Oakland Vs Kansas City: How Do You Win an Ugly Game?

(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Question, how do you win a game when you're out-gained by over 240 yards, out-rushed by 100 on the ground and your starting QB has only seven complete passes out of 24?

Timing, and a really determined defense.

Oakland, coming off a short week and a close game with San Diego took a couple steps back on their offense. JaMarcus Russell, for most of the day was throwing everywhere, but not finding much in the terms of completions. If it wasn't for the stalwart defense and continual breakdown by Kansas City, this game should have been over long before the fourth quarter.

But, as all games have to, this one was very different in the fourth quarter.

Oakland, by virtue of a strong-legged kicker in Sebastian Janikowski kicked two field goals in the second and third quarter, giving the Raiders a six to three lead, which lasted until Nnamdi Asomugha was pulled, suffering from dehydration.

This set the table for a mismatch, Dwayne Bowe vs Stanford Routt.

The result was a 29 yard TD, and the Chiefs were less than three minutes away from winning in Arrowhead against the Raiders, who had won the previous two times.

Then, some aliens took JaMarcus Russell, and replaced him with something else.

This replacement proceeded to defeat all obstacles, including three penalties and being dog-piled on, in leading the team to a winning touchdown by Darren McFadden from five yards out.

Where was this Russell, earlier in the game?

The true heroes in this game, came from a defense that seemed to take last week's loss personally. Michael Huff, who was slated to be the player most likely to be called a bust, picked off Matt Cassel twice. Greg Ellis, with good timing managed to stop one drive, and set up a difficult play late in the game for Cassel.

For all the yardage that the Chiefs got in this game, it was surprising that they only had 3 points to show for the majority of time.

The one play that probably best set up how his day went for the Chiefs, was late in the first half when Kansas City was on a first and goal from the eight yard line.

All Kansas City needed to do, was either get out of bounds, throw it away, or get a touchdown.

A short pass to the sidelines, the player couldn't get down in time....and the game remained tied, at three each.

This was an ugly win, by anyone who witnessed it. But for the Raiders, we'll take any win that comes our way.

And Oakland is now 1-1 for the season.

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