While doing my daily rounds through cyberspace yesterday morning, I stumbled across a stat on the fantasy sports site, Rotoworld, that I found just a little hard to believe. Apparently, the Oakland Raiders have scored only one touchdown in the first half of their games this season. One.
They didn't provide a link to confirm this embarrassing factoid, so I decided to look it up, just to make sure. And you know what? They were right. Sort of.
As it turns out, the Raiders have actually scored two first half touchdowns this season, though, only one came with the offense on the field. During the Raiders' week 4 loss to San Diego, tight end Zach Miller hauled in a 63-yard touchdown pass from JaMarcus Russell. Other than that? The only scoring done by the silver and black before the half this season has been from the foot of Sebastian Janikowski, or on an 89-yard punt return by Johnnie Lee Higgins.
Doesn't that get you excited for tonight's Raiders-Chargers tilt?
Over the first 12 games, the Raiders have been outscored 114-37 in the first half. Incredibly, the New York Jets in their week 10 blowout of St. Louis, scored 40 points in the first half of that game alone. Just throwing that out there.
The Raiders offense has had quite a few moments this season that make you wonder if they're actually trying to be this inept. During a game with the Atlanta Falcons, the Raiders had no first downs in the first half, and finished the game with only three. There was also the 15 consecutive quarters streak without a touchdown, and the stretch of five games they're currently riding where they haven't had more than one wide receiver catch a pass in a game.
Are you getting excited for tonight?
You should be, because there's always the possibility of the Raiders special teams unit doing something hilarious, whether it be attempting to run the ball with their 250-pound kicker, or trying ridiculously long field goals they have absolutely zero chance of making.
The fun never stops.
Raiders Offense Has 1 First Half Touchdown This Season originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 11:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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