If there was such a thing as a "good loss," the Oakland Raiders' 21-14
defeat at home against the Indianapolis Colts would be it.
Oakland, now 4-10, put together perhaps its best defensive effort of the
season against the NFL's third-ranked offensive unit. The Peyton
Manning-led Colts (11-2) managed just one touchdown on the offensive
side of the ball, which didn't come until near the 10-minute mark in the
final quarter.
Before then, Indy had managed just a pair of Adam Vinatieri field goals
(from 22 and 19 yards) and a 90-yard T.J. Rushing punt return. Rushing's
first-quarter score was just the second time Raiders All-Pro punter
Shane Lechler had a kick returned for a TD. However, the first time it
had happened was just seven days earlier, in a 38-7 loss to the Green
Bay Packers.
The much-maligned Raiders defensive front halted two Colts drives at
their own 1-yard line, forcing a turnover on downs and a short field
goal. The first goal-line stand prevented a 17-point Indianapolis lead,
and it consequently led to a 99-yard Raiders scoring drive that ended
with a short TD pass from Josh McCown to Ronald Curry.
Most importantly, Indy's No. 1 halfback, Joseph Addai -- who has 1,019
yards rushing on the season -- was held to just 44 yards on the ground
on 19 carries (2.9 yards per attempt). As a team, the Colts netted a
mere 58 yards rushing, despite the fact that Oakland gives up over 140
yards each game.
The line also had a surprisingly successful day getting in the face of
the 31-year-old Manning, who had been sacked just 17 times all season
heading into the day. Linemen Gerard Warren, Derrick Burgess and Chris
Clemons all took down Manning for a loss. Despite starting only two
games all season, the 26-year-old Clemons leads the team with seven
sacks; he also has two forced fumbles. For Manning, Sunday was just the
third time this season the former MVP was sacked three or more times in
a single contest.
Linebacker Thomas Howard also snagged his sixth INT of the season and
added five more tackles to his '07 resume. Howard's six picks are the
most for a linebacker since Ray Lewis achieved the feat with Baltimore
in '03.
Offensively, it was a much different story for Oakland.
Outside of starting running back Justin Fargas surpassing the 1,000-yard
rushing mark, there wasn't much to be happy about.
McCown posted a rare no-turnover performance, but completed 13 of 24
passes for a meager 94 yards and one touchdown. Rookie JaMarcus Russell
had no better luck through the air in his two-series audition,
completing only two passes for 10 yards. As a result, the team's leading
pass catcher on the day was Jerry Porter, who grabbed four passes for 32
yards.
Despite the commendable effort of his team, Raiders head coach Lane
Kiffin doesn't feel any differently about the loss.
"We're too far along to feel good because we played the world champs
down on the 14-yard line to win the game," the 32-year-old commented.
"Who cares? We lost. We got to start winning these games."
"Some day we'll be that team that makes the plays and finishes people
off like that."
Hey, at least he implied some sort of future with the team.
