An embarrassing Raider loss

December 2, 1998
Originally Published By The State Hornet (Sacramento State)

It is not looking good for the Oakland Raiders. They were expected to manhandle the punchless Washington Redskins last Sunday, but instead were handed a 29-19 loss which has put their playoff hopes in jeopardy.

The Raider locker room was silent after this one. You could have heard a pin drop. Oakland knew they had to have this game, but Washington had nothing to lose.

The Redskins, for chrissake! They've replaced dear old Monica Lewinsky as the butt of jokes in the nation's capital and what do they do next? They beat the team that lives on "pride and poise." Which the Raiders showed very little of on this day.

So what was it this time? Lousy special teams play, a crummy defensive showing, and unstable quarterback situation. Take your pick.

Washington was certainly fired up with everyone having given up on them for this year, but there was not excuse for the Raiders' sloppy play on Sunday.

Not to mention that the coaching seemed to disappear during the game. Quarterback Jeff George started, but inexplicably was taken out at halftime. Donald Hollas was put in and didn't do any better.

By intermission, the 'Skins led 17-7 and the state was set for a stunning upset.

From the opening kickoff, the special teams, well, flopped. Washington's Brian Mitchell brought back the kick all the way into Oakland territory and the Redskins went on to take a quick 7-0 lead. The Raiders had several early chances to break the game open but failed, due to dumb mistakes, such as when a Washington. punt touched an Oakland player and wound up back into Redskin hands, giving them another scoring drive.

The 'Skins would stretch their lead to 26-7. Hollas would throw two late touchdown passes, but it was not the Raiders' day.

George may have played himself right onto the bench, as he is wont to do. Coach Jon Gruden said he may stick with Hollas at quarterback for the remainder of the season.
The team just didn't seem prepared. Heads may roll after this one.

So why was this loss critical? First, it was a key game they should have had in their pockets. Second, it was an eerie reminder of the typical way they played during their stretch run collapse in 1995.

That season, the Raiders started 8-2 and looked like a sure bet to face the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XXX. But they lost their last six games; wound up 8-8 and didn't even make the post season party.

In those losses, they didn't seem ready to play and looked utterly listless. Though their roster turned over this year with a couple of coaching changes, the spineless look surfaced again in the Redskins loss.

Not that they risked the wrath of their fans with their poor performance. The game wasn't even sold out, and the few who did show up on this dreary, cold day seemed mute.

It would be nice if we could actually see a Raider home game on TV once in a while. They still play in Northern California, right? Has Al Davis relocated them again while our backs were turned? Every game is like a road game for the Raiders.

There were, however, a few crazies around. Like the Black Hole, a group of deranged rooters who bat around a dummy in the opposing team's colors. And the Boneyard, a group of skeleton outfit-clad fans who wave what appears to be bones.

They probably are human.

Given the fanatical nature of Oakland fans, I wouldn't doubt it.

Then there's the Skull Patrol, and I don't think I need to go into any detail on that zealous group.

But...

Until the Raiders prove they can win consistently, they will never steal the Bay Area from the 49ers. They have not made the playoffs since 1993. Will they find another way to lose, or will Gruden get them ready for the stretch run? Stay tuned.