Just Win Baby!

[kdmajoslin]

Re: Just Win Baby!

Week 10

Bengals (6-2) @ Raiders (8-0)

Oakland QB Ken Dorsey has his worst game since coming to Oakland in monsoon type weather. In an interesting side note, every home game the Raiders have played so far this year has been in a rain storm.


1st Quarter

Oakland QB Ken Dorsey can't connect with a WR to get a critical 3rd down, so K Matt Prater goes in for a 47yd FG

CIN 0 OAK 3

Oakland WR/KR Josh Cribbs shows off his Pro Bowl skills going 56yds for a punt return TD.

CIN 0 OAK 10

2nd Quarter

The Oakland offense can't get anything going, but that doesn't mean they aren't putting points on the boards. CB DeAngelo Hall returns an interception 45yds for a TD.

CIN 0 OAK 17

The Raiders look to have this one well in hand when K Matt Prater adds a 27yd FG

CIN 0 OAK 20

CIN QB Carson Palmer finally comes alive. He moves the Bengals down the field with percision and caps the drive with a 15yd TD to WR Mario Manningham.

CIN 7 OAK 20

The Bengals end the half with a 50yd FG by K Shayne Graham

CIN 10 OAK 20 at the half

3rd Quarter

CIN KR D. Felder goes 95yds for a kickoff return TD

CIN 17 OAK 20

WR Mario Manningham adds another TD, giving the Bengals the lead.

CIN 24 OAK 20

4th Quarter

QB Ken Dorsey brings the Raiders back and give the Raiders the lead with a 16yd TD pass to TE Zach Miller.

CIN 24 OAK 27

CB Nmandi Asomugha kills a promising Bengals drive when he intercepts Carson Palmer and goes 83yds for the TD.

CIN 24 OAK 34

Oakland CB Nmandi Asomugha intercepts CIN QB Carson Palmer again (his 3rd of the game) to end another Bengals drive. The Raiders run the ball and the clock. HB Justin Fargas goes out with a chest injury. Backup HB Charles Johnson goes in from 1yd out to put this one out of reach.

CIN 24 OAK 41 Final- Raiders Win! Next week they face the Patriots!

Key Performers

OAK QB Ken Dorsey 6 of 17 for 61yds TD, Int
CIN QB Carson Palmer 16 of 32 for 246yds 2 TDs, 4 Ints

OAK HB Justin Fargas 29 runs for 172yds
CIN HB Rudi Johnson 15 runs for 11yds

OAK TE Zach Miller 2 catches for 25yds, TD
CIN WR Mario Manningham 11 catches for 152yds 2 TDs

OAK CB Nmandi Asomugha 3 tackles, 3 Ints, TD
CIN DE Justin Smith 10 tackles, 4 TFL, Sack

Time of Possession: CIN 29:19/30:35 OAK

In a post game note, Coach Joslin let it be known that the Raiders wouldn't be considering a switch at QB, "It was one bad game, Ken's our guy. A team has to be more than just one guy, and today we showed that, winning with defense and special teams."

HB Justin Fargas left late in the game with a chest injury, but is expected t be ready to play next week vs. the Patriots.

[kdmajoslin]

Re: Just Win Baby!

Week 11

Raiders (9-0) @ Patriots (8-1)

The Raiders face their toughest challenge of the season and with QB Ken Dorsey coming off a down week, this one could get ugly.

1st Quarter

The Raiders defense makes a statement early on when MLB Kirk Morrison intercepts QB Tom Brady and returns it 59yds for the TD.

OAK 7 NE 0

New England responds immediately when their 1st round pick from last year, HB/KR Darren McFadden goes 94yds for a kickoff return TD.

OAK 7 NE 7

2nd Quarter

The Raiders lose the ball on the goal line, but once again the defense comes up big, getting the Safety!

OAK 9 NE 7

The Patriots come right back and score on a whacky play that has TE Ben Watson scooping up a fumble by QB Tom Brady and going 52yds for the TD!

OAK 9 NE 14

Oakland HB Justin Fargas busts a 24yd TD Run to retake the lead.

OAK 16 NE 14

QB Tom Brady Hooks up with WR Randy Moss for a 74yd TD

OAK 16 NE 21

It looks like NE adds another TD, but it is called back on a penalty. Oakland HB Justin Fargas takes advantage and takes a pitch 7yds for a TD.

OAK 23 NE 21

With less than a minute left in the half the Patriots march down the field and K Stephen Gostkowski gives them the lead w ith a 46yd FG.

OAK 23 NE 24

With 3 seconds on the clock, NE kicks off and figures after a routine stop, they'll head into the locker room with a 1pt lead. HB/KR Chris Johnson has other ideas. Johnson spins out of two tackles and goes 89yds for the kickoff return TD!

OAK 30 NE 24 at the half

3rd Quarter

After putting up a combined 54 points in the first half, no one can do anything in the 3rd quarter.

4th Quarter

HB Justin Fargas continues to make his case for league MVP with a 15yd TD run. The 2pt conversion fails

OAK 36 NE 24

HB Fargas gets his 4th TD of the game on a 3yd run up the middle.

OAK 43 NE 24

Backup HB Jamaal Keddington comes in for a dinged up Justin Fargas and gets an 8yd TD on the pitch.

OAK 50 NE 24

With time dwindling New England HB Laurence Maroney adds a meaningless TD

OAK 50 NE 31 Final- The Raiders remain undefeated.

Key Performers

OAK QB Ken Dorsey 25/39 for 268yds
NE QB Tom Brady 21/37 for 290yds 2 TD, 2 INTs

OAK HB Justin Fargas 28 carries for 164yds 4 TDs
NE HB Laurence Maroney 5 carries for 21yds TD

OAK WR Kevin Robinson 11 catches for 146yds
NE WR Randy Moss 8 catches for 157yds TD

OAK MLB Kirk Morrison 3 tackles, INT, TD
NE LB Matt Vrabel 7 tackles, 4 TFL, Sack

Time of Possession: OAK 42:16/17:41 NE

[kdmajoslin]

Re: Just Win Baby!

Week 12

Raiders (10-0) @ Cowboys (7-3)

1st Quarter

Neither team can get anything going in the first quarter. The Raiders in particular look sluggish. Lots of penalties and dropped balls.

2nd Quarter

Dallas QB Tony Romo finds a wide open WR Patrick Crayton for a 63yd TD

OAK 0 DAL 7

Oakland QB Ken Dorsey looks awful and after throwing 3 INTs everyone is calling for him to be benched. Coach Joslin decides to stick with Dorsey, much to the ire of everyone.

The Raiders get within FG distance, but the 50yd try goes wide right.

OAK 0 DAL 7 at the half

3rd Quarter

Oakland gets on the board with a 16yd pass from QB Ken Dorsey to WR David Tyree

HB Justiin Fargas is slow to get up and has to leave the game for X-Rays.

OAK 7 DAL 7

4th Quarter

Oakland kicker Matt Prater hts a 33yd FG to give the Raiders the lead with less than 4 minutes to go in the game.

OAK 10 DAL 7

Dallas comes right back with a 39yd FG by Alexis Serna

OAK 10 DAL 10

Not wanting to try his luck in overtime, Coach Joslin tries to have QB Dorsey move the team down the field, but it all goes horribly wrong when DAL CB Anthony Henry jumps the route and makes the INT. Henry is in the clear with the only one who can stop him being OAK QB Dorsey...Dorsey jumps and it looks like he has him, but Henry shrugs him off and goes in for the TD.

OAK 10 DAL 17

OAK takes the kick with 4 seconds left in the game and HB/KR Chris Johnson has a big return, but a big return isn't a TD which is what the Raiders needed.

OAK 10 DAL 17 Final- Sloppy play and poor decision making cost the Raiders this one

Key Performers

OAK QB Ken Dorsey 19/43 for 275yds TD 4 INTs
DAL QB Tony Romo 13/33 for 165yds TD, 2 INTs

OAK HB Jamaal Keddington (R) 17 runs for 90yds
DAL HB Ray Rice 8 runs for 17yds

OAK TE Zach Miller 5 catches for 79yds
DAL WR Patrick Crayton 3 catches for 98yds TD

OAK OLB Thomas Howard 4 tackles, 2 TFL, 2 Sacks
DAL CB Anthony Henry 10 tackles, 2 TFL, INT, TD

Time of Possession: OAK 36:01/23:53 DAL

After the game Coach Joslin had this to say, "It was a tough loss. We didn't play well and if you don't play well, you lose." When asked about QB Dorsey, "Ken is our QB, he had a bad game, but lets not forget that we had 7 dropped balls, the OL allowed 7 sacks as well and 8 penalties costing us 78 yards in field position. There is plenty of blame to go around. Ken will hit the film room with Don (Miraldi) and we'll be better prepared for next week."

Injury Note: HB Justin Fargas will miss 2 weeks with a tricep strain, putting his dream of a 2000yd season in jeopardy. Fargas currently has 1655yds on 326 carries in 10 games played.

[kdmajoslin]

Re: Just Win Baby!

Raider Resignings

Oakland resigns LT Torrin Tucker. Tucker lost his starting job to rookie Patrick Fox this year, but Coach Joslin still considers him to be a valuable player. He gets a 3yr $1.4M no bonus deal.

The Raiders keep converted CB DeMario Minter as the replacement for SS Stuart Sweigert. The price is right at $780K for 2yrs

WR Bryant Johnson agrees to a modest deal to stay with the Raiders. 2yrs for $800k and a shot at a ring.

Oakland resigns backup offensive linemen RT Andrew Crummey and RG Jeb Terry. Crummey agreed to a 2yr $620K deal, while Terry got a 3yr $2.3M deal

In an unexpected resigning the Raiders extend DE Akbar Gbaja Biamilia's deal. The 2yr $800k deal gives the Raiders some cheap depth at DE

HB Dantrell Savage finally comes to his senses and agrees to a 2yr $620K deal with no bonus.

With only two picks in the coming draft (a 1st and 2nd rounder), Coach Joslin felt it was important to hold onto as many guys that can contribute as possible, rather than scrambling to fill holes next year.

[kdmajoslin]

Re: Just Win Baby!

Week 13

Raiders (10-1) @ Chargers (6-5)

1st Quarter

The Chargers strike first with a 47yd FG from K Nate Kaeding

OAK 0 SD 3

Oakland QB Ken Dorsey looks bad out there throwing an interception that is returned for a TD by San Diego Safety Eric Weddle

OAK 0 SD 10

QB Dorsey can't complete a critical 3rd down, leaving the Raiders to kick a 35yd FG with K Matt Prater.

OAK 3 SD 10

2nd Quarter

WR Ronald Curry is wide open and after making the catch goes 48yds for a TD

OAK 10 SD 10

QB Phillip Rivers reads the blitz coming and audibles to a deep pass for TE Antonio Gates. It works like a charm. Gates goes 59yds for the TD.

OAK 10 SD 17

QB Ken Dorsey continues to struggle and another INT in the redzone kills a Raiders scoring opportunity and gives the Chargers the ball. The Chargers turn it into 3pts on a 31yd Nate Kaeding FG.

OAK 10 SD 20

After another INT by Oakland QB Ken Dorsey, Coach Joslin sends in backup QB Andrew Walter. (The INT went for a TD, but was called back because of a holding penalty on the INT return.) The Raiders defense makes the stop and Walter goes to work. He narrows the lead when he hooks up with WR David Tyree for a 5yd TD pass.

OAK 17 SD 20

3rd Quarter

Oakland QB Andrew Walter pitches to HB Chris Johnson, he's hit in the backfield and the ball comes loose. SD DE Igor Olshansky scoops it up and goes 18yds for a fumble return TD. Coach Joslin challenges the call and after the review it is clear HB Johnson was down when the ball came free. Oakland keeps the ball, but can't do anything with it.

OAK 17 SD 20 at the end of the 3rd

4th Quarter

Oakland's offense is struggling, but they get close enough for K Matt Prater to tie the game with a 45yd FG

OAK 20 SD 20

SD TE Antonio Gates is a monster after catching the ball he runs through a tackle by MLB Akin Ayodele and goes 42yds for the TD. K Nate Kaeding hits the upright on the PAT. NO GOOD!

OAK 20 SD 26

With time dwindling, the Raiders are feeling the pressure. Backup QB Anrew Walter moves the team down the field and ties the game with an 18yds pass to WR Ronald Curry. The PAT by K Matt Prater gives the Raiders a 1 pt. lead.

OAK 27 SD 26

The Chargers have just over 3 minutes left in the game. They move the ball efficiently but QB Phillip Rivers is intercepted in the red zone. Coach Joslin turns to the run attack to run time off the clock. HB Chris Johnson has another idea, after getting jammed up in the middle, he turns the run to the outside and goes 66yds for a TD

OAK 24 SD 26

QB Phillip Rivers has 53 seconds to bring his team 54yds for a chance. The Raiders defense is having none of it. MLB Akin Ayodele sacks Rivers twice and backup SS DeMario Minter knocks down a pass leaving the Chargers facing a 4th and 18. SD Coach Turner calls for a draw play hoping to catch the Raiders off guard. It almost works. HB Tomlinson has his longest run of the day going for 15yds...3yds short of the first down marker.

Oakland takes over on downs and backup QB Andrew Walter takes a knee to end the game.

OAK 34 SD 26 Final- The Raiders win a nail biter!

Key Performers

OAK QB Andrew Walter 14/23 for 232yds 2TD, INT
SD QB Phillip Rivers 9/20 for 207yds, 2 TDs, INT

OAK HB Chris Johnson 27 runs for 160yds TD
SD HB LaDanian Tomlinson 16 runs for 45yds

OAK WR Ronald Curry 6 catches for 146yds 2 TDs
SD TE Antonio Gates 6 catches for 178yds 2 TDs

OAK OLB Thomas Howard 7 tackles, 4 TFL, 3 Sacks
SD S Eric Weddle 10 tackles, INT, TD

Time of Possession: OAK 29:52/30:05 SD

[kdmajoslin]

Re: Just Win Baby!

QB Controversy in Oakland?

Is there a QB controversy brewing in Oakland? Over the last 4 games starting QB Ken Dorsey has completed 54 of 110 passes (50%) for 671yds (167yds per game) with 3 TDs and 8 INTs compared to 118 of 190 (59%) for 1829yds (261yds per game) with 14 TDs and only 9 INTs in his first 7 games.

There is no denying that his play has declined.

With backup QB Andrew Walter taking over before the half in the Chargers game and putting up respectable numbers 14 of 23 (58%) for 232yds with 2 TDs and 1 INT in this game; and in limited playing time in 3 games (including the Chargers game) he has 29 of 46 (61%) for 465yds with 5 TDs and only 1 INT. The question has to be asked, will the Raiders make a change?

Coach Joslin responded, "We will go with the QB that gives us the best chance of winning. Right now, I think that guy is Ken Dorsey. He has had a couple of rough games lately, but he's our guy." When asked about the benching, Coach Joslin had this to say, "I said Ken is our guy, I didn't say I'm stupid. If any QB throws 3 INTs in less than a half, it is time to consider your options. We're fortunate to have a capable journeyman in Andrew Walter and we'll use him when we need to."

[kdmajoslin]

Re: Just Win Baby!

Time and Punishment

No position is more physically taxing than running back, where the best are often finished not long after they get started
By Phil Taylor, Sports Illustrated

In the second quarter of the Oakland Raiders' opening game this season, Ken Dorsey stuffed the ball into running back Justin Fargas' midsection just as Denver Broncos defensive tackle Marcus Thomas drove his helmet into Fargas’ thigh. The contact knocked the 220-pound Fargas to his left, but he kept his legs churning and plunged into the line, where he caught a forearm just below his face mask from linebacker D J Williams. Fargas seemed not to even notice that blow as he slipped past linebacker DeMorrio Williams with a shoulder fake, but not before Williams had clipped him on the hip. That gave safety Donovin Darius time to plant his helmet in Fargas' rib cage, driving him into the turf, where the 232-pound Williams fell on top of him for good measure.

The final tally on Fargas’ few seconds of work: one carry, three yards and six jolting blows to the body. It was a typically brutal slice of life for an NFL running back—the kind of assault that makes it the most physically punishing position on the field.

As Oakland Raiders running back Justin Fargas closes in on a 2000 yard season, his fellow backs marveled not just at the yards he has accumulated but also at the 326 carries' worth of blows he has survived. Fargas has accumulated 83 broken tackles and has earned 1034 of his 1655 yards after the first hit. He is averaging 33 runs a game and will likely finish the season with around 425 carries. "Take however many carries he's had, and then double it or triple it, at least," says former Pittsburgh Steelers running back, and current commentator for the NFL Network, Jerome Bettis. "That's about how many shots he's taken. That's the amazing number."

Whether they are contact-seeking battering rams like former Steelers’ running back Jerome Bettis or slippery change-of-direction artists like former Rams’ running back Marshall Faulk, all running backs absorb the kind of abuse usually reserved for guys who have missed one too many payments to their loan shark. "You get pounded," says Oakland Raiders Offensive Coordinator Tom Rathman, who spent eight of his nine years in the NFL as a Niners fullback. "You get pounded on every play. You're either carrying the ball and routinely taking three or four hits, or you're being asked to block some lineman or linebacker who's probably got at least 20 pounds on you. Everybody in this league takes his share of hits, but I don't think anybody takes them more consistently than backs."

Quarterbacks and kickers have more rules protecting them than the bald eagle. Receivers running pass routes and the defensive backs that cover them get away contact-free on some plays. Linemen batter one another but usually from such close range that they don't have a full head of steam when they collide. Running backs get little relief from the rule book, and at the moment of impact with an opponent, one or both parties are often moving at high speed.

Not coincidentally, an NFL Players Association study that tracked rosters from 1987 through '96 found that the average career of a running back is 2.57 years, shorter than that of a player at any other position and nearly a full year shorter than the average for all NFL players. According to the report running backs have only a 6% likelihood of reaching their 10th year in the league.

It's far more common for running backs to go into early decline or retirement due to injury or the accumulation of blows. Gale Sayers played only 68 games before succumbing to knee injuries. Earl Campbell ran over defenders for six years and gained more than 1,300 yards in five of them before, at 29, his body seemed to suddenly lose its remarkable power. Two forgettable seasons later he retired. In 1998, at the age of 26, Jamal Anderson led the NFC in rushing while playing for the Atlanta Falcons, but four years and two torn ACLs later, he is out of football. The latest casualty is Terrell Davis of the Denver Broncos. After beginning his career with four phenomenal years, including a 2,008-yard rushing season in 1998, Davis played only 17 games over his next three years because of a series of knee, ankle and leg injuries, and in August 2002 he announced his retirement.

Running backs tend to age so quickly that even relatively young ones become suspect at the first sign of slippage. Former Tennessee Titans' running back Eddie George gained 6,874 yards over his first five seasons, but when he averaged only 3.0 yards a carry in his sixth year while struggling with toe, ankle and knee injuries, speculation began that he was already past his prime. George played for 9 years in the NFL, but he was never the same again. For a running back there is no compensating for even a slight loss of speed or explosiveness the way there is at other skill positions. Quarterbacks can make up for a loss of mobility with shorter drops or a quicker release. Receivers can run more precise routes. But if a back can't hit a hole before it's plugged, all the wisdom and experience in the world won't help him.

"What's hard on backs is that losing just that little bit of speed or quickness makes all the difference," says Jim Skipper, Oakland’s Running Back Coach. "Sometimes guys might carry the ball a lot for two or three straight years, and that next year, even though they feel fine, the pounding has slowed them down just enough that they don't beat a guy one-on-one the way they used to, or they can't outrun the linebacker anymore. Suddenly they're not the same back."

The ability of some running backs to withstand punishment over a long career while others flame out early is still a mystery, but there is evidence that the compact back tends to have more staying power than the big bruiser. Emmitt Smith (5'9", 216 pounds), who has missed only fourteen games because of injuries in his 15-year career, and the Jets' Curtis Martin (5'11", 205), who has been sidelined for only eight games in eleven seasons before being knocked out of the 2006 season and his subsequent retirement. Both guys are relatively small, strong backs. So were Payton (5'10", 202) and Barry Sanders (5'8", 203), who had played 10 years and was still at the top of his game when he abruptly retired before the 1999 season.

But regardless of size, the wise running back learns that there are two ways to increase his NFL life span—taking care of his body off the field and avoiding the full force of collisions on it. Even former Steelers’ running back Jerome Bettis, known for his battering ram style, swivels his 256-pound frame enough to diminish the impact of defender's blows. "I don't shy away from a lot of hits, but I shy away from hits I can't win," he says. "That's what people don't necessarily see. They see me run over one guy, but when there are two guys, they don't see me getting between them. I just try to be a little more elusive. I shield, I deflect blows. I go sideways. Longevity for big guys like me depends a lot on being able to slip away from that big, crunching blow."

When those collisions are inevitable, it's better to be the hammer than the nail, as Raiders’ Offensive Coordinator Rathman puts it. "Whenever possible you want to deliver a blow rather than absorb one," he says. "Backs who are always taking punishment and never giving it won't last long in this league."
Bettis was among the best at dishing out punishment, but like most running backs he had days when he was so sore that getting out of bed was almost as hard as getting into the end zone on fourth down from the one. Many backs say it's not the morning after a game that they dread but the one after that. Thanks to former teammate and fellow running back Roger Craig, Rathman learned early in his career about the healing powers of deep-tissue massage and chiropractic therapy, both of which are now common treatments around the league.

But there is no therapy that can completely erase the aches and pains, some of which last forever. Earl Campbell, 53, walks gingerly; with a right knee so torn up that doctors have recommended replacement surgery and fingers so arthritic he avoids handshakes. No wonder that players like Rathman, by comparison, consider themselves to be in great shape. "I've just got little problems," he says. "I feel it in my spine and neck from pinched nerves, and I've got a little arthritis, but nothing too severe. I'm one of the lucky ones."

[kdmajoslin]

Re: Just Win Baby!

Week 14

Raiders (11-1) @ Giants (10-2)

1st Quarter

New York looks unstoppable on the first drive, getting a TD on a HB Ahmad Bradshaw dive.

OAK 0 NYG 7

2nd Quarter

Oakland QB Ken Dorsey is struggling. The Raiders move the ball with difficulty, but can't come up with a much needed 3rd down conversion. Oakland settles for a 31yd FG by K Matt Prater

OAK 3 NYG 7

Oakland QB Ken Dorsey is sent to the bench after throwing an INT, this one caught by New York Safety O J Atogwe and returned for a 34yd Interception Return TD. Dorsey had completed less than 25% of his passes in the half, and the interception was the final straw.

OAK 3 NYG 14 at the end of the half

3rd Quarter

QB Andrew Walter lasts all of 2 plays before leaving the game on an injury. Walter ran it on a QB Sneak to get an important 3rd down conversion. Good news he got the conversion. Bad news he is out for the game with a chest injury and needs x-rays. QB Ken Dorsey comes back in. HB Charles Johnson breaks off a big run for a 17yd TD and then rookie HB Jameel Keddington gets the 2pt conversion.

OAK 11 NYG 14

4th Quarter

The Raiders defense makes a big redzone stop, forcing the Giants to take a 20yd FG by Jason Hanson

OAK 11 NYG 17

An Oakland fumble puts the Giants in scoring position and HB Ahmad Bradshaw delivers again. The Giants get the 2pt conversion as well.

OAK 11 NYG 25

Oakland closes the gap with an 8yd TD run on the pitch play by rookie HB Jameel Keddington.

OAK 18 NYG 25

The Raiders opt for the onside kick and despite thunderous disapproval from the crowd, they get it! The Giants send everyone on a blitz...QB Ken Dorsey sidesteps the linebacker and with a lineman in his face throws a wounded duck...WR Kevin Robinson is there and he's all alone...59yd TD! Coach Joslin wants the win and the Raiders go for two pts. HB Jameel Keddington takes the pitch he's in trouble, FB Justin Griffith throws a last second block to clear a path, Keddington dives, he's hit in the air, he comes down on the line, the Referee rules...Conversion Good!

OAK 26 NYG 25 with 40 seconds on the clock

The Giants KR Domenik Hixon posts a 37yd return, his long of the day to put the Giants 28yds away from a long FG to win it with 33 seconds left on the clock.

QB Eli Manning pitches the ball to Ahmad Bradshaw (what are they thinking?) Bradshaw starts to turn it upfield, when OLB Thomas Howard explodes into him, knocking the ball out. SS Ken Hamlin scoops it up and it is off to the races. Hamlin returns it 35yds for a Fumble Recovery TD.

A couple of dropped passes later and this one is over.

OAK 33 NYG 25 Final- The Raiders pull out the win in a very close game.

Key Performers

OAK QB Ken Dorsey 10/30 for 171yds TD, INT
NYG QB Eli Manning 25/41 for 294yds, INT

OAK HB Jameel Keddington 11 carries for 62yds TD
OAK HB Chris Johnson 12 carries for 41yds TD
NYG HB Ahmad Bradshaw 15 carries for 8yds 2 TDs

OAK WR Kevin Robinson 6 catches for 108yds TD
NYG HB Ahmad Bradshaw 6 catches for 43yds

OAK SS Ken Hamlin 9 tackles, 2 TFL, Fumble Recovery for a TD
NYG S OJ Atogwe 6 tackles, INT, TD

Time of Possession: OAK 28:38/29:24 NYG


Injury Update: QB Andrew Walter has a strained chest muscle and is probable for next week's game vs. the Steelers.

[kdmajoslin]

Re: Just Win Baby!

Week 15

Raiders (12-1) @ Steelers (8-5)

1st Quarter

Neither team can get anything going in the 1st quarter.

2nd Quarter

Pittsburgh draws first blood with a 4yd run by HB Willie Parker

OAK 0 PIT 7

The Steelers add a 24yd FG by K Jeff Reed

OAK 0 PIT 10

3rd Quarter

It goes from bad to worse when QB Ken Dorsey is picked off by James Sanders who takes it back 59yds for the TD

OAK 0 PIT 17

4th Quarter

QB Andrew Walter replaces Dorsey and it pays off with a 7yd TD strike to TE Zach Miller. The 2pt conversion by HB Justin Fargas closes the gap to 9.

OAK 8 PIT 17

The Steelers add a 46yd FG by Jeff Reed

OAK 8 PIT 20

An interception by Walter sets up a 3yd TD run by HB Willie Parker

OAK 8 PIT 27

Instead of running out the clock, the Steelers go for the 31yd FG

OAK 8 PIT 30 Final- The Raiders get pounded by the Steelers

Key Performers

OAK QB Ken Dorsey 14/30 for 130yds 2 INTs
OAK QB Andrew Walter 10/22 for 104yds TD, 2 INTs
PIT QB Ben Roethlisberger 11/23 for 124yds

OAK HB Justin Fargas 16 runs for 106yds
PIT HB Willie Parker 25 carries for 92yds 2 TDs (best rushing perfomance by any back vs. the Raiders this year.)

OAK WR Kevin Robinson 9 catches for 119yds
PIT WR Hines Ward 4 catches for 50yds

OAK MLB Kirk Morrison 3 Tackles, 2 TFL, 2 Sacks
PIT S James Sanders 5 tackles, 3 INTs, TD

Time of Possession OAK 33:11/26:45 PIT

[kdmajoslin]

Re: Just Win Baby!

Week 16

Redskins (6-8) @ Raiders (12-2)

Coming off a difficult loss to the Steelers and suffering from poor play at the QB position the Raiders host the Redskins.

1st Quarter

The Redskins start the game with a bang when WR/KR Santana Moss returns the opening kickoff 98yds for a TD.

WAS 7 OAK 0

The Raiders settle for a 43yd FG by K Matt Prater

WAS 7 OAK 3

HB Clinton Portis shows he still has a few big plays in him as he busts a 93yd TD run on the Raiders.

WAS 14 OAK 3

2nd Quarter

The Redskins look to run away with this one when WR L. Wallace catches an 11yd TD pass from QB Jason Campbell.

WAS 21 OAK 3

The Raiders get HB Justin Fargas into the endzone and convert for 2pts.

WAS 21 OAK 11

Washington gets their second Kickoff Return TD of the day when WR/KR Antwan Randle El returns the kickoff 92yds for the TD.

WAS 28 OAK 11

3rd Quarter

OAK QB Ken Dorsey gets knocked out of the game and his backup can't find his rythym. The ball gets punted to the Redskins and Washington continues to flog the Raiders, adding a 32yd FG by K S. Suisham

WAS 31 OAK 11

HB Justin Fargas adds another TD for the Raiders, but can't get the 2pt conversion.

WAS 31 OAK 17

HB Clinton Portis busts another big run, this one for 63yds and a TD. Postis has rushed for more yards than any other back vs. the Raiders vaunted Run Defense.

WAS 38 OAK 17

4th Quarter

HB Justin Fargas adds another rush TD, but once again fails on the 2pt conversion

WAS 38 OAK 23

HB Charles Johnson gets in on the action scoring his own rushing TD with HB Jamel Keddington adding the 2pt conversion.

WAS 38 OAK 31

Oakland can't stop Washington from getting into FG range and adding a 33yd FG by K S. Suisham.

WAS 41 OAK 31

An interception in the redzone kills a Raider comeback and ends with another FG by WAS K S. Suisham

WAS 44 OAK 31 Final- The Raiders lose another one. What is happening to the Raiders? Things don't look good for the final game of the season when the Raiders must face the Baltimore Ravens and HC Gary Hammermill.

Key Performers

OAK QB Ken Dorsey 14/25 for 190yds INT
OAK QB Andrew Walter 4/9 for 32yds 2 INTs
WAS QB Jason Campbell 7/14 for 57yds TD

OAK HB Justin Fargas 26 runs for 166yds 3 TDs
WAS HB Clinton Portis 31 runs for 254yds 2 TDs

OAK WR Kevin Robinson 4 catches for 51yds
WAS WR L. Wallace 2 catches for 21yds TD

OAK OLB Duane Beal 5 tackles, 2 TFL, Sack
WAS MLB London Fletcher-Baker 7 tackles, TFL, 2 INTs

Time of Possession: WAS 25:50/34:07 OAK

Injury Update: QB Ken Dorsey has a bruised kidney and will miss next week's game vs. the Ravens and League MVP candidate, rookie QB Luke Rambis.

[kdmajoslin]

Re: Just Win Baby!

Week 17

Raiders (12-3) @ Ravens (14-1)

HC Joslin and the Raiders face HC Gary Hammermill and the Ravens. Hammermill is the leading contender for Coach of the Year and his Ravens are the top rated team in the NFL. Ravens rookie QB Luke Rambis is a lock for MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, QB of the Year and Offensvie Rookie of the Year. This one will not be easy. Can the Raiders pull out of their two game nose dive?

1st Quarter

Things look bad then good then bad when WR Ronald Curry fumbles a catch, WR Kevin Robinson scoops it up and goes 43yds for the TD, only to have it called back on a penalty. The Raiders settle for a 37yd FG by K Matt Prater, knowing that every point will be hard won in this one.

OAK 3 BAL 0

2nd Quarter

An aggressive Raiders defense isn't letting Baltimore Rookie QB Luke Rambis get anything started. Unfortunately, the Ravens are punishing HB Justin Fargas and backup QB Andrew Walter looks horrible. The Raiders manage a 37yd FG largely due to good field position from a KR Josh Cribbs punt return.

OAK 6 BAL 0

HB Justin Fargas busts a big run only to cough up the ball when he's tackled...DT Glen Dorsey scoops it up and goes 65yds for a TD.

OAK 6 BAL 7

3rd Quarter

QB Andrew Walter finds WR Kevin Robinson open on an out route for a 7yd TD and HB Justin Fargas adds the 2pt conversion.

OAK 14 BAL 7

4th Quarter

Oakland's defense forces a punt, but get called for roughing the kicker giving the ball back to the Ravens. Some agressive defensive play resulting in a knockdown and 2 sacks has the Ravens punting again and this time the Raiders make it to the punter. Safety!

OAK 16 BAL 7

A fumble by HB Justin Fargas is returned by DL H. Ngata for 59yds and a TD. The 2pt conversion fails.

OAK 16 BAL 13

Fargas redeems himself with a 6yd TD run

OAK 23 BAL 13 Final- The Raiders win!

Key Performers

OAK QB Andrew Walter 21/39 for 270yds TD, 2 INTs
BAL QB Luke Rambis 14/26 for 89yds 3 INTs (sacked 12 times)

OAK HB Justin Fargas 28 runs for 56yds TD (Fargas falls 17 yards short of a 2000yd season)
BAL HB Warrick Dunn 6 runs for -3yds

OAK WR Kevin Robinson 10 catches for 101yds TD
BAL WR G. Smiley 5 catches for 31yds

OAK DE Victor Abiamiri 5 tackles, 3 TFL, 3 Sacks
BAL DT Glen Dorsey 4 tackles, 3 TFL, Sack, Fumble Recovery TD

Time of Possession: OAK 37:07/ 22:49 BAL

The Raiders face the Steelers next week in the Wildcard Round of the Playoffs. The Raiders last met the Steelers in week 15 and it wasn't pretty with the Steelers holding the Raiders scoreless for 3 quarters and beating Oakland by 22pts.

[kdmajoslin]

Re: Just Win Baby!

End of Season Standings

AFC North

Ravens 14-2, Gary Hammermill, Doing OK
Steelers 10-6, Mike Tomlin, Unbeleivable
Bengals 9-7, Marvin Lewis, Doing OK
Browns 2-14, Romeo Crennel, On the Hot Seat

AFC South

Colts 14-2, Tony Dungy, Unbelievable!
Titans 13-3, Jeff Fisher, Doiing a great job
Jaguars 8-8, Jack Del Rio, Doing OK
Texans 6-10, Gary Kubiak, Doing OK



AFC East

Patriots 12-4, Hal Ophamer, Doing a great job
Bills 7-9, Dick Jauron, On the Hot Seat
Dolphins 6-10, Tony Sparano, Doing OK
Jets 5-11, Eric Mangini, On the Hot Seat


AFC West

Raiders 13-3, Ken Joslin, Doing a great job
Chargers 7-9, Norv Turner, Doing OK
Broncos 7-9, Mike Shanahan, Doing a Great Job
Chiefs 2-14, Herm Edwards, Doing OK


NFC North


Vikings 10-6, Brad Childress, Doing OK
Packers 7-9, Mike McCarthy, Doing a Great Job
Lions 7-9, Rod Marinelli, On the Hot Seat
Bears 3-13, Lovie Smith, On the Hot Seat


NFC South

Buccaneers 12-4, Jon Gruden, Unbelievable
Saints 9-7, Sean Payton, Doing a Great Job
Falcons 6-10, Mike Smith, Doing OK
Panthers 3-13, John Fox, On the Hot Seat


NFC East

Giants 12-4, Tom Coughlin, Unbelievable!
Eagles 11-5, Andy Reid, Doing a great job
Cowboys 11-5, Wade Phillips, Doing a Great Job
Redskins 7-9, Jim Zorn, Doing OK



NFC West

Seahawks 8-8, Mike Holmgren, Unbelievable
Rams 7-9, Scott Linehan, Doing OK
49ers 5-11, Mike Nolan, Doing OK
Cardinals 3-13, Alex Gibbs, On the Hot Seat

[kdmajoslin]

Re: Just Win Baby!

Accidently saved over my save point where I could still see the Pro Bowl Rosters...so no probowl rosters this year. As I recall the Raiders were pretty well represented with HB Justin Fargas, WR Kevin Robinson, DE Victor Abiamari, ILB Akin Ayodele, OLB Thomas Howard, CB Nnamdi Asomugha, FS Michael Huff, SS Ken Hamlin, and KR Josh Cribbs

[kdmajoslin]

Re: Just Win Baby!

Yearly Awards

QB Luke Rambis 408/648 (62%) for 4956yds, 42 TDS, 18 INTs...I list the stats because some may be wondering just what the rookie did to earn so many honors and help his coach lock up the Coach of the Year award.

MVP- BAL QB Luke Rambis (R)
OPOY- BAL QB Luke Rambis (R)
DPOY-CIN OLB Karlos Dansby (OAK SS Ken Hamlin and OAK DE Victor Abiamari were the runner ups)
OROY- BAL QB Luke Rambis (R)
DROY- SF OLB Casey Morrison (R)
QBOY- BAL QB Luke Rambis (R)
RBOY- NO HB Marion Barber (OAK HB Justin Fargas was the runner up)
WROY- DEN WR Brandon Marshall
OLOY- SD LT Marcus McNeill
DLOY- OAK DE Victor Abiamari
LBOY- CIN OLB Karlos Dansby
DBOY- OAK SS Ken Hamlin
KOY- MIA K Jay Feely

Coach of the Year- Gary Hammermill, Baltimore Ravens (OAK HC Joslin was the 3rd runner up behind Hammermill and Jeff Fisher of the Titans)

[kdmajoslin]

Re: Just Win Baby!

Raiders End of Season Stats

Offense
Points Per Game: 31.9 (1st)
Total Yards 6270 (2nd)
Pass Yards 3712 (12th)
Rush Yards 2558 (1st)

Defense
Points Allowed Per Game: 21.9 (22nd)
Total Yards Allowed 7260 (1st)
Pass Yards Allowed 5632 (3rd)
Rush Yards Allowed 1628 (1st)
Interceptions 21 (13th)
Sacks 96 (1st)
Defensive TDs 7 (1st)

Penalties 91 for 857yds (18th in the League)

QB Ken Dorsey 210/385 (54%) for 3041yds 18 TDs, 17 INTs
QB Andrew Walter 65/117 (55%) for 875yds 7 TDs, 7 INTs

HB Justin Fargas 398 carries for 1983yds (4.9 avg) 19 TDs
HB Charles Johnson 90 carries for 344yds (3.8) 5 TDs

WR Kevin Robinson 90 catches for 1370yds 7 TDs, 9 Drops
WR Ronald Curry 51 catches for 806yds 5 TDs, 15 Drops
WR David Tyree 48 catches for 737yds 7 TDs, 14 Drops

OL Allowed 40 Sacks

SS Ken Hamlin 87 Tackles 23 TFL, 10 Sacks, 4 INTs, 10 Deflections, 3 Forced Fumbles, Fumble Recovery, TD, Safety

MLB Akin Ayodele 69 tackles, 34 TFL, 8 sacks, INT, 3 DEFL, 4 FFumb, 2 FMBREC

FS Michael Huff 58 tackles, 7 TFL, 3 sacks, 2 INTs, 13 DEFL,

DE Victor Abiamari 54 tackles, 25 TFL, 21 Sacks, DEFL, 5 FFumb, Fmbrec

DE Derrick Burgess 33 tackles, 19 TFL, 13 Sacks, 2 DEFL,

OLB Thomas Howard 43 tackles, 23 TFL, 16 Sacks, 5 DEFL, 3 FFumb

The Oakland Defense got 4 Safeties this year!

K Matt Prater 18/23 (78%) on FG, long of 47yds, 53/53 (100%) on PATs

P Shane Lechler 49 punts for 1945yds, 45.2 gross, 38.6 net, 5 inside 20

KR/WR Josh Cribbs 31 kick returns for 895yds (28.8 avg) 3 TDs, 94yd Long, 53 punt returns for 521yds (9.8yd avg.), TD, 56yd long