On a day when the Raiders memorialized Al Davis, a day on which they won their second straight game to improve to 4-2, nothing it seemed could go wrong. It did however, go very wrong. Jason Campbell left the game with a broken collar bone and is lost for the season. Campbell while not a spectacular quarterback, is capable and efficient. Kyle Boller filled in and played like a back-up who hasn't seen any significant playing time lately. Ultimately it was the special teams play that kept the Browns at bay and allowed The Raiders to escape with a 24-17 win.
Oakland got off to a fast start with Darren McFadden capping off the opening drive with a touchdown run. After the Browns tied the game at 7-7, Jacoby Ford returned a kick 101 yds. to put the Raiders back in front 14-7 at the break. In the third quarter Boller connected on a 27 yd. pass play to Jacoby Ford to set-up a Janikowski field goal to make the score 17-7. After a Browns turnover, The Raiders caught Cleveland snoozing with a fake punt. Oakland punter Shane Lechler found a wide-open Kevin Boss for an easy Raider touchdown, giving them an insurmountable lead.
The Raider's defense shut down the Brown's running game (65 yds. total rushing) and kept Colt McCoy under pressure the entire game. But, with the Raiders struggling on offense the Browns scored ten unanswered points. A Colt McCoy touchdown pass to Mohamed Massaquoi with 1:06 left, led to a successful onside kick by the Browns. However, that last gasp effort failed as The Raider's defense denied them a first down at midfield to ice the game.
Oakland got off to a fast start with Darren McFadden capping off the opening drive with a touchdown run. After the Browns tied the game at 7-7, Jacoby Ford returned a kick 101 yds. to put the Raiders back in front 14-7 at the break. In the third quarter Boller connected on a 27 yd. pass play to Jacoby Ford to set-up a Janikowski field goal to make the score 17-7. After a Browns turnover, The Raiders caught Cleveland snoozing with a fake punt. Oakland punter Shane Lechler found a wide-open Kevin Boss for an easy Raider touchdown, giving them an insurmountable lead.
The Raider's defense shut down the Brown's running game (65 yds. total rushing) and kept Colt McCoy under pressure the entire game. But, with the Raiders struggling on offense the Browns scored ten unanswered points. A Colt McCoy touchdown pass to Mohamed Massaquoi with 1:06 left, led to a successful onside kick by the Browns. However, that last gasp effort failed as The Raider's defense denied them a first down at midfield to ice the game.
Oakland wasted little time hunting for Jason Campbell's replacement, supposedly having zeroed in on Carson Palmer almost immediately after the game. Palmer was sitting out the season as a holdout after The Bengals refused to trade him. On Tuesday, the Raiders traded a 1st. round pick in 2012 and a second round pick in 2013, to Cincinnati for the veteran. Palmer who has been working out in Southern California, reported for practice but cautioned reporters that he's nowhere near game shape.
Hue Jackson and Carson Palmer have some history, Jackson was the wide receivers coach for the Bengals when Palmer was first drafted and also offensive coordinator at USC when Carson played for the Trojans. The Bengals who got nothing when Ochocinco bolted, decided to get some value from Carson while they could. Bengal's owner Mike Brown had stated emphatically that he would not trade Palmer, because doing so would reward him for holding out. However, the progress of rookie Qb. Andy Dalton made Carson expendable and the trade was made.
Hue Jackson and Carson Palmer have some history, Jackson was the wide receivers coach for the Bengals when Palmer was first drafted and also offensive coordinator at USC when Carson played for the Trojans. The Bengals who got nothing when Ochocinco bolted, decided to get some value from Carson while they could. Bengal's owner Mike Brown had stated emphatically that he would not trade Palmer, because doing so would reward him for holding out. However, the progress of rookie Qb. Andy Dalton made Carson expendable and the trade was made.
It seems that the changing of the guard is in full swing at Oakland. This has led to a flurry of what we hope are positive changes for the organization. Carson Palmer will have to be a quick study and he'll have to stay healthy, otherwise we're back to Kyle Boller, minus two crucial draft picks over the next two years. A dizzying round of changes for a team that was used to Al Davis' deliberate way of doing things.
At halftime Raider icon, John Madden lit an eternal flame at the stadium, which according to the Raider front office will "burn forever" to honor Al Davis. It was a day full of emotion as several Raider legends attended the first home game following the death of Al Davis. During the lighting ceremony the former Raiders formed a circle around the midfield emblem. It was a touching display, worthy of the man it honored.
At 4-2 on the season, the Raiders are two games above .500 for the first time since the 2002 season. Aaron Curry, a defensive linebacker acquired from Seattle, made his Raiders debut. The former #4 pick in the 2009 draft, impressed both Chuck Bresnahan & Hue Jackson with his play. Oakland after being flagged 50 times for 445 yds. in their first five games, only committed 5 penalties for 35 yds. on Sunday.
Carson Palmer wasn't the only former Bengal signed by the Raiders on Tuesday, safety Chinedum Ndukwe, 26 yrs. old, a four year starter for Cincinnati, also signed on. The Raiders cut two defensive players during the week, cornerback Joe Porter and linebacker Bruce Davis. Both players were favorites of Al Davis, especially Davis, the son of a former Raider.
At halftime Raider icon, John Madden lit an eternal flame at the stadium, which according to the Raider front office will "burn forever" to honor Al Davis. It was a day full of emotion as several Raider legends attended the first home game following the death of Al Davis. During the lighting ceremony the former Raiders formed a circle around the midfield emblem. It was a touching display, worthy of the man it honored.
At 4-2 on the season, the Raiders are two games above .500 for the first time since the 2002 season. Aaron Curry, a defensive linebacker acquired from Seattle, made his Raiders debut. The former #4 pick in the 2009 draft, impressed both Chuck Bresnahan & Hue Jackson with his play. Oakland after being flagged 50 times for 445 yds. in their first five games, only committed 5 penalties for 35 yds. on Sunday.
Carson Palmer wasn't the only former Bengal signed by the Raiders on Tuesday, safety Chinedum Ndukwe, 26 yrs. old, a four year starter for Cincinnati, also signed on. The Raiders cut two defensive players during the week, cornerback Joe Porter and linebacker Bruce Davis. Both players were favorites of Al Davis, especially Davis, the son of a former Raider.
Lowlights: Jason Campbell going down with a broken collar bone
The Other side: Colt McCoy had a miserable day, but he did rally them in the second half.
The Quote Machine:
“It’ll be a learning curve for him because he hasn’t played football in a while but I’m excited to have a leader on that side of the ball of his caliber" Richard Seymour talking about new Raider Qb. Carson Palmer.
“We also find ourselves rather suddenly in position of being able to receive real value for Carson that can measurably improve our team" Bengals' Owner Mike Brown (a notorious hard nut to crack) on the trade that sent Carson Palmer to the Raiders.
"I’m not so sure that Hue Jackson was convinced or sold on Jason Campbell. I think that was an Al Davis deal. Hue was doing the best he could. I think when Jason went down this opened up the door to the possibility that they could do something with Carson." Rich Gannon on Palmer trade.
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