The Raiders collapsed in the second half against the Jaguars on Sunday in the franchise’s last game in its historic home, the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.
The result was a 20-16 loss and a final curtain call to a chorus of boos from the home crowd. There were plenty of disastrous drives in the game to choose from for this week’s offensive series of note, given the Raiders failed to score any points in the third or fourth quarter.
But special recognition goes out to Oakland’s second to last drive of the contest. The Raiders had their chance to ice the game, up 16-13, but they failed in epic fashion.
The Jaguars had just marched down the field for a touchdown, and Oakland took the ball at its own 30-yard line with just over five minutes left to play. Five consecutive carries by running back Josh Jacobs put the Raiders at Jacksonville’s 43-yard line. The Jaguars called their second timeout, and a 2nd-and-9 play awaited.
Carr scrambled for 12 yards and slid before he went out of bounds to keep the clock running. Though he appeared well inbounds, the officials stopped the clock, just before the 2-minute warning. Coach Jon Gruden tried to challenge the play, but that scenario is not reviewable.
Not only did the clock stop, but the Raiders were also called for delay of game for Carr’s celebration after what he figured was a big play. Oakland lost a timeout temporarily, as well, before the officials decided to give it back.
The play saved the Jaguars their own valuable timeout. A short Jacobs carry brought the 2-minute warning, and after another modest Jacobs run, the Jaguars used their last clock stoppage. On 3rd-and-11, Carr fired over the middle to wide receiver Tyrell Williams, who dropped the ball. Though he was not at the marker, Williams would have come close to a first down and kept the clock moving.
A catch would have also made kicker Daniel Carlson’s field goal try easier. He missed, even after a penalty by Jacksonville gave him a second attempt after missing initially.
At the end of it all, the Jaguars had 1:44 to drive for a tieing FG or score a touchdown to surge ahead. They accomplished the latter, and the Raiders left the field in shame after a last-ditch hail mary pass failed.
The Raiders caught a bad break on Carr’s scramble, but they still had an opportunity to seal a win in this historic game. Instead, they lost their composure and came up short.
The offense was horrific, deserving every bit of blame in losing this one and inspiring many in the home crowd to boo their beloved Raiders as the franchise walks out the door.
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