Oakland Raiders Takeaways from NFL Week 12

Just call me Kamerion Wimbley. Except that I would have scored on that interception return. Just cut back in when random fat lineman is bull-rushing you. No way he would be able to stop on a dime and make a tackle. I also noticed these very important happenings Sunday during the Oakland Raiders 25-20 victory over the visiting Chicago Bears.

Bears O, No Good

Every sports pundit in the world promised that the Chicago offense would be fine without starting quarterback Jay Cutler, out for the foreseeable future with a broken thumb.

“Just rely on Matt Forte. He’s a workhorse!” said aforementioned sports pundit.

Just one problem with that way of thinking. The game plan is predicated on the idea that the defense has to respect the pass, with Cutler captaining the good ship Grizzly. It allows the field to open up and give Forte those precious running lanes. When Caleb Hanie’s back there—no disrespect to Hanie—the defense doesn’t fear the pass and can key on the run.

The Raiders capitalized, as they held Forte to 59 yards rushing and 25 receiving. I also find it peculiar that whenever somebody says “no disrespect to insert name,” it gives that person total immunity to trash the individual they are disparaging. That phrase and “we’ll agree to disagree” have always bothered me. You’re not agreeing to disagree. You’re just disagreeing. Just say we disagree.

Momentum

Going back to the Wimbley almost-TD INT for a second, I don’t understand why, after that crowd-energizing turnover, the Raiders ran Michael Bush on 1st-and-goal. The Bears were reeling after Hanie’s blunder. Their defense wasn’t ready or prepared to go back on the field. Why not throw the ball? Maybe a little two tight end set, play-action to Kevin Boss. Marcel Reece swing pass out of the backfield. Something. They ended up getting three, but it could have been so much more.

Hold On

In past seasons, the Raiders would be in these close games at the end, nursing a lead, trying not to lose. They lost a lot. This season, the team is finding a way to hang on for dear life to get the win. Good to see. They held off Minnesota and now Chicago. Hopefully, that winning trend continues against the other two NFC North opponents the Raiders have to face in the upcoming weeks.

Who’s Your Mama?

T.J. Houshmandzadeh returning punts? Apocalypse now!

Lechler vs. Hester

The best punter in the game vs. the best return man in the game. Beast mode vs. beast mode. I’d say Shane Lechler won this one. Lechler punted five times, averaged 54.6 yards per punt, landed three inside the 20 and punctuated the effort with a team-record 80-yard boot.

Hester returned two punts for seven yards and two kickoffs for 39 yards. He had the screws put to him. In fact, special teams pretty much won the game for Oakland. Sebastian Janikowski also set a team record, kicking six field goals.

Nnamdi Asomugha

Jealous? Seriously, though, I bet Nnamdi wished he stayed with the Silver and Black. He left the team he’d been with his whole eight years in the league right when it seems like they’ve figured out who they are. Now you’ve got another identity crisis on your hands. Good luck with that.

He was always one of my favorite players, though. He was there for all the bad times, and as soon as he leaves, Bizzaro World.