Raiders' 'rock' appears to be sprouting at the right time
Raiders coach Josh McDaniels used "flowery" language to explain his team's recent success.
"Sometimes it gets challenging to continue to just drip water here on the rock here and hope something sprouts," McDaniels said in a Monday news conference.
Through the Raiders' first nine games, it looked like nothing would blossom from their ragged rock. They lost six one-possession games and appeared to be nothing like the team that made it to the postseason.
However, consecutive walk-off overtime victories in Denver and Seattle grew a small stalk of hope.
"This shows this team knows how to fight through adversity, and we're learning how to finish games," said wideout Davante Adams following the victory over the Seahawks on Sunday.
Although the New York Times playoff predictor believes the Raiders (4-7) have a minuscule chance to reach the postseason at 4 percent, the idea that they can make a miraculous run isn't baseless.
They made the playoffs last year, and their core's elite play continues. Running back Josh Jacobs leads the league in rushing yards (1,159), defensive end Maxx Crosby is fourth in sacks (10.5) and quarterback Derek Carr is eighth in passing touchdowns (18).
"The Autumn Wind might just be a pirate after all...maybe, just maybe, the Raiders can actually make the playoffs," said Rich Eisen on Monday on his self-titled simulcast show.
The Raiders remain the AFC West's second-best team in ESPN's Football Power Index. If they can capitalize off the momentum, slowly tending to the rock might just pay off.
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