Unbeaten Miami just what winless Raiders need
The Raiders were embarrassed in their opener against the Rams. They (and their fans) were stunned Sunday by the Broncos. Don’t take my word for it: There’s no sugar-coating it — the Raiders had the Broncos beat, and, just guessing here, the only noise on the flight home was the steam whistling out of Jon Gruden’s ears.
But things will look brighter today when Gruden wakes up at 2:30 and gets back to work. And at some point this week, the Raiders (and their fans) are going to understand that they are in good position for their first victory of the season. Presenting 5 reasons the Raiders should feel hopeful — yes, you read correctly — about their trip to Miami for Game 3:
1>> Sure the Dolphins have started the season 2-0. But they’ve done that just two times in the past 16 years. And they have been 3-0 once since 2002.
2>> If you’re thinking they have compensated for the slow starts with fast finishes — no.
The Fins have been the Raiders of the Southeast for as long as the Raiders have been the Dolphins of the East Bay. To wit: The Dolphins have made three postseason appearances in the past 16 years and haven’t won a playoff game in 17 years.
3>> Instead of playing in a mile-high blast furnace (a CBS sideline reporter just before Sunday’s kickoff held up a thermometer which read 110 degrees), the Raiders are forecast to play in temps of 78-88 degrees and under scattered thunderstorms in Miami. That must sound refreshing to the Oakland defenders who turned into limp dishrags on the Broncos’ game-winning drive.
4>> The Dolphins claim the No. 4 career rusher in NFL history and yet gave him only nine carries on Sunday. We’ll be charitable and chalk that up to Frank Gore’s age and not Miami head coach’s Adam Gase’s IQ.
Gore’s 25 yards against the Jets were notable beyond their impact on the game; they boosted his career total to 14,112 rushing yards, surpassing Curtis Martin along the way.
5>> If the Raiders play the game they played Sunday, they’ll be just fine. Take the paper bag off your head and look at the stats: Derek Carr was 29-of-32 (that’s 90 percent and change) for 288 yards. He made quick and quick-witted decisions. Amari Cooper (remember that guy?) caught 10 passes for 116 yards. Marshawn Lynch (speaking of guys who appeared to wilt late in the game) contributed 65 useful yards.
The Raiders controlled time of possession by almost six minutes. We understand they were outgained by 12 yards and, yes, that there is still a lively ongoing conversation about the elephant who left the building. We’ll just have to learn to live with that.