Silver and Black Christmas comes early
By Charles Ybarra
Sunday, December 21st, 2008 at 10:38 pm in Oakland Raiders.
That was a hell of a way to finish at Home, Brothers!!!
Good Lord, was that MY team I just saw??!?!
I sure hope this wasn’t another damn dream again..
Negatory, my feet are still cold/wet and my voice is still raspy from shouting multiple chants of “First f#!%ing down!”. Jeezus, a Metallica concert and a Raider win over the weekend is never good for an old man’s voice..
I swear I’m going to be sounding like Clint Eastwood tomorrow…..
CoOL!!!!!
Man, was the kid on today, or what?
JaMarcus Russell threaded passes to Johnnie Lee Higgins, Chaz Schilens and Zach Miller. Higgins showed off his game-breaking ability on another punt return and Darren McFadden got involved in the offense early.
As another disappointing season nears its conclusion, some of the younger Oakland Raiders tried to show there could be reason for optimism in the future.
Higgins caught one of Russell’s two touchdown passes and returned a punt 80 yards for another score, leading the Raiders to a 27-16 victory over the Houston Texans on Sunday.
“You saw a lot of our young players show up and had an impact,” interim coach Tom Cable said. “As I’ve said for a while, that’s the future of our organization and that’s the direction we’re headed. It was a complete victory.”
The Raiders gained a season-high 362 yards, with 252 coming from players in their first or second year in the NFL.
How cool is that fact for the younger generation, people?
It’s the first time since the 2002 Super Bowl season the Raiders won their final home game.
The Texans (7-8) had won four straight for the first time in team history and were hoping for their first winning season. But Houston could generate little against the Raiders and were unable to follow up on last week’s win over Tennessee.
By beating the Texans for the first time in four tries, the Raiders are assured of not tying Tampa Bay for the most losses in any six-year period.
Oakland is 23-72 since the beginning of the 2003 season.
My oh my.. how time flies like the evil birds over the Coliseum…
it’s good to have minor amnesia at times.
“I know what we’re doing right now, but in the years to come how good can we be?” asked Russell. “I think out there those guys are showing it.”
This was one of the Raiders’ best performances of the year. They scored touchdowns on the opening possessions of each half for the first time in more than seven years, got two touchdown passes from Russell, recovered an onside kick and scored on Higgins’ punt return.
Russell finished 18-for-25 for 236 yards and no interceptions in one of the best performances of his young career. Zack Miller added four more catches for 70 yards and McFadden gained 87 yards from scrimmage..
The Run DMC fans finally got their wish in seeing the rookie D Mac getting more snaps.
Russell capped the opening drive with a 20-yard pass to Schilens, just the second TD on an opening drive for Oakland in the past 56 games.
Russell then connected with Higgins on a 29-yard score on Oakland’s first drive of the third quarter to make it 20-13. Higgins celebrated that touchdown with one of his end-zone dances and got a chance to do another after Oakland stopped Houston on the succeeding drive. Higgins fielded a punt at the 20 and ran right through the Texans for his third punt return TD this season, one shy of the NFL record.
“I feel like I’m explosive,” said Higgins, who has five touchdowns this season longer than 50 yards. “You never know what can happen. You know, it looks like he’s tackled, it looks like he’s down. Oh, he’s gone. It looks like he can’t catch it, like he can’t do this. … There he goes. So I look at myself, I always look at myself as a playmaker.”
The Texans got a field goal from Kris Brown early in the fourth quarter and had a chance to get even closer following a fumble by Russell at the 14. But with Houston needing 1 yard for a first down, Matt Schaub threw incompletions on third and fourth down to end the comeback bid.
Why in the hell would you even call a pass f#%^ing play on 4th and 1????
Raiders Pro Bowl CB Nnamdi Asomugha left the game in the fourth quarter with a sore neck. I’m sure he’ll be ok by the time he gets to compete against our former Coach “Chucky” Gruden next week. Now, THAT would be great way to end the season…getting back at little Jonny again for leaving us for more money.
Hell, why think of tomorrow when today feels so f$^&ing good. Have a great Holiday, Nation..enjoy your early Xmas present.
You all deserve the best in life.
To Progression and Excellence,
-DR
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December 22nd, 2008 at 2:57 am
Higgins should be banned from endzone celebrations.
That aside, I am happy he is a Raider.
December 22nd, 2008 at 4:59 am
Hey, Merry Christmas and a Happy,Healthy New Year to all the “Raider Nation” out there.Keep the faith,we will rise again! Raiders4-life.
December 22nd, 2008 at 8:26 am
Great to see ya yesterday Darth!!!…cya next year!! Merry Christmas!!
December 22nd, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Cable is still an idiot or an Al Davis lackey. Why does Cable refuse to start McFadden over Fargas.
The entire league knows DMAC should be getting the ball far more than he does. Only a fool or a lackey would play Fargas over DMAC.
Failing to get DMAC the ball more often proves Cable is either spineless or too dumb to be an NFL coach.
December 22nd, 2008 at 4:30 pm
As long as Johnnie Lee Higgins keeps getting the ball in the endzone, I’ll live with his silly celebrations.
G.
“Pillaging just for fun”
December 22nd, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Congrats on the win Darth, you more than anybody deserves this win! Your optimism has rewarded you this holiday season.
That being said I have to discuss some issues and topics with you:
1.) The youth movement that manifested itself in Oakland yesterday was impressive but why not sooner? Why now? Its kinda late. The efforts of Schilens, Watkins, Mario Henderson, Johnnie Lee and even DMAC (they should have played him like that the whole season) are appreciated but were more necessary 3-4 weeks ago when the AFC west was in a strange “loser dominated” stalemate…a lot of good would of come from winning the division even with an 8-8 record. Interestingly enough KC who has had a horrible year too, can claim that their young team will be better next year for developing throughout this entire season. Why couldn’t we? Why did it take so long for us to take that path?
2.) Where did the Cable guy come from? Has he finally got it? He managed the game well yesterday with no obvious mistakes, did Al get off his back and let him coach or did Cable just “grow-up”? Does this secure his job as the Head Coach for next year or does Al just keep him as the O-line coach replacing him with ANOTHER head coach? I’d like to believe Al just let him coach with no Al-interference.
3.) After Roger Goodell’s untimely visit to Oakland and the news paper article declaring that Davis is losing the RaiderNation, did Al finally have the long awaited epiphany that he should no longer control the Raiders? Is too soon to say that? I know that this might be my delusional desires making me sound optimistic but why not? This much is clear Al was embarrassed by last week’s performance in front of the Commissioner and something had to give…what was it? Did Roger Goodell find some respectful way of telling Al Davis: “Mr. Davis we need to turn this thing around ‘cause the franchise, the city of Oakland and the NFL itself is better off when the Raiders are good…lets help each other, help me help you.” Or was the purpose of the visit just simply a ploy by Al to “butter-up” the Commissioner so he would side with him on the Kiffin lawsuit?
I’m glad we won, I’m glad there is hope. The potential and the faith are there but what now with Al? Darth Raider it is evident that there is no longer a place for Al Davis in football. His philosophies, innovations and impact to the game will be his legacy and for that I respect Al but realistically where does Al fit in this YOUTH movement? The light saber is in Al’s hands, does he disappear and ascend into the force like a wise old Jedi Master or does he continue his tyrannical rule and sabotage this youth movement. This off-season is gonna be the most important one since the Raiders moved back to Oakland, is it Al’s swan song?
What say you on joining the youth? Remember this: it will be we (the youth) who will determine the future of the Raiders, it’s inevitable. Unfortunately there is little room in our future for antiquated figureheads…Al is one of those obsolete heroes. Join us, help us bring this franchise into the 21st century, cause the rest of the league is almost there.
“Shrouded in mystery, the dark side is, consume you it will.” –Yoda
December 25th, 2008 at 12:22 am
Well, here we go again the excitement abounds as the
raider faithful get overly estatic over a meaningless
late season victory. “WOW” they actually did what they
are expected to do after practicing all week for the
upcoming opponent. go out in front of your loyal fans
in your house and play your heart out. now if they can
focus this intensity and use it against tampa bay to
win there final game maybe they are rebuilding and
might have a good season next year. but they looked
this good at denver than they returned to mediocrity.
December 27th, 2008 at 10:43 am
Who is this idiot on the raider report for the Oakland tribune (carl stewart). on the week 16 raider report this guy is acting like a Raider fan, bashing the raiders, and talking up the texans. He needs to be run out of town. Send him to texas. Come on Monte Polle get it together. Is this not a Raider report? Come on we hear this bashing the Raiders crap on all the other media. This is an Oakland paper. COME ON MAN.
Raider for life.
January 20th, 2009 at 3:10 am
Hey DEREK
what kinda question is that????why does cable refuse to start Mcfadden over Faegas…maybe because of his injury, THINK ABOUT IT…keep in mind that sorta injury ended D. Sander’s career so why not play the safty net & start Fargas, he’s a great back, we just know RUNDMC will be our future RB, so we protect him from further damage…next year you wont see alot of RUNDMC neway’s…gonna be split up between bush,rundmc & huggy bear…Derek your a tool…it’s fans like you that frusterate me
January 20th, 2009 at 3:10 am
LONG LIVE AL DAVIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!