Oakland Raiders survive OT, avoid dreaded 0-4 start
By Brad Weiss
The Oakland Raiders picked up their first win of the season, beating Baker Mayfield and the Cleveland Browns inside the Coliseum in overtime.
In one of the more exciting games on the Week 4 schedule, the Oakland Raiders and Cleveland Browns battled it out for four quarters, and it took nearly all of overtime to decide a winner. In the end, the Raiders won their first game of the season, escaping with a 45-42 victory, after a stellar performance by Derek Carr and the offense in the second half.
The Raiders have struggled to play four quarters of football this season, but on Sunday, they proved to be the better team in the fifth quarter. Carr led the Raiders on a stellar drive deep into Browns territory, and new kicker Matt McCrane put one through the uprights from 29 yards for the victory.
Oakland was up in the fourth quarter, leading the Browns 34-28 with a little under 12 minutes left in the game, before the Browns scored two touchdowns in the span of three and a half minutes. Down by eight points, the Raiders drove down the field, and Carr capped off the drive by hitting Jared Cook from seven yards out to pull within six.
Needing the two-point conversion, Carr dialed up Jordy Nelson on a fade, sending the game into overtime. Oakland got the ball to start the final period, but were forced to punt, and the Browns had the opportunity to score, and win the game.
However, the Raiders defense stood tall, and Carr orchestrated a masterful drive, with McCrane finishing off the win. The win was head coach Jon Gruden’s first in the NFL since November 30, 2008, and had to feel sweet in front of the home fans.