Raiders’ “D” Fries Philly Eagles, And Suprisingly Tastes Like Chicken: Raiders Win 13-9
OAKLAND — The Oakland Raiders, after having a dismal outing versus the New York Giants a week ago, are looking to turn things around a home against the heavily favored Philadelphia Eagles in front of an approximately 85% capacity home crowd.
In typical Raider opening fashion, the Oakland offense began with the mandatory incomplete pass (bouncing off the shoulder) to WR Darrius Heyward-Bey. As per usual, the drive went nowhere and ended with the obligatory 3-and-out and a chorus of loud boos.
The Raider defense however showed that they were a force to be dealt with as they featured a mixture of blitzes (yes…I said blitzes) and man coverage. On Oakland’s first defensive stand, both LB Thomas Howard and DE Trevor Scott got in the sack-fest party palace located in QB Donovan McNabb’s back.
Russell would continue his woes as he got sacked on his next drive and went back into 3-and-out mode. Fortunately for Oakland, LB Kirk Morrison dropped QB Michael Vick for a 4-yard loss on the Eagles’ subsequent drive. Then, newly appointed sack master Trevor Scott got in his next sack on McNabb to force the Eagles to punt.
On the Raider next drive, WR Louis Murphy went up high to grab a pass in tight coverage, but was unable to hold on and was intercepted by Philadelphia. The Eagles could do nothing with the field position and the subsequent field goal attempt as Kicker David Akers missed the attempt to keep the score knotted up at 0-0.
After another 3-and-out by the Raiders, the Eagles would get first blood with a successful field goal to put Philly ahead 3-0.
Oakland would answer immediately with an 86-yard pass and catch to TE Zach Miller for a Raiders’ touchdown. The touchdown would not have been possible had it not been fo the spectacular down field blocking by WR Louis Murphy who raced down field, blocked the initial defender, stayed on his feet and blocked the second defender inside the 10 yard line to give Miller the split second needed to finish the spectacular play. The score would be 7-3 after the extra point.The Raiders would tack on a field goal, but after a pass interference call on Oakland’s Stanford Routt on the Raiders’ previous defensive stand on replay, was clearly a bogus call. Coach Tom Cale would get an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for arguing the call with the linesman.
The Raiders would leave the field at halftime with a 10-3 lead.
The Eagles would find a way in the 3rd quarter to score another field goal and that would be it for them in the 3rd quarter because of the maligned Raider defense showing up big time to lay the wood and send several Philly players to the locker room with injuries. The Eagle offense also didn’t help themselves with untimely dropped passes and an often porous offensive line. Oakland still will lead 10-6.
The Oakland Raiders would tack on a field goal to push the lead to 13-6 after failing to advance the ball enough to score a touchdown.
Philly would strike back with a field goal of their own, but not after having gotten beat up once again by the stifling Raider defense as they limped their way to a 4-point deficit with the score now 13-9.
With the Oakland offense not being able to extend their lead to crush any hopes of an Eagles comeback, the task would be left the the once again stout Raider defense to stop the Eagles from scoring the vital touchdown and stop them is exactly what they did.
Oakland, would win the game 13-9 following a series of downing he ball by JaMarcus Russell to wind down the clock after it’s defense killed the Eagles drive on 4th and long.
The newly awakened Raider defense amassed 6 sacks on the day (Trevor Scott (2), Richard Seymour (2), Thomas Howard (1), Jay Richardson (1) ) and left a a field of battered and bruised Eagles’ players in it’s wake.
