Raiders- Jets Game 3

As I was watching highlights of Raiders vs. Jets, it suddenly dawned on me, I've seen this before. Years have passed since Chuck Bresnahan's previous stint as Raider defensive coordinator, but his imprint remains the same. Under Chuck the Raider defense was known for being stingy in the red zone and toughness. We didn't see that against the Bills, but it was a different story when the Raiders met the Jets this last Sunday. The defense which Hue Jackson had to implore not to get down on itself after the loss to Buffalo did a complete turnabout. On this glorious Sunday, they played like barbarians, they stormed the Jets and left them bloody and dazed. 

When Chuck was hired, I went on The Silver & Black Raider website to gauge the reaction of Raider fans.  I sent in my comment "That's a good hire... Go Raiders!" (Raider fans often end their conversations with "Go Raiders" just like Auburn fans do with "War Eagle") I soon got a reply from a NoCal fan "Sure! if you like a defense that gives up crucial third & longs" another fan chimed in "If you like disorganized, grab ass defense and penalty flags, Chucks's our guy, Go Raiders!"  Tough crowd, but it's all true, Bresnahan's schemes can be maddeningly rife with inconsistency. Although, more often than not the defense will get the job done, it just won't be pretty to watch.

In front of a rare sellout crowd, the Raiders scored two touchdowns within 42 seconds late in the third quarter to pull away from the Jets. Darren McFadden, who is starting to establish himself as one of the best running backs in the league finished with 171 yds. rushing, and two touchdowns. The Raider defense coming off a debacle in Buffalo, hounded Mark Sanchez leaving him little time to woof down another sideline hot dog like he did his rookie year.  An act that didn't go down well with the Raiders or their new head coach Hue Jackson.

By the time the game was over Sancho Panza had been sacked four times and was nursing a broken nose. Roughing him up was part of the Raiders game plan. For his part, Sanchez was philosophical about the painful loss: “I just feel like they’re a revamped Raiders group,” Sanchez said. “We had momentum on our side, we let them hang around at halftime then they came and knocked us around a little in the third quarter.” Jackson expressed his feelings “That made me feel good, I'm glad he could see it, especially after what he did a couple of years ago, eating a hot dog.” 

There's no bigger crybaby than the bully who gets bullied. After the Raider defense left his Qb. looking like a mugging victim, Rex Ryan protested loudly " "Our guy gets a broken nose, I don’t think there was a flag," Ryan said. "I think he must have got hit in the chest and broke his nose."

Coach Ryan then added that Raider defender Kamerion Wimbley deserved a penalty or worse for the hit.

The last time I checked, this was the same N.Y. Jets team that Bart Scott, NFL bad guy plays for. As for Sanchez he'll survive, although he may have to wear a protective face shield for a while.

Raider Notes:

Raider Qb. Jason Campbell was 18 for 27 for 156 yards passing. The Raider offensive line has allowed just two sacks this season. The re-built line has been anchored by the play of rookie Stefen Wisniewski,  "We know what we have here," Wisniewski said. "It's just a matter of trying to get everyone else to see that. Kevin Boss made his Raider debut by catching a 28 yd. pass to set up a Darren McFadden touchdown run. 

Big plays from a pair of rookies, Denarius Moore scored on a reverse that at first appeared to go nowhere. Taiwan Jones recovered a fumbled kickoff by Antonio Cromartie which led to a Michael Bush touchdown, putting the Raiders up 31-17 early in the fourth quarter.  An old Raider nemesis, ex-Charger LaDainian Tomlinson, who has had some career days against the Raiders, tried hard to spoil the party. Tomlinson broke a tackle and sprinted 74 yds. to the 1yd. line setting up a Sanchez td. dive. L.T. later caught an 18 yd. td. pass, his 26th career touchdown pass against the Raiders and 160th overall. 

The Quote machine was busy Sunday: 

“They’re a physical football team and I felt like that played right into our hands,” Raiders defensive tackle Richard Seymour said. “Because we’re pretty physical up front on the offensive and defensive lines. Any time a team wants to come in and play that type of game with us, I like our chances all the time.”  

“Let your players make plays,”  Hue Jackson said. “That’s what I’m trying to create here. I’m going to create an environment where our great players can do something special.” 

“It was a statement but you can’t get too full of yourself because Tom Brady is coming in next week and they lost to the Bills,” defensive tackle Tommy Kelly said.

That's right! next week The New England Patriots come to town. A week ago I didn't like our chances against them, but now I see that game as a toss-up. Tom Brady threw four interceptions against the Bills, proving that he is after all... a mortal man. 

Highlights: Darren McFadden, is now an elite running back in this league, but we already knew that. I predict that his jersey and number will replace that of Warren Sapp as the most popular with Raider Nation fanatics.

Lowlights: This week it was all good

The Other Side:  Broken nose and all, Mark Sanchez completed 27 of 43 passes for a career high 369 yds. He pulled the Jets within a touchdown late in the game, with a td strike to Plaxico Burress. He also ran for one touchdown.