Monday, Dec. 15, 2008

Ex-teammates return to burn lowly Raiders

Moss, Jordan get win in Oakland for change as New England rolls

OAKLAND -- The Oakland Raiders have played 14 games but still don't seem to have a clue what they're doing.

The defense is still having "communication" issues.

The team's most dangerous offensive player, Darren McFadden, didn't touch the football until the team trailed by 21 points.

So it was no surprise the Raiders sunk lower into the record books for futility with a 49-26 loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday at a rain-soaked Oakland Coliseum.

The Raiders became the first team in NFL history to lose at least 11 games in six consecutive seasons, and there to enjoy the view of their former team wallowing in its misery was Randy Moss and LaMont Jordan.

Moss caught two touchdown passes in his return to Oakland since being traded last year. Moss turned his back to the Black Hole that had once cheered him and pointed to his name on the back of his jersey after both scores.

Jordan, who was cut at the start of training camp this year, rushed for 97 yards and took a bow after his 49-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

"We came here together (in 2005) to wear the Oakland uniform and to try to turn that program around," Jordan said. "It didn't work out and we both left on bad terms. ... I prayed (Sunday) morning to please keep me humble."

The Raiders (3-11) fell behind 21-0 in the first quarter thanks in part to poor communication on defense that led to wide-open receivers and huge running lanes.

The Patriots (9-5) averaged 7.1 yards per rushing attempt as the Raiders surrendered a season-high 277 yards on the ground. Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel, playing six days after his father's death, threw two of his four touchdowns in the opening quarter.

The confusion on defense was evident on the sideline with players having animated discussions with coaches after Patriots touchdowns.

Adding to the confusion was the unusual benching of starting safety Gibril Wilson for the game's first series.

Interim head coach Tom Cable said the Patriots' personnel dictated the move. But Wilson had no idea why he didn't start and came in on the Patriots' second offensive series.

"You're going to have to ask them," Wilson said. "Go ask the brains of the operation."

And while asking questions about the operation, a prevalent inquiry is why McFadden isn't used more. Nine of McFadden's 12 runs and all of his three catches (for team-high 68 yards) came after halftime when the Raiders trailed 35-14.

Cable said the team's offensive rotation "dictated" when McFadden got involved. McFadden finished with 114 yards of total offense and scored a touchdown when the team was down 49-20.

Russell completed 17 of 30 passes for 242 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. But just two seasons into his career, Russell is learning what life as a Raider has been like for six seasons.

"It's tough to tell the guys to keep fighting, just to keep pushing, that things are going to turn around," Russell said. "Everybody looks at each other like, 'When?'

"It's really depressing."