Silver and Black Report

The second half of the regular season; a new beginning for the Oakland Raiders and an opportunity to at least build some momentum by trying to beat a Kansas City team that is minus tight end Tony Gonzalez, minus running back Priest Holmes, and minus newly cut running back Larry Johnson. All three being perennial behemoths that have always been the deciding for in Raiders’ losses to the the Chiefs. For all intents and purposes, a very winnable game.

The Raiders elected to receive the ball first and put on an explosive offensive display; reminiscent of the season opener against the San Diego Chargers except that this time, Oakland would actually end the opening drive wih a touchdown following a huge 60-yard run by running back Michael Bush and a 1-yard dive into the endzone by running back Justin Fargas to put the Raiders up 7-0 right off the bat!

The defense also got off to a good start; cornerback Chris Johnson intercepted a Matt Cassell pass. In fact, the pass was initially caught by the intended Kansas City receiver when he went up high to grab it. However, Johnson met the ball and the receiver at the apex and quite literally snatched the ball away from the Kansas City receiver for no gain.

The Raiders’ offense tried their interpretation of the popular Wild Cat formations twice on their subsequent drive. Both Wild Cat plays netted them next to nothing and were forced to punt away.

The Raider defense put up a valiant effort this time around, but couldn’t keep the Chiefs off the score board after forcing Kansas City to either punt or kick a 50-yard field goal. The Chiefs chose the points and booted the 50-yarder to pull to within 4-points with the score now 7-3.

After a stalled Raider offensive drive, the Raiders would catch a lucky break when Kansas City would muff the ensuing punt return. LB Jon Condo would recover the fumble.

At this point and on into the 3rd quarter, Oakland’s offense begins to stall. 3-and-outs, errant passes, non-productive runs, and unimaginative play calling quickly became the norm as Raider fans booed the offense whenever they came off the field. At least this time, Sebastian Janikowski slowed the bleeding by booting a 5-yard field goal of his own to extend the lead to 10-3. The field goal would be the last sniff of points for the remainder of the game.

Oakland’s defense still had life left in them as displayed by a sack by Tommy Kelly for -8 yards. The Chiefs would strike with a deep pass play on 3rd and 23. Fortunately for Oakland, the ball was an inch or two short and Kansas City elected to punt it away.

On the ensuing Raider drive, Russell and company could only manage yet another 3-and-out as the home crowd continued to voice it’s displeasure.

K.C. would take advantage of Oakland’s offensive woes and put more points on the board by exploiting the Raiders’ defeense on a 4th and 1 situation by busting out a 44-yard for a touchdown to tie the game 10-10.

Oakland got off to a good footing early in their next offensive drive with a 12-yard pass to wide receiver Chaz Schilens. But then, the wheels began too fall off following a outright dropped deep pass by WR Darrius Heyward-Bey. Then WR Louis Murphy would get his deep pass reception negated because of a tripping penalty called on Guard Robert Gallery. To make matters worse, JaMarcus Russell would be sacked for a 13-yard loss; forcing them to punt the ball once more.

And again, K.C. would manage to get a field goal out their next offensive drive to push Kansas City ahead with the score of 13-10.

At about 2:30 left in the third quarter where Russell would receive the hook from coach Cable. Benched…for the second game this season and again, Bruce Gradkowski would come in as relief. The benching came following a failed offensive drive in which Russell missed his targets and according to coach Cable, missed his reads. The last play for Russell was a pass play in which he had plenty of time to throw the ball, there were no defenders in his face or in pursuit, but the pass landed just before the receiver’s feet in the flats. Russell’s footwork being the culprit as he never stepped into the throw and relied only on his arm strength to get the ball to the receiver; a familiar theme all season long.

Kansas City would tighten the screws with a 4th quarter field goal to make the game 16-10; daring Oakland to beat them with a touchdown. Oakland, would have their chance.

With about 1:53 left in the game, Gradkowski would have to march his team 80 yards with only one time out left. First, Gradkowski hit Schilens for 9-yards. Then, he hit WR Johnnie Lee Higgins for 14-yards. Gradkowski adverted disaster by running away from the pass rush and managed to gain 9-yards. The offense is now clicking on all cylinders against a defense that really hadn’t gone prevent. The Chiefs were playing the same defense they had been playing all game long. The Raiders got even closer when Gradkowski connected with Heyward-Bey on a deep out with Bey tip-toeing the sidelines. An official’s challenge would confirm the catch a reception.

Fate would have a sense of irony. After DHB’s reception got the Raiders to the Chiefs’ 26-yard line, Gradkowski would return to the receiver well by throwing again to DHB. This time, fate…being the fickle mistress, frowned upon Oakland. The ball would find it’s way to DHB’s outstretched hands, but would go right through them, bounce off his chest, up into the air and into the waiting arms of the Chiefs’ defender at K.C.’s 10-yard line to essentially end the game…10 yards from possible victory. An obviously emotional Bey could not be found in the locker room following the post game press conference.

The Raider would fall to the Chiefs 16-10 and more importantly, Coach Cable will have to decide who he will start at quarterback next week, and the team will have to find a way to fix all the dropped passes.