OAKLAND - We're having some internet issues out here so I wanted to get these up on the blog before I head home since I had to file a game story as soon as the game ended. In case you missed it, the Raiders lost to the Arizona Cardinals 24-18:
*Safety Hiram Eugene suffered a dislocated hip at the start of the second half. Wide receiver Chaz Schilens will have his knee evaluated, coach Hue Jackson said. Jackson didn't sound as if he thought Schilens' knee was a major problem.
*The three things Jackson pointed out as problems from the game have been Raider problems for a while: penalties, giving up explosive plays and failing to score in the "scoring zone."
*The Raiders had 10 penalties for 84 yards. Jackson said Khalif Barnes' three false starts were the result of a lack of concentration.
*The Raiders gave up two pass plays of more than 40 yards (43, 41) and a 28-yard touchdown pass.
*The Raiders settled for a 25-yard field goal in the second quarter and a 21-yard field goal in the third quarter instead of touchdowns.
That's an area where no offseason program shows up.
"That's just a matter of spending more time down there," Jackson said. "We're trying to get so many things done in a rushed period of time. That's not an excuse but you've still got to spend more time in that area of the field because it's so important."
*Here's how the Raiders ended up kicking off to start both halves:
"Our players went out there and went to defer, we wanted to kickoff," Jackson said. "And when they were talking amongst each other I guess the referee said what do you guys want to do and do and one of the guys says kickoff and the other guys says defer....he just took that we wanted to kick off and if you just say you want to kickoff obviously the other team gets to have the ball twice."
Jackson said the captains need to be more vocal in that situation, but the official said he should have asked the players to clarify whether they wanted to kick or defer.
*Jackson on the play of the first-team defense playing one series:
"We got the other team off the field and they were all kind of griping at me because they wanted to play a little more but that's OK, we're going to have some of that."
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