KANSAS CITY, MO. — Never in 50 years had the Oakland Raiders won a game this way.
It may take just as long before they do it again.
Out-gained 409-166 and with a quarterback performing miserably enough to be the last man drafted in 2007 instead of the first, the Raiders somehow came out on top of the Kansas City Chiefs 13-10 Sunday in spite of themselves.
To their credit, the visitors did make plays when it became absolutely necessary. JaMarcus Russell, having one of the worst days of his career, suddenly discovered his passing arm in a nine-play, 69-yard march capped by Darren McFadden’s 5-yard run with less than a minute and a half to play.
The Chiefs’ players and coaches did their part to make Oakland’s improbable victory possible, too. Kansas City had nine penalties, numerous botched assignments, two interceptions and a puzzling lapse in strategy that ruined a chance for a chip shot field goal at the end of the first half.
“It is very nerve-racking for us, but at the same time, we proved that we can overcome adversity,” McFadden said. “We were on the struggle bus the whole game, but we came through when we needed to get the win.” Even with his game-winning drive, Russell was still just 7 of 24 for 109 yards. He became just the second quarterback since the start of the 1997 season to try 20 or more passes and complete less than 30 percent but still win.
It was the first time in their half-century history the Raiders have emerged victorious after giving up more than 400 yards and gaining fewer than 200 themselves.
“I felt really good. The ball was just coming out different for me,” Russell said. “Other than that, I felt good.” He and coach Tom Cable both said there was never any thought of lifting him.
“It was as poor as you can play offensively but still find a way to win a football game,” Cable said. “To come here on the road and know what you are getting into with the crowd, the noise and the pressures, I did not think we handled it very well.” Said McFadden, “It’s probably one of the strangest wins. But a win is a win.” In several years of terrible performances, including a stretch in which the Chiefs have won only six games in two-plus seasons, this may have been one of their worst. Matt Cassel, making his long-awaited debut, put up decent numbers — 24 of 39 for 241 yards, including a 29-yard touchdown strike to Dwayne Bowe with a little more than 2 1/2 minutes left.
But Cassel also had two interceptions and spent much of the day fleeing pressure.
“We had things that happened throughout the day that we hurt ourselves with, whether it was offense or defense or special teams,” Cassel said. “The Raiders did a good job and made the plays when it counted.” The Chiefs have a long way to go before they become the tough, disciplined and smart football team first-year head coach Todd Haley has promised.
Smart didn’t even seem to apply to coaches in this regular-season debut for the new management team in Arrowhead Stadium.
Haley, calling the plays since firing offensive coordinator Chan Gailey 13 days before the season opener, was guilty of horrid clock management at the end of the half. With a first-and-goal from the 9 and 14 seconds left in a 3-3 tie, Haley did not call a time out and did not throw into the end zone, electing to throw a sideline route. The receiver was tackled in bounds and the clock ran out before the field goal unit could get out.
“When you have the ball in an area where you can score and you don’t get points, that’s going to fall on me,” he said.
