Oakland Raiders at Jacksonville Jaguars 1st Half Summary, 2nd Half Open Thread

The Oakland Raiders started out with the ball on this sunny day in Jacksonville, but they failed to get a first down on their opening drive. So did the Jaguars though, the game started with both teams having traded 3 and outs right out the gate.

Luckily, the Raiders 2nd drive though was quite a bit better. They drove 63 yards in 9 plays down to the Jags 7 yard line thanks mostly to the passing game with Derek Carr completing 4 of 7 passes for 53 yards. The drive ended in a 26 yard field goal after Clive Walford just missed holding onto a tipped pass in the end zone. The field goal made the score 3-0 Raiders, the drive's big highlight was a 26 yard pass to Seth Roberts.

Jacksonville started their next drive at their own 33 yard line after a nice return on the ensuing kickoff and proceeded to drive down into Raiders territory thanks to the surprising running prowess of Jaguars QB Blake Bortles. He had 2 runs for 28 yards but they ended up meaning nothing because of his ill advised throw to the endzone afterwards that David Amerson intercepted. The interception was Amerson's 2nd on the season.

Oakland managed to get the ball close to midfield, but a dropped pass by Michael Crabtree led to the first punt from Marquette King. The punt turned out to be the longest offensive play for the Raiders so far because the line drive kick was fumbled by Jags return man Rashad Greene and Andre Holmes recovered it at the Jaguars 17. Unfortunately the Raiders went 3 and out on their drive and settled for a 32 yard field goal to make the score 6-0 Oakland at the beginning of the 2nd quarter.

Considering that the Raiders were deep in Jaguars territory and only managed 6 points so far the Jaguars probably feel pretty good about their situation. It looked like they felt good anyway because the first play of their next drive was a deep ball that got a 25 yard pass interference penalty on David Amerson (he was guilty) followed by a 43 yard run by Chris Ivory down to the Raiders 8. They also had to settle for a field goal though, and the 23 yard attempt from K Jason Myers was good to make the score 6-3 Oakland.

The Jaguars kick was a touchback, but the very first play of the drive for the Raiders got them past midfield with a 29 yard end around run by WR Johnny Holton for a 29 yard gain. They stayed committed to the run on the drive too as they rammed through the Jaguars defense with 9 runs out of their 11 play drive. Their last of those 9 runs was from Latavius Murray and ended in the endzone. It was the first touchdown of the game and it made the score 13-3 Raiders.

Blake Bortles had been awful in the passing game up until this point, but he finally managed to get a good play from his arm on the Jaguars next drive. On a 3rd and 3 play he managed to hit WR Marqise Lee perfectly while he was on the run for a 38 yard play that got Jacksonville down to the Raiders 15 yard line. The drive stall after the 2 minute warning though with Bortles throwing the ball away on 3rd and 14. They did kick another field goal though, the 37 yard field goal made the score 13-6 Oakland with 1:49 left in the half.

It was classic 2 minute drill time for the Raiders, something they have excelled at throughout the season. This time was no different thanks to an unbelievable long ball throw to Michael Crabtree who showed off his amazing hands with a fingertip grab. The 56 yard play came on 3rd and 5 and got the ball down to the Jacksonville 2 yard line with 25 seconds left in the half. Then a couple of plays later on another 3rd down play the duo finished off their collaboration with a 2 yard touchdown reception that made the score 20-6.

The Jaguars kneeled out the rest of the clock so 20-6 was the score at the half. The Raiders got the ball first to start the game so it will be Jacksonville first with the ball in the 2nd half.