JBB Staff Roundtable to recap the first half of the Oakland Raiders 2016 season, and also to preview the rest of the year.
The NFL season is officially past the halfway point, with Week 9 in the books. It’s a perfect time for the bye week, and the Oakland Raiders were fortunate enough to have their schedule fall that way.
So even though at 7-2, the Raiders are technically one game past their halfway point, because of the bye week, let’s just call this the halfway point.
To recap the first nine games of the season, and also to preview the second half of the year, some of the Just Blog Baby staff has complied some thoughts for a roundtable.
Let’s jump right into it.
1. What was your favorite play/highlight of the first half?
Austin Gayle: The Oakland Raiders are knocking on the door of their first season opening victory since 2011, and rather than knocking the easy PAT through the uprights to seemingly push the contest to overtime, Jack Del Rio keeps his offense on the field. Derek Carr drops a perfect pass into veteran receiver Michael Crabtree’s hands for the go ahead two-point conversion, leaving Raider Nation speechless.
Blackhanside: I think my favorite play of the first half was Michael Crabtree catching that touchdown right on Eric Weddle brushing himself off. Easily the swaggiest play that we’ve had in recent Raider history.
Brazy: I’m going with the two-point conversion in New Orleans for the win. That really set the tone for the first half of the season. I think it showed the team how much confidence the coach had in them and in turn, probably helped the guys feel confident in themselves right out the gate. It said to the world and everyone that this is a new era of excellence for the Raiders.
Evan Ball: Easily the two-point conversion at the end of the Saints game in Week 1. Right then, I knew we were going to have a good season, a more confident team, and the proper culture to make winning an expectation.
Justin Smith: Going for 2 on the new Orleans game because it symbolized a new attitude and a commitment to playing to win.
Maliik Obee: My favorite play/highlight of the first half of the season was Seth Roberts game winner against the Bucs. Ignore the penalties and the stakes at hand for a second, it was just a beautiful play. He gets a bad rep sometimes for his drops, but he showed that he can be a playmaker in that situation.
Nick Hjeltness: Just scanning through my Vine feed, there are so many options to choose from. Carr avoiding three defenders and airing out a pass to Crabtree, who made a jump call catch. Reggie Nelson delivering a hit stick straight out of Madden to clinch the Baltimore game. Seth Roberts’ game-winner in overtime. Derek Carr front-flipping for a first down, and so many more. But the #1 play so far has to be the two-point conversion to win the New Orleans game. That set the tone for the year.
Robert Pfeifer: Everything King Crab — his circus catch/losing his helmet against Denver, what proved to be the winning TD just before halftime in Jacksonville, the go-ahead TD on 4th down that gave Oakland the lead for good against San Diego, the game-winning TD just before the two-minute warning in Baltimore, and the two-point conversion in the final minute for the win in the Super Dome.
Ryan Prime: My highlight of the season came on a play that didn’t count. Week 2 against the Falcons, 7:32 left in the fourth quarter with the Raiders driving, down seven. 3rd & 3, Carr takes the snap out of the shotgun, makes his first read to the far right of the field. He comes off of that almost instantly and makes a hard look back toward his left, looking for Amari Cooper. He keeps his feet moving, readying himself to throw, but the pocket collapses. He scoots up to evade the pursing defensive lineman behind him, then makes a lateral move to juke the linebacker closing in on him from ahead. Falling away to his left, he makes a short but accurate throw (without ever setting his feet!) to lead Cooper, who then effortlessly runs away from the entire Atlanta secondary to score.
Again, this play was called back for illegal touching, with the officials determining Cooper came back in from out-of-bounds and was thus ineligible to catch the ball.
But if you’re not a fan of the Raiders, your quarterback probably never gets that pass off, and your receiver isn’t taking that to the house. I simply can’t relate.
Segun Giwa: My favorite highlight of the first half would have to be Seth Roberts game winning TD in overtime vs. the Bucs. Given what was at stake, the situation, and my reaction as Roberts was dashing to the end zone, this is easily my 1.
Seth Murphy: My favorite play has to be Jalen Richard’s long TD run against the Saints. It’s just such a great story. We didn’t see much of him in the preseason and only heard that he looks good. A UDFA that was from Southern Miss by way of Baton Rouge scoring a 75-yard TD against his home-state team in his first game on his first carry. He immediately contributed to the win and has proven to be a valuable asset to the team.
Tyler Dickson: My favorite play has to be that game winner vs. the Buccaneers. It showed that certain type of swagger this team hasn’t had in years.
Tyler Randolph: Top highlight of the year for me was the 233-yard rushing performance against the Broncos. Obviously because we flexed our muscles and played some bully ball, but also because we showed an ability to adapt from game to game. Having the prolific offense the Raiders have, many envisioned Carr tossing the ball around the field and try long to attack a strength that many have had trouble with, especially with Talib out.
Del Rio and his staff made the proper game plan while trusting his running game and the money up front, and allowed them to impose their will on a weakness of the defending super bowl champs.