Oakland Raiders vs. Minnesota Vikings

The Raiders’ major push to relevancy took a hit with Sunday’s 30-14 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

The Oakland Raiders (4-4) lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers last week.

This game is now sitting with an over/under of 44 with the Raiders as three point favorites.

“We got lambasted”, Zimmer recalled as he exited the Coliseum and headed to the team bus Sunday.

The Vikings are just eight games deep into their campaign, and the training room has already taken on the feel of an infirmary.

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) throws a pass against the Raiders during the second half of an NFL football game in Oakland on Sunday, November 15, 2015. The Raiders are led by Derek Carr out of Fresno State. Make sure we cover real well against their talented returners.

Oakland didn’t have the answers, and its five second-half drives resulted in three punts, an interception in the end zone and the end of the game. In a game that pits one of the league’s top defenses in Minnesota (2) against one of the best offenses in Oakland (7) we could be in for a truly great battle between two emerging teams. But Keith McGill got a hand up and deflected Blair Walsh’s 39-yard field goal with 10:53 to play.

“When you lose, it’s tough”, Carr said. With RB Latavius Murray averaging 4.8 yards per carry and the line allowing just 10 sacks, the Raiders bring enough balance to challenge any defense.

That wrapped up the scoring for the first quarter, and Minnesota added to their lead early in the second quarter on another field goal by Walsh.

The Vikings defense performing well is a given. Carr has 21 touchdown passes this season.

After an interception by Newman, the Vikings moved into the red zone again.

All Adrian Peterson needed was a microphone to drop triumphantly at his feet Sunday after his late touchdown run silenced the Black Hole fanatics for good. That’s the bottom line. I think, and other devices.

While Captain Munnerlyn, Chad Greenway and Linval Joseph were the team’s leading tackler, the old man Terence Newman played like a “new man” and was the clear standout. He already had a big day and then exploded for the 80-yard touchdown that sent Raiders fans to the exits.

With 11,151 yards and 91 touchdowns, Peterson joined Jim Brown, another hall of famer, as the only players to rush for at least 11,000 yards and 90 touchdowns in their first 113 games. Edwards is truly becoming a big part of Oakland’s offense.

Sunday, the aggression paid off on a 38-yard throw to rookie receiver Amari Cooper. The replay officials looked at it and upheld it. I don’t know how they did. “You can’t give up those longs runs, and he got a lot of them”.

Now the Raiders need to reignite their season.

A handful of injuries this week threaten to derail Minnesota’s impressive, 6-2 start, on the eve of a trip to Oakland.

“When we came in at halftime, we were still upbeat”, left tackle Donald Penn said. “I’m glad we still have seven games left. But we’re learning as we go”. We’re going to throw the ball down the field.

Said Bridgewater when we spoke at his locker after the game: “I really don’t care about fantasy football”. If they had more cameras, perhaps they would have seen it. If they are going to use replay, they should get more cameras for replays. I’m upset. I’m very upset. But it’s one game.