Game Grades: @ Miami Dolphins

Huge win for the Raiders, although I’ll try to temper my glee with the fact that the win did come against an 0-4 team. Great all around win, although tackling is still an issue. The defense has yet to put together a dominating game, but a win is a win. And with that, here are my grades for week 4:

Passing Game: B+
Do you credit a passing game with running touchdowns by the quarterback? If you do, then the Raiders get an A+ in the passing game, considering that QB Daunte Culpepper ran for three touchdowns and passed for two more. From a passing efficiency perspective, Culpepper didn’t exactly tear it up in the passing department. He only completed 5 of 12 passes for 75 yards, but since 2 of those 5 completions ended up in the end zone, it’s hard to argue with Culpepper’s impact on this game.

Running Game: A
Culpepper’s 3 TD’s aside, the Raiders torched the Dolphins defense with 299 rushing yards. Justin Fargas had a career high 179 yards on 22 carries, and that was after the Raiders feature back, Lamont Jordan, injured his back. Jordan had racked up 74 yards before having to leave, so there’s no telling what he would have done against the banged up Dolphins. Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin made it no secret that he was going to run the ball, and Miami still couldn’t stop Oakland’s ground game.

Pass Defense: B-
Oakland’s defense is still in need of a huge game, but this game was a start. Trent Green was only able to pass for 158 yards and touchdown, and the Raiders picked off two passes to stop two big Dolphin drives. Thomas Howard continued his hot streak by setting up the Raiders first touchdown with a pick on Miami’s opening drive deep in Dolphin territory. Stanford Routt kept the Dolphins from seizing control of the game’s momentum with a pick on the Raiders 2 yard line after Miami marched almost 90 yards for what would have been the tying score.

Run Defense: C-
The one area Oakland is most in need of help is the run defense. Ronnie Brown continued to expose Oakland by running for 134 yards. Brown capped a 51 yard drive with a 9 yard scamper through the Raiders defense. On the next Dolphins drive, Brown kicked things off with a 60 yard run, setup by shoddy tackling. The Raiders have two weeks to solve their run defense ills, before squaring off against Ladanian Tomlinson.

Special Teams: A-
For starters, Sebastian Janikowski did not miss a field goal. That accomplishment was made easier by the fact that the Raiders had no field goal attempts, but we’ll take any positive we can when it comes to Janikowski. The maligned Raiders kicker did have two touchbacks on kickoffs. The Raiders special teams unit also kept speedster Ted Ginn Jr. in check. Ginn had a 33 yard kickoff return, but that was it.

Coaching: A-
Was Lane Kiffin’s game plan setup to run the ball because he didn’t want to throw Culpepper to the wolves in his first start as a Raider, or because he knew the Dolphins run defense was comprised of moldy Swiss cheese? Regardless of the reason, the plan worked. Kiffin now gets to make the fun decision of deciding who his starting quarterback is. Culpepper’s enthusiasm alone gets our vote for a second start.

Intangibles: B+
This wasn’t a playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts, but it was a huge step forward for the Raiders. A road win in the NFL isn’t something that comes easy, but the Raiders got the job done. If anything, this was almost a redemption game for several Raiders. Jerry Porter played a role in he offense and the much maligned offensive line looked like people movers out there. The real test comes in two weeks. The Chargers will have something to prove and Norv Turner will want some payback.

Officiating: C-
There were only two glaring calls that come to mind. The offensive pass interference call against Mike Williams in the 1st quarter was ridiculous. If a defender falls down, it’s not offensive pass interference. Williams was mauled midway through the 3rd quarter by Michael Lehan, but no Williams drew no flag.

Game Grades: @ Denver Broncos

Alright, I needed more than 24 hours to cool down after the Raiders 23-20 loss to the Broncos in week 2. Mike Shanahan iced Sebastian Janikowski masterfully, but take solace in knowing that the Broncos don’t have a shot in hell in winning anything this season. Denver escaped losses against Buffalo & Oakland. They’ll get demolished against teams like Indianapolis and New England. And with that, here are my grades for week 2:

Passing Game: D-
Josh McCown only completed 8 of 16 passes for a measly 73 yards and a touchdown, but three interceptions will kill you every time. McCown’s first pick was initiated by a bad decision. He tried forcing a pass deep in his own zone and it cost him. We’ll never know if Champ Bailey was out of bounds on the play, thanks in part to poor television coverage and no challenge by the Raiders. The second pick was unlucky. The capper however is McCown’s final pick on what could have been the drive to win the game in regulation. Key Stat: Raiders netted +2 yards in passing in the 1st half.

Running Game: B+
What McCown couldn’t accomplish in the air, Lamont Jordan made up for it on the ground with a career high 159 yards on 25 carries. The only thing that was missing was a touchdown for Jordan. The Raiders challenged the Broncos front four all day, and Denver couldn’t stop the run. Jordan’s 33-yard run in overtime should have provided the boost to get the Raiders in the win column, but the drive was stalled after the passing game couldn’t help balance the attack.

Pass Defense: C+
The Raiders defense did pick off Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler twice (once for a big score), but the 2nd year signal caller did rip off 269 yards and a touchdown on 23 off 33 attempts. Thomas Howard’s interception and ensuing TD was the defensive highlight of the game for Oakland. The tackling woes continue, although not as glaringly as the run defense.

Run Defense: D+
Travis Henry seemingly had his way with the Raider defense all afternoon, but the most glaring failure of the run defense was on the game-winning drive. Henry’s 13-yard scamper on 3rd down, followed by a 7-yard run setup Jason Elam’s field winning goal. Henry amassed 128 yards. The Broncos combined for 181 yards total on the ground and a Cecil Sapp TD. Selvin Young busts a 40-yard run because of poor tackling.

Special Teams: C
Sebastian Janikowski does not make up the entire special teams unit, so his would be game-winning miss in overtime isn’t the only thing that goes into this grade. Janikowski’s failure to deliver is getting old, and it’s time for the Raiders to cut their losses (literally). The kicking game did net an onside kick recovery and held the Broncos to 6 yards on punt coverage.

Coaching: C+
Not having a passing game to balance things out did limit some of Lane Kiffin’s options, but there were flashes of creativity. Several running plays on obvious passing situations netted a couple of key first downs. One big blunder was a draw play called early in the 4th quarter that killed a drive. Loved the onside kick call.

Intangibles: C
This was a moral victory for the Raiders, because it showed that this team could compete with its divisional foe. Unfortunately, moral victories are for losers. Still, this team is showing signs of life, and players are competing. Hopefully defensive coordinator spends an entire practice on tackling fundamentals.

Officiating: C-
I can’t say that the officiating was horrible, but I certainly won’t say that is was great. Raiders drew 10 penalties for 70 yards. Broncos only draw 6 penalties for 34 yards. Nnamdi Asomugha is whistled for pass interference while running stride for stride with Javon Walker, but Dre Bly gets away with interference with Jerry Porter on what should have been a sure touchdown…no flag. An awful defensive holding call on Gerard Warren after Travis Henry runs for 10 yards.

Game Grades: vs Detroit Lions

I’ve decided to grade out each Raider game this season. Grades will be posted no less than 24 hours after the completion of each game, so that I (hopefully) eliminate emotion from the grading. It’s difficult to be impartial immediately after a win or loss, because emotion is sure to cloud my judgment. Sunday’s 36-21 loss was a tough one to take on the chin, so I thought better of trying to dole out my opinions right away.

Passing Game: C+
Josh McCown completed 30 of 40 passes for 313 yards and 2 TDs, but the turnovers initiated by the passing game were atrocious. 2 picks and 3 fumbles by McCown alone killed the Raiders. Part of the 4th quarter implosion was McCown’s fault, but the offensive line didn’t help by allowing Detroit’s defensive line to reek havoc throughout the game. Eliminate the turnovers and this game turns out much differently.

Running Game: C
Lamont Jordan‘s 70 yards on 15 carries (and a TD) wasn’t the worst thing in the world, but the Raiders never established any dominance on the ground. Falling behind 17-0 forced an aerial response, but the Raiders needed more from Jordan and Justin Fargas earlier in the game. Every time the Raiders busted a decent run, they’d follow it up with a goose egg. The highlight of the afternoon was Jordan’s 12-yard scamper for the Raiders 2nd TD of the day.

Pass Defense: F
Lions QB Jon Kitna had all day to pick the Raiders apart. Only a Kirk Morrison interception in the end zone kept the game within reach in the 1st half. The Raiders only sacked Kitna twice, for a paltry 5 yards, and the lack of pressure was none more evident than on Shaun McDonald’s TD catch late in the game. The secondary was no better, allowing McDonald to roam free in the end zone on the play. Of course, Kitna & McDonald don’t even get a chance to make that play if Hiram Eugene wraps up McDonald on the previous play, a back breaking 9-yard 3rd down conversion at midfield. That kept the game winning drive alive.

Run Defense: B-
Take away Tatum Bell’s meaningless 14-yard TD at the end of the game and the Raiders run defense held the Lions to 94 yards on the ground. 18 rushing attempts (not counting 3 by Kitna) netted the Lions 91 yards. The Lions only converted 4 rushing first-downs. The one glaring blemish was Bell’s 24-yard scamper midway through the 2nd quarter, setting up Kitna’s TD pass to Roy Williams for Detroit’s first score of the game.

Special Teams: F
Yes, Sebastian Janikowski’s first field goal attempt was blocked, but the muffs on his 2nd & 3rd attempts turned out to haunt the Raiders. The closest Janikowski came to putting a ball through the uprights was on a kickoff after Justin Griffith’s touchdown the put the Raiders up 21-20. The Raiders kick coverage allowed an 18-yard punt return, which setup Detroit’s first TD and a 33-yard kickoff return at the end of the 3rd quarter.

Coaching: C-
You could tell things were a little different than last year when the Raiders opened the game with a 5-receiver set and an empty backfield. That play resulted in a 13-yard pass completion to Ronald Curry, but then the Raiders went into an offensive shell (no pun intended). Head coach Lane Kiffin and offensive coordinator Greg Knapp didn’t open things up until the 3rd quarter, but once they did the Raiders moved the ball. Coaching didn’t cost the Raiders the game, execution did.

Intangibles: C
The Raiders came together as a team after Griffith’s TD, showing emotion that hasn’t been seen at the Coliseum in a while. The Raiders moved the ball when they had to, which is a far cry from last season. We’ll see if the defensive lapses were an anomaly or not.

Officiating: B-
Sad that I even have to include an officiating category, buy officiating has played such a large part of most Raider contests that I thought it was necessary. All in all, I thought the officiating was ok. The one play that raised my ire was an incident late in the contest, when a Lions offensive lineman took a cheap shot at a Raider defender with 6 minutes to play in the contest and no flag was thrown (even though the Raiders were penalized for the exact same thing earlier in the game). The officials issued a “sideline warning” because half the Raider coaching staff was standing on the field of play screaming for a flag.