Raiders go for 2 late, edge Saints 35-34

Slowed by a foot injury in the final month of his rookie National Football League season, Oakland wide receiver Amari Cooper looked healthy again in the Raiders’ opening game of 2016 on Sunday.

Three quarterbacks – New Orleans’ Drew Brees, Indianapolis’ Andrew Luck and Tampa Bay’s Jameis Winston – threw four touchdowns, but Winston’s Buccaneers were the only of the three who were victorious. It would have made a lot less sense for Del Rio to not make the gutsy call at that point. There is no sugar coating it, most people watching that had their breath held thinking that it was a awful decision to try to go for it there. He orchestrated two long drives that resulted in rushing touchdowns – one by Murray and one by Olawale – and he also threw two flawless passes on the successful two-point conversions, otherwise Oakland would have lost the game without those conversions. The game appeared to be headed to overtime, but Raiders Head Coach Jack Del Rio had other ideas. “It wasn’t a big, earth-shattering announcement or a big move”.

The only thing that would’ve made this already epic re-tweet even better?

Exactly. The Raiders, for the first time since getting all the way to the Super Bowl in 2002, are, as the late Al Davis might say, are finally ready to “just win now, baby”. It worked, and his team won the game because of it. Ballsy call, but a great one.

With the game tied at 3 in the 1st quarter, Latavius Murray scored on a 6 yard touchdown run to give Oakland a 10 to 3 lead.

However, there is plenty of hype around Oakland as the sexy playoff sleeper pick and that will only grow when people log into NFL Network or Sky Sports News this morning and watch the offensive highlights. But losing your best defensive player to an injury takes it to a whole new level.

It’s quick and easy for fans to brush off the first loss of the season, but the Raiders are a very mediocre team. “He’s really talented. He’s got the leg to give us a chance there and that’s the thing that is encouraging”. It looks like that tag team will be everything that was advertised once Mack has a normal, dominant game again. Oh and by the way, free agent lineman Kelechi Osemele is a monster.

Del Rio also stood by his decision to bench starting cornerback Sean Smith midway through the third quarter after the eighth-year veteran was repeatedly beaten by the Saints receivers, most notably on a 98-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Drew Brees to Brandin Cooks that was the longest in franchise history. Snead finished with nine catches for 172 yards, including fourth-down, 1-yard TD catch in the first half.

It won’t get him demoted. “‘That certainly wasn’t anywhere near where it needed to be and I know you’ll bounce back”.

As for the Raiders in general in this game though, wow what a difference. “The things I’m dealing with are kind of hindering, a little bit, but I was satisfied that I was able to come out of the game without any setbacks or anything like that”.

Watson had to leave the game early, and his status for this week is uncertain. When it mattered most, however, McCarthy got conservative last season. This is the type of game that could get out of hand if the defense doesn’t show up, it has shootout written all over it with the Falcons not exactly known as a defensive powerhouse themselves. Be ready to face the music because they’re going to be coming at you.’ He’s a big boy.