Higgins Does It Both Ways For Oakland
“I thought we played the game well on all three phases.”--Coach Tom Cable
By
Barbara Mason 12/21/2008
Raiderdrive.com/Bay Area Sports Drive
Sunday afternoon the Oakland Raiders took their home field for the last time in the 2008 season against the Houston Texans. Once again, the weather refused to cooperate and the skies opened up drenching the field for part of the game. It was a gloomy day signifying a more than dreary season. All the innuendos used to signify hope when all hope looks lost did not apply to the Oakland Raiders this year. Where there is life there is hope didn’t work—there was not a lot of life in the team this year. It’s not over till it’s over did not fit since it seemed to be over quite early in the season. And there is always; it’s not over till the fat lady sings. Unfortunately, that portly female sang her final tune weeks and weeks ago. In all fairness, the team did have their moments, one of them being the win over Denver. A win in the last home would be something fans could take with them into the next season.
One of the many problems that have plagued the team this season has been the slow start of the offense. That was one problem that was much improved in Sunday’s game as in Oakland’s first possession, quarterback JaMarcus Russell threw a 20-yard pass to #81 Chaz Schilens for the first score of the game and the early 7-0 lead. This season, Russell has struggled in the first half taking two quarters or more to get any sort of rhythm going so this quick start for both quarterback and offense was a definite step in the right direction. It is something that Coach Cable has been looking for all season.
The
solid Houston offense marched back downfield to even the score at 7. It was
from that point on that the Raider defense held the Texan offense keeping them
out of the end zone for the rest of the first half. Oakland’s consistent kicker
Sebastian Janikowski put the Silver and Black back on the board for the second
time in the game taking back the lead with a 33-yard field goal that was
followed by a successful onside kick. When Oakland was unable to get into the
end zone, again, it was Janikowski sending a 30-yard field goal through the
uprights for a 13-7 lead.
The Texans were able to tie the game at 13 as the half ended with 53 and 24-yard field goals by Kris Brown. The Raiders were unable to do a whole lot offensively in the second quarter and simply ran out of clock ending the half on the Texan 21 yard line. Russell came away with 189 yards and was 14 for 20 attempts. Running back Justin Fargas had 42 yards.
The first half proved to be for real. The Raider offense picked up where they left off in the first half and going into the third quarter turned in their second touchdown of the day to pull ahead 20-13 in the early goings of the quarter. Russell found Johnnie Lee Higgins for a 29-yard catch and the score.
It was time for special teams to contribute and contribute they did with a 80 yard return by, once again, number #15 Johnnie Lee Higgins pulling double duty. His second touchdown gave the Raiders a 27-13 lead, a lead they took into the fourth quarter.
It had gone so beautifully until the fourth quarter and why does that sound all too familiar. The Texans snatched up a JaMarcus Russell fumble deep in Oakland territory, and they were knocking on the door. Once again the Raider defense stepped up holding the Texans on four downs denying them the score. The Raiders were in control of their own destiny with less than 10 minutes left in the game. It was Oakland’s interception by #37 Chris Johnson that sealed it for the Raiders. As Houston took all of their timeouts, the Raiders kept the ball on the ground and let the clock run. Oakland had their fourth win of the season 27-16. Houston had kicked an early field goal in the quarter. Despite the frustration of the season, it was a nice way to finish at home especially for the fans that supported the team through thick and thin.
“I thought we played the game well on all three phases. It was a great effort by the football team,” said Head Coach Tom Cable after the game. “You saw a lot of our young players show up and have an impact. That’s the future of this organization and that’s the direction we are headed.” He felt that Sunday’s game was a complete victory. The fact that the team had only two penalties was just another plus. “There were a lot of statistical things that proved the effort,” he said. The big challenge for the team now will be the effort that they can put out in Tampa next week. Can they back up this win up with another victory? “We struggled to do that before so this week can be very important for us,” said Cable in reference to back-to-back wins or the lack there of. He was also happy with the protection that Russell received the entire game.
“When I caught it I ran and everybody else just started pushing people out of the way,” said Johnnie Lee Higgins of his return for the touchdown. “I just catch and run and the other guys they just move people out of my way,” he said. He said he felt the hands of his pursuer touch him but they were unable to grab him so he just kept on running. “I just gave it all I got,” said the explosive Higgins. “I always look at myself as a playmaker.”
The Raiders will now travel to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next Sunday in the last game of the 2008 season. A back-to-back win would be a first for the team this year; it would be a win that would be sweet indeed.