Having a rest halfway through the season couldn’t come at a better time for the Raiders. Their injuries to top players Zach Miller, Nnamdi Asomugha, Bruce Gradkowski, Chaz Schilens, Louis Murphy, and Samson Satele have a chance to heal without having to hold them out of a game.
Reports indicate that Gradkowski is really ready to play, though it sounds like Cable is having second thoughts about making a change with three straight wins under Campbell’s belt.
Chaz Schilens took to the field earlier this week, and the press had a look at him doing what is necessary to show he’s ready to play. It’s likely though, that he will get only limited play in Pittsburgh, if he gets any at all, since he has missed so much practice. “I’m getting excited” coach Cable said this past Wednesday. “Next week we have a chance to get him back in uniform and start to work . . . he gives us another playmaker.”
Zach Miller and Nnamdi Asomugha both stayed in the area to receive treatments, along with other players who received injuries last weekend. The rest of the players were given time off to go “home” to visit friends and family. Cable said both players were “improving” but would have to see how they look on Monday. Having had two sons who played soccer, and one who struggled with ankle injury, I know that some ankle injuries can take a month or more before the pain and swelling goes away. Hopefully neither of their injuries are bad enough to force extended absence from play.
Louis Murphy is expected to be ready to go against Pittsburgh. He worked out with the team on Tuesday. Tyvon Branch and Rolando McClain also worked out with the team. All three are expected to be ready for the Steelers.
Great Showing Against KC
The Raiders put it out on the table for everyone to see - they are NOT the same old Raiders. I said I thought they could stop the running game of the Chiefs, and prove they are solid against the run. Anyone who watched that game ought to know it now as well. Too many of the "expert" reporters just look at the overall stats without diving into the play-by-play figures which show that in nearly every game the Raiders game up ground yards, there were one or two big plays that accounted for most of those yards. The Raiders Richard Seymour pointed that out in an interview this week, letting everyone know that the defensive line knows how good they are.
The Raiders played every second of every down. They put terrific pressure on Matt Cassel, brining him down three times for sacks, and one interception.
There were a lot of individual efforts that can be called out, but none more important that Jacoby Ford's play in the second half. His touchdown run on the second half opening kickoff was masterful, working behind excellent blocking he read it perfectly, juked one time and burst through the gap.
Ford's catch with 11:28 left in the game that setup a field goal was critical in setting up the tie at the end of the game - without it, the Raiders need a touchdown at the end. Then, with just :24 seconds left in the game, Ford snags the ball out of the hands of KC defender Brandon Flowers, and instead of a game ending interception, the Raiders get setup for the field goal to tie the game forcing overtime.But Ford wasn't done. On the Raiders first play of overtime, Campbell heaves the ball downfield, and Ford, with outstretched arms makes the catch with his hands and brings it into his body as he falls to the ground at the KC 15 yard line.
What a play!
Janikowski got his chance to prove he is the go-to guy twice in this game with clutch kicks to tie it up, and win it.
Bad Showing
I have found myself saying it more than once - you can only play against one other team on the field. There are three. You simply cannot play against the officials. Nothing you can do about it. You get a flag to throw for play review, but as proven when the KC touchdown was awarded at the start of the second quarter, it helps, but it doesn't always help. The view that showed Verran Tucker did not get his right foot down before his knee landing out-of-bounds was apparently not shown to referee Jeff Triplett when he reviewed the call! What?
The touchdown was setup in the first place by a horrible interference call against Chris Johnson, AND after having a subsequent touchdown called back after review just two plays before. The turnover to KC that setup their go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter was also questionable. In the stadium, on the big screen, they showed a view that seemed pretty clear his knee hit before the ball started to slide out. It was close for sure, but the call made it a game changer, and I question how the heck they made the call. On tape of Cable talking to Triplett about the call, Cable asks how he could make that call when two officials had ruled him down already. Triplett says he had to make the call based on what he was told . . . In other words, he did not see it himself, and he made the choice to impact the outcome of the game. Let's not forget that a Raider came out of the pile with the ball.
Why was Triplett even on the field in that game? He could barely run! He looked like an old man out there. It was the most embarrassing display of officiating that I've seen in the NFL.
There were other awful calls in that game, but I thought Tom Cable summed it up best: "Really an ugly game in a lot of ways. I thought, uh - 27 penalties called on two teams, in this league, in a game this big, is, is, unbelievable. "
Shed the Old Ways
But the Raiders shed their old ways that day - perhaps once-and-for-all. Nothing got in their way of the goal . . . a win . . . a big win. Not the officials. Not the weather. Not themselves. Not even Kansas City.
Watch out Pittsburgh.
Video
For the win!
Photo Credits - in order displayed:
- Raiders sign at the Oakland Coliseum. Photo by Lori Sheirich.
- Scoreboard sign with final game score. Photo by Lori Sheirich.
- WR Jacoby Ford returns the kickoff for 94-yards and a touchdown to start the 2nd half. Photo by Tony Gonzales.
- Raiders setup winning field goal in overtime. Photo by Lori Sheirich.
- K Sebastian Janikowski speaks to the media after beating the Chiefs 23-20 with a field goal in overtime. Photo by Tony Gonzales.
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