The 5-4 Raiders are coming off a big win against the Chargers and 10 days rest, traveling to Minnesota to take on the 2-7 Vikings, who were embarrassed Monday night by Green Bay 45-7. Sounds like a ...
"There are no trap games in the NFL,"
Raiders coach Hue Jackson interjected. "When you lose, you lose. When you win, you win. There's no such game as a trap game. We go down there, play like we can play, we're going to give us the best opportunity to win. If we lose, it won't be because it's a trap, it's because that team whipped our butt."
Looking back at the first nine games of the season, the Raiders have been the "bully"
that Jackson had envisioned, and at other times were bullied. We hand out some midseason awards a little bit late, due to the Thursday night game last week:
Offensive MVPs
Running backs Darren McFadden and Michael Bush: The Raiders are fourth in the league in rushing thanks in large part to their two talented backs. McFadden had 614 yards rushing on 113 carries (5.4 average), 154 yards receiving and five touchdowns before spraining his foot early in Week 7 against Kansas City. Bush has run for 352 yards in three games since McFadden went down, including a tour de force last week against the Chargers where he ran for 157 on 30 carries and caught three passes for 85 yards. The 242 yards from scrimmage were the most by a Raider since wide receiver Art Powell had 247 against Houston on Dec. 22, 1963.
Honorable mention: Jared Veldheer, Stefen Wisniewski, Samson Satele, Cooper Carlisle and Khalif Barnes. Nobody gave this ragtag offensive line a shot at being good before the season, but besides making holes for McFadden and Bush, it has allowed only 11 sacks. That's second best in the league to Buffalo's 10.
Defensive MVP
Outside linebacker Kamerion Wimbley: Wimbley has been playing fairly well all year but had only two sacks to show for it. That was until his breakout game last week. He sacked Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers four times, hit him five other times and had five other pressures. The four sacks was just one off the franchise record of five set by Howie Long against Washington on Oct. 2, 1983. Wimbley does help out against the run, as well, but has kind of ridden the roller coaster with the rest of the defense in that regard.
Honorable mention: Defensive tackle Richard Seymour. Seymour is the top-rated defensive tackle in the NFL, according to ProFootballFocus.com, with 15 pressures, five sacks and five hits. He sets the tone; when the defensive line imposes its will, the Raiders win. But Seymour has eight penalties, so no MVP for him.
Most improved
Wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey: While he hasn't caught a pass in Carson's Palmer's first two starts, the third-year receiver still leads the Raiders with 27 catches for 434 yards. Once viewed as a bust, Heyward-Bey has worked hard to improve his route running, hands and pass-catching technique. Expectations were too high, but it's not his fault the Raiders picked him seventh overall in the draft. He might get more targets again this week with Jacoby Ford out.
Honorable mention: Middle linebacker Rolando McClain. Still misses a tackle every now and then and can look slow-footed out in space, but the physical and smart McClain is doing a much better job of making plays in both the run and passing game.
Biggest surprise
Wide receiver Denarius Moore: Pick up a copy of Thursday's Sporting Green. Big feature on a kid who was drafted in the fifth round, caught everything thrown to him at training camp and is now on the verge of becoming a star. Moore had 123 yards receiving and two touchdowns on national television against the Chargers last week, and has made Chaz Schilens and Louis Murphy obsolete.
Honorable mention: Offensive line coach Bob Wylie. Wylie has made 14 coaching stops the last 30 years, including two in the CFL just a couple of years back, but he and assistant Steve Wisniewski have been perfect with their handling of the line.
Biggest disappointment
Defensive inconsistency: The Raiders have given up 217, 183, 139 and 299 yards rushing in losses to the Bills, Patriots, Chiefs and Broncos. In the five wins, Oakland is giving up an average of only 69 yards. "It is definitely frustrating," defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan said.
Honorable mention: Kick return game. Ford has been hurt most of the season, and the Raiders have started 14 drives off kickoffs inside the 20 - second-most in the league. Moore is 23rd in punt returns with an 8.6-yard average.
Best acquisition
Palmer. No one is complaining now that Hue Jackson gave up too much (at least a first- and second-round pick) to get Palmer a month ago. His arm looks great, the rust is coming off and he is even quickly taking a leadership role.
Honorable mention: Safety Matt Giordano, signed late in training camp, has two interceptions and has helped plug up some holes in a secondary that has been banged up all season.
Biggest play
Michael Huff's game-saving interception in Houston the day after owner Al Davis died. It was a fitting tribute to Davis, and a play that Raiders fans will be talking about for decades.
Honorable mention: Giordano's interception last week. For as well as the Raiders played, they were up only seven with 3:38 left when Rivers drove the Chargers 47 yards and then lofted a 42-yard pass into the end zone for Vincent Jackson.
