Oakland Raiders: Notes And Observations From Preseason Game #2

Aug 22, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; TCF Bank Stadium sits empty as severe weather drives the Oakland Raiders and Minnesota Vikings and fans indoors prior to the game. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

The Oakland Raiders played a sloppy game in even sloppier conditions against the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday night. It was a game that featured some real highlight reel material, some forgettable moments, and oh yeah, a lightning delay that lasted a little more than an hour. Though Oakland absorbed the loss to fall to 1-1 in the preseason, the Raiders showed substantial progress in a lot of areas.

The preseason counts for nothing other than getting veterans some reps and developing younger players. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t valuable lessons and information to be gleaned from these exhibition tilts. One thing we’re seeing from the Raiders is the formation of their identity – an identity that starts with their fiery leaders in HC Jack Del Rio and DC Ken Norton Jr., and carries through to their leaders on the field in Khalil Mack, Justin Tuck, Charles Woodson, and Derek Carr among others.

Knowing it was a meaningless game and that with conditions being so sloppy that there was an increased risk of injury, the Raiders could have pulled back on the throttle a little bit and coasted to the end. But they didn’t. They fought hard to the final whistle and were never truly out of the game. The offense made plays, the defense made plays, and the team as a whole fought hard.

Though it wasn’t the result they wanted, the Raiders didn’t have a bad game. That being said, there are obviously, some issues that need to be worked on. There is still a lot of work to do if Oakland hopes to scale that mountain and knock the Denver Broncos off the summit.

And though there is still work to be done, we’re seeing a lot of really encouraging signs coming out of the Raiders’ camp throughout the offseason and now the exhibition season.

Here are a few notes and observations from their preseason match with the Vikings.

Next: A Gritty Performance