Raiders finally beat the Saints!

Since the SuperBowl in 2003 the Oakland Raiders have been in a dark place not synonymous with their silver and black colors. Every year I think they'll turn it around and have a winning season. Each year I'm disappointed. Two times they've gone 8-8 but still no winning season. Not since I was 27 years old have I watched my Raiders excel. For many of those years Al Davis drove the team into the ground desperate to reach the SuperBowl before his death. Making trades of valuable draft picks for declining veterans and signing high profile players to large contracts instead of spreading it throughout the roster. Many times in the past this formula worked for Davis including guys like Plunkett and Alzado. But towards the end of his reign over the Raiders no lightning in a bottle was to be found.

September 11th 2016 is a new day. I have watched Drew Brees and the Saints feast on the Raiders over and over. In both the regular season and the pre-season. It's no surprise honestly. Drew Brees is as accurate a quarterback as you'll find and he enjoys picking Raider defenses apart with continued precision. He did it again yesterday, carving the Raider secondary up for over 400 yards passing and four touchdowns. If you would have told me after the game had I not watched it that Brees had 400+ yards, 4 TDs, and two receivers over 100 yards including one receiver over 150 i would swear they would have won. But they didn't even against those number Derek Carr and the Raiders found a way to win the game. Not since that 2002 season had I seen the Raiders not only win a game against Drew Brees but to go down the field and score last minute touchdown. Then, instead of going for an extra point to tie the game Jack Del Rio calls a play to go for the 2-point conversion.

As I sat there watching I was already a nervous wreck. All my Raider fan friends and family were texting and calling. Many of them on the edge of their seat just like I was. Wondering if Del Rio was out of his mind! Then it happened, Carr lobs the pass to the left side of the end zone and Michael Crabtree caught it! 35-34 Raiders with the lead with a little over 40 seconds left. But once again Drew Brees drives the Saints down the field and with little time on the clock gives his rookie kicker a chance to win the game. The kick is up and looking good and then, no good! Raiders win!

My phone is blowing up with texts and phone calls from Raider fans who can't believe what they just watched. It's only the first game of the season, yet you would think the Raiders just went to the playoffs. It might not be the playoffs but it's a hurdle. Not only was it the first win on opening day in 5 years but they also dis it against those pesky Saints. I respect Drew Brees but I'd be lying if I said I don't fear him.

Alas, it was only one win. Us Raider fans are known to get a little out of control. We're also known to be forever hopeful. Always believing that this could finally be the year we turn it around.I could be mistaken. It could be another year of disappointment. Another year where all my other friends and family shake their heads wondering, why does Danny and the rest of Raider fans continue to cheer and support for this team? For one day I can tell them it's because of days like this. All those lost games and seasons of losing can be erased with the hope that comes with one victory. And the hope that this might be the team that finally gets this team that I love back to winning. The possibility that we're on our way. Or at least that we now have a team and a quarterback that even after being scorched my Drew Brees can still win the game!