Raiders- Vikings Game 10

This was an ugly win, but a win nonetheless. Once again the Raiders dominated in the first half, only to find themselves holding on for dear life in the second to beat Minnesota 27-21. The Raiders are known for their propensity to commit penalties.  This we know too well... but some of the penalties called on them raised serious doubts over whether officials are calling games fairly or not. After the game Hue Jackson stated emphatically: "I don't even know what football is right now" 

Sunday's officiating crew was not on top of its game. After a holding penalty on the Vikings, they forgot to reset the down causing a long delay as they corrected their error. Through their stumbling and bumbling, the officials basically killed the flow of the game, it was not a pretty sight. Hue Jackson who has stoically absorbed the onslaught of penalties incurred by Oakland. (103 and counting)  was fuming and edging closer to his breaking point. 

On Monday, Jackson met with league officials to plead his case and demand some answers. The Raiders were penalized 12 times on Sunday for 117 yds. This included 4 personal foul penalties. “I know everyone says we’re the most-penalized team in football and that’s a fact, and I’m not running from that,” Jackson said. “But there’s no way, some things that happened today on that football field, I question. I just do, and I have to, and I’m going to defend my team. It’s time that I do that.” 

The penalties kept several Viking drives alive and helped them rally back from a seemingly insurmontable 27-7 deficit. Some of the blame can be placed on the officials, they did a terrible job Sunday. However,  the other four fingers point right back at The Raiders, specifically the defensive unit. The stitches holding Jackson's bully defense together are starting to unravel. In every game this year (especially in the losses) the defense has lacked stamina, cohesion and  intelligence in the second half.

Minnesota got on the board first, thanks to an Adrian Peterson touchdown run, (he later went down with an ankle injury and was unable to return) This seemed to bolster the Raiders as they roared to a 20 point lead. The Raider defense kept the Vikings in check with the exception of Christian Ponder, who seemingly ran at will through Oakland defenders. That was a cause for consternation, but what the fuck! we're up by twenty and Peterson is gone.

It's never that easy. First came a scary injury to receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey, who was carted off the field with no movement in his extremities. Then the offense, after a dominating first half, ground to a halt. Christian Ponder connected with Percy Harvin for a 26 yd. td. pass to make the score 27-14. No need to panic... right? Following three consecutive Raider penalties (including a questionable personal foul called on Aaron Curry) The Vikings found themselves in the redzone, only to have their hopes dashed when Stanford Routt intercepted Ponder in the end zone.

The Raiders got the ball back and seemed to be in full control until Michael Bush fumbled in Vikings' territory allowing Minnesota to score a few plays later, now the score was 27-21 and it looked like the Raiders were fixing to choke it away. Unable to run the clock out, The Raiders gave the Vikings a final opportunity with three minutes left. But, for once the defense showed some backbone, snuffing out Minnesota's final drive. The highlight of their effort was Tyvon Branch breaking up a fourth down pass attempt to preserve the victory. 

Raider Notes:

Carson Palmer completed 17-23 pass attempts, but more importantly cashed in on a total of three Viking turnovers.  Michael Bush rushed for 109 yds. and a touchdown, however his fumble stopped what was shaping up as The Raiders' best second half drive. For the fifth consecutive game, Oakland has failed to score in the fourth quarter. After steamrolling Minnesota's defense in the first half, The Raiders were unable to sustain any of their drives in the second half.

Janikowski had a field goal blocked, he's still not right and it's starting to look like those long attempts early in the season have screwed up his form. Darrius Heyward-Bey had total movement in his limbs, but appears to have suffered a neck injury. It's highly doubtful he'll play against Chicago next week, thinning the Raiders' receiving corp even further. Oakland continues to suffer a rash of injuries, Taiwan Jones is hurt again, center Samson Satele got his bell rung (again!) Jarvis Moss injured a hamstring and Darren McFadden is still out along with Jacoby Ford.

At 6-4 Oakland still leads the AFC West division, and it's starting to shape up as a two team race with the Broncos. San Diego lost its fifth straight game and Kansas City (now without Matt Cassel) is sinking fast.  Chicago Qb. Jay Cutler suffered a season ending injury on Sunday, The Bears will start Caleb Hanie against Oakland.

Highlights: Carson Palmer continues to put 20+ points on the board everytime out, Michael Bush isn't making people forget McFadden, but he's one hell of a stand-in. Matt Giordano snagged his second crucial interception of the season, not bad for someone who was cut in training camp.

Lowlights: Defensive penalties in the second half are killing The Raiders, you can overcome them against bad teams, it'll be a different story against Chicago & Green Bay.

The Otherside: Adrian Peterson lost the shoe on his right foot as he was being tackled. This caused his ankle to roll violently, x-rays were negative.

For What it's Worth:

“We continue to battle and that’s what I really love about my football team is they won’t quit”   Hue Jackson

“It’s definitely scary, Our thoughts and prayers are with him and I know he has family watching the game. It’s a tough situation to be in.” Carson Palmer on the effect Darrius Heyward-Bey's injury had on the team.

“He’s going to be fine, I truly believe he’s going to be OK, but obviously we have to take all the precautionary measures to make sure he’s going to be OK.” Hue Jackson on Darrius Heyward-Bey's injury

 “Like Coach Jackson said, we haven’t played a complete football game yet, And it’s scary to think, when we do, what it’s going to look like.”  Carson Palmer on Raiders' potential