Sunday seemed like it might be a good day for the Oakland Raiders. In the beginning, it was all but that. A touchdown from Arizona Cardinals kickoff returner LaRod Stephens-Howling really played a role in sealing the victory right from the beginning. The Raiders would take control of the game on both sides in the ball, but they did have some costly setbacks in the beginning. Oakland was able to show that it has a strong defensive attack and can come up with some big offensive plays. However, the Raiders still need to learn how to finish a ...
The Oakland Raiders. What was once a proud and respected franchise has withered away to nothing more than a doormat for the rest of the league. Gone are the days of Ken Stabler and John Madden. Those legends of the silver and black have been replaced with a has-been here and a never-was there. By the looks of things, that's not likely to change for quite some time. One could go on forever listing the problems with the franchise as currently constructed, but currently, there are 5 major problems that need to be addressed before this team can even ...
This should not be confused with a speech on the power of positive thinking. This, however, is a lecture on the power of defeatism.After the last-minute loss by the Oakland Raiders to the Arizona Cardinals, 23-24, on Sunday, Raider fans are quick to pin the tail on the donkey, Sebastian Janikowski, because he missed a short field goal with four seconds remaining.Believe me, Janikowski has caused me some fits over the years, which is one of the reasons I stress the importance of a clutch-kicker, and by extension, the reason that I think Adam Vinatieri was more important to the ...
Lower the flags to half-mast.
Turn on the autumn wind.
Break out the photo albums.
George Blanda is no longer among us, Raider Nation.
George, known for his never-ending career and the ability to keep going when other athletes simply ran out of energy, passed away today, 11 days after his 83rd birthday.
For those of us who grew up hearing about his stories, he was a legend in Silver and Black, a kicker who could also pass, a scoring weapon that could beat opponents two ways.
His career would start back when your dad was born, in the 1940s, and would end in the 1970s—1975 ...
So much for the savior. Bruce Gradkowski's Oakland Raiders laid a major egg on Sunday, despite all the hype. Gradkowski was unable to put the ball in the endz one time after time, leaving the Raiders to rely on the most unreliable Janikowski. It wasn't a good day for the "Kowski" boys on Sunday.I don't need to go into detail about the absurdity of this loss, beginning with Tom Cable's decision to defer the opening kick away from his boy's first opportunity to light up the field with electricity and leadership, which resulted in a 102-yard touchdown return by the ...
The Oakland Raiders lost a close one on Sunday to the Arizona Cardinals 24-23. Sebastian Janikowski had an opportunity to win the game with a chip shot (for him) but he pushed it wide right.
Many will be quick to point at Janikowski as the reason why the Raiders lost. He was definitely part of the problem but he was not the sole reason why the Raiders lost the game.
This game didn't even need to be close.
There were a few Raiders that simply didn't get it done on Sunday.
The Raiders would have otherwise beaten the Cardinals soundly.
Turn the page to see who they ...
The Raiders lost a tough nail-biter in the desert today, falling to the Cardinals, 24-23. This was a game that many authorities picked the Raiders to win.
The switch from the strong-armed, yet slow-releasing Jason Campbell to the fiery "Polish Pop-Gun" Bruce Gradkowski, and the re-emergence of Darren McFadden further fueled the collective optimism.
The Raiders seemed determined to have a more balanced offense today as they ran the ball for over 130 yards and passed for over 230 yards. They had some key receptions on some crucial downs by their young wide receivers and tight end, but also a few very ...
"I was too close" were the words uttered from Oakland Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski following his game-ending 32-yard field goal miss against the Arizona Cardinals that would have won the game Sunday.
Janikowski blamed Raiders offensive coordinator Hue Jackson for putting him in such a tight predicament. "He knows I have to be at least 50 yards out to have a chance, and even then I'm not real confident in my abilities," he said.
No one can blame the world's largest Polish sausage for not being confident in his abilities—he is a Raider, after all.
"It's been especially tough on me ...
Sebastian Janikowski was a Raider first round draft pick—17th overall—in 2000 out of Florida State University.
He is considered one of the best field goal kickers of the modern era. In 2009 with the Raiders, Janikowski missed only three field goals as he went 26—for-29, one of which was 66-yards out. Most kickers wouldn't even attempt one of that distance, yet Janikowski almost made it.
Later in 2009, Janikowski kicked the second longest field goal in history, a 61-yarder in Cleveland against the Browns.
Coming into 2010, it seemed like it was going to be a great year for Sea-bass. In Week 1 against ...
The Raiders were on their way to another Bruce Gradkowski comeback, much like the way he beat the Benglas and Steelers last year.
Gradkowski hit Zach Miller on a 3rd and 10 to move the chains and then he hit Darrius Heyward-Bey to convert a 4th and 10 as the clock was winding down in the final two minutes.
Sebastian Janikowski has been making a case to be the new bust of the Oakland Raiders as the first round pick in 2000 missed three of six field goals including the potential game winner as time expired.
Darren McFadden and Darrius Heyward-Bey were the ...