Forrest Gump would have liked this game, as you never knew what you’d get. The Oakland Raiders came away with the victory, but they worked far too hard to get it. Shooting themselves in the foot time and again, but managed to survive even themselves.
Committing 12 penalties for 117 yards and fumbling deep in your own end while trying to salt away the game are just two of the ways the Raiders sabotaged themselves. Michael Bush running for 109 yards and a score, and Carson Palmer contributing two TD’s was how they managed to overcome.
For the second straight game Bush carried the ball 30 times. That gives him an amazing 79 carries in his last three games. He’s made those most of those carries too as he’s accumulated 362 yards on the ground, and another 130 through the air. After today’s game he only trails Darren McFadden’s season rushing total by 15 yards. He may be trying to leave after the season as a free agent, but days like this are going to make them think really hard about making him stay.
Carson Palmer didn’t have another 300 yards game with multiple passing touchdowns. What he did have was another steady day tossing 17-23 for 164 and passing and a rushing TD. The pass went to Chaz Schilens who finally made a remarkable appearance, and Palmer also snuck it in from the one. For the first time as an Oakland Raider he didn’t throw a pick, so there’s that too.
After going up seven with the help of some generous personal foul calls by the refs, and by a nifty 12 yard Adrian Peterson run, they let the Raiders reel off 27 straight points. The air went out of the Metrodome mid-way through that they lost their main weapon, as AP had his ankle rolled over as he was being tackled. He was carted off the field only to return later in street clothes. The Raiders also had a scary moment when Darrius Heyward-Byy was knocked unconscious by an accidental knee to the head by linebacker E.J. Henderson. He lay motionless on the field for several minutes before being carted off. Coach Hue Jackson hoped he would be well enough to fly home with the team.
The win put the Raiders a game in front of the Denver Broncos for first place in the AFC West. This win gives Oakland a 4-1 road record this season. The only roadies they have left are against Miami, Green Bay, and KC, so they have a very good chance of having a winning road record this year. San Diego fell to two games back after losing to the Chicago Bears, who come to Oakland next week for a big showdown. If the Raiders can find a way to win that one, then they will be the clear favorites to win the west.