Not a Very Happy New Year for Oakland

“To say I’m pissed off is an understatement.”---Head Coach Hue Jackson

By Barbara Mason
Raiderdrive.com/Bay Area Sports Drive

Sunday afternoon the Oakland Raiders took on the San Diego Chargers in their final game of the regular season, a must win for the Silver and Black.   The Raiders also needed a little help from their friends most notably the game between the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs.  A Chief win coupled with an Oakland win would give the Raiders a ticket to the playoffs.  The stage was set for a nerve rattling finish to the 2011-2012 season.  Simple one might say but remember we are talking the Oakland Raiders.  This season they have squandered a number of golden opportunities.  Had the Silver and Black taken advantage of just one of these opportunities we would not be talking about “hoping to get into the playoffs.”   

The Raiders put the stops on San Diego’s first series with an interception deep in their own territory, a terrific start to this all-important game.  Oakland drove downfield turning that interception into an eventual touchdown on a 3 yard pass from Carson Palmer to Darrius Heyward Bey, taking the early lead 7-0.  The Chargers answered with a touchdown drive of their own for the tie game 7-7. San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers found Antonio Gates for 38 yards and the score.  The first quarter would come to an end deadlocked.  Philip Rivers was able to complete passes with ease as the quarter wore on and even this early in the game, this was cause for some real concern. 

The Raiders were unable to move the ball as the second quarter got underway and San Diego took over on downs.  The Chargers moved downfield culminating in their second touchdown of the day taking the lead 14-7.  With 6:19 left in the half Sebastian Janikowski kicked a 52 yard field goal for a 14-10 score.  The Chargers took a mere 13 seconds to answer with a 105 yard punt return by Richard Goodman to extend their lead 21-10.  Oakland cut the deficit by 3 with a second Janikowski field goal for 43 yards and a 21-13 score.  The half would end with a 51 yard field goal by the Chargers and a 24-13 lead. 

It was a tough first half for the Silver and Black.  The sell-out crowd was a real indication of the lack luster performance in the first two quarters making a lot less noise than a sell-out crowd was capable of.  The team itself seemed to be mildly interested; at times even disinterested considering what was at stake.  Oakland had two quarters to turn this game around.

The Chargers had other plans and letting Oakland back into this game was not a part of it.  They put another seven points up on the board to lead by the score of 31-16 mid-way through the third quarter.  Finding themselves back in the red zone, the Raiders had to settle for yet another field goal for 32 yards, still trailing 31-19. 

The fourth quarter found San Diego threatening to extend their lead and finish off the Raiders.  Unable to convert on downs the Chargers went for a 44 yard field goal missing giving Oakland the ball on their own 35 yard line.   Carson Palmer engineered a great drive downfield that gave Oakland a touchdown, creeping to within one score, 31-26 with just under ten minutes left in the game.  As in other games this season, the door had opened for the Raiders.

On the ensuing kick Oakland’s special teams pinned the Chargers on their own half yard line, the Chargers narrowly missing giving up a safety.  Here was the chance for Oakland to turn this entire game around. With poor defensive play the Raiders let Philip Rivers off the hook as Rivers pulled his team out of trouble completing a couple of long passes putting San Diego near midfield.  Rivers made good with yet another great pass for a touchdown putting this game very nearly out of Oakland’s reach, 38-26.    

When Oakland looked to be marching toward another score the Chargers intercepted and with 4:30 left in the game the Raiders season had come to an abrupt end. 

With Denver losing at home the door was opened for a second time this season and Oakland just didn’t have what it takes to go through that door.  It’s difficult to figure out what is going on with this team.   Considering what was at stake it was pretty shocking to watch what was going on out on the field.  How many opportunities does one team need to make good?  Where was the intensity, the discipline and the fire?

Head Coach Hue Jackson was visibly upset with his team.  “To say I’m pissed off is an understatement,” he said.  He had talked with the team as well as the media all week about the challenges that San Diego would bring into this game.  “This team is not going to lie down, this is pro football,” he had said.    He also referred to the numerous opportunities for touchdowns that ended up settling for field goals.

This will be a long off-season for the team and their fans.  There will be a lot of should of, would of, could of.  It’s such an affront to the players who held up their end of the deal and played with discipline, energy and heart.  Not everyone was onboard for this game and I challenge anyone to differ with me.  There will be a lot of questions to be answered in the coming months.  This obviously cannot continue, this lack of discipline and lack of execution.  I guess we will just have to wait and see what is next for the Silver and Black.