Raiders offense fell apart in final half at Coliseum
OAKLAND — Cheese spread and chips smeared across the black grassed end zone.
A handful of fans chucked their Coliseum snacks in a fit of frustration as Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr made his way — ensconced by a bubble of security and media — to the Black Hole. One last time.
The nachos splattered behind the quarterback, but a chorus of boos followed him. Carr saw the kids he’s come to know throughout his career here, fans he’s come to love. He heard the boos but, this time, he didn’t have anything to say back. He’s used to it.
“Oh gosh,” Carr said. “What’s new with our crowd? Trust me, it’s not under my skin, it’s nothing new.”
Maybe it was only fitting that the Oakland Raiders’ final dance at the Coliseum be sealed by an utterly uninspiring Carr-led offense that failed to score a single point in the second half. That the final celebration on this field was the culmination of an opposing quarterback’s late-game, game-winning touchdown drive that sealed a 20-16 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“I know our mindset as players is, man, we felt confident throughout the whole game,” Carr said. “Especially that first half, we were rolling. Moving the ballwise, efficient, all things like that, we just wanted to step on their throat. And we didn’t do a good job of that in the second half.”
The Raiders went scoreless in the second half for a second game in a row. They had two full possessions in the fourth quarter that encapsulated perfectly the team’s offensive woes on Sunday and, lately.
Ailing rookie Josh Jacobs bumped and grinded the Raiders into the Jacksonville 44 yard line to start. Then, with the clock ticking down toward the two-minute stop, Carr scrambled 12 yards to the sideline and slid into the white. Thinking he’d started his slide in the field of play, Carr celebrated the fresh set of downs and what he thought would be clock control.
Whistles blew for delay of game. Head coach Jon Gruden called for a challenge on the un-reviewable play and had a timeout taken.
“I couldn’t believe it. I’ve never seen anything like it,” Gruden said. “I’ve got people up in the press box that clearly tell me he gave himself up in the field of play, and I’m waiting for the clock to wind to two minutes. I’m still waiting, and it never happened. Unbelievable.”
“Very shocked,” Carr said of the call."It’s one of the more shocking moments of my life, if I’m being honest. I understand the rule differently, I guess.”