As Raider Nation prepares for a “new era” (Reggie McKenzie’s words, not mine), I thought I’d take some time and countdown my favorite Raider memories from the past 15 years. …I was going to do so from the past 10 years, but let’s face it folks, I don’t think I could have logged even five memories there.

So without further ado, my ‘Top 10 in 15’ (Part One):

10. No More Jamarcus

November 22, 2009

Raiders 20, Bengals 17

In 2007 our great storied franchise was set back several years when Purple Drank was drafted #1 overall. Sure there was optimism and hope when Lane Kiffin drafted him, but when he started his first full season in 2008, it was abundantly clear that Jamarcus was this millennium’s Ryan Leaf. Even still, he was given all the opportunities in the world by both Kiffin and then later Cable, but again, nothing came to fruition. The man had more turnovers than a Betty Crocker cookbook!

So why do I mention Aunt Jamarcus with my #10 choice? Well, this was the first game in the post-Jamarcus era for the Oakland Raiders. It was cool that we won – I’ll take that all day, every day, but it was even better to see that Al Davis was finally listening to reason when he pulled Russell. It took nearly two full seasons for the team to bench him, but I guess it could have been far worse.

So this game was special because the future for the Raiders finally started looking bright. And, it was even better because Oakland won. Bruce Gradkowski, whom you’ll find out from this countdown that I loved, stepped in as the signal caller and orchestrated an upset of the previously 7-2 Cincinnati Bengals.

Specifically about this game, it ended with high drama. Gradkowski threw a game tying touchdown with 33 seconds left to one Louis Murphy, and then on the ensuing kickoff, the Raiders forced a fumble and got the ball back. Seabass was able to put it away in the closing seconds with a field goal. The dramatic win was just the cherry on top to the brighter future the Raiders suddenly had inherited.

9. Dolphin Slaughter

January 7, 2001

AFC Divisional Playoff Game

Raiders 27, Dolphins 0

January 7, 2001 was the Raiders first playoff appearance in seven years, and it was the first for me as a Raiders fan (I converted in 1994). Raider Nation was on pins and needles for this one – Oakland had just finished 12-4, had won the West, and had earned a bye during the Wildcard weekend. The Dolphins won in the wildcard round and earned the right to come into the Black Hole and face the lethal combo of Jon Gruden and Rich Gannon. Still to this day, there has never been a better pairing of quarterback and coach.

This game was just fun to watch. A shut out during the playoffs? Can anything be sweeter? I remember this game looked a little ugly at first. Our journeyman quarterback was having a hard time moving the ball, and their journeyman quarterback (Jay Fiedler) was starting to get the ball rolling. Mid way through the first quarter the Dolphins had made it into the red zone when none other than Tory James picked the ball off and took it back for 6. Do you remember that defensive back tandem we had? Tory James and Charles Woodson. No offense to the current regime, but it sure beats the heck out of Ronald Bartell and Shawntae Spencer.

The Raiders had this game all locked up by halftime, as Gannon was as efficient as ever (10 of 13 for 117 yards) and Wheatley ran the ball with great ease, of course. I tell ya…just remembering this game is making me nostalgic on what we had.

Not to rain on the parade, but the good times would only last that day, as the following week Tony Siragusa and all 400 pounds of him came to town and pretty much broke Gannon’s collar bone. Unfortunately Wade Wilson couldn’t save us against that defense.

8. Carson’s Got Game

November 10, 2011

Raiders 24, Chargers 17

This one’s the latest on this countdown – from just last season. It was Carson’s third game with the Raiders, and was played a mere 20 days after he signed with the team. The man was barely learning the playbook when he was asked to step at QB and play the San Diego Chargers on Thursday Night Football. At stake: the winner would be in sole possession of first in the West.

Carson had had a lot of pressure on him since his whirlwind trade from the Bengals three weeks prior. Many people questioned the sanity of Hue Jackson for how much he gave up, and many people questioned if Carson had anything left in the tank. Well, on national TV, Carson for at least that night, brought question to the doubters. His numbers might not have been great, but the man played with conviction, energy, and leadership.

Other than Carson stepping into his own, this game had a lot of memorable moments. Denarius Moore had his coming out party as his speed and ability were on the ultimate of displays – five catches for 123 yards and two touchdowns. Additionally, the defense really stepped up in this one, as Philip Rivers was intercepted in the endzone with just three minutes left. And, oh yeah, it’s never a bad thing to beat the Chargers. This one made it three straight in favor of the Silver and Black!

7. The Raiders Clinch the West

December 24, 2000

Raiders 52, Panthers 9

Raider Nation was given quite the gift on the first Christmas of the millennium when our boys in Silver and Black clinched the Western Division crown and a trip to the playoffs for the first time in seven years. I remember this game fondly. The Raiders had to win, otherwise Denver was going to win the west, and as it would turn out, the Raiders would have then had to travel to Baltimore during the wildcard weekend. That would have meant no playoff wins for another year.

Luckily, Oakland raised to the challenge. At first I was a little nervous, because even though Oakland was literally scoring on every possession, so too were the Panthers – although maybe not in such big chunks. In the first half, it seemed like for every touchdown Oakland scored, Carolina scored a field goal. While that is a good thing, so much was at stake that it made me uneasy. That uneasiness was laid to rest however as Gannon literally lit up the score boards. The man threw for five touchdowns, and Eric Allen (another great Raider corner) ran one back for a touchdown. The Raiders finished the game with a 52 to 9 trouncing of the Panthers.

I still have newspaper clippings from this game – with Darrien Gordon (I loved him) being propped up by teammates after he had returned a fumble for a 74 yard touchdown. Since we’re on memory lane here, let me just shout out a few other names that contributed in a big way this season that we may forgotten about over the years. Rickey Dudley. More like Rickey Studley – what a great tight end he was for us. We’ve already mentioned Tyrone Wheatley earlier, but here’s one that I think very few remember – one Andre ‘Bad Moon’ Rison. I believe this was his last season with the Raiders, as once we got Jerry Rice in the next season, Rison was cut, but man was he fun to watch. He brought a swagger to that wideout lineup. Man, what a team.

To cap off this wonderful Raider memory, the team circled around the stadium and made it a point to high five and give thanks to the fans. Something tells me the Black Hole will be getting the same treatment sometime this year too.

6. A Gradkowski Glimpse Into What Could Have Been

December 6, 2009

Raiders 27, Steelers 24

I was just sifting through some old articles related to this game, and here is what one headline said:

“The Oakland Raiders? Suddenly they’re winning like they did in the old days, with remarkable comebacks and surprise finishes.”

This game was the second week in the post Jamarcus era, as well as the second week in the very short lived Bruce Gradkowski era. If you ask me, I think Gradkowski should have been given much more of a chance than he was. I don’t think the Raiders ever should have brought in Jason Campbell, and I think if Tom Cable had been able to have his way, this would have happened. Gradkowski was like a more talented, quicker Rich Gannon. The man could run, throw, and motivate. And this game exemplified that.

The 6-5 Steelers hosted the dismal Raiders in a midseason clash that meant everything to the playoff hopeful hometown team. Things boded well for Pittsburgh as they led 10 to 6 in the beginning of the 4^th. But then the bald man from Toledo (my man Bruce) took over. It was a thrilling fourth quarter as the two teams exchanged touchdown after touchdown – 35 points were scored in the fourth quarter alone.

With 1:56 left in the 4^th quarter, Big Ben threw what was at the time, a potential game winning touchdown to Hines Ward as Pittsburgh went up 24 to 20 on Oaktown. Now, if JMarc was still the QB in this game, 1:56 would have been enough time for him to throw three incompletions and for him to eat a 12 inch hoagie sandwich. That was not the case however with Gradkowski. For the first time since what seemed like the Gannon era, Gradkowski orchestrated the two minute drill flawlessly and capped it off with an 11 yard touchdown pass to Louis Murphy with nine seconds left. What a game, what a finish. It’s unfortunate that even with showings like this, Gradkowski was never given the proper backing he deserved.

The ‘Top 10 in 15’ list will conclude in my next posting, but until then, I invite you all to sound off on your favorite Raider memories over the past 15 years. Feel free to discuss the ones I’ve talked about already too!

A decade that began with so much promise devolved into dysfunction and disappointment.

While it wasn’t all bad, the last seven years of the decade have certainly overshadowed the stellar first three.

Here is a look back at the decade that was for the Oakland Raiders with hopes of a better future.

2000

Record: 12-4, AFC West Champions, lost to Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens in AFC Title Game

Head Coach: Jon Gruden

Summary: The Wonder Kid head coach with the Chucky scowl takes the Raiders out of 90’s mediocrity with a journeyman thrower that he helped to mold into a  franchise QB.

Leading Passer: Rich Gannon 92.4 QB Rating, 3430 yards, 28 TDs, 11 INTs

Leading Rusher: Tyrone Wheatley 1046 yards, 9 TDs

Leading Receiver: Tim Brown 76 catches, 1128 yards, 11 TDs 

Notable Draft Picks: Sebastian Janikowski, Kicker, Florida State (1^st round); Shane Lechler, Punter, Texas A&M (5^th Round)

Draft Notes: Al Davis draws laughs for picking a kicker in the first round. Funny thing is that he might be the best first round pick not named Nnamdi that the Raiders made in the 2000’s. Jano owns a boot like no other (see 61-yard field goal in the cold) and just happens to be the all-time leading scorer in franchise history. Super Shane is statistically greatest punter in NFL history and booms punts that make Ray Guy blush.  

The Seed of the Tuck Rule: Raiders lose to Baltimore Ravens in AFC Title game after Tony Siragusa belly flops on Gannon’s shoulder. They now have rules that protect Tom Brady from being sneezed on but Gannon couldn’t get a roughing flag when Shamu was dry humping his arm. Andre Rison’s 4^th quarter TD is waived off on phantom pass interference, Raider Nation paranoia level goes up a few notches as we all become aware that the NFL doesn’t want us to win. 

2001

Record: 10-6, AFC West Champions, lost to New England Patriots in Divisional Playoffs

Head Coach: Gruden

Summary: Raiders win 10 of first 13 only to drop three straight to end the season. The lat slide dooms then to competing on Wild Card Weekend where the prize for beating the New York Jets in Oakland is a trip to New England to play during a blizzard. This is the final year of the Seattle Seahawks in the AFC. One less divisional rival in the West looms large for Raiders later in the decade.

Leading Passer: Gannon 95.5 QB Rating, 3828 yards, 27 TDs, 9 INTs

Leading Rusher: Charlie Garner 839 yards, 1 TD; 72 catches, 578 yards, 2 TDs

Leading Receiver: Brown 91 catches, 1165 yards, 9 TDs

Notable Draft Picks: Derrick Gibson, Safety, Florida State (1^st round)

Draft Notes: Davis begins his decade long quest to find the greatest defensive back to ever play the game. Gibson spent his entire pro career in Oakland, all five years of it.

The Tuck Rule is Invoked: With a 13-10 lead, late in the fourth quarter, Charles Woodson blitzes Tom Brady, ball comes loose, Greg Biekert dives on the rock, Pats have no timeouts, game over…right? Wrong. Adam Vinatieri becomes a legend, Brady becomes an NFL god and the Raider Nation paranoia level goes to orange. 

2002

Record: 11-5, AFC West Champions, AFC Champions, Lost to Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII

Head Coach: Bill Callahan

Summary: Callahan leads Raiders to the Super Bowl with the team that Chucky built where he meets Gruden led Buccaneers that Dungy built. High powered offense in Oakland rips through the AFC winning 7 of their last 8 regular season games after dropping four in a row to conclude first half of the season. Gannon is voted MVP by the associated press and Garner was everything that Darren McFadden should be as a do everything dynamo.  

Leading Passer: Gannon 97.3 QB Rating, 4689 yards, 26 TDs, 10 INTs; NFL MVP

Leading Rusher: Garner 962 yards, 7TDs; 91 catches, 941 yards, 4 TDs

Leading Receiver: Jerry Rice 92 catches, 1211 yards, 7 TDs

Notable Draft Picks: Phillip Buchanon, cornerback, Miami (1^st round); Napoleon Harris, linebacker, Northwestern (2^nd round); Langston Walker, offensive tackle, Cal- Berkeley (3^rd round); Ronald Curry, wide receiver, North Carolina (7^th round).

Draft Notes: Buchanon’s selection makes it consecutive years of DBs in the first round. Harris would later be traded to Minnesota Vikings for Randy Moss. Walker and Curry would later make two of the most memorable plays of the decade for the Raiders on a snowy night in Denver.

The Tuck Rule Fallout: Chucky knows all of Gannon’s tricks, tells Dexter Jackson not to bite on pump fakes, Gannon throws 5 picks, Jackson gets Super Bowl MVP, Chucky gets last laugh as Bucs win with a flattering score of 48-21. Raiders play the game without All-Pro center Barret Robbins who went to Mexico to party the night before the big game. We later learn the haunting tale of Robbins who suffered a manic episode that tragic night; a sad tale that would ultimately be the impending sign of doom for the rest of the decade. Raider Nation paranoia level reaches new heights and actually registers on old Soviet satellites still orbiting in space.

(more…)