Raiders/Bills post game report
September 22, 2008 by Lee Tremblay
Filed under NFL Football, Raiders
The disfunctional and injured Oakland Raiders traveled to the other side of the country to play the Buffalo Bills in week 3 of the 2008 NFL season.
Our top WR Javon Walker has yet to really play, and was not expected to get much time in this game once again, due to a hamstring injury. Our top RB Justin Fargas was out with a groin injury. Our future top RB and first round pick in this years draft, Darren McFadden was going to be active, but limited, with a turf toe injury. And on top of all of that, the players and coaching staff are having to deal with reports that head coach Lane Kiffin, is to be fired.
When you add all of that up, it makes complete sense that the spread on this game would be 9.5 for Buffalo.
While I went to this game drapped in Raiders gear, and taking the quick wit hits from the ever faithful Bills fans, I have to admit that I didn’t put much hope into a Raiders win. I may not have picked them to win, but I did have them to cover the spread, and I knew that they would keep it close. Even with all of the problems that we had to face, I held faith that we wold put on a show.
With just over 6 minutes left in the game and my Raiders up 23-14, I started to believe that my Raiders just might pull it off. All we needed was to get one or two first downs and it would be all over but the crying.
We didn’t get any first downs.
We didn’t hold them on D.
We didn’t win the game.
Bills 24, Raiders 23.
But, do you know what?………
I’m happy! Yes thats right, I’m happy.
Our team went into a hostile stadium, filled with hope and love for their team. We faced much adversity throughout the week, and dealt with some crippling injuries, and yet still, almost pulled it off.
I love the Oakland Raiders. I love the fans (which buy the way, were everywhere!). I love the philosophy. I love everything about my team, and I couldn’t be more proud of the effort they showed sunday afternoon.
With all of that said, I have to give a BIG shout out to the Buffalo Bills. Even more so to the 70 odd thousand and more rabid fans that pack their stadium, and watch them on TV. There is no better place to tailgate for a football game, and no team, with as much heart and desire, then those of the Buffalo Bills.
With their team sitting at 2-0 and then after a stunning comeback, sitting at 3-0, you can see and feel all of the hopes and dreams that this team has finally made it back. It is electric, it is heartwarming, and it is one hell of a great thing to see, and in some way be a part of.
Buffalo is alive right now, and with good reason. And it is great to see.
I have to send a shout out to our Bills blogger, Tim Anderson. It was great to see you at the game, and congrats on the win. I was hoping for a miss on that last second fieldgoal attempt, which would have had our teams both at 2-1, but it is good to see you and your fellow Bills fans, get the win.
As for us within the Raider nation, keep your chin up. We are starting to make some noise, and show the world that we are not an easy team to play against. We are not to be pushed around, and we are going to be moving back up to that next level, that we used to own.
We are in our transition year, and all signs point up.
Next week we have division rival, San Diego Chargers, and its about time we show them that we can play at their level.
Till next time
Tremblay
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Last post (s) by Lee Tremblay
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September 22nd, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Lee, great blog man! I feel bad that I didn’t give you a shout out in mine (I just threw mine together on my lunch break, and didn’t get a chance to read yours until now). But, it was awesome to meet up with you too. I couldn’t believe that 70+ thousand people were there, and we happened to be sitting only a few rows away from each other.
I’m glad you enjoyed yourself, and I must say, every single Raiders fan I met was so cool, and we enjoyed tailgating near a few of them. And as you said, there were a lot of you guys there. Great support for your team!
As for the game, one of the best I’ve been to in a while! Your boys play hard for Kiffin, and it’s a shame that he is going to be fired (or at least that was the report I heard this morning). I’m not sure what your thoughts are on him as a whole, but it seems that one of your blogs from last week sort of conveys your displeasure with Davis more than anyone.
Anyway, thanks for all of the kind words, and I will be rooting hard for Raider Nation the rest of the way home!
September 22nd, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Thanks Tim. I will be rooting for the Bills also.
As for Kiffin. I really like him as a head coach, and even though I believe that he has some work to do, with regards to getting really good as a head coach, I would love to see him stay on as our coach.
I believe that he has started something really good in Oakland, and he knows what needs to get done, in order to make this a playoff team once again. I think that he has done a great job building the player personel, and the coaching personel, and I also think that the players like and respect him.
Unfortunately, i don’t think that he will be our coach for too much longer, and that is really upsetting to me. I see another Mike Shanahan all over again, and I believe that Al Davis will regret this one as well.
My question to Al is, how many head coaches are you going to have to go through, before you start to think that maybe its not the coaches fault that we are still losing?
I love Al Davis, but he has to give somebody a chance to not only build this team, but be there to keep it going for more then one or two seasons. He has to let go of his strangle hold of the team, and let other people make some of the decisions.
Kiffin is , in my opinion, just the guy to do it, and I hope and pray that he gets that chance.
Although, I can almost guarentee that he won’t.
Its great being a Bills fan right now.
Its tough being a Raiders fan right now.
If you would like to trade for a little while, let me know please
September 23rd, 2008 at 7:17 am
Great work guys! Nice to see 2 of our bloggers get together and enjoy the game!