MVN - Most Valuable Network

What could have been: The Raiders could have easily been in the playoff hunt this season

“I could have been a contender”

–Marlon Brando from On the Waterfront 

That is the refrain for the Oakland Raiders for the 2007 season. If one or two plays had gone the other way in each of the Raiders’ games this season, they could be contending this season. Especially in light of the fact that the entire AFC West is playing below expectations. Despite the 4-8 record, it is not difficult to imagine how the Raiders could have been in serious playoff contention this season.

“Playoffs? Don’t talk about playoffs. You kidding me? Playoffs? I just hope we can win a game.”

–Jim Mora

The way that the 2007 season has played out for the Raiders, my talk of them having been a contender for the playoffs comes off more like Jim Mora’s famous meltdown than an actual possibility. I am going to break down each loss by looking only at FOURTH QUARTER breakdowns that cost a lead or a likely comeback attempt. Looking at anything before that becomes even more hypothetical because there is still a lot of football that could have changed, with the outcome of a questionable play early in the game. For example, the sequence in Tennessee where the Raiders had a first and goal at the one near the end of the first half, but came away with no points is not one I am looking at because that would have potentially changed the way the rest of the game was played.

Week 1: Detroit 36 Oakland 21- Key play- With the Raiders up 21-20 midway through the fourth quarter, the Lions are driving down for what would become the go ahead touchdown. The Lions have the ball 3rd and 8, Hiram Eugne misses a tackle well short of the first down marker and the Lions convert and go on to take the lead. Had Eugene made that tackle the Lions would have had to punt and the Raiders could have ate up the clock. Instead, the Lions scored a touchdown and Josh McCown had to start throwing to come back and threw two picks to seal the game.

Week 2 Oakland 20 Denver 23- Key Play- There are actually two of them. Josh McCown overthrows a wide open Jerry Porter late in regulation, then on the next play underthrows Porter and is picked by Dre Bly. The second big mistake was Sebastian Janikowski missing the rekick after Shanahan’s time out by about six inches, as it clanked off the upright.

Week 3 Raider win over Cleveland.

Week 4 Raider win over Miami.

Week 5 Bye

Week 6 Oakland 14 San Diego 28 - Key Play - San Diego is up 21-14 late in the fourth quarter. The Raiders defense needs to get a stop on a third and short. LaDanian Tomlinson bursts through the line and takes it into the end zone. Despite the closeness of the score, the Chargers outclassed the Raiders that day and whilst a win was still possible it was unlikely the Raiders could have pulled it off.

W eek 7 Kansas City 12 Oakland 10 - Key Play- The Raiders were driving late in the fourth and only needed about 25 yards to set up a game winning attempt for Janikowski. Daunte Culpepper throws an interception and the Chiefs kill the clock.

Week 8 Oakland 9 Tennessee 13 - Key Play - Late in the fourth quarter, the Raiders are finally moving the ball and driving on the Titans. Daunte Culpepper throws an interception. The defense holds and the Raiders get the ball back and are driving again, but Mike Williams drops a fourth down pass. The Titans kill the clock.

Week 9 Houston 24 Oakland 17 -Key Play- The Raiders had taken the lead, and the Texans came right back to retake the lead. Another late interception doomed a comeback bid.

Week 10 Chicago 17 Oakland 6 -Key Play- The Raiders offense had again taken a lead, this time 6-3. Rex Grossman completes a bomb to Barrian for a touchdown and the Bears go on to win.

Week 11 Oakland 22 Minnesota 29 -Key Play- I can’t remember how this one was lost.

Week 12 Raider win over Kansas City

Week 13 Raider win over Denver

Looking back at it, if the Detroit game, first Denver game, first KC game, and Titan game had gone differently the Raiders would be looking at being 8-4. The other games are a bit more on the what if side, but those four could have turned quite easily.

Granted, all of the what ifs in the world stacked together aren’t enough to get you a Starbucks Eggnog Latte, but its something interesting to ponder in judging how this Raider season has gone thus far. It is a matter of couda shoulda woulda.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 4th, 2007 at 3:12 am and is filed under 2007 Season. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.