Going into St. Louis on Sunday, can the Raiders end their eight-game road losing streak and start a new winning streak?
There’s no way possible the Oakland Raiders shock the world again and win another game, right?
After upsetting Kansas City at home on national TV last Thursday, ending their 16-game losing streak, Oakland now looks to end one more losing streak: their eight-game road losing streak.
“We talk about it and we know it,” Raiders interim head coach Tony Sparano said. “It’s been a long time since we got on an airplane coming back from a road game and felt a win.”
“Hopefully there’s many more to come because I like this feeling better than the other one, that’s for sure,” Raiders rookie quarterback Carr said as his 9-yard, go-ahead touchdown pass to James Jones with 1:42 left capped a 17-play, 80-yard drive that pushed Oakland to the win.
It hasn’t only been a long time since the Raiders won on the road, it’s been a long time since Oakland won back-to-back games. Oakland hasn’t won two straight games since Weeks 7 and 8 of the 2012 season, under then-first-year head coach Dennis Allen (as weird as that may seem).
But when the Raiders travel to the Edward Jones Dome on Sunday to take on the Rams in St. Louis for the first time in 12 years, the Raiders will be looking to accomplish that exact feat. The only thing standing in their way is a Rams team that is very similar to them.
The Rams haven’t had a winning season since 2003 and neither team has had a winning season since the start of 2004 with both St. Louis and Oakland as the only NFL teams without a winning season since then. Both teams have lost several games this year by seven points or less and both are looking to get over that hump.
The only way the Raiders can get over the hump, is if they can win again.
While last Thursday’s 17-play drive in the fourth quarter was Carr’s first career game-winning drive, it wasn’t the first time he’s driven the offense downfield late in the fourth. He’s led the Raiders to eight fourth quarter touchdown drives in the 11 games played, six of which coming in the final two minutes.
“It’s important to go out and score on that final drive and he’s done that numerous times this season, Raiders offensive coordinator Greg Olson said. “He’s never a guy looking at the scoreboard and wonders whether this touchdown matters or not. He’s trying to score. I think all those experiences help him.”
“I will say it was a relief that it ended up in a win,” Carr said. “I was tired of coming in and having to watch the film of a loss.”
Since Sparano took the helm, the Raiders have looked like a much better team than the one that started 0-4 under Dennis Allen, staying within a score in the fourth quarter in five of his first six games, averaging 17.9 points and scoring at least 24 three times.
The one constant Oakland has had this year has been the play of veteran safety Charles Woodson.
Woodson was named the AFC’s defensive player of the week after his nine tackle performance against the Chiefs (three for a loss) with a sack. The sack put him in an exclusive club, making him the first defensive player in NFL history with 50 interceptions and 20 sacks in his career. (By the way, he’s not retiring anytime soon.)
“I can give you five (Raiders) losses where these losses were by seven points or less,” Rams head coach Jeff Fisher said about Oakland. “That would include New England, Seattle, San Diego twice. Then, of course, they come back and they beat Kansas City. So, they’re in every game.”
While Oakland has been more confident as of late, the Raiders are taking on a 4-7 Rams team that has been fairly confident all season, defeating the defending champion Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers and the Denver Broncos, however lost against the Chargers last Sunday 27-24.
“This is a good football team,” Fisher said about his team. “It’s competitive. For the most pat it’s been in every game. We’re making plays. I think we’ve improved. I think we’re significantly better.”
Oakland was looking forward to giving running back Latavius Murray more carries after his 112-yard performance against the Chiefs, however he did not pass concussion protocol and is ruled out for Sunday’s matchup. However the Raiders could have receiver Rod Streater back on the field for the first time since he broke his foot in the Raiders 16-9 loss at the Patriots on Sept. 21. In the first three games, Streater had nine receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown.
With five games left, three on the road, the Raiders are looking for any momentum to take them into the offseason going into what is expected to be their 2015 breakout season. Winning at St. Louis on Sunday, marking the first time they’ve won back-to-back games in over two years would be a great start.
And since we’re talking about the 2014 Raiders, another win on Sunday would be another shock to the world.
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