Silver and Black Report

Bob Wylie, Stefen Wisniewski & Jared Veldheer have become a force in Oakland.

Jared Veldheer may not be a household name…yet.

The Oakland Raiders left tackle has been the anchor of an offensive line that is becoming one of the games best – in only his second year as pro.

As a rookie, Veldheer allowed 7.5 sacks, starting at center before making his way to the left edge. This season, he’s only given up two sacks and yesterday, gobbled up the NFL’s leader in sacks, Jared Allen. Going into the game versus the Minnesota Vikings, the Hillsdale college product stated, “He is really tearing it up right now. He is a great player all-around, especially against the pass but against the run too. High motor guy.”

Single-handedly, Veldheer mauled Allen and used his large frame to keep Carson Palmer from being one of the defensive end’s many victims this season.

“I just asked him if he realized what he did today,” Palmer commented. “I don’t think it’s hit him. Not many guys play that well against that guy, and he didn’t have any help, either.”

Veldheer legitimately deserves Pro Bowl consideration this season. Not only does he play the most important position along the offensive line, but he’s the foundation of a unit that has a top ranked rush attack, opening holes for whoever they plug in at running back and have kept their passers clean, allowing just 15-sacks all campaign.

He’s only in his second season, but you can argue that Veldheer is one of the top left tackles in his conference. “You’re not allowed to put any pressure on the quarterback or let alone touch the guy. That was my mindset going in,” said the tackle after his performance versus Allen.

Oakland’s offensive line is one of the best in the league. Bob Wylie has done a wonderful job transitioning a new system of blocking in his first year as line coach and developing new talent along the way.

Stefen Wisniewski is not playing like a rookie. Along the left side, Oakland has bullied opponents with their 6-8, 315 pound tackle and first year guard.

There isn’t much experience on that side of the field, but it’s where the Raiders go when they need crucial yardage. The scary part is…their going to get better.

“I know where No. 69 is at all times. And I didn’t notice him hardly at all (today),” Palmer stated after the game. Soon, everyone will know where no. 68 is at all times.

Wisniewski & Veldheer win the majority of their match-ups on the left side.

THE DAY AFTER…

Hue Jackson is fed up with what’s going on…

With his team and the officials.

“I want us to have the same opportunity that everyone else has in this league,” Jackson said, complaining about the officiating in yesterday’s 27-21 road win.

“I understand that I am a rookie coach and maybe I don’t get all the calls,” he continued, “but there is no way some of the things that happened should happen.

“Sometimes, I would get talked to as if they didn’t know what I was asking. I just don’t think it was fair. I asked several times for explanations and wouldn’t get them. … We can’t get the ref over here when there is a break in the action, but he is over there on the other bench having conversations with them. I have a hard time with that.”

Another 12 penalties were called on the Silver & Black for 117 yards, putting them on pace to shatter the record held by the Kansas City Chiefs for most flags and yards in a season (165 for 1,427).

“I am going to reach out to the league myself, personally,” Jackson said. “I normally don’t complain about the officiating. I don’t make any bones that way because I said I wouldn’t. But today I just truly felt like it was a little unfair. I really do … I know everyone says we’re the most-penalized team in football and that’s a fact, and I’m not running from that,” Jackson said. “But there’s no way … some things that happened today on that football field, I question. I just do, and I have to, and I’m going to defend my team. It’s time that I do that.”

Tommy Kelly tallied his first career interception. “Coach has been stressing for us to keep running to the ball, and I did and it just ricocheted into my hands,” the defensive tackle said. “It felt good and then I was tired.”

Darrius Heyward-Bey (neck), Samson Satele (concussion), Taiwan Jones (hamstring) and Jarvis Moss (hamstring) were injured.  DHB was on the team flight on the way back to Oakland.

Oakland has scored 99 points the last five games, but has not scored in the fourth quarter during that span.

UP NEXT…

Veldheer’s reward for shutting down Allen…a match-up against Julius Peppers and the Chicago Bears defense.

Oakland dodged a bullet when Adrian Peterson was hurt and left the game early. Next week, they face Matt Forte, who is one of the top rushers in the league but has been held in check the last two weeks, rushing for 64 and 59 yards in consecutive games.

Jay Cutler won’t be in action, as reportedly he sustained a right thumb injury that will force Caleb Hanie into the starting line-up.

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It wasn’t pretty, but ultimately; the Oakland Raiders (6-4) held on for a 27-21 road win against the Minnesota Vikings (2-8).

The Silver & Black improved to 4-1 on the road in the season, and like their one lost traveling against the Buffalo Bills, Hue Jackson’s club almost surrendered a lead that looked insurmountable at halftime. “We continue to battle and that’s what I really love about my football team is they won’t quit,” Hue Jackson commented.

Here’s a look at how Oakland held on to first place in the AFC West:

TURNOVERS… x5 AND MISTAKES BY MIN.

The Vikings shot themselves in the foot many times, especially as they approached or where in the red-zone. But what hurt most was when Oakland took those miscues and turned them into points. Up 7-3, the Vikings drove to the Oakland 21-yard line and on 3^rd and 5; Matt Giordano intercepted Christian Ponder. Seven plays later, the Raiders took a 10-7 lead.

“I kept on making mistakes…I have a lot of learning to do,” said Ponder.

A key error in the 2^nd quarter that kept points off the board for the Vikings was the botched field goal attempt. Tyvon Branch tackled punter Chris Kluwe, as the safety darted through the line of scrimmage and disrupted a botched exchange from center to holder.

Eight plays later, Michael Bush’s 2-yard touchdown run gave Oakland a 17-7 advantage.

On the ensuing kickoff, Brandon Myers rocked Lorenzo Booker, DeMarcus Van Dyke recovered the fumble, and Oakland took over at the Vikings’ 16-yard line. Four plays later, Carson Palmer gave Oakland the lead going into the half with a sneak, 24-7. “Things really turned for us,” said Leslie Frazier after the game, about that sequence.

“We dug ourselves a hole,” he continued.

The Vikings also had nine penalties for 50-yards and just when they had some momentum late in the game, at the Oakland 5-yard line, down 27-14, Stanford Routt picked off the rookie passer.

‘ALL DAY’ DIDN’T GO FOUR QUARTERS

Adrian Peterson had six carries for 26-yards and a score when he left the contest in the first quarter. “We’ll do an MRI to learn more about it,” Frazier said after the game. “Right now, it’s being diagnosed as a sprain.”

His absence changed the complexity of the game.

Ponder had to shoulder more of the burden, but surprisingly, he lead the team in rushing with 71-yards.

Without Peterson pounding on the Raiders front-seven, the Vikings had to find ways to move the chains and find some balance with a rookie passer under center. Minnesota made the game competitive at the end. If he had Peterson for an entire contest, it would’ve been interesting to see if Oakland’s defense could’ve held up.

HUE GOT IT

Hue Jackson’s play calling was stellar. He changed the tempo, going no huddle a few times and incorporated all his targets on the afternoon.

Kevin Boss, who has been dormant, had six targets, a team leading five receptions, for 37-yards. Darrius Heyward-Bey, quiet the last two games, got back in the mix with 43-yards. Seven different Raiders tallied at least a reception and even though Louis Murphy did not snag a pass, he was able to draw an illegal contact flag.

Oakland’s ground attack amassed 162-yards against the 6^th ranked rush defense in the league.

Carson Palmer was steady once again, which will help any play caller look efficient. He ended 17-of-23 for 164-yards, one touchdown and no interceptions (rating of 107.9). Palmer’s touchdown pass was between two defenders, placed right in Chaz Schilens’ gut, as he jumped and landed on his back in the back of the end zone.

Palmer had a beautiful pass to Heyward-Bey, with oncoming pressure, thrown off his back foot, for 20-yards.

THE OL GOT IT DONE

Yes, they allowed four sacks, but Jared Veldheer won his match-up against league leader in that category, Jared Allen. For the first time this campaign, Allen was held sack-less and Veldheer’s only blip was a holding penalty. Stefen Wisniewski played like a seasoned veteran all afternoon. Oh, how many yards did Oakland pile up on the ground, again?

GAME NOTES

• Bryan McCann made his debut with two kick returns for 58-yards. A vital play early was Taiwan Jones’ 46-yard kickoff return. After Peterson made it 7-0, Oakland answered by starting on offense at their own 45-yard line on a drive that ended with a Sebastian Janikowski 29-yard field goal.
• Tommy Kelly tallied his first career interception. Giordano has a team leading three interceptions and two the last two games.
• Van Dyke was stellar on special teams, recovering a fumble and getting down the field as a gunner. Rock Cartwright had a stand out special teams tackle.
• Penalties continue to be a major problem: Oakland ended with 12 for 117 yards. Many of them extended drives, especially late when Ponder was trying to rally his team. A few were unnecessary roughness infractions, which the Raiders have the most of in the league. They now have 103 total penalties for the season. “I normally don’t complain about the officiating,” Jackson said. “I don’t make any bones that way because I said I wouldn’t. But today I just truly felt like it was a little unfair. I really do.”
• Heyward-Bey was carted off the field after taking a knee in the back of the head, which jarred loose his helmet. The receiver was attended to for a few minutes by both staffs, as teammates looked on somberly. As he was being wheeled off, DHB did raise his fisted hand to acknowledge the crowd. Hue Jackson said after the game that it was a neck injury and that he was hoping his target will join the flight with his teammates and undergo more tests in Oakland. “It’s definitely scary,” Palmer said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with him and I know he has family watching the game. It’s a tough situation to be in.”
• Oakland is now 4-1 on the road this season.
• Michael Bush had 30 carries for 109 yards. Marcel Reece added 45-yards on 6 rushes. Tommy Kelly (2 sacks), Desmond Bryant (2 sacks) and Lito Sheppard (1 sack) combined for five sacks. “They brought a lot of pressure,” sated Ponder.
• Raiders posted 27 unanswered points, but continued their scoring woes in the 4^th quarter. Oakland has not scored in the final quarter since October 9^th. “Like Coach Jackson said, we haven’t played a complete football game yet,” Palmer said. “And it’s scary to think, when we do, what it’s going to look like.”
• “Defender made a great play on it…” Ponder on Tyvon Branch’s fourth down defend on a pass to Percy Harvin. Oakland’s strong safety had a solid game, leading the team with six solo tackles.

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Sitting atop the AFC West, the Oakland Raiders (5-4) will begin the weekend as the hunted when they face the Minnesota Vikings (2-7). After their 24-17 road victory at San Diego, the Silver & Black have placed themselves in a position where they can control their own destiny the rest of the way, even though it’s a thin lead they hold within their division.

“We also recognize as fast as you’re in first place you can be out of first place,” Raiders head coach Hue Jackson said. “You have to do everything you can to keep it and hold on to it, which is winning. There is no other avenue other than winning to stay where you are and I think our players understand that and we don’t have a lot of conversations about it, but I think we do respect and know where we are, know what we’re trying to accomplish.”

OAKLAND RAIDERS

On Offense:

No Darren McFadden again this week…no problem. Michael Bush will step in and attempt to mimic the performance he had last week against the Chargers, as that earned him FedEx Ground Player of the Week honors.

But the real challenge will be for the offensive line. The Vikings have the 6^th ranked rush defense in the league and historically have been one of the better ground-stuffing units in the NFL. Along with that stout front, they feature a furious pass rush with Jared Allen, who leads the NFL with 13.5 sacks.

This could be a game where Oakland uses their aerial attack to facilitate everything else on offense. Carson Palmer is coming off his best performance of the season, Minnesota is struggling in their depleted secondary and if Jared Veldheer and the rest of the line can handle the Vikings’ pass rush, they’ll be able to pick apart that cover-two scheme.

On Defense:

Their only objective will be to stack the line of scrimmage and slow down Adrian Peterson.

Oakland is ranked 25^th in the league versus the run. They’ve had some horrid performances against teams that assertively pounded the ball into the trenches. And no other rusher in the league faces more stacked fronts than Peterson does.

“He is as good as there is. He is a rare player,” Jackson said. “He is a really good young man, and a tremendous football player, loves playing the game, is as good as there is, so what a challenge for our defensive football team.”

During victories,  the Silver & Black have allowed 69.6 ground yards per game, but in losses, they’ve been torched for 211 yards per game.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

On Offense:

With 846-rushing yards for the season, Peterson ranks fifth in the NFL. “He is the straw that stirs the drink for our offense,” head coach Leslie Frazier said of his rugged rusher. “We got to get him going and keep him involved over four quarters. We want to attack Oakland’s run defense. That’s who we are, every week.”

“I mean there are times that defenders really don’t want to tackle Adrian Peterson,” Frazier continued. “They’ll hope that someone else gets in the way before they get to him. He strikes fear in opposing defenders in the way he runs.”

A powerful ground attack will help rookie passer Christian Ponder, who is coming off a bad performance versus the Packers, but has shown glimpses since being inserted into the line-up.

Offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave stated that even through the rout at the hands of Green Bay, his rookie “remained poised and competitive and really just continued to be himself.”

On Defense:

The Raiders offensive line has only given up 11 sacks all season. Defensive coordinator Fred Pagac knows that he has to break them down if they want to slow down their offense.

“Well, game plan-wise we are going to be attacking where we think we can get to them, obviously Jared Allen has been doing a great job for us this year, Brian Robison has been doing a great job pressuring. We are going to have to run some stunts and games; we may have to run a few pressures at them. That’s all going to be game planned down the road,” he said.

Only the Colts are allowing more points per game, as the Vikings are ranked 31^st in that category, surrendering 27.1 points per contest.

GAME NOTES

• Oakland is fourth in the NFL averaging 156.2 yard rushing, including a 145.5 average in the past two games without McFadden. It’s cool getting the ball but it’s what I’m supposed to do,” Michae Bush said this week. “Running the ball, like I told the coach, `Just feed the stud.’ I told him that last week. Give me the ball and let’s see what we can do.”
• Jacoby Ford has been ruled out with an ankle injury. Denarius Moore has 23 receptions for the season and has been Palmer’s favorite target since he arrived. Nineteen of those 23 catches have been for first downs. With Ford out, Jackson commented, “I expect Darrius Heyward-Bey to have a big game.”
• In 8 career games versus Oakland, Jared Allen has 27-solo tackles, 6 sacks and one forced fumble.
• The Raiders lead the all-time regular season series against Minnesota 8-4.

KEY MATCH-UPS

Can the Raiders stop Peterson?

“We’ll definitely try to get our running game going, and they know that,” Peterson said. You don’t need any more information after that.

Raiders Offensive Line vs. Vikings Front-Seven

If Palmer is upright and is comfortable in the pocket, he’ll pick apart a really bad secondary. But Allen and the rest of the salivating rushers have to be gobbled up by Veldheer and co. Likewise with the run blocking. If the Raiders have another big rushing game without McFadden against this front, then you have to start considering the Oakland offensive line as one of the best in the league.

X-Factors?

Percy Harvin does not have a touchdown reception, but has been targeted 53-times this season. He also has 23 carries so far. He can be a dangerous return man as well. For Oakland, Kamerion Wimbley was unleashed last week and when a rusher gets on a roll, sacks come in bunches.

PREDICTION

Raiders 27 – Vikings 20

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During the 2007 season, the Oakland Raiders traveled to Minnesota to face the Vikings in a battle of struggling clubs.

As Adrian Peterson watched from the sideline – due to injury – Chester Taylor tallied 202-total yards of offense and three scores, in a 29-22 Minnesota win.

The Vikings tried their best to keep Oakland in the game with four first half turnovers, which led to four of Sebastian Janikowski’s five field goals.

A banged up Josh McCown could not start, giving away to Daunte Culpepper, who had his best years as pro with the Vikings. “You can’t predict emotions,” Culpepper before his appearance at the Metrodome. “When you go to a place that you played before, obviously emotion is going to be part of it.”

Facing one of the league’s worst pass defenses, Culpepper ended 23/39 for 344-yards, one touchdown and one interception.

“I thought Daunte was a warrior today,” then Raiders coach Lane Kiffin said. “I thought he played really well.”

Some of the shinning moments for the Raiders included highlight reel receptions by receiver Ronald Curry. At the start of the 2nd quarter, he was able to jump between two-defenders and snare a bomb from Daunte Culpepper for a 49-yard gain. In the process of coming down with the football, Curry lost his helmet and controlled the reception as he hit the turf.

Oakland’s run defense was abysmal that season and at the end of the afternoon, it was their seventh time in twelve weeks that the Silver & Black allowed a rusher to break the 100-yard mark.

During post-game interviews, Warren Sapp took exception of Tim Dwight’s mental error at the end of the game. Dwight had a false start, which led to a 10-second run off and cost the Raiders a chance at a scoring chance.

“I’m going to be where I’m supposed to be when I’m supposed to be there,” Sapp said. “I’m going to know the snap count. I’m not going to jump offside on a spike play. Where the hell are you going? That makes no sense. Just when you think you’ve seen it all in 13 years, here’s something else.”

Warren Sapp (#99) and Thomas Howard (#53) didn’t have much to celebrate after the Vikings compiled 228-rushing yards and 478 total yards of offense on November 18, 2007.

Ronald Curry enjoyed his stunning 49-yard grab, after losing his helmet. He ended with 4-catches for 120-yards.

Here’s a link to the Monday Morning Musings’ article for this contest.

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This week began much like last week, with the Oakland Raiders sitting many of their key players during Monday practice.

Darren McFadden was sidelined again with a mid-foot sprain and its unknown when he will be back or at what stage of his healing the running back is currently at.

Wide receiver Jacoby Ford (foot), defensive tackle Richard Seymour, safety Michael Huff (ankle) and middle linebacker Rolando McClain (ankle) were the starters that missed action today.

Cornerbacks Chris Johnson and rookie DeMarcus Van Dyke (hamstring) did not participate during drills.

On Friday, Ford was seen with crutches and a walking boot. Earlier in the season, he sustained a hamstring injury. Based on the depth at wide receiver and early indicators regarding his health, do not expect the kick returner and starting receiver to be in the line up versus the Minnesota Vikings.

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The Oakland Raiders have a few days now to get healthy and enjoy life atop the AFC West.

Jacoby Ford is a top concern coming off their victory at San Diego, but per the wide receiver, it doesn’t appear he will miss significant time due to the sprain in his ankle. The speedster had a hamstring injury earlier in the campaign and was just rounding into form over the last four games.

Ford had a momentum swinging 101-yard kickoff return versus the Browns and was in the midst of getting in tune with the offense as a pass catcher.

The Raiders are not mandated to give any reports until next week, when the league disseminates team injury logs.

Middle linebacker spoke to the media regarding the changing winds in the NFL and how the team’s outlook can change from week-to-week, stating, “We never worry about what everybody says. We have a good sense of each other in this locker room and that’s all that matters. We believe in each other.”

Rookie guard Stefen Wisniewski added, “Early in the year, everyone was talking about how good we are. And then we suck after a couple of losses. And now we’re good again. It’s a heavily criticized job, but that’s the nature of the business.”

Aaron Curry was fined $20,000 for his hit on Tin Tebow last weekend. It’s the second time he’s been levied sanction, as he was $10,000 lighter in the pockets after an October match-up versus the Chiefs.

Oakland’s next opponent, the Minnesota Vikings, will face the Green Bay Packers on Monday night at Lambeau field.

Christian Ponder will make his second NFL start against the defending Super Bowl champions. All eyes on the Raider defense should be on Adrian Peterson. So far, he has posted 795-rushing yards and 9 scores on the ground.

Consistently one of the best in the league, the Vikings also feature the 5^th best run defense in the league (94.4 per game).

There was a story today on the Journal Sentinel’s web site regarding Oakland’s interest in Reggie McKenzie, Green Bay’s current director of football of operations.

The game between the Raiders and Chargers was the most watched Thursday night opener in league history.

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In a few weeks, Richard Seymour may not be as friendly towards Tim Tebow.

The bye week couldn’t have come at a better time for the Oakland Raiders.

The team and Carson Palmer will now have several days and two weeks before their next game to get on the same page. A needed time off, as on Sunday, we saw the importance of Jason Campbell’s presence: his chemistry with the coaches and players, and how in two seasons, he started to get very comfortable in his own skin and as a quiet leader.

Hue Jackson stated the importance of Campbell, and how he was a key cog to their fast start.

Now, the coach and receivers must get on the same page with their new passer.

“Obviously, Carson wasn’t here for training camp. He wasn’t here the first six weeks. We’re so used to Kyle [Boller] and so used to Jason [Campbell], it’s just a different cadence. It’s just one of those things where we just got to get back. We know we can get there. We just got to get the confidence in Carson to know that we’re going to be in a certain place at the right time for him to get the ball to us. As long as we’re doing that, we should be just fine,” said Derek Hagan.

“We’ve got to speed the process up as fast as we can,” Jackson, elaborated. “That’s pretty obvious, what needs to happen. How comfortable is he going to be? I can’t tell you he’s going to know them stone-cold by the time we play Denver, but he’ll have a better grasp of what this guy can do and what that guy can do based on situations because he’s going to have more practice time with those young men.”

HEALTH IS THE KEY

Oakland needs some of their players to get healthy if they expect to make a run to the playoffs in the second half.

Primarily, running back Darren McFadden, who sat out most of the game versus the Chiefs after a few carries and leaving with a mid-foot sprain.

“I’m hoping to get [McFadden] back soon,” Jackson said. “I know one thing, one of my plans for him was to get him some rest this week, to get him back up and get him fresh because, obviously, when Darren is rolling, he’s one of the best backs in this league. So, we need to get him healthy.”

The prognosis for recovery and his availability for their game versus Denver will be clearer by next week.

The head coach believes that fullback Marcel Reece should be good to go for their next contest, along with Chimdi Chekwa and placekicker, Sebastian Janikowski.

BYE ONLY THING SLOWING SPEEDY WR…

Darrius Heyward-Bey continued his solid play in recent weeks, posting five more catches for 89-yards. He is currently the 7^th ranked wide receiver in the AFC with 434-yards.

DHB, who spent a lot of time with Campbell during the off-season in order to get in sync with his quarterback, will now do the same with Palmer and the rest of his unit mates.

Carson Palmer getting in tune with Darrius Heyward-Bey.

“No, it doesn’t feel like starting over,” Heyward-Bey commented. “I mean, it’s football. Ever since you’re little, you go out and play backyard football. So whoever’s back there, you’re just going to have to get some type of chemistry going and then you play football.”

LOOKING AHEAD…

At 4-3, Oakland will look back during the bye and note some missed opportunities.

Specifically, their second half performance in Buffalo where one stop on defense could’ve meant victory instead of heartbreaking defeat. After their home game against the Broncos, it does not get any easier with back-to-back road games in San Diego and Minnesota. They go back home to face Chicago, before traveling in consecutive weeks versus Miami and Green Bay.

With Detroit also on the schedule and two final games versus divisional rivals, if Oakland is looking toward a playoff berth, they’ll surely earn it with some tough games slated in the ladder part of the schedule.

The Charger games will be pivotal in deciding the division, Denver with Tim Tebow could be a trap, Chicago is currently 4-3 and playing respectable football, Green Bay is in a class all by themselves and Kansas City just wiped the floor with them at the O.Co Coliseum.

Traveling to the east coast to face the Dolphins may not be so daunting like in year’s past with that club aiming for Andrew Luck. Detroit’s fast start may be curtailed a tad, but they have shown to have a lot of talent, and in similar circumstances like Oakland, a laughingstock for many years who have recently turned the page. The Vikings will go with a young passer the rest of the way, but have a running back that could control a game.

That’s why I felt it was imperative for them to be at 6-2, heading into the Thursday night match-up versus the Chargers. That would’ve given Oakland more of a margin for error, something they did not have last year when they were .500 and clawing to find a way to get in as the season wound down.

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#10 – The greatest WR does it again – Super Bowl XXXVII

In a contest with very little entertainment value for Raider fans, receiver Jerry Rice continued his excellence in the big game albeit in a losing effort. His 48-yard touchdown reception gave the Raiders a glimmer of hope against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, cutting their deficit to 34-21. It mainly added to his legacy, as he became the first player to haul in a touchdown pass in 4 different Super Bowls. His final tally career wise in Super Bowls – 33 catches for 589 yards and 8 scores.

#9 – Kenny King’s 80-yard Touchdown – Super Bowl XV

It was a simple dump off just away from the arms of the defender Herm Edwards. But King hauled it in and bolted for a record 80-yard score. The mark stood till 1997, but the damage it inflicted was long standing as it gave Oakland a 14-0 lead in an eventual 27-10 victory against the Philadelphia Eagles.

#8 – ‘The Assassin’ left his mark – Super Bowl XI

It was a convincing victory versus the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl XI. But a lot of the Raider lore and history for being tough renegades, who just dominated and placed feared into opponents was acquired by one of the most devastating hits in football history – which happened in the game’s grandest stage. Jack Tatum knocked the helmet of Vikings’ receiver Sammy White. He stood over him admiring his work in a menacing fashion…

That was the ‘Assassin’ at work.

#7 – Rod Martin’s INT parade – Super Bowl XV

Jim Plunkett won the MVP in Super Bowl XV, but it was Rod Martin’s performance that will be remembered with his Super Bowl record three-interceptions. He tallied two championship rings with the Raiders, playing a vital role with key stops as well in the Silver & Black’s win versus the Redskins in 1984.

#6 – Davis celebrates his 3^rd Title – Super Bowl XVIII

After the Raiders whipped on the Redskins, owner Al Davis boasted about the victory and proclaimed, “Not only, in my opinion, are you the greatest Raider team of all time, I think you rank with the great teams of all times to have ever played any professional sport.”

#5 – Images of Madden – Super Bowl XI

John Madden led the Silver & Black to their first title. And in that game, video captured of him being animated on the sidelines, jumping (err, I think…) for joy and being carried away by his teammates will always be cherished by Oakland’s fan-base.

#4 – Rozelle and Davis – Super Bowl XV

The Pete Rozelle and Al Davis feud was epic. The Raider owner once stated that the legendary commissioner was a man ‘who will destroy the whole league if we’re not careful,’ while also calling him a ‘phony and a fraud.’ After the Silver & Black dismantled the Eagles, Rozelle awarded the Vince Lombardi trophy to Davis, head coach Tom Flores and congratulated the Raiders for being the first wild-card team in league history to win the Super Bowl. Quite an awkward moment and one that Davis cherished immensely at the time while stating it was ‘the finest hour in the history of the Oakland Raiders.’

#3 – Jack Squirek’s INT for a score – Super Bowl XVIII

It was the perfect storm for the Silver & Black. Ray Guy had pinned the Redskins at their 12-yard line. Joe Theismann was about to run an identical screen pass that torched the Raiders a few months earlier, but Squirek sniffed it out and turned a close game into a laugher with his interception return for a touchdown right before halftime, giving Los Angeles a 21-3 lead. Marcus Allen’s run was breathtaking, but Squirek’s play was pivotal in altering the momentum in the contest.

#2 – “Old man Willie…,” – Super Bowl XI

Willie Brown’s 75-yard interception return for a touchdown is one of the most iconic images captured in Super Bowl history. His intensity jetting down the sideline towards the end zone giving the Raiders a 32-7 lead capped what was a wonderful day for the Silver & Black as they captured their first Super Bowl victory.

#1 – Marcus Allen’s 74-yard run for a TD vs. the Redskins – Super Bowl XVIII

The Hall of Fame rusher danced around the Washington defense putting the last nail in the coffin with his stellar 74-yard scamper. Allen skipped behind the line of scrimmage before turning around and finding a crease as he cut back and ran to paydirt. At that point Los Angeles led 35-9. Allen won the MVP with his 20-carries for 191 yards and 2 scores.

That cheese is going down nicely this morning in Green Bay.

The New Orleans Saints ousted Brett Favre – who spent a year in New York Jet green before landing where he always wanted to go – when his Minnesota Vikings lost in overtime 31-28.

His last pass as a Packer, a crippling interception to Corey Webster in overtime, that propelled the New York Giants into the Super Bowl and a historic finish to their campaign.

His closing act as a Jet was a three-interception performance against the Dolphins.

“The hardest part is the finality of it,” Favre said after that game, “especially when you expect to go on.”

He didn’t go on to the playoffs after an 8-3 start in New York, but he did move on to Minnesota.

And with Packer fans dreading his arrival to the hated foe, and the Vikings making a push to a Super Bowl, Green Bay couldn’t have been happy to see Favre with the ball with two minutes left in New Orleans with a chance to fulfill his dream.

A Super Bowl was within reach. A chance at adding to his legacy was a few yards away. But Favre’s one-way destination was undone again by…

Well, Brett Favre.

His last pass as a Viking could be that interception he lofted into the hands of Tracy Porter.

The gunslinger that played recklessly throughout his career just crashed Minnesota’s dream of a Super Bowl into the ground.

Instead of just running toward the sidelines and picking up a few more yards for a game winning field goal attempt, the football God’s righted everything.

Favre’s offense never got to see the football field again.

A fitting sight for Packer fans that were left yearning another Super Bowl appearance a few years back when Favre tossed away their dreams and then held the organization hostage as he did many off-seasons.

He eventually got what he wanted. Favre got to the Vikings.

It took a short disingenuous stint in New York for it to happen, but he got his way.

Yesterday, Packer fans got their way.

“The year could not have gone any better, aside from us not going to Miami,” Favre said last night.

In Green Bay, even though their team team suffered a bitter playoff defeat, their year could not have gone any better after seeing Favre fizzle and being sent home with no shot at adding to his ring total.