Raiders Prove They Can Play With Anybody-12-16-07

Raiders Prove They Can Play With Anybody

“Definitely it’s an accomplishment, something that you shoot for,”--Justin Fargas

By Barbara Mason 12/16/07
Raiderdrive.com/Bay Area Sports

Sunday afternoon, the Oakland Raiders took on the reigning World Champion Indianapolis Colts, going in as 10 ½ points underdogs. The first quarter was all Indianapolis. A 22-yard Vinatieri field goal and a 90-yard return off a Shane Lechler punt gave the Colts a 10-0 lead, as the Raiders special teams continued to have their struggles. Indianapolis was running roughshod all over Oakland and the game had every indication that a blowout was in the works.

Apparently, the Oakland Raiders had something else in mind for the Colts, and it did not include rolling over and letting Indianapolis run the show. Five seconds into the second quarter, Josh McCann orchestrated an amazing 11:49 drive resulting in the Raiders first touchdown of the day. A patient and calculated march from inside the Raiders one-yard line brought the Raiders within three points, 10-7 as the first half came to an end.

The Colts were only able to muster a field goal in the third quarter extending their lead to 13-7 as both teams went back and forth on possession. With two minutes left in the third quarter, Oakland went on offense marching downfield scoring the touchdown that would put them in the lead for the first time in the game, 14-13. The Oakland Raiders had given the defending Super Bowl champs all they could handle and more.

With a little over ten minutes left in the final quarter Peyton Manning threw 7 passes in a drive that culminated with a Colt touchdown putting them back in the lead 21-14 with 4:49 left in the game. The Raiders were able to drive down to the Indy 17 yard line, and the tie game was within their grasp. As the downs vanished with little or no forward progress, the Raiders watched yet another close game, a game within their reach evaporate.

There was no joy for Coach Lane Kiffin despite the battle the team put up against the Colts. “We’re too far along to feel good because we played the world champs,” he said in reference to the fight that the Raiders put up against the Colts. “Who cares, we lost. We’ve got to start winning these games and someday we’ll be that team that makes the plays and finishes people off,” said Kiffin. “I thought we ran the ball well. That was the only way that we were going to have a chance today; to be able to run the ball and control the clock.”

Despite a limited time spent in the game quarterback JaMarcus Russell exudes confidence in both himself and in his team and knows that his future is not this season but in the year’s to come and he plans on being ready for what will be asked of him. When asked what he had learned in this game, he grinned. “You’ve got execute everything that you can. Never give up. That is what I was taught as a kid growing up,” said Russell.

Warren Sapp was full of praise for his offense and the eleven plus minute drive in the second quarter giving them (the defense) more than a breather. “They’ve been playing well. Whenever we had an opportunity for them to make plays, they’ve been making plays for us and keeping us in ball games. That’s the thing that you’ve got to do. Defense keeps you in it and offense has got to win it for you,” Sapp said. “We got a chance at the end of the game to tie it up.”

One of the highlights of this game had to be the first 1,000-yard season for the hard-working running back Justin Fargas who has risen to the top of his game this year. “Definitely it’s an accomplishment, something that you shoot for, but it’s more of a tribute to our offense and to our team and our guys up front. They make it happen and they’ve done a great job all year and I just have to take advantage of what they’re giving me.” Fargas prides himself in working hard and trying to improve with each season and his accomplishments have shown proven success. There is without a doubt more to come for this talented athlete.

The Oakland Raiders will next go to Jacksonville to take on the Jaguars in yet another game that will provide a lot of challenge for the Silver and Black. Their season finale will be back at home against the San Diego Chargers on December 30^th.