raiders' offense, pre-snap penalties, holding penalties, and dropped balls derail the Jags' offense. And this is leading to offensive coordinator Greg Olson to call conservative plays much to the dismay of the Jaguar fans. Oh, I feel their pain.

Week 7: Florida Road Trip - RAIDERS @ Jacksonville Jaguars 1st Half Open Thread and Discussion

Welcome in to the first half open thread and discussion of the Raiders' Week 7 road matchup vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars. Comment below this blog post to share your thoughts on the game.

Q2

OAK 20 JAX 6

This is exactly how the Raiders should play against a beatable team on the road. The defense, despite giving up a big run by Chris Ivory and a big play by Marquise Lee (smh D.J. Hayden) has contained Bortles and the Jags' offense. The return of Latavius Murray has boosted the running game big time. On the Raiders' first touchdown, Derek Carr barely threw the ball! They mixed it up with Washington, Murray, and Olawale and it worked to perfection. This game should've been 28 to 6, but the first two Raiders drives were stalled, leading to a pair of field goals by Janikowski. Amari Cooper has not been mentioned. Credit to Jalen Ramsey. He's showing some shut down potential this game. The Jaguars have no answer and this is the time that the Raiders need put together a complete game. Blake Bortles does not show up until the game is pretty much out of reach and the Raiders need to take advantage of that heading into the 2nd half. There's still a lot of game left, so there's no reason to play conservative football. This is the time for the Raiders to show some killer instinct to gas out this Jaguars defense and make Bortles a turnover machine by applying pressure and solid coverage on pass plays. The 2nd half open thread will open up shortly.

Q1

OAK 3 JAX 0 

Talk about a slow start on both teams. But as of that quarter, the Raiders had the edge on that. 1st drive was definitely lackluster, but they've picked it up as the game went on. Blake Bortles and the Jags are a team known to turn the ball over a lot. Two turnovers so far, both from the defense with the INT in the end zone by Amerson and a muffed punt from Marquette King to put the Raiders in good field position. They gotta cash in and put this team on their heels early. 

Week 6: The Test - RAIDERS vs. Kansas City Chiefs 2nd Half Open Thread and Discussion

Welcome to the 2nd half open thread and discussion of the Raiders-Chiefs matchup. As usual, leave a comment below the post on your thoughts of the game.

Q4

KC 26 OAK 10

The Chiefs still haunt Derek Carr and the Raiders offense. Despite the big game by Coop and the TD by Holmes, the offense was pretty much held in check by a Chiefs defense without their star pass rusher in Justin Houston. Like I said in a comment, Andy Reid is a mastermind when it comes to gameplanning after the bye week. Alex Smith, we can call him "Mr. Check Down" if we want to, but it's hard to generate any turnovers from him and that plays a factor in his winning record against the Raiders. Fact check game here for the Raiders. Stay tuned for the full recap.

Q3

KC 23 OAK 10

Almost didn't realize the quarter right there. But not much action went on this quarter. The defense is bending, but not breaking. They managed to create a few key stops against the Chiefs' offense, but Derek Carr and the Raiders' offense, they couldn't anything going this 2nd half. There's a whole lot of conservative playcalling on Bill Musgrave's part and it ate up some precious time during that 3rd quarter to get the Raiders something to jump start the home crowd.