This year obviously
the answer to that question as I write this is NO because the Raiders have been
eliminated from playoff contention with one week to go in the season. But for a
min in time say weeks 5-8 I thought the Raiders were not only a playoff team
but dare I say a super bowl contender, and I am not even a Raiders fan!! The
team that Gruden has put together is one that is young hungry and ready to make
an impact if/when they reach the post season and this year they were just out
of reach. I am going to give you a quick list of three victories that I feel
really show that the Raiders can and would be a handful is they ever reach the
elusive postseason. Let us start in Week 2 in Las Vegas…
NFL
Week 2 Las Vegas Raiders (2-0) vs New Orleans Saints (Raiders win 34-24)
Team
Highs (passing – Carr 284yrds 3TD’s, rushing – Jacobs 88yrds, receiving –
Waller 105yrds 1TD)
This game was early in the season
and it showed that when the Raiders put it all together, they can hang with
even the most explosive offenses in the league, the Saints are one of the most
explosive offenses in the NFL and the Raiders defense was up to the task even
if it did not look like it early on. The Saints jumped out to a early 10-0 lead
and it looked like the Raiders were about to be crushed in a avalanche of
offense by the Saints, In the second quarter they turned it around outscoring
the Saints 17-7 including a last minuet drive capped by a FG by Raiders K Daniel
Carlson to tie the game at 17 going into halftime. After halftime, the Raiders
defense got a handle on Drew Brees and held the Saints to just 7 points while
the Raiders offense was able to put up another 17 points on 1 passing TD, 1
rushing TD and another Carlson FG to take home a convincing 10pt win over a
Super Bowl favorite in the Saints…
NFL
Week 5 Las Vegas Raiders (3-2) at Kansas City Chiefs (Raiders win 40-32)
Team
Highs (passing – Carr 347yrds 3TD’s 1 INT, rushing – Jacobs 77yrds 2TD, receiving
– Ruggs III 118yrds 1TD)
This
game had special meaning for Raiders fans because it had been a while since the
Raiders had beaten KC in Kansas City, So the win meant more than just getting a
W. Just like the last game the Raiders fell into an early 7-3 hole after the
first quarter, but just like the last game by halftime they had tied the game
up 24 all and were looking to make some noise. In the second half both defenses
stepped up and gave us a scoreless third quarter then in the fourth the Raiders
got a breakthrough with 2 Jacobs rushing TD’s and a Carlson FG, the Raiders
defense held the potent Chiefs offense could only muster 8 points giving the
Raiders a 40-32 win for their third on the season. Another win where the
Raiders show that they can hang with any playoff team including the Super Bowl
Champion Chiefs…
NFL
Week 8 Las Vegas Raiders (4-3) at Cleveland Browns (Raiders win 16-6)
Team
Highs (passing – Carr 111yrds 1TD, rushing – Jacobs 129yrds, receiving – Waller
27yrds)
In
this week 8 matchup the Raiders came in needing a win and again their defense
showed up and showed out, only allowing the Browns to score two FG’s over the
course of the game. The Raiders offense showed that it can put up enough points
against a playoff level defense that they would win a game. There was only one
touchdown in the game and that was a 4-yard TD pass from Carr to Renfrow in the
4th quarter, all the other scoring was FG’s. But even if you take away
the one TD the Raiders still out play the Browns to the tune of 9-6. So, in
this game they showed that evening a tight contest that involves a defensive
battle the Raiders can still find a way to come out on top, in my opinion
showing the grit to be a Super Bowl contender…
If you want to listen to the Double K’s
Classroom Podcast tune in at
www.Spreaker.com/fouracespresentsradio
every other Friday Night on the 4ACES Presents
Radio Network…
Comments
Post a Comment