It looks like the Raiders franchise is getting its swagger back.
Derek Carr threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Seth Roberts to pull the Raiders to within a point of the Saints with 47 seconds left Sunday at New Orleans.
Rather than attempting the extra point, however, the Raiders went for two. Michael Crabtree caught the pass from Carr to give the Raiders a 35-34 lead. They held on for the win when Wil Lutz missed a 61-yard field goal attempt as time ran out.
.@Raiders score a TD.
Go for 2… and the LEAD.@DerekCarrQB + @KingCrab15. GOT IT! #RaiderNation #OAKvsNO https://t.co/nXiCHPoEEH— NFL (@NFL) September 11, 2016
The swashbuckling spirits of Al Davis and Kenny Stabler were watching over the Raiders, who trailed 24-10 in the third quarter. Oakland also made a two-point conversion to tie the game 27-27 earlier in the fourth quarter when undrafted rookie running back Jalen Richard scored on a 75-yard touchdown run on the first rushing attempt of his career.
Old-school Saints fans probably can’t help but think of a game in 1979, when the Saints blew a 35-14 lead in the third quarter and lost 42-35 to Stabler and the Raiders on Monday Night Football.
Regarding 2016, this game suggests that the Raiders are ready to take a step forward and contend for a playoff spot for the first time since 2002. The Saints, meanwhile, look to be as bad as advertised on defense.
