FanPost

THE DARK SIDE: "Always in motion is the future."



That was 1 for the ages, right Raider Nation?!?! Ben Roethlisberger remains winless in Oakland!!!

When Games are exciting as that, I’m simply glad to be alive.

For all of use guys harping about placement of the draft ..

Please, just stop.

I said it before, I’ll write it again: THINK LIKE A PLAYER. Real players want to win under ANY circumstance. Real players don’t quit. A player could give a flying fig about who/ when they are picking Months away. Live for the now and for the history of the Oakland Raiders.

For Decades, these 2 legendary teams battled for the open doorway to the Super Bowl. The hit hard, battled fiercely and played like they were in a War. Blood, sweat and tears went along with every game.

Even legendary Icons from the past showed up for this game; Franco Harris, Lester Hayes and George Atkinson, etc. to let the players know what it meant to play against these historical Teams.

You think anyone even mentioned Draft Week?

"That was a lot of fun," Derek Carr said. "I think I’ve said this before, too. I wish we didn’t have to win them like that. I wish we could win by a touchdown or two, but we’ll take it."

Gruden, who has shrugged off speculation that he and Carr wouldn’t work well together complimented his QB on having another stellar game.

"He sees the field, he’s really confident. It doesn’t matter who plays with him, it doesn’t matter who the left guard is, it doesn’t matter who the X or Y receiver is."

It appears both are finally meshing like it was intended to be.

"I think we’ve been able to show our team that our relationship, this system — we’ve tried to sell it as hard as we both can," Carr said. "We knew it was going to be a process. We didn’t know stat-wise how it was going to start out. It would just take time for people to see it the way we see it. It feels good because it puts a stamp on it."

DC also mentioned the moment that changed their relationship for the better.

"Coach grabbed me and said I don’t care about stats and things like that," Carr said. "I just want to see you efficiently do exactly what I tell you. Honestly, when he said that it was freeing to me. I thought I was trying to prove something to him. It kind of settled me down."

Lee Smith compared the length of time Carr has been in the system to players such as Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers — to whom offense has been extraordinary.

"Coach Gruden and Derek have been together, what, 30 weeks?," Smith said. "Derek is finally speaking the same language of Gru does all day, every day. Those guys, they might as well live together They’re together all the time. The more they continue to mesh, it’s going to be a lot of fun."

I’m still seeing on mind replay that 39 yard bomb to Seth Roberts under double coverage in the 4th Quarter. That ball was right in the bread basket. Defenders even tried to get rough with Seth coming down with the rock, hoping he’d lose it...wrong!

"I honestly thought I overthrew it by 12 yards, but he found another gear and went and got that ball," Carr said. "That had to be the play of the game by Seth."

Seth Roberts has always been underestimated and overlooked in my book. I knew he was capable in the beginning by using his speed, endurance and mobility throughout many Seasons. He’ll never get the accolades and big write ups papers give the typical WR Diva..but if you sleep on him? He’ll make you pay. I still remember that Tampa Bay game..

Seth finished with 5 receptions, 7 targets for 76 yards. He was truly a player to be reckoned with Sunday.

But let’s not forget about the MVT ( Most Valuable Tight Ends)

Derek Carrier made the game winning catch of the Season with a simple look to QB curl route that froze his Defenders. These were the same Defenders ( Mike Hilton, Terrell Edmunds) that said they’ll holler at me after they win.

Man, do I love the power of the Dark Side.

"As soon as that play was called, DC and I just smiled at each other because we had been working that for a while," Derek Carrier said. "It was exciting … just in terms of what we have been preaching as a team is resiliency. We definitely faced some adversity this year and just finishing strong and that’s exactly what we did today."

I honestly thought he might put that ball in a glass case but that’s not the Jedi way..

Carrier won’t even keep the rock.

Instead, he’ll give it to his newborn daughter, Dahlia, who his wife delivered five days before her husband made the biggest catch.

Now that my friends, is the path of a righteous man.

Other Tights were juiced as well..

"I’m calling for Frank Smith ( TE Coach) to get a raise after that one," Lee Smith said. " … We have a veteran room. We’ve all been around a while. We know what our roles are. This is great … Derek scored today. Jared finding the end zone is a regular occurrence. I found a way to get in and help the team win. It was a momentum-shifter."

The "other" DC:

"You forget about Derek and Lee quickly in the pass game," Carr said. "There weren’t many plays designed for them in training camp. Lee is the blocker, the heavy guy and all those kind of things. Derek was playing in Jared’s spot, just behind him. I know now to throw to everybody during training camp and take every rep. It’s one of those things where it’s so fun to see guys like that come in the fourth quarter and get game-winning touchdowns."

Jared "Cookie" Cook, the Teams BEST Receiver, was nothing but complimentary knowing his Wolf pack seized the day.

"That’s dope man, that’s super cool," Cook said of his backups’ performances. "Those guys work their tails off to be here and to see those guys get rewarded for their hard work is great."

Cook finished Sunday with seven catches for 116 yards on 10 targets. He was all smiles after the game. He even came to the Dark Side End Zone to show fans some love. I’ll remember that face of happiness for quite a while.


On Defense, it appears the younger cats are getting better with ever play call.

Gareon Conley and Daryl Worley wrapped up Antonio Brown like a wet Mummy in a glue factory. Play after play, the kids ran hard with him, made great cuts with him and shut down most of his production by holding him to a mere 35 yards. One of the few times Conley got the pleasure of guarding the great Ju Ju Smith Schuster, he broke up the reception and caused a beautiful interception by Tahir Whitehead. Tahir also balled out with 6 tackles and 4 assists.

"That’s a key," said cornerback Daryl Worley when asked about slowing down Brown. "He’s a key guy in their offense. He’s an All-Pro player, especially with a Hall of Fame quarterback back there. That was the key to today, taking those two guys and minimizing everything they do in the game."

Gruden:

"Yeah, I really am," Gruden said when asked about his confidence growing regarding the team’s DBs. "Conley, his play has really improved steadily. [Daryl] Worley is still battling through that shoulder injury, but we still think he’s got a big upside, so to answer your question, yes."


All played admirably, but the Sith Lord award has to go to the duo of PJ Hall and Clinton McDonald for being responsible for taking out Big Ben Roethlisberger for most of the second half. Clinton hit Ben hard with the ONLY Sack of the game while PJ helped how out with a dynamic stunt play that opened up the kill.

It was great day for the Oakland Raiders..


And then Monday happened.


The Raiders released the following statement:

The Raiders have released Reggie McKenzie from his duties as General Manager. We are grateful for everything Reggie has done for this organization as a player, executive and member of the Raider family. We wish the best for Reggie, June and the entire McKenzie family," the statement said. "The Raiders will immediately begin a search for a new front office executive and will have no further comment until that process is complete."

"Obviously, there was a meeting last night and changes have been made," Gruden said. "I respect everything that this organization is about. I can’t exactly answer why the change was made last night, but changes were made and we’ve got to continue to fight and continue to build this team back. And that’s what were going to do."

Gruden repeatedly admitted he had no indication out GM was being let go.

"I really didn’t have a sense of it. I’ve been in a dark shaft room trying to get ready for the next game. This is all somewhat surprising," Gruden said. "There has been a lot of speculation and a lot of rumors coming out of here since early in the season. You don’t know what’s real. You don’t know what’s smoke, what’s fire. You really don’t."


Our Coach was also asked if he was happy with the recent picks.

"I don’t think you can write the book yet. A lot of those guys are still developing and are still part of the NFL," Gruden said. "Some aren’t with us. Some are. But I’m not going to sit up here and reiterate anything that went wrong. I do know this. We have to get better in a lot of areas and that’s what were going to strive to do."

Gru on what they’re looking for in a new GM:

"A guy that works hard, that loves football, that loves this organization, that will scratch and claw and fight with the rest of us," Gruden said of what the organization will look for in McKenzie’s replacement. "It all starts obviously with expertise in personnel, great leadership skills. A number of things go into this job. It’s a tough position in this league."

It’s a shame because Reggie McKenzie mentioned this weeks ago stating the rumors weren’t true:

"Gruden and I, we work together very well. Let’s make no mistake about it. Him pushing me out, that’s not happening," McKenzie said on Oct. 23 when addressing local reporters after trading Cooper. "Me not being able to work with Gruden, that’s furthest from the truth. OK? We work really well together."

Here we are...back to ground 0 once again..No GM and plenty of picks..

"When you’re 3-10 I’m not surprised with anything that happens in this league," Gruden said. "I’ve been fired. I’ve been traded. It’s a horrible part of this business and Im sensitive to it."


It’s now Tuesday and we’ve discovered Oakland is suing the Raiders for millions owed in damages and for an "illegal move" according to Lawyers.

All I can think of is Christmas Eve may be the last game in Oakland.

It’s all a damn shame...


Summary:

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Derek Carr threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Derek Carrier with 21 seconds left before Chris Boswell slipped on a potential game-tying 40-yard field goal attempt on the final play of the Oakland Raiders' 24-21 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.

Ben Roethlisberger returned from a rib injury to lead a go-ahead touchdown drive that Carr answered for the Raiders (3-10). Big Ben then connected on a 48-yard hook-and-lateral pass play that put Boswell in position for the tying kick. But he lost his footing and sent the kick into the line, sending the Steelers (7-5-1) to their third straight loss.

Carr threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes for the Raiders, leading his 16th career fourth-quarter comeback. He threw for 322 yards, including a 3-yard TD that put Oakland up 17-14 with 5:20 to play.

Roethlisberger then returned after missing the first four drives of the second half and drove the Steelers to the go-ahead score on a 1-yard pass to JuJu Smith-Schuster before once again ending up on the losing end in a trip to Oakland. He is 0-4 at the Coliseum and the Raiders remain the only AFC opponent he has never beaten on the road.

Roethlisberger finished 25 for 29 for 282 yards and two TDs, but the Steelers failed to open up ground on Baltimore in the AFC North. Pittsburgh has a half-game lead over the Ravens.

He also threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Smith-Schuster with 10 seconds remaining in the first half. Smith-Schuster deflected the high pass to himself and deftly managed to get both feet down with a toe tap in the back of the end zone.

The play was ruled incomplete on the field, but was overturned on replay to the delight of the thousands of yellow-towel waving Steelers fans who filled the Coliseum.

But it was the Raiders fans who cheered at the end after Boswell's missed kick that came after the Steelers got in position thanks to the short pass to James Washington, who lateraled to Smith-Schuster, who raced 43 yards to the 22.

GROUNDED

Pittsburgh got little from its running game with James Conner sidelined by an ankle injury. They gained 40 yards on 19 carries with Stevan Ridleyscoring on a 1-yard run in the second quarter.

FUMBLE OR NOT

The Raiders found themselves on the wrong end of replay reviews during an odd sequence late in the third quarter. With Oakland at the Pittsburgh 22, Carr lost the ball just before trying to throw it for a fumble that was recovered by Pittsburgh upheld on replay. Just a few plays later, Dobbs was hit by Arden Key as he tried to throw and the ball came loose. Oakland recovered that, but officials ruled it an incomplete pass and the call stood after a challenge by the Raiders. It turned out not to matter much when Tahir Whitehead intercepted Dobbs on the next play.


Alright Kids,
Let’s take it to the Bengals next Week by putting Jeff Driskel in the dirt!
And in TWO WEEKS..
I will see you all in Oakland possibly the LAST time!!!! If it’s going to be ANY game you don’t want to miss, it’s THIS ONE!
The Oakland Raiders vs The Denver Broncos- the FINAL CHAPTER!!!

Excelsior!
Lord of the Sith,
Master of all Evil,

-Darth Raider