Even with Al Davis' spirit hovering above...
Even with a do-nothing opponent at home to close out the regular season...
Even with Denver and Cincinnati both rolling over within minutes of each other...
...with everyone paving a clear path for Oakland to reach the playoffs...
...the Raiders trip themselves up again.
Playing some of their softest, most incompetent defense and special teams coverage of the year, they lose at home to San Diego for the 7th time in the last 8 such meetings, and miss the 2011 NFL postseason via a 38-26 debacle.
The loss dropped the Raiders to their second straight 8-8 finish, thus extending Oakland's franchise-long streak of playoff-less seasons to nine. The team that a year ago went 6-0 against AFC West rivals lost to every one of them in Oakland this year.
Meaning 2010's 8-8 record would have been a division-winner this season.
Season Review
The minor mistakes ticking like a time bomb all year have now gone off. Should the AFC West race have come down to the season's final game? Imagine the Raiders don't blow that big lead in week 2 at Buffalo, nor the late lead they had December 18 against Detroit. Kyle Boller would have likely started for them on New Year's Day.
Injuries had a little to do with it. Jason Campbell's collar-bone fracture in October dropped the team's most playbook-savvy quarterback out of the mix. Darren McFadden's longer-than-expected absence took a major weapon out of one of the league's best running games. Jacoby Ford's time on the bench meant Carson Palmer had to get back to work with a thin receiver corps.
News Flash: those were all offensive injuries!
Campbell carried them to that 4-2 start, then got hurt. In 6 of the 10 games that followed though, Oakland still scored 24 or more points...but lost three of them.
Putting aside the game- and momentum-changing special teams touchdowns allowed in the home meetings with Denver and San Diego, the Raiders' defense lost the season for them. Sloppy tackling, a suspect secondary, and weak pass rush all lead to opponents averaging 28.3 points per game in those last 10 outings.
Meaning that a new QB and beleaguered offensive squad had to come up with (in theory), about 30 points or more every single game. In the one contest where the defense played satisfactorily (allowing only 13 points in Kansas City on Christmas Eve), two blocked field goals kept Oakland in it to win it.
Nnamdi Asomugha? Shoulda coulda woulda kept him.
"This team needs an attitude adjustment," claimed head coach Hue Jackson after the game.
2012 Raiders
Next season, Palmer will be presumably more familiar with the team's system, and should throw fewer interceptions. Keeping McFadden and Michael Bush will be paramount, and they might even consider drafting a receiver who can be groomed to play at Ford's level someday.
With their reduced number of draft picks, a cornerback or safety would be key too. Veteran defenders would be even better.
But the team will need to play as one, and for four quarters. They take on all four AFC North teams in 2012, three of whom are on to the playoffs this month. They also will face New Orleans and Atlanta. They'll have to go to Miami again, which has been a house of pain for them the last 20 years (2007 notwithstanding).
Should they pray like Tim Tebow does? He finished 8-8 and lost three straight games to end the season, but made it past week 17.
Whatever it is, the Raiders, with their newly acquired talent will need to reflect and refocus in the offseason, and perform at least at, if not above their potential in 2012.
Mark Fontes - Mark Fontes joined the team at WZBN-TV in March, 2008. His first two years there he covered stories ranging from shootings and fires to ...
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