Sloppy contest in Oakland, but Carolina prevails 17-6
Well, at least the Oakland Raiders (2-7) didn’t wait till the 3rd quarter to get their initial first down of the game against the Carolina Panthers (7-2). They got that out of the way in the 1st quarter on Sunday, but after that, they couldn’t do much of else.
Unlike last weekend, the Raiders showed some signs of life, but their ineptitude on offense and sloppy play kept them from putting any scare into the Panthers as they lost their third straight game 17-6.
Oakland was 2-of-17 on third down conversions, had 10 penalties for 83 yards and Shane Lechler had a career high 11 punts during the slop-fest.
Both teams combined for 20 punts and seven turnovers. The Raiders won the time of possession battle 37:02 to 22:58 and actually had more first downs than the Panthers (17-10). But that only gave more opportunities for the offense to show how pitiable they are in front of a non-sellout crowd at the ‘Black Hole.’
The Panthers did not need to move the chains or play keep away today.
They scored on a short field at the beginning of the game after Johnnie Lee Higgins fumbled the opening kickoff. Carolina started their drive at the Oakland 16-yard line and four plays later; they went up 7-0 on a Jake Delhomme to Muhsin Muhammad 3-yard connection.
Oakland’s defense was solid in spurts versus the run and gave Delhomme fits all day when he dropped back to pass. The revamped secondary recorded four interceptions and looked very active today, but with the good there was some bad, as they reverted to shoddy tackling at times and miscues that led directly to Carolina points.
Rashad Baker blew a tackle on a DeAngelo Williams run, which sprung him 69-yards for a touchdown and gave Carolina a 14-0 lead in the 2nd quarter.
Baker had two interceptions on the day, but at times was bowled over by opposing rushers.
And the Raiders, who came into the game allowing 157.6 rushing yards per game (30th in the NFL), allowed another 162 today and a career high 140 on 19 carries by Williams.
Oakland wasted many opportunities to score on short fields after turnovers.
Nnamdi Asomugha, who blanketed Steve Smith whenever they paired up, got his first interception of the season in the first quarter. Oakland took over on the Carolina 39-yard line, but Andrew Walter, starting his 9th career game, tossed an interception four plays later on a pass intended for rookie Chaz Schilens in the end zone.
The game was difficult to watch.
Oakland cold not muster up any offense and considering they won in time of possession and tallied more first downs than their opponent, it must be upsetting to coaches that they couldn’t wear down the Panther defense. If anything, it was Carolina who was exhausting the Raiders with their constant pressure and rugged play.
Julius Peppers was a one-man gang recording three sacks. The second time in as many weeks that a defensive end has compiled three sacks against the Raiders (John Abraham) and their turnstile tackles.
The Raiders couldn’t even catch a break when Sebastian Janikowski hit the cross bar from 58-yards out with :09 remaining. Oakland was looking to put up some points on that 3rd down and then get a chance on the ensuing kickoff to field an onside kick.
The Raiders are an abysmal football team right now. And the playoff bound Panthers, coming off their bye week, did not appear like the team atop their division.
You can play bad against Oakland and still get away with it. Just ask Carolina.
INJURIES
After the game, head coach Tom Cable stated that Jake Grove sustained a strained calf, but did not know the severity of the injury. Chaz Schilens had a high ankle sprain and Javon Walker’s injury was above his ankle, and the coach said that the he was ‘pretty sore.’
GAME NOTES
- Janikowski booted field goals from 38 and 45 yards today. The second field goal gave the former first rounder the franchise points record, as he surpassed George Blanda with his 865 points.
- Kwame Harris struggled mightily again, and Cable stated after the game during an interview on KSFO that he intends to play Mario Henderson more often. Henderson was briefly in the game today, but was on the sidelines the entire second half.
- The Raiders have gone back-to-back games at home without a touchdown.
- Andrew Walter was noticeably upset on a 5-yard completion to Tony Stewart on 3rd and 7. Instead of moving up the field after the grab, the tight end inexplicably attempted to juke the cornerback who was closing in on the tackle instead of trying to bowl him over.
- Justin Fargas ran hard and continues to be one of the few Raiders to show consistent fire on game day. He finished with 22 carries for 89 yards.
