NEWS
The Oakland Raiders fought back and stunned the Cincinnati Bengals in a 20-17 victory.
The Raiders trailed the entire game except for in the final moments, when a turnover changed everything.
Oakland scored a late touchdown to tie the game at 17, which appeared to force an overtime session.
However, the Raiders forced a fumble on the subsequent kickoff and were able to recover it, setting up the victory.
Pudgy kicker Sebastian Janikowski came on to knock home the chip-shot, game-winning field goal.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009 at 6:26 pm by steve
After sloughing off the likes of the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens in the past two weeks, two divisional rivals who battled in the AFC championship game this past season, the Cincinnati Bengals had reason to believe that they’d roll into Oakland on Sunday and coast right through the Raiders.
The Raiders thought otherwise, and shocked the NFL when they pulled the huge upset of the Bengals, winning 20-17 on a last-second field goal.
The Raiders benched ineffective starter JaMarcus Russell in favor of Bruce Gradkowski, and Gradkowski took advantage in his first start of the season. He led the game-tying touchdown drive at the end of the fourth quarter, capping it with a 29-yard throw to Louis Murphy for the score, which knotted the game at 17 all.
Then, on the ensuing kickoff, Brandon Myers whacked Bengals returner Andre Caldwell and caused him to fumble the ball; the Raiders recovered to set up a 33-yard game winning field goal for Sebastian Janikowski.
The ending was only fitting, given the circumstances of the game. Before the season had even started, the Raiders chose this week to dedicate to former teammate Marquis Cooper, who died in a boating accident before the season started. The team welcomed Cooper’s family for the game, showing them around the locker room before kickoff.
For the Raiders, it was a shocking win and a great start to Gradkowki’s career as a starter in Oakland.
“We’re just fortunate the defense did a great job, got the ball back,” Gradkowski said. “We made a couple plays and that’s it.”
Monday, November 23, 2009 at 6:46 pm by bryan
Raiders coach Tom Cable announced on Wednesday that he would be benching former No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell and bringing in journeyman Bruce Gradkowski off the bench to be his starter at quarterback. Cable believes this move will be for the foreseeable future, and not a temporary solution.
“I don’t want to be like that,” he said. “This is where we’re headed and what we’re going to do. He’ll take this team and go with it.”
Russell, the first overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft, got his career with Oakland off to a rocky start after a lengthy holdout during training camp in his rookie season, eventually negotiating a contract with a guaranteed $31 million. Russell had ups and downs over his first two years, but led the Raiders to few impressive wins during that times, hinting at his promise.
But this season, his third as a pro, Russell has turned into one of the worst QBs in the league, with nine interceptions, five fumbles, and a passer rating of 47.7. If a QB throws every pass into the ground, he’s awarded a 39.6 passer rating.
“This is in no way giving up on the guy,” Cable said. “This is just trying to jump-start this team and really break it down and make a decision based on what gives us the best chance to win.”
That’s to say the least. Whether it pays out or not… to be determined over the last seven weeks of the season.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009 at 11:43 pm by bryan
Unless more charges are raised, the NFL is likely to not punish Raiders coach Tom Cable for allegations of violence and spousal abuse made by two former love interests of his, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The league did, however, direct Cable into a clinical evaluation process, in order to determine if he needs further support for anger management or possible substance abuse.
A few weeks back, ESPN’s Outside the Lines ran interviews with Cable’s first ex-wife and a recent girlfriend, both of whom claimed that Cable became violent with them during the course of their relationships. This wasn’t the first accusation of violence for Cable this season – he was linked to an incident in training camp that left defensive assistant Randy Hanson with a broken jaw.
Cable was cleared of all charges in the fight with Hanson, and police decided not to file charges against him regarding the accusations of spousal abuse. Napa County district attorney Gary Lieberstein announced that police would not pursue charges in the Hanson incident because of inconsistencies in Hanson’s story not lining up with the testimony of three other assistants who were present at the time.
The NFL traditionally does not discipline players or coaches when law enforcement decides to not proceed with the case.
A source told ESPN’s Bob Ley on Monday that no one from the NFL office or NFL security had contacted Hanson about the training camp incident with Cable.
at 12:02 am by bryan
QB JaMarcus Russell can’t make it through a home game anymore.
Russell was benched for the second straight home game (after being benched two weeks ago at home against the Jets) as the Kansas City Chiefs rebounded with a 16-10 victory over the Raiders in the Black Hole.
The Raiders got off to a fast start, as RB Michael Bush’s 60-yard run on the first drive set up a 1-yard score for RB Justin Fargas, followed by a Sebastian Janikowski 50-yard field goal later in the first quarter.
But the offense stalled from there, as Russell finished 9-of-24 for 67 yards and an interception. The offense managed only 202 total yards and three points after the first quarter.
“Things were going OK,” Russell said. “Toward the end, we weren’t able move the ball as well.”
Cable pulled the trigger towards the end of the third quarter by replacing Russell with QB Bruce Gradkowski, but Gradkowski did not provide the instant offense that Cable dreamed up. He failed to lead the Raiders to a first down after the Raiders recovered a fumble on KC’s 49-yard line, then threw an interception on the next drive, giving the Chiefs the ball at Oakland’s 47.
“This game is about making plays and we just did not do that whether it was JaMarcus in there or Bruce in there,” Cable said. “I’m just looking for the guy who gives us the best chance to win.”
Cable did not announce who would be starting Oakland’s upcoming game, saying he wanted to look at the film before determining who would take on the Cincinnati Bengals (7-2).
Monday, November 16, 2009 at 11:31 pm by bryan
The Oakland Raiders blew a 10-0 first quarter lead en route to a 16-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Raiders had an opportunity to sweep their biggest NFL rival after winning in Kansas City earlier in the year.
It was just another dreadful performance from quarterback JaMarcus Russell, who is as incompetent as they come.
I guess you have to keep running him out there because there aren’t really many better options and maybe the experience helps him improve.
Still, the defense played a decent game and has to be frustrated that they are getting no help from their offense.
at 6:22 pm by steve
After being signed in 2008 to become their No. 1 wide receiver, Javon Walker is looking for a way out of the Black Hole, hoping to resurrect his career.
“That would be nice,” Walker said earlier this week, “because, the thing about it is, it’s not that I can’t play. I can play. From everyone who sees me at practice, I still got it going on.”
Walker signed a six-year deal with the Raiders before the 2008-09 season with $16 million guaranteed, but he limped through last season with various injuries. He missed most of training camp and the first game with a hamstring injury, and caught only 15 passes in eight games before shutting himself down because of an ankle injury.
When asked how Walker could see the field again, Raiders coach Tom Cable responded, “If you get an injury here, an injury there, then he’s the next guy. That has kind of been his role in this whole thing.”
Although, with No. 1 receiver Chaz Schilens coming back from injury this weekend, Walker could find himself buried below the Raiders’ young receivers on the depth chart for the rest of the season. Along with Schilens, the Raiders have a considerable investment in WR Darrius Heyward-Bay, who they selected with the No. 7 overall pick this season, and rookie WR Louis Murphy, who has been outperforming Heyward-Bay to this point. Their emergence has left Walker to be the Raiders’ babysitter, being the old dog who teaches the young dogs new tricks.
“I know a lot of people have been questioning the coaches on why I haven’t been playing,” Walker said. “They just need to say that, ‘Hey, we’re going with the young group.’ I understand that. That pretty much would at least stop all the questions being asked.”
Saturday, November 14, 2009 at 12:22 am by bryan
According to sources familiar with the process, the NFL has begun to evaluate Oakland coach Tom Cable, examining whether or not
he needs mandatory counseling due to his violent past.
The sources said that the NFL is working on establishing a timetable in which independent doctors will review Cable.
The league is most concerned with the alleged incident that occurred between Cable and defensive assistant Randy Hanson in training camp, an incident that left Hanson with a broken jaw. Cable was cleared of all charges related to the allegations.
The NFL, however, has decided to investigate further, regardless of the legal process that occurred. The league can discipline Cable, pending the results of their review.
The league is also reviewing the charges pressed by two former romantic interests on ESPN’s Outside The Lines, where they accused Cable of becoming violent with them during their relationships with him.
A league spokesman had no comment on the Cable case on Monday.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 12:12 am by bryan
The Oakland Raiders fell behind by two touchdowns and could never quite catch up in a 24-16 loss to the San Diego Chargers.
The defense didn’t play a bad game, but Oakland does not have the offense to compete with quality teams.
Oakland does deserve some credit for battling back from a large deficit despite their poor record.
When you have JaMarcus Russell as your starting quarterback, you have to start questioning whether it’s even worth putting in an effort out on the field.
Sometimes I truly believe this organization is purposefully trying to lose football games, though I can’t figure out what the benefit of that would be.
Saturday, November 7, 2009 at 8:43 am by steve
It looks like much-maligned Oakland Raiders head coach Tom Cable has himself in hot water yet again.
The NFL is now looking into Cable again after reports surfaced that he beat his ex-wife and former girlfriend.
Cable has admitted to hitting his ex-wife in the past but said he has not struck any other women.
You have to wonder how long Cable can hang on as a head coach will all of these terrible rumors surrounding him.
Considering the team is absolutely terrible as well, it doesn’t seem like it’s worth hanging onto Cable.
Friday, November 6, 2009 at 5:54 pm by steve
