Nov 20, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders lineabcker Sio Moore (55) celebrates with fans after the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at O.co Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Chiefs 24-20. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
THEY FINALLY DID IT!!!! After 368 days and sixteen regular-season games of absolute futility, after an 0-10 start to the season that was supposed to mark the beginning of a franchise turnaround, the Oakland Raiders finally won a game. And it came against none other than the Chiefs, at home, on prime time television. The whole country saw the Oakland Raiders storm out to a 14-0 lead, then fall behind 20-17 late, then put together a 17-play drive that took seven crucial minutes off the clock and was capped by a game-winning touchdown pass by the rookie quarterback who just might be the face of the franchise for years to come.
Like most Raider fans, I was grinning from ear to ear and near tears as the final seconds ticked off the clock. My team may still finish with the worst record in the league, but at least we won’t be tied for the worst record ever, and we beat the damn Chiefs. I was proud of a bunch of other grown men who get paid millions to play a game, men I have never met, like the true fan that I am. But I also learned a few things about the Oakland Raiders. Here’s what I learned: