Post by TheShadow on Dec 13, 2003 10:28:30 GMT -5
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Oakland Raiders Week 15 Team Report
(Sports Network) - Oakland ran out to a 7-0 lead in Pittsburgh, and then was outscored 27-0 over the final three quarters. After the game Steelers receiver Hines Ward said it looked like the Raiders quit in the third quarter. Some Oakland players took exception to the comments, including defensive back Terrence Shaw, who said the game film would show that was not true.
Still, coming off their first truly inept performance, veteran receiver Tim Brown knows there is a danger of more bad play with a playoff berth no longer a possibility.
"With the holidays coming up, you know guys are going to be getting away from it that week," Brown said. "We're fighting hard, but we've got to have a better showing than that."
The Raiders continued to play power football for a half last week. The mix of Tyrone Wheatley and Charlie Garner worked to perfection early against the aggressiveness of the Steelers. The duo had over 100 yards at halftime, but Rick Mirer finally played like it was feared he would and the Raiders had to drop the run for the pass in the second half.
Running against a good Pittsburgh defense -- even without center Barret Robbins, who is likely out again -- was impressive. Running the ball on the Ravens will be even harder.
If Bill Callahan has any chance to keep his job the Raiders must play with much more fire than they showed against Pittsburgh. They must execute better, too.
The defense forced consecutive turnovers in the second half to give Oakland the ball in Pittsburgh territory, but the Raiders couldn't muster any points from the takeaways.
Over the final three games, the team is playing strictly for pride and jobs, though the veteran Brown wouldn't mind playing spoiler against the team that kept Oakland from going to two Super Bowls in three seasons.
"I am one of the guys left here that remember what [the Ravens] did to us here four years ago," Brown said of the 16-3 Ravens win in the conference championship game. "If there is an opportunity to put a kink into their armor, it will be a better offseason for us."
UP NEXT: Oakland hosts Green Bay in Week 16.
Oakland Raiders Week 15 Team Report
(Sports Network) - Oakland ran out to a 7-0 lead in Pittsburgh, and then was outscored 27-0 over the final three quarters. After the game Steelers receiver Hines Ward said it looked like the Raiders quit in the third quarter. Some Oakland players took exception to the comments, including defensive back Terrence Shaw, who said the game film would show that was not true.
Still, coming off their first truly inept performance, veteran receiver Tim Brown knows there is a danger of more bad play with a playoff berth no longer a possibility.
"With the holidays coming up, you know guys are going to be getting away from it that week," Brown said. "We're fighting hard, but we've got to have a better showing than that."
The Raiders continued to play power football for a half last week. The mix of Tyrone Wheatley and Charlie Garner worked to perfection early against the aggressiveness of the Steelers. The duo had over 100 yards at halftime, but Rick Mirer finally played like it was feared he would and the Raiders had to drop the run for the pass in the second half.
Running against a good Pittsburgh defense -- even without center Barret Robbins, who is likely out again -- was impressive. Running the ball on the Ravens will be even harder.
If Bill Callahan has any chance to keep his job the Raiders must play with much more fire than they showed against Pittsburgh. They must execute better, too.
The defense forced consecutive turnovers in the second half to give Oakland the ball in Pittsburgh territory, but the Raiders couldn't muster any points from the takeaways.
Over the final three games, the team is playing strictly for pride and jobs, though the veteran Brown wouldn't mind playing spoiler against the team that kept Oakland from going to two Super Bowls in three seasons.
"I am one of the guys left here that remember what [the Ravens] did to us here four years ago," Brown said of the 16-3 Ravens win in the conference championship game. "If there is an opportunity to put a kink into their armor, it will be a better offseason for us."
UP NEXT: Oakland hosts Green Bay in Week 16.