Oakland Raiders: The 11 Most Significant Moments of the 2011-12 Season

Sometimes the only way to improve is to look back on what you have done, figure out what went wrong and learn from the experience.

While the Raiders fell short of their goals, it was one of the most memorable seasons in franchise history. 

Let's take a look at the most significant moments of the 2011-12 Oakland Raiders season. 

1. Al Davis' Death

No moment was more significant than Saturday, October 8, 2011 when the Raiders' legendary owner died. Al Davis had kept his health issues a secret for years and despite his age, his passing came as a shock to many.

The loss of Davis will have a lasting impact on the Oakland Raiders and he will leave legacy behind that will not be forgotten. 

Without a clear successor on the football side of the ball, Hue Jackson became the head football authority in Oakland for the remainder of 2011. Hue Jackson was asked to take on responsibilities and roles unheard of for a rookie head coach. 

Mark Davis also became the team's top executive. Both Jackson and Mark Davis were put in position to make decisions neither were qualified to make.

The Raiders will now enter a new era, without Al Davis, for the first time since 1962.

2. Collapse in Buffalo

In what was foreshadowing of the play later in the season, the Raiders lost after leading 21-3 in the first half. The defense allowed the Bills to score touchdowns on all five second-half possessions.

With 3:41 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Raiders defense allowed the Bills to march 80 yards for a touchdown to take the lead. The Raiders allowed three 80-yard touchdown drives in the second half of the game. 

Fred Jackson averaged 7.8 yards per carry against the punchless Raider defense and the secondary seemed totally lost trying to cover Stevie Johnson and David Nelson. 

3. 10-Man Takeaway vs. Texans

Just one day after the passing of Al Davis, the Raiders faced a tough opponent on the road and managed to win. 

Michael Huff intercepted a Matt Schaub pass as time expired to seal the victory for the Raiders on an emotional day. Only 10 defensive players were on the field on the final play. 

The game could have easily been another example of the defense giving up a score late and making mental mistakes, but on this particular Sunday the Raiders would not be denied a victory in the honor of their late owner Al Davis.

Just Win, Baby!

4. Campbell Injured vs. Browns

Little did anyone know at the time, but the most costly game of the year for the Raiders was actually a victory over the Cleveland Browns.

The Raiders lost starting quarterback Jason Campbell for the season. While Campbell has never been described as an elite quarterback, he was playing smart and utilizing the Raiders wealth of offensive weapons.  

Hue Jackson believed the Raiders could make the playoffs, but not with Kyle Boller starting the remaining 10 games. There was just one available quarterback that Hue Jackson believed could lead the Raiders to the playoffs.

5. The Carson Palmer Trade

Hue Jackson is not a fool. The death of Al Davis meant the organization was sooner or later going to start a new era. If Jackson wanted to be a part of the new era of Raiders football, he had to make the playoffs. At all costs.

After the injury to Jason Campbell, Jackson knew a playoff berth was a long shot if Kyle Boller was the starting quarterback.

Carson Palmer was on his couch, semi-retired and waiting for Bengals owner Mike Brown to cut or trade him. 

Seizing the control he acquired with the passing of Al Davis, Jackson orchestrated a trade that sent a first-round draft selection in 2012 and a conditional second-round selection in 2013 for Palmer. The second-round selection will become a first if the Raiders make the AFC Championship game in 2012.

Jackson knew what he was doing. The trade was lopsided, but Jackson simply needed to make the playoffs to validate the trade and secure his fate. Palmer with Darren McFadden and a young group of receivers would lead the Raiders to the playoffs no matter how bad the defense played, right? Wrong. 

The week after the trade, McFadden was injured and ultimately missed the entire season. Jacoby Ford, Denarius Moore and Taiwan Jones missed multiple games and didn't make up for the loss of the Raiders biggest weapon.

Don't blame Carson Palmer, he's the best quarterback the Raiders have had since Rich Gannon. 

The trade was in the interest of self-preservation on the part of Hue Jackson and by missing the playoffs it was all too easy for the new regime to send Jackson packing.

6. Raiders Shut out at Home Versus the Chiefs

The Raider Nation was buzzing with news of the Carson Palmer trade and dreaming about a return to the playoffs. 

It turned out to be a nightmare for the Raiders. The Chiefs came into Oakland and stomped the Raiders 28-0. Kyle Boller threw three interceptions and Palmer added three more. Worse yet was Darren McFadden's season-ending foot sprain. 

The offense would get back on track, but Palmer and McFadden would never get the opportunity to play together and the offense would never return to its dynamic form.

The only reason the Raiders were able to stay in playoff contention after this game was because the Broncos, Chargers and Chiefs were all equally flawed. 

7. Tebow Terror

The Raiders were repeatedly burned by the Tebow zone-read option and surrendered 38 points to the Broncos. 

Tim Tebow rushed for 188 yards and Willis McGahee added 163. The Broncos had 299 rushing yards on the day, but only managed 124 through the air. 

Defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan was already in the hot seat and the Raider Nation turned the burner to boil after another defensive failure at home.

8. Rolando McClain Arrested, Raiders Lose in Miami

The Raiders were 7-4 when Rolando McClain was arrested in Alabama and allowed to play the following game in Miami. The Raiders had won three straight, but lost four out of the next five games.

It was the Raider defense that became a problem over the final five weeks a defense led by McClain. The defense allowed a sub-standard 24 points per game over the first 11 games. Over the final five games the defense surrendered a hideous 32 points per game.

It's not fair to place the entire defense's failure on one player, but McClain's arrest brought out the worst in the Raiders defense. 

9. Lions Go 98 Yards in 1:38

The Raiders would control their own destiny with a victory over the Lions, but the offense stalled in the second half and only managed three points and the defense once again allowed big play after big play.

Calvin Johnson and the Lions went 98 yards in 1:38 for the go-ahead touchdown in the final two minutes.

In what cemented the defense's demoralizing theme, the defense could not make a stop no matter how favorable the conditions.

10. Seymour Saves Season with Two Blocked Kicks

The Raiders season was on the line and their defensive captain came to the rescue. Richard Seymour blocked two kicks, one at the end of regulation, to save the Raiders season and keep a playoff berth alive.

While the offense struggled to get much going, the defense played their most complete game of the season.

Seymour also teamed with Lamarr Houston to stuff Jackie Battle on a 4th-and-1 in the fourth quarter.

11. With Postseason on the Line, Raiders Fall Flat in San Diego

The Raiders needed help to get into the playoffs and received that help only to fall to the Chargers. The secondary couldn't stop the Chargers' air attack as Philip Rivers missed on just seven passes all game and threw for three touchdowns and 310 yards.

Carson Palmer and the Raiders' passing attack finished strong, but as had been the theme throughout the season, the Raiders defense couldn't make a stop on the ground or through the air with any consistency.