(Sportsbooks) - Criticizing the
Oakland Raiders for losing to the
Indianapolis Colts would almost be like criticizing Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger for not being able to beat Walter Jones around the edge. Analyze it all you want - the Raiders simply aren't good enough to beat the defending world champions. Not right now, anyway.
Sure, Lane Kiffin's crew played the Colts tough. The final score was 21-14 and it wasn't until midway through the fourth quarter that Peyton Manning and the Indy offense reached the end zone for the first time, on a 20-yard touchdown strike from Manning to Anthony Gonzalez. And sure, Oakland owned the time of possession by nearly seven minutes (thanks to an impressive 20-play, 99-yard second-quarter drive that ate up 11:49). But aside from that drive, the Raider offense struggled mightily against a speedy Indy defense, and Oakland's inexperience in making big plays late in close games rose to the surface.
That's the bad news. The good news is, the Raiders have improved enough this year to where they feel these semi-moral victories no longer serve as feathers in their cap.
"We're too far along to feel good because we played the world champs down on the (16)-yard line to win the game," Kiffin said, referring to his team's final drive that stalled in the red zone. "Who cares? We lost. We got to start winning these games. Some day we'll be that team that makes the plays and finishes people off like that."
A year ago, hearing a Raiders coach declare such sentiments would have been mere comic relief for the post-game highlight shows. But with the way the Raiders have developed as of late, Kiffin's proclamation is not so funny. Oakland has shown more than a semblance of capability on offense, thanks to a new-found running game led by Justin Fargas (who had 26 carries for 89 yards Sunday but left with a knee injury). Defensively, the Raiders are on the rise in the secondary, though their front seven has struggled mightily against the run.
Still, both sides of the ball lack star power, which is ultimately what continues to hold this franchise back. The hope is that JaMarcus Russell can provide that spark offensively (though after a fruitless cameo appearance Sunday, all signs indicate that the ex-Bayou Bengal is still a few years away reaching his boundless full potential). Defensively, the Raiders have young talent - Thomas Howard, Kirk Morrison, Nnamdi Asomugha, Fabian Washington and Michael Huff - but they lack a centerpiece playmaker to build around. That proved to be the difference Sunday.
"Play after play after play (the Colts) were just making plays," said veteran defensive tackle Warren Sapp. "We just couldn't get one. We couldn't get them in a situation where we had them and needed to make a play and got it done."
WHO'S HOT
Against Indianapolis, linebacker Thomas Howard recorded five tackles, as well as his sixth interception on the season Sunday. Howard's six picks are the most for a linebacker in the NFL since Ray Lewis had a half-dozen in 2003.
WHO'S NOT
Quarterback Josh McCown was 13-of-24 with a touchdown and no interceptions Sunday, but his 13 completions totaled just 94 yards. That left McCown with a dreadful 3.9 yards per pass attempt average, almost half the NFL average.
NEXT UP
The Raiders travel to Jacksonville to face the surging 10-4 Jaguars.
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Contact Andy Benoit: abenoit@benoitmedia.com
