Same Old Raiders

By MikeBullock  |   Monday, November 16, 2009  |  Comments( 5 )

Oakland Raiders
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How many games were lost to the Chiefs on late game interceptions in the 90s? While that pick by Chiefs safety, Mike Brown, certainly wasn’t the play to lose the game, it was definitely a recognizable moment for long time Raider fans.

More key to the loss might have been rookie wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey dropping a sure touchdown at the two yard line, with momentum that carried him into the end zone, sans football. Anyone remember James Jett?

Or another key play gone wrong was WR Louis Murphy’s deep right catch that would have put the Raiders in scoring position on the KC thirty yard line, had returning right guard Robert Gallery not been called for tripping, negating the big gain.

All in all eight catchable balls fell out of Raider WR hands, leading to JaMarcus Russell’s second home field benching in as many games. For once, the onus of the mistakes fell on the receiving corps. Or the coaching staff who still seem to think the best use of former all-pro Javon Walker is to keep the bench nice and warm.

At this point, Al Davis might as well either sell the team or close up shop. When a team like the Chiefs comes to town, a team that’s only won five of their last thirty five games, hasn’t had a rushing touchdown yet this year and finds their only glory in the leg of their kicker, and you can’t win, it’s time to take your ball and go home.

There was a time when the Oakland Raiders had a winning record against every other team in the league. A time when they possessed the best win-loss record on Monday Night Football. A time when no team from Florida had ever won in Oakland. A time when ‘Commitment to Excellence’ wasn’t met with snickers and mockery. The longer this debacle remains on life support, the further away those days get.

Right now, the Raiders are the second worst in the league in yards per game with 222.0. Minnesota wide receiver Sidney Rice racked up 201 all by himself yesterday. The Raiders have the third worst third down conversions, sitting at a pathetic twenty seven percent. They’re tied for worst in the league in points per game at 9.8.

9.8 points per game.

In fact, the only telling stat the Raiders aren’t in the bottom with is penalties and that in and of itself tells everything. Penalties come when a team cheats. Cheating is a byproduct of poor character mated with an overwhelming urge to win. Since the Raiders fail to have that urge, the cheating drops, and so do the penalties. Game over.

If Kansas City fans could put together a petition and get embattled RB Larry Johnson tossed off the team, maybe Raider Nation could take a page from that and have everyone tossed out of 1220 Harbor Bay Parkway.

No team at all would be better than this.
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