Oakland Raiders Overrun The Tampa Bay Bucs to End Both Seasons, 31-24

This had to feel good, even from across the country.

Al Davis, sitting back home with his health in question, missed his first game since 1979, got to probably watch and hear the Raiders knock Jon Gruden's Bucs from the playoff tree, and exact a little revenge for Kiffin's meddling in Raider affairs.

The game seemed set to be a defensive struggle, with both teams failing to advance the ball. Darren McFadden left early, carrying only twice, and after a short time, Justin Fargas left with six carries for 11 yards.

Enter Michael Bush.

Michael proceeded to put on a running clinic, in both working the clock, but also in breakaway ability. Running up 177 yards, he hit paydirt twice, and was denied a third by a yard late in the game.

Not to mention, both teams seemed to wake up in the second quarter, but Oakland took a 14-7 lead with a TD pass to Chaz Schilens, from three yards out.

Tampa Bay would come back in the third quarter though, tying it in the third quarter when a blown coverage play sprung Michael Clayton 58 yards for a score, and then 10 more points in the fourth had the Bucs looking for the post-season.

Then Oakland went to town.

After Tampa's last score, it took less than two minutes for Oakland to get seven points, with a TD to Higgins, and then another three minutes for a second TD.

Bush took a handoff at the 7:03 Mark, to the right, and went 67 yards with it, giving the Raiders the lead again.

As the time was running out, Jeff Garcia tried to look positive.

And then on the first play after Bush scored, he hit Rashad Baker with an interception at the Oakland 42 yard line. Bush, sensing it, started slowly and methodically eating up both yardage and time, 3-4 yards here, 11 there. Then down to the two yard line at the two minute warning, he tried one run, only to be stopped. Oakland let the clock run down, kicked a field goal, and had a seven point lead with 1:09 remaining.

Garcia, was willing to go down fighting, getting Tampa Bay from the 20 yard line on a touchback, to midfield on a 30 yard catch to Antonio Bryant, and a five yard scramble.

Then his season ended, like the Bucs, with a sack by Greyson Gunheim, an undrafted free agent from Washington.

Two things made this victory all that more improbable...one, was that the Raiders won without their pro bowler Cornerback, Nnamdi Asomugha. He was inactivated, due to a neck injury suffered in the fourth quarter last week. But they also went into Tampa Bay, against a team that simply needed to win one, and they would have a playoff berth.

On Sunday...they fell one short, and went 0-4 in December.