Raiders - Bears Game 11

The Raiders are winning ugly, but they're winning. The defense is always on the verge of a total collapse, but somehow they hold it together. Injuries are adding up and yet they keep winning. Three in a row and counting, a 7-4 record and sole possesion of first place in the AFC West. They need to keep winning, seeing how Tim Tebow and the reborn Donkey crew is one game back and riding a four game winning streak (that began with a road win over the Raiders) 

Up next are the Miami Dolphins, who are not the same team that started out 0-7. Miami had a three game winning streak of their own going before losing to the Dallas Cowboys on a last second field goal on Thanksgiving Day. It turns out that Matt Moore is no better or worse than Chad Henne. Tony Sparano, who was lined up for a boot out the door has some life left in him yet. What I'm trying to say is that the Fins are dangerous. 

Oakland doesn't do well in the Eastern time zone and since moving back to Oakland, their record against Miami is spotty. (they've played eleven times since 1996 with Miami winning 8 times) With Denver playing at Minnesota on Sunday, it's not likely that Christian Ponder will pull one out of his ass (a victory, that is) So, The Raiders must win at Miami, if they want to avoid falling into a tie for first place. 

Last Sunday playing at home against the Chicago Bears (who were without starting Qb. Jay Cutler) the Raider offense had trouble finding the redzone and the endzone. Oakland is now 7-4, thanks to six... count 'em... six, Sebastian Janikowski field goals. Sebastian hit from 40, 47, 42, 19, 37 and 44 yards to set a new Raider record, that he shared with Jeff Jaeger. Those 18 points were almost enough to beat The Bears, but it took a touchdown from Michael Bush in the fourth quarter to seal the deal, 25-20.

Punter Shane Lechler also had an astounding day, booting an 80 yd. punt (from kick to paydirt, no roll) that set another Raider team record. Lechler's deep punts kept Chicago's dangerous kick returner, Devin Hester frustrated throughout the afternoon. Starting for the first in his career, Caleb Hanie struggled as he threw three interceptions. However, he did rally the Bears with a late fourth quarter td pass to Kellen Davis and burned Oakland several times with long runs. I think the word is out that The Raiders can't defend the Qb. draw. Tim Tebow, Christian Ponder and Caleb Hanie all ran effectively against Oakland. 

Hanie competed 18-35 passes for 254 yds. and two td. passes. His lack of game experience showed during the final seconds. With the Bears near mid-field and out of time outs, Hanie took two steps back and appeared to fake a pass before spiking the ball. This drew an intentional grounding call, which results in a ten second run-off (there were only 4 seconds left on the clock) ending the game.

Something the Raiders didn't do during the game earned them praise, they didn't draw their usual barrage of penalty flags. It shows that someone is listening, Oakland finished with 6 penalties for 44 yds. and no personal fouls. At least that bugaboo didn't plague them, however the Raiders inability to stop their opponents on third and long came back to bite them. Caleb Hanie connected with Johnny Knox on a third and long pass play that picked up 81yards and led to the Kellen Davis td.

With so many key offensive players out with injuries, Carson Palmer made do with what he had. His steady play and cool demeanor kept Oakland on course even though they repeatedly faltered once they got past mid-field. Chicago's stingy defense had something to do with that, as did Carson's lack of options.  Palmer was 21-37 for 301 yds. he was sacked four times and threw one interception. Michael Bush rushed 24 times for 69 yds. and scored The Raiders lone touchdown.

Chester McGlockton, R.I.P.

Raider Notes:

Former Raider All Pro defensive tackle Chester McGlockton died today (Nov. 30th) of an apparent heart attack, he was just 42 years old. McGlockton was selected 16th overall by The Raiders in the 1992 draft out of Clemson Univ. Chester was selected to the Pro Bowl four times during his playing days with the Raiders. He was a defensive anchor and a fan favorite, he will always be known as a Raider first and foremost. At the time of his passing he was a defensive assistant at Stanford Univ. 

Obviously, Sebastian Janikowski's hamstring is healing. Jarvis Moss, Darren McFadden, Jacoby Ford & Jason Campbell are still listed as out. Samson Satele, Richard Seymour, Denarius Moore, Taiwan Jones, Michael Huff, Lamarr Houston & Darrius Heyward-Bey are listed as questionable for the Miami game. The Raiders also signed cornerback Bryan McCann (who saw action against the Bears) and re-signed wide receiver Derek Hagan (who was cut when Oakland signed TJ Houshmandzadeh)

Michael Bush's touchdown was not only the game clincher, but it was the first fourth quarter score by The Raiders since Oct. 9th at Houston.  The six penalties for 44 yards accured by Oakland was not their season low, The Raiders had five penalties for 35 yards against the Cleveland Browns.  They still lead the NFL with 109 penalties for a total of 936 yards. We'll see if Hue Jackson's plea to league official for fairness pays off some more. 

Highlights: It's a no brainer... Sebastian Janikowski, six for six, a team record.. clutch kicks all!

Lowlights: The defense needs to do a better job of recognizing and stopping Qb. draws, third down lapses almost doomed The Raiders... again.

The Otherside: Johnny Knox 278 total yards of offense, 145 on four catches and 133 on kick returns... Devin who?

They Said It:

 “Those guys are game-changers, There’s not many punter-kicker combinations in the league … there can’t be a better one.”  Carson Palmer on Janikowski & Lechler's performance 

 “Our two kickers are fantastic,” coach Hue Jackson said. “There’s not another punter or kicker in the National Football League I would ever want to have on the football team. I said to the team when this was over, those were the two men who were here the last time this team was 7-4. Those guys have a lot to do with it. They did a tremendous job.”

“We knew coming into this game that he lacked experience but we knew that he could still make plays, as you saw in the Green Bay title game last year, We knew he still had the ability to make us look bad and come out of here with the W if we didn’t take care of business.”  Stanford Routt on preparing to face Caleb Hanie.

"I think our guys recognize that it's something that's hurt us and that we have to play with a little more focus and intelligence when it comes to doing things that could cost us" Hue Jackson on the topic of penalties.

"It's never fixed, I think Chicago was a start. It's a start for the new Raiders. I'm going to term it that way because I think it's very important down the stretch that we play as a very intelligent team."

Hue Jackson still on the topic of penalties.