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Oakland Raiders miss playoffs after 38-26 loss to San Diego Chargers |
It was indistinguishable at first, rising to a crescendo as the home crowd attempted to pull something out of its team that the Raiders couldn’t manage to get out of themselves: “Denver lost, Denver lost, Denver lost … “ By that time, with about five minutes to play, the Raiders already trailed by the final score of 38-26, having been proven utterly defenseless in terms of stopping Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers on Sunday at O.co Coliseum. All that was left was for one final indignity as Jacoby Ford slipped and fell on an out route by the Raiders bench, with Antoine Cason getting a gift interception from quarterback Carson Palmer with 4:36 to play and the Chargers happily running out most of what remained on the clock. The Broncos (8-8) backed into the AFC West title on tiebreaking procedures, despite three consecutive losses. Denver hosts Pittsburgh in the first round of the playoffs next Sunday. The Raiders, 8-8 for the second straight season, won just one of their final five games. San Diego was also in the 8-8 logjam, but it was eliminated last week, playing for nothing except pride and the joy of taking out a division rival Sunday. “To say I’m pissed off is an understatement,” Raiders coach Hue Jackson said, a term he used nine times during his postgame news conference. “It didn’t look like a football team that was hungry enough to go out and win the AFC West title.” Rivers and the San Diego offense looked nothing like the unit that was roughed up by the Raiders on Nov. 10, when Oakland registered six sacks and prevailed 24-17. The Raiders barely laid a hand on Rivers, who completed 19 of 26 passes for 310 yards, three touchdowns and one interception against an Oakland secondary that put up only slightly more resistance than a group of cardboard cutouts. Matt Giordano intercepted a deep Rivers heave on San Diego’s first possession, but the Raiders gave ground the rest of the day. The Chargers, who never punted, also rushed for 153 yards on 31 carries, including a 1-yard touchdown run by Mike Tolbert. San Diego also had a 105-yard kickoff return by Richard Goodman, the first kick return touchdown surrendered by the Raiders in 28 games. That turned a 14-10 Chargers lead into 21-10 advantage and was a play Jackson thought gave a huge momentum boost to the Chargers. The Raiders actually outgained the Chargers with 520 yards of offense led by Palmer’s 28-for-43, 417-yard performance that included TD passes of 3 yards to Darrius Heyward-Bey and 22 yards to Kevin Boss. But twice in the red zone the Raiders stalled, with Sebastian Janikowski kicking field goals of 27 and 32 yards to go along with others of 52 and 43 yards. In the end, the Raiders were left to ponder how they came up empty with their season on the line. The Raiders chose not to disclose out-of-town scores on the scoreboard to the 58,721 fans, but strong safety Tyvon Branch said players learned of Denver’s loss from fans who began chanting of the Broncos’ defeat. “Words can’t describe how disappointed we are,” Branch said. “We had everything set up for us. We had a roller-coaster season and a chance to get in the big tournament, and we blew it.” If Goodman’s kickoff return served as a big surge of momentum, the Raiders defense let another a potential game-breaking sequence get away after Palmer’s touchdown pass to Boss got Oakland within 31-26 with 9:37 left. Boss was hit in the back of the head by Steve Gregory, giving the tight end a concussion and the Chargers a personal foul. Janikowski, kicking off from midfield, lofted a pooch kick that was mishandled by Goodman, who then scrambled back into the end zone. The Raiders nearly had a safety, with Goodman barely getting the ball to the half-yard line. A safety would have cut the deficit to 31-28, and San Diego would have been kicking off to the Raiders. Instead, Rivers immediately got San Diego out of trouble with a 19-yard strike to Malcom Floyd (seven catches, 127 yards) and in less than three minutes had San Diego in the end zone on a 43-yard pass to Floyd — a 99-yard drive in four plays. “If you can’t stop a team with everything on the line, you don’t deserve to be a playoff team,” defensive tackle Richard Seymour said. “And we didn’t get it done. So this one hurts.” Jackson had talked up the Chargers as a formidable opponent all week, even if they were out of the playoff race. He was left wondering if his team had relaxed after the early Giordano interception and a 95-yard touchdown drive on the Raiders’ first possession. “Maybe we thought it was going to be easy,” Jackson said. “I knew it wasn’t going to be easy.” Said Chargers coach Norv Turner: “That makes it even more special, the fact that we finished and played well and beat a good team that was fighting to get into the playoffs.” INSIDE Trade for Carson Palmer doesn’t live up to the hype. PAGE 6 Defensive shortcomings could cost Chuck Bresnahan. PAGE 6 AFC West crown comes down to wire. PAGE 6 Leave your comments on the news below. Posted in 1, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Jacoby Ford, Malcom Floyd, Norv Turner, Philip Rivers, raiders-news, Richard Seymour, San Diego Chargers, Sebastian Janikowski, Tyvon Branch | Comments Off
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Countdown to Oakland Raiders Vs San Diego Chargers: Fan Preview |
The count down to the all-important game between the Oakland Raiders and the San Diego Chargers is here.Today is the day that Raider fans will find out if the Silver and Black advance to the postseason and get their first opportunity in the playoffs since 2002. 
Denarius Moore The ball that will drop this afternoon in Oakland is a lot more important than the one that dropped at midnight last night, and the one that everyone in Raider Nation has been patiently, or rather impatiently, waiting for. When the Raiders’ late owner, Al Davis, told head coach Hue Jackson, “We will win it in the end,” just before he passed away on October 8, 2011, was it a prophecy for this season, or an eventual outcome farther down the road? Or did it not really mean anything at all? I have to believe, as Jackson does, that Davis was right about this one. Whether or not it comes true in the 2011 season remains to be seen, but I think that the Raiders’ faith in victory will have an important affect on the ultimate outcome. Safety Tyvon Branch remarked after the game on Christmas Eve, “I don’t know what it is about us. We just seem to find a way to make it interesting. We overcame a lot. We all stuck together. We all kept believing.” Oakland has defeated San Diego in their last three battles, if, and when, the Raiders win today it will be a two-year sweep. After their wild and crazy victory against the Kansas City Chiefs in overtime, the team got their momentum and confidence back, and that may have been the missing ingredient during much of the month of December. They’ve got that fire going once again, and the time is now to show everyone what they’ve got. Quarterback Carson Palmer has got two of his best offensive weapons back on the field in Oakland today, receivers Denarius Moore and Jacoby Ford. Running back Michael Bush may have slowed down a little over the last month, but he could be saving the best for last. How about a repeat performance of his outstanding efforts in San Diego on November 10? Bush had 30 carries for 157 yards and scored a touchdown. The Chargers don’t have anything to gain by a win in Oakland, except possibly a little respect. Is it worth potentially injuring some of their best players and decreasing their chances for a healthy team next year? There are so many reasons to believe the Raiders will win today, and a victory in front of the sold-out crowd at O.co Coliseum would be the best way to start out the New Year for everyone in the Raider Nation. After finding out that it was the team’s eighth consecutive sell out this season, Jackson said, ” My hat goes out to our fans for supporting us. What we have to do is give back to them as I’ve always said. And how we give back is by winning.” That time is now. Just win baby! K.C. Dermody grew up in the Bay Area of California, and has been an Oakland Raiders fan from the time she could walk. She has continued her loyalty to the team through its many ups and downs over the decades, and has been privileged to meet several of her favorite players, including famed quarterback, Jim Plunkett . Follow her at www.facebook.com/KCDermodyWriter, Twitter @kcdermody, or www.kcdermodywriter.com. More from this contributor: Oakland Raiders’ Injury List Much Improved for Chargers Game: Fan’s View Oakland Raiders’ Michael Bush Will Have a Chance to Shine Against the Chargers: Fan’s Take Five Reasons the Oakland Raiders Will Defeat the San Diego Chargers: Fan’s Take Oakland Raiders Win, Denver Broncos Loss May Be in the Cards: Fan’s Look Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content. That’s all the news for today. Posted in 1, Jacoby Ford, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, raiders-news, San Diego Chargers, Tyvon Branch | Comments Off
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Oakland Raiders’ Injury List Much Improved for Chargers Game: Fan’s View |
The injury report for the Oakland Raiders heading into the all important game against the San Diego Chargers may be the shortest list we’ve seen all year. That’s especially good news for the Silver and Black who have their postseason on the line with this final game of the regular season. 
Jacoby Ford, Oakland Raiders There are just three players who are definitely out, and that’s quarterback Jason Campbell, who wasn’t really expected to return after suffering a broken collar bone in week six, running back Darren McFadden, whose chances were already slim to none, and defensive tackle, Big John, John Henderson, out with a knee injury. The players who are listed as questionable, are likely to see at least some time on the field, and receiver Jacoby Ford and safety Michael Huff have already been pretty adamant about getting in the game. Ford commented, “It was definitely a positive week for me so I feel good going into the game. If I practiced this much this week and I’m not out there, I’d be mad.” He could become a big factor in a victory for the Raiders. Ford and Palmer displayed a great rhythm together. In Palmer’s second outing with the team as they faced the Denver Broncos in Oakland, Ford made an incredible catch in the end zone for an 18-yard touchdown. Just days later in San Diego, he somehow grabbed a 41-yarder, making it look easy. Huff is the player who saved the game for the Raiders against the Texans when he interception Houston’s Matt Schaub in the end zone. A healthy Huff will bring much needed improvement to Oakland’s defense. Running back Taiwan Jones is a little more questionable. He’s been battling a hamstring injury, but it’s likely he’ll see time on the field as well. Michael Bush, once again, will be given the opportunity to show what he’s made of. The Chargers’ wide receiver Vincent Jackson was reportedly not likely to be in the game due to a groin injury, but it looks like that has changed, and he’s now listed as probable. Jackson is one of the Chargers star players, but against the Raiders he caught just one pass for 22 yards. In their recent game against Detroit he had just two catches for 41 yards. He may be trying to play through pain, and I don’t think he’ll be a big concern for the Raiders on Sunday. San Diego’s running back Ryan Mathews is still questionable, with running back Mike Tolbert as probable. Just one day before we find out the fate of the Silver and Black, things continue to look brighter. As always, whoever is on, or off, the field, Just win baby! K.C. Dermody grew up in the Bay Area of California, and has been an Oakland Raiders fan from the time she could walk. She has continued her loyalty to the team through its many ups and downs over the decades, and has been privileged to meet several of her favorite players, including famed quarterback, Jim Plunkett . Follow her at www.facebook.com/KCDermodyWriter, Twitter @kcdermody, or www.kcdermodywriter.com. More from this contributor: Oakland Raiders’ Michael Bush Will Have a Chance to Shine Against the Chargers: Fan’s Take Five Reasons the Oakland Raiders Will Defeat the San Diego Chargers: Fan’s Take Oakland Raiders Win, Denver Broncos Loss May Be in the Cards: Fan’s Look Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content. Gotta run!. Posted in 1, Darren McFadden, Jacoby Ford, Jason Campbell, John Henderson, Matt Schaub, Michael Huff, Oakland Raiders, raiders-news, San Diego Chargers | Comments Off
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Raiders Coach Hue Jackson Breaks it Down: Fan’s View |
I like Oakland Raiders’ head coach Hue Jackson. He tells it like it is and doesn’t waste words or pull any punches. He’s a humble guy who used to watch the Raiders play in the Los Angeles Coliseum when he worked there as a security guard in the 1980s. 
An NFL football. I think he has really built the Raider team into something great since taking the helm and is doing a admirable job at continuing the legacy of long-time owner Al Davis and his “Commitment to Excellence.” In Mr. Davis’ memory, I really do believe the team will make it to the Super Bowl. The on-field play is supported by the Raider Nation, the community of fans (including myself) around the world who support the Silver and Black. Each Friday after the team practice, Coach Jackson speaks with the media and I think his interview is a great way to determine where the team is one day before the game. In this case the game is the must-win January 1 game against the San Diego Chargers to end the 2011 regular season and hopefully move into the playoffs. Here are some key highlights I took away from Coach Jackson’s Friday press conference on December 30: Injuries are still an issue Michael Huff and Jacoby Ford are still recovering but it looks like Coach Jackson will include them in the line-up. He doesn’t think Ford is quite back up to speed, but I think the Raiders need him in there returning kickoffs. Chemistry is another issue Not bad chemistry, but lack of it. I agree with the Coach’s assessment that the team just needs more time to really come together. They have great players but the late addition of Carson Palmer just takes some getting used to. I think the Raiders have shown great heart this season and will definitely have a strong 2012 season, regardless of their 2011 finish. Still not watching the scoreboard Coach Jackson makes it a policy to not look at the scoreboard during games and even though it’s a must win for the Raiders, he’ll concentrate on executing each play successfully and helping “this football team do everything it can to win.” Palmer can play under pressure In a must-win game like the San Diego game, I think it’s essential we have an experienced guy like Palmer in there. Coach Jackson agrees, saying “It’s very important. He’s not going to flinch. That’s what I love about him. We’ve had some things not go his way but one thing I know about him, he’s not sitting over there sulking about it, or worried about it, he’s on to the next play and that’s kind of the way I am.” I agree and think that’s the professional attitude that wins games and wins championships. Although born and raised with Eagles fans in Philadelphia, Freddy Sherman has always been a citizen of Raider Nation at heart. Since his dad got him a signed George Blanda football as child, to meeting Lyle Alzado in the 1980s, he hasn’t looked back. Follow him on twitter @thefredsherman More from this contributor: Oakland Raiders – Top 5 Reasons They’ll Be in Super Bowl XLVI Farmers Field Proposed Re-design is Too Expensive to Build: Fan’s Opinion Top 5 Greatest Oakland Raiders Hall of Famers Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content. Subscribe to our feed!. Posted in 1, Jacoby Ford, Michael Huff, Oakland Raiders, raiders-news, San Diego Chargers | Comments Off
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Oakland Raiders Vs San Diego Chargers: Fan’s Look at Significant Moments in History |
With just two days before the Oakland Raiders determine their fate in the playoffs, it’s hard for many fans to think of anything else. New Year’s Eve bash, who cares? We just want New Year’s Day to arrive so that we can (hopefully) watch the Raiders defeat the San Diego Chargers and ultimately take the AFC West title when the Kansas City Chiefs’ quarterback, Kyle Orton, exacts his revenge on the Denver Broncos. 
Sebastian Janikowski In light of that fact, I thought it was time we looked at some of the significant moments and facts in the history between the Chargers and the Raiders. The Raiders lead the series record over the Chargers, 58-44-2. Oakland has won their three most recent battles, but had lost the previous 13. Could they be on their way to a longer winning streak? In their last match up on November 10, the Raiders defeated the Chargers by a score of 24-17. Several players had stand out performances on that Thursday evening, including the rookie receiver Denarius Moore. Moore somehow held on to a long pass by quarterback Carson Palmer for a 46-yard catch, and it was just one of five catches and two touchdowns by the end of the game. Linebacker Kamerion Wimbley was on fire, and had four of six sacks on the San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers. Running back Michael Bush ran down the field 55 yards to set up a Raiders touchdown and by the end of the game he’d been credited with a touchdown and had a total of 30 carries for 157 yards. Bush needs just 89 rushing yards this Sunday to surpass 1,000 for the first time in his career. On October 10, 2010, the Chargers met the Raiders at home, and Oakland went on to defeat the team by a score of 35-27. In that match up, Bush had 26 carries for 104 yards and a touchdown. The second time they met up last season was in December at Qualcomm Stadium. Running back Darren McFadden had 19 carries for 97 yards and a touchdown and Bush had 23 carries for 95 yards and a touchdown. Receiver Jacoby Ford scored a touchdown as well, and by the end of the game, the Raiders defeated the Chargers by a score of 28-13. Punter Shane Lechler, arguably one of the best in the history of the NFL, remarked about the upcoming game, “I think everybody in the locker room wants to win and wants to win now. My situation is hopefully to get to see this thing go full circle. I had it great when I first got here with the AFC championship game my rookie year and then the snow game up in New England and then the Super Bowl, and then not much after that. To see it come all the way back full circle, last year 8-8, just to see it go full circle would be good.” I agree. Sebastian Janikowski is in the same situation as Lechler, with both players starting in 2000. Finally getting into the postseason after all this time would be a welcome change, and very well deserved. K.C. Dermody grew up in the Bay Area of California, and has been an Oakland Raiders fan from the time she could walk. She has continued her loyalty to the team through its many ups and downs over the decades, and has been privileged to meet several of her favorite players, including famed quarterback, Jim Plunkett . Follow her at www.facebook.com/KCDermodyWriter, Twitter @kcdermody, or www.kcdermodywriter.com. More from this contributor: Five Reasons the Oakland Raiders Will Defeat the San Diego Chargers: Fan’s Take Oakland Raiders Win, Denver Broncos Loss May Be in the Cards: Fan’s Look Three Oakland Raiders Selected to the Pro Bowl: Fan reaction Oakland Raiders’ Janikowski Nominated for Never Say Never Moment: Fan’s Look Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content. There is the quick update of the day. Posted in 1, Darren McFadden, Jacoby Ford, Kamerion Wimbley, Kansas City Chiefs, Kyle Orton, Oakland Raiders, Philip Rivers, raiders-news, San Diego Chargers, Sebastian Janikowski, Shane Lechler | Comments Off
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