Christmas In September: Raiders Give Game to Buffalo

Comments and questions after Raiders play role of department store Santa

With all the rumors swirling of Lane Kiffin’s impending termination, I will rely on a bit of advice I’ve learned from a very wise man—Don’t believe anything until you see penetration. Please don't waste my time with speculation and rumor.

Why would a team that has a multiple score lead after three quarters change both its offensive and defense strategies? Run the ball up the middle against a stacked defense is no way to hold on to a lead. After blitzing and pressuring Bills QB Trent Edwards, the Raiders dissolved into a soft zone with no pressure. Were these decisions from the coaches or via a telephone call to the sideline?

Chew on this:  4th quarter time of possession—Raiders 3:10, Bills 11:50.

It has been three weeks, will someone please file a missing person’s report for Ronald Curry’s hands.

Nice of Javon Walker to show up and catch two balls on the first drive, not so nice with his disappearing act for the balance of the game. Wonder if Al would take him up on his refund offer now.

Is it the shoes? McFadden’s constant slipping and losing his footing a result of improper footwear or is his toe really that messed up?

Holding the opponent to a 42 percent third down conversion rate (5 for 12) isn’t bad, but when your offense is at 17 percent, a putrid two for 12, why in the world would you expect to win?

Buffalo’s Marshawn Lynch, 83 yards rushing and 31 yards receiving, is the real deal. Can’t wait to see him torture a New England defense that got torn apart by Miami’s Ronnie Brown. What is Lynch going to do next week in St. Louis? It's going to get gruesome.

This week’s evidence for conspiracy theorists is a double header. First, the tipped pass that no ref saw and then tried to blow off correcting. Kiffen almost had to slug one of them to get a replay and the reversal. Do you expect me to believe not one of those striped rats saw the ball change direction?

Then there was the phantom unsportsmanlike call after Johnnie Lee Higgins 84-yard touchdown reception. Who was the call on? The ref did not say and the online NFL gamebook report does not either. Did Higgins get called for allowing himself to be tackled nine yards into the end zone? Absolutely ridiculous.

The announcers were equally confused, asking during a replay of Russell pumping his arm if that was what the call was for. If so, Brett Favre would be kicked out of three quarters of his games for excessive celebrations.

The Raiders were severely injured by losing out on what would have been a deep kick. As it was, Buffalo’s return came back 21 yards to their 31. The Bills would march down the field and score their third touchdown of the game.

Janikowski remains Oakland's most effective offensive weapon. If his kickoffs don’t reach at least the goal line, it is shocking. Anyone want to still try and tell me it was a wasted first round pick?

Johnnie Lee Higgins is a fantastic kick returner, as long as he doesn’t think he’s competing for a place on Dancing With The Stars. Take the ball and run you fool—don’t think—don’t try to fool the opponent. Just run.

Oh, and also Higgins, in the open and the goal line is in sight is no damn time to slow down. Run into the end zone before breaking your stride. In the NFL all sorts of strange things can happen when you slow down.

Buffalo’s throw back jersey and helmet looks a whole lot better than their current uniforms. They should switch back permanently.

I don’t know how many passes Russell is throwing to his receivers in practice, but it needs to be one hell of a lot more. Their timing is atrocious for professionals. 

Can we get please get Schilens and Watkins on the field more? They need playing time to produce, and they will at a better rate than what we are getting from these alleged veteran receivers.

Raider running game looks like it is in the hands of a couple of rookies.  Oh wait, it is. Fargas is showing his value with the lack of his presence. The Raiders need him back desperately. 

DeAngleo Hall picked off a pass, blitzed a couple of times getting credit for half a sack, and showed some of the ability the Raiders paid a dear price to Atlanta for. Then he reverted to his 7-10 yard off soft play and gave up a handful of receptions late. Is this incredibly wasteful defensive strategy coming from soB (son of Buddy) or via the AlPhone?

Kirk Morrison is again showing his Pro Bowl caliber of play, nine solo out of 10 total tackles and a forced fumble.

Gibril Wilson is justifying his free agent contract contributing seven total tackles and recovering a fumble. His brain cramp in getting kicked out was inexcusable though.

The frustration at being held and twisted on the touchdown run is understandable, even trying to get the Bill off him is OK. It was most likely the double pump on the open handed slap that got him tossed. Today’s lesson:  if you are going to smack somebody, don’t think about it—just do it.

For those who missed it, Dan Fouts got off an excellent line during the CBS broadcast.  In the third quarter, Edwards was forced out of the pocket and scrambled for five yards before being chased down like a wounded antelope by Thomas Howard’s lion like pursuit.

The lead announcer, Don Criqui, made a comment about how defenses like to see the quarterbacks run. Fouts, in a painful and weary voice responded, “I remember.”

Photo Credit: Rick Stewart, Getty Images