Just Blog Baby
FanSided

Oakland Raiders: 2017 NFL season review

By John Buhler

CARSON, CA - DECEMBER 31: Derek Carr No. 4 of the Oakland Raiders scrambles out of the pocket during the first quarter of the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at StubHub Center on December 31, 2017 in Carson, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
CARSON, CA - DECEMBER 31: Derek Carr No. 4 of the Oakland Raiders scrambles out of the pocket during the first quarter of the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at StubHub Center on December 31, 2017 in Carson, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
OAKLAND, CA – DECEMBER 03: Marshawn Lynch No..24 of the Oakland Raiders scores on a 51-yard run against the New York Giants during their NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on December 3, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – DECEMBER 03: Marshawn Lynch No..24 of the Oakland Raiders scores on a 51-yard run against the New York Giants during their NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on December 3, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Third Quarter (Weeks 9-13)

The third quarter of 2017 was probably the best stretch of ball played by the Raiders. They would go 3-1 to claw their way back to .500 at 6-6. To be fair, Oakland crushed three awful teams and then got embarrassed by the New England Patriots down in Mexico City. Even so, Oakland was so in the AFC playoff picture heading into the final quarter of 2017.

The Raiders did a fine job of putting that debacle in Orchard Park in Week 8 firmly in the rearview mirror. They responded wonderfully by running the ball all over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday Night Football in Week 9. This was an outstanding performance by Marshawn Lynch, as Oakland kept its playoff dreams alive with a narrow 27-24 win over the Dolphins heading into the bye.

Rather than travel to Mexico City to get acclimated to the altitude, Jack Del Rio opted to keep his team in the Bay Area in preparation for the Patriots. That was 100 percent the wrong call. Tom Brady put on a passing clinic and eviscerated the Oakland defense all afternoon. New England won 33-8 in that Week 11 neutral site ball game. Del Rio would fired defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. on Tuesday of Week 12.

John Pagano would take over the Raiders defense in Week 12. The Raiders had great success in slowing down the putrid Denver Broncos offense. Paxton Lynch was horrible and this is when Bruce Irvin finally started to come on for the Raiders defense. Trevor Siemian would replace the injured Lynch, but Oakland did hold on to a 24-14 win over the rival Broncos to split the season series.

Oakland finally was able to reclaim its lost season with a big Week 13 win at home over the rancid New York Giants. Yes, this was the game that Geno Smith started in favor of Eli Manning. That would be the last time Ben McAdoo would be the head coach of the Giants. Oakland would beat New York 24-17 to get back to .500 at 6-6 before its final four games.

Home/Las Vegas Raiders News