Oakland Delivers Final Verdict In Upset

“If we’re going to bend but not break than we’ll stay in this game.”--Nnamdi Asomugha

By Barbara Mason 11/22/09
Raiderdrive.com/Bay Area Sports Drive

(Photos by Gerome Wright and Al Reyes: Raiderdrive-BASD)

The Oakland Raiders sported a new look as they took on the Cincinnati Bengals at the Coliseum Sunday afternoon.  The new look for Oakland was a new man at the helm, quarterback Bruce Gradkowski taking the place of former starter JaMarcus Russell. 

It was a tough first quarter for the Raiders as their defense saw most of the action. Although Oakland made some big stops, they could not string enough of them together to slow down the Bengals.. On top of that, Cincinnati came through a number of times in the first quarter on third and very long.  They easily drove downfield taking an early 7-0 lead off a Carson Palmer scramble for one yard into the end zone

The second quarter brought with it a golden scoring opportunity for Oakland when they recovered a Bengal fumble.  That set of downs started on the Bengal 34 yard line and culminated with a Gradkowski fumble recovered by Cincinnati.  There would be no rest for the weary Oakland defense as the game neared the halfway mark.

When Oakland took the field for the last time in the half, it was a more comfortable Bruce Gradkowski (Left bottom) in charge.  Completing a pass for 25 yds to Chaz Schilens, and a couple to Luke Lawton, he eventually found a wide open Zach Miller (left scores a TD) in the end zone. The Bengals took a 14-7 lead into the locker room.  As the half came to an end, the Raiders were starting to really put something together offensively and defensively.  One stat that is particularly noteworthy is the fact that Oakland did not commit a single penalty in the half and finished the game with only three.

Oakland started the third quarter with a long series that tacked up another 3 points on a Sebastian Janikowski 52 yard field goal for a 14-10 score.  When it looked as if Oakland had settled down, Cincinnati pulled a 61 yard trick out of their hat as the Bengals Bernard Scott ran to the Oakland 19 yard line. An outstanding goal line stand inside Oakland’s five yard forced the Bengals to attempt a 45 yard field.   The kick failed and the score remained 14-10.  The Bengals would tack on a 25 yard field goal and going into the final quarter, Cincinnati led 17-10.

When it looked as if Cincinnati would extend their lead in the fourth quarter, the Bengals fumbled and Oakland’s Sam Williams recovered the ball on their own 14 yard line.  Once again it was the Oakland defense that kept the Raiders in the game.

When you ask, what has your defense done for you lately; the answer for the Raider offense is a lot, a whole lot.  They gave their offense a multitude of opportunities many of them squandered.  The defense stopped the Bengals time after time and with 6:00 left on the clock the offense was once again in Cincinnati territory and once again that drive ended with an interception.  Despite all the setbacks the Raiders stayed focused and driven. 

As the final minute wore down, Oakland had driven to the Cincinnati 44 yard line.  A 16 yard pass from Gradkowski drove down to the 29.  With 33 seconds left in the game it was all Gradkowski all the way into the end zone with a strike to Louis Murphy for the tie game 17-17. 

Those 33 seconds were enough time for the Bengals to fumble the kickoff return and Oakland found themselves seconds away from an upset victory.  It all hinged on the foot of Sebastian Janikowski and a 33 yard attempt which sailed through the uprights.  With 15 seconds left this game all but belonged to the Oakland Raiders 20-17.  An interception by Oakland’s Nnamdi Asomugha ended the game Raider style and it was a beautiful thing for the fans to witness.

“It was a tremendous effort by a football team in all three phases but the most important thing today is the game ball that went to Marquis Coopers family.  This was a day that we had planned t6 honor him as a football team,” said Coach Cable after the game.  “Good job by our team.  It wasn’t perfect; I thought we got off to a rough start,” he said.  “Once we settled in about the third or fourth series it was fun to watch.  I have to admire our team on how hard they played in all three phases.”

As far as the change in quarterback, Stanford Routt didn’t feel that it changed anything in his mindset.  “I don’t know.  It doesn’t matter if we have Charlie Frye, or Bruce or whether we have Russell.  We are going to play hard regardless,” he said.  “I think we’re all out there playing football no matter who the quarterback is,” said Routt.

“If we’re going to bend but not break, than we’ll stay in this game,” said Nnamdi Asomugha of a group conversation with his defense early in the game.  “It’s such a good offense that you’re playing against, with the talent that they (Cincinnati)  have.  You’re not going to stop them completely,” he said.  “Seeing them with a little more juice, seeing them score, they were fired up, it was good,” he said of his offense.

The man of the hour was the new start, quarterback Bruce Gradkowski.  Described by his team as a very emotional player, he was all smiles as he met the media.  After four years in the NFL he admits to having learned a lot from his coaches.  Despite a bit of a rocky start, his poise prevailed when it was desperately needed.  “Our guys did a great job today.  You’ve got to give the credit to our offensive line.  We were able to run the ball well and they blocked their tails off all night and it was exciting to see that it was a sixty minute game.”

While this was a great victory for the team, they will have little time to relish it as they will get back to work tomorrow in preparation for their Thanksgiving meeting with the Dallas Cowboys in Dallas this Thursday.   Two wins in a row would be something that the Oakland Raiders would indeed be thankful for.

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