Fun-loving Crabtree quickly makes up for bad games
Michael Crabtree is having the time of his life. In fact, after the Raiders’ 35-32 win Sunday, the receiver said this was “the most fun I’ve ever had playing football.”
Crabtree had eight catches for 110 yards, with 64 coming on Oakland’s game-winning drive.
“Just win, baby,” he said. “We take that motto seriously. We’re going for it by any means. We’ve got dogs.”
None with a bite bigger than the former 49ers receiver.
On 3rd-and-9 from the Raiders’ 14, quarterback Derek Carr was under pressure and simply threw a pass up for grabs down the middle. Crabtree was matched against linebacker A.J. Klein on the play, and Crabtree came back and made an acrobatic catch for a 44-yard gain. While his helmet was being ripped off.
“That’s typical Crab,” Oakland head coach Jack Del Rio said.
Crabtree had five catches for 32 yards the previous two games and was limited all week in practice with a sore ankle.
“I feel like I’ve had a couple of bad games,” Crabtree said. “I wasn’t going to let this game go by without making a few plays. I came out here with one thing on my mind.”
The Raiders’ ninth win clinches the team’s first winning record since 2002, but Crabtree didn’t want to hear about that.
“We’re going to worry about this year,” he said. “We’re not worrying about the past. … I’ve been on some winning teams. This team right here is special. We have to focus on what’s in front of us.” Offensive layers: A week after fullback Jamize Olawale made a big play late, tight end Clive Walford showed off his hands with a touchdown snag in traffic in the fourth quarter. Earlier, the Raiders had a scoring drive on which their longest plays were from third-string running back Taiwan Jones and No. 5 receiver Johnny Holton.
“I think you’re seeing a lot of different dimensions that we can bring,” Del Rio said. “We’re not fixated on one guy (who) has to do it . ... We have a lot of playmakers that we want to get involved that (offensive coordinator) Bill (Musgrave) and the staff do a great job of designing things (for).
“Derek will throw it to any of them. He believes in whoever is on the field.” Welcome back? The Raiders should learn more this week about the status of suspended linebacker Aldon Smith. ESPN reported that he applied for reinstatement Oct. 3 and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has 60 days to render a decision on reinstatement, according to the terms of the collective bargaining agreement.
That means Oakland should hear by Friday.
Smith spent 120 days at a rehabilitation facility in Carbondale, Colo., according to ESPN. Briefly: The Raiders held Carolina to 10 yards in the second quarter as they reeled off 17 points. Cam Newton was 0for-6 that quarter. … Oakland won without starting linebacker Perry Riley Jr. (hamstring) and starting cornerback David Amerson (knee). Rookie Cory James played for Riley and was fine, after he got run over on Jonathan Stewart’s 47-yard first-quarter carry.