The 2008 Oakland Raiders season was the 49th overall season of the Oakland Raiders franchise, the franchise's 39th season in the National Football League (NFL), their 14th season since their return to Oakland and the second and final season under head coach Lane Kiffin, who was fired on September 30 after a 1–3 start. Offensive line coach Tom Cable served as interim head coach for the rest of the season. The Raiders improved upon their 4–12 record from 2007. This was also the first time in four seasons that the Raiders did not play both contestants from the previous Super Bowl, playing the New England Patriots, but not the New York Giants. This was also the first time in five seasons the team did not finish last in their division but stood alone at third instead.The Raiders had shared the spot with the Kansas City Chiefs during the previous season.
Offseason
Notable roster losses QB Josh McCown – Signed with Dolphins During Free Agency QB Daunte Culpepper – Signed with Lions During Free Agency RB LaMont Jordan – Signed with Patriots During Free Agency RB Dominic Rhodes – Signed with Colts During Free Agency RB ReShard Lee – Released WR Jerry Porter – Signed with Jaguars During Free Agency WR Tim Dwight – Did not Signed OT Barry Sims – Signed with 49ers During Free Agency C Jeremy Newberry – Signed with Chargers During Free Agency DE Chris Clemons – Signed with Eagles During Free Agency DE Tyler Brayton – Signed with Panthers During Free Agency DT Warren Sapp – Retired on March 4, 2008 OLB Grant Irons ILB Edgerton Hartwell – released CB Fabian Washington – Traded to Ravens for a fourth round pick CB Chris Carr – Signed with Titans During Free Agency S Stuart Schweigert – Signed with Giants During Free Agency S Greg Wesley – released S Jarrod Cooper – released
Notable roster gains WR Javon Walker – Signed as a free agent (previously with Denver Broncos) OT Kwame Harris – Signed as a free agent (previously with San Francisco 49ers) C John Wade – Signed as a free agent (previously with Tampa Bay Buccaneers) CB DeAngelo Hall – Acquired from Atlanta Falcons in a trade (released on November 5, 2008, after 8 games) S Gibril Wilson – Signed as a free agent (previously with New York Giants)
2008 Draft Board
Round Selection Player Position College 1 4 Darren McFadden RB Arkansas 4 100 Tyvon Branch CB Connecticut 4 125 Arman Shields WR Richmond 6 169 Trevor Scott DE Buffalo 7 226 Chaz Schilens WR San Diego State
Staff Oakland Raiders 2008 coaching staff Front office President/Managing General Partner – Al Davis
Head coaches Head coach – Lane Kiffin
Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Greg Knapp Quarterbacks – John DeFilippo Running backs – Tom Rathman Wide receivers – James Lofton Tight ends – Kelly Skipper Interim head coach/Offensive line – Tom Cable Assistant offensive line – James Cregg Offensive quality control – Adam Henry Offensive quality control – Sanjay Lal Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Rob Ryan Defensive line – Keith Millard Assistant defensive line – Don Johnson Linebackers – Don Martindale Defensive backs – Darren Perry Defensive backs/squad development – Willie Brown Assistant defensive backs – Randy Hanson Defensive quality control – George Martinez
Special teams coaches Special teams coordinator – Brian Schneider Special teams quality control – John Fassel
Strength and conditioning Strength and conditioning – Brad Roll
Roster
Preseason Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 San Francisco 49ers W 18–6 1–0 McAfee Coliseum Recap 2 Tennessee Titans L 17–16 1–1 LP Field Recap 3 Arizona Cardinals L 24–0 1–2 McAfee Coliseum Recap 4 Seattle Seahawks L 16–23 1–3 Qwest Field Recap
Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 Denver Broncos L 14–41 0–1 McAfee Coliseum Recap 2 September 14 at Kansas City Chiefs W 23–8 1–1 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 3 September 21 at Buffalo Bills L 23–24 1–2 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap 4 September 28 San Diego Chargers L 18–28 1–3 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Recap 5Bye 6 October 12 at New Orleans Saints L 3–34 1–4 Louisiana Superdome Recap 7 October 19 New York Jets W 16–13 2–4 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Recap 8 October 26 at Baltimore Ravens L 10–29 2–5 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 9 November 2 Atlanta Falcons L 0–24 2–6 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Recap 10 November 9 Carolina Panthers L 6–17 2–7 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Recap 11 November 16 at Miami Dolphins L 15–17 2–8 Dolphin Stadium Recap 12 November 23 at Denver Broncos W 31–10 3–8 Invesco Field at Mile High Recap 13 November 30 Kansas City Chiefs L 13–20 3–9 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Recap 14 at San Diego Chargers L 7–34 3–10 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 15 December 14 New England Patriots L 26–49 3–11 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Recap 16 December 21 Houston Texans W 27–16 4–11 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Recap 17 December 28 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 31–24 5–11 Raymond James Stadium Recap
Standings
Conference standings
Regular season results
Week 1: vs. Denver Broncos
The Raiders began their 2008 campaign at home against their AFC West rival, the Denver Broncos, in the second game of Monday Night Football's doubleheader. In the first quarter, Oakland trailed early as Broncos QB Jay Cutler completed a 26-yard TD pass to WR Eddie Royal. In the second quarter, the Raiders continued to trail as kicker Matt Prater got a 26-yard field goal, while FB Michael Pittman got a 3-yard TD run. In the third quarter, Oakland got even more black and blue as Cutler completed a 48-yard TD pass to WR Darrell Jackson, while Prater nailed a 43-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, the Raiders finally got on the board as QB JaMarcus Russell completed an 8-yard TD pass to WR Ashley Lelie. Denver ended its rout with RB Selvin Young's 5-yard TD run and Pittman's 1-yard TD run. Oakland would close the game with Russell's 4-yard TD pass to WR Ronald Curry.
With the dismal loss, the Raiders began their season at 0–1 for the sixth straight year.
Week 2: at Kansas City Chiefs
Hoping to rebound from their horrendous home loss to the Broncos, the Raiders flew to Arrowhead Stadium for a Week 2 AFC West showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs. In the first quarter, Oakland came out punching as kicker Sebastian Janikowski nailed a 56-yard and a 25-yard field goal. After a scoreless second quarter, rookie RB Darren McFadden picked up his first-ever career touchdown in the third quarter on a 19-yard TD run. In the fourth quarter, the Raiders increased its lead with Janikowski getting a 40-yard field goal. The Chiefs would respond with their only score of the game as QB Tyler Thigpen completed a 2-yard TD pass to TE Tony Gonzalez (along with a two-point conversion pass to fullback Mike Cox). Oakland would close out the game with rookie RB Michael Bush getting a 32-yard TD run.
With the win, the Raiders improved to 1–1.
Darren McFadden (21 carries for 164 yards and a touchdown) would become the first rookie Raider to run for 100 yards since Bo Jackson in 1987. Also, the Raiders' combined rushing attack would reach 300 yards for the first time since November 1987.
The defense's improvement from Week 1 showed, as they limited Kansas City to 8 points, which is the fewest that Oakland had allowed since December 28, 2002 (0 points allowed, also against Kansas City).
Week 3: at Buffalo Bills
Hoping to build off their divisional road win over the Chiefs, the Raiders flew to Ralph Wilson Stadium for a Week 3 duel with the Buffalo Bills. In the first quarter, Oakland got the early lead with kicker Sebastian Janikowski getting a 23-yard and a 35-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Bills responded with RB Marshawn Lynch getting a 14-yard TD run. The Raiders would end the half with Janikowski kicking a 32-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, the Raiders increased its lead with QB JaMarcus Russell getting a 1-yard TD run. However, in the fourth quarter, Buffalo started to rally as Lynch got a 3-yard TD run. Oakland would respond as Russell completed an 84-yard TD pass to WR Johnnie Lee Higgins, yet the Bills got near as QB Trent Edwards completed a 14-yard TD pass to WR Roscoe Parrish. Later, Buffalo completed its rally as kicker Rian Lindell nailed the game-winning 38-yard field goal.
With the heart-breaking loss, the Raiders fell to 1–2.
After the game, Chris Mortensen of ESPN and Jay Glazer of Fox Sports both erroneously reported that Lane Kiffin would be fired the following Monday; this turned out not to be the case, as Kiffin was coaching the team during Week 4.
Week 4: vs. San Diego Chargers
Hoping to rebound from their road loss to the Bills, the Raiders went home for a Week 4 AFC West duel with the San Diego Chargers. In the first quarter, Oakland struck first as kicker Sebastian Janikowski got a 22-yard goal, with Safety Gibril Wilson sacking Chargers QB Philip Rivers in his endzone for a safety. In the second quarter, the Raiders increased their lead with QB JaMarcus Russell completing a 63-yard TD pass to TE Zach Miller, along with Janikowski kicking a 28-yard field goal.
Just prior to halftime, Janikowski attempted to kick a 76-yard field goal, a full 13 yards longer than the NFL record and seven yards longer than the record at any level of gridiron football. Predictably, the kick fell well short, not even reaching the end zone (much less the goal posts), and the ball was picked up by Chargers cornerback Antonio Cromartie.
In the third quarter, the Chargers got on the board with kicker Nate Kaeding's 28-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, San Diego took the lead with Rivers' 9-yard TD pass to TE Antonio Gates and RB LaDainian Tomlinson's 13-yard TD run (along with a successful 2-point conversion pass from Rivers to RB Darren Sproles). Oakland tried to prevent another collapse as Janikowski got a 32-yard field goal. However, the Chargers sealed the win with Kaeding nailing a 47-yard field goal and Tomlinson getting a 41-yard TD run.
With the loss, the Raiders went into their bye week at 1–3.
The following Tuesday, Lane Kiffin was officially fired as head coach and was replaced by offensive line coach Tom Cable.ESPN:
Week 6: at New Orleans Saints
Coming off their bye week, the Raiders flew to the Louisiana Superdome for a Week 6 interconference duel with the New Orleans Saints. In the first quarter, Oakland struck first as kicker Sebastian Janikowski got a 24-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Saints took the lead as RB Reggie Bush got a 3-yard TD run, along with kicker Taylor Mehlhaff getting a 44-yard field goal. In the third quarter, the Saints increased their lead as QB Drew Brees completed an 8-yard TD pass to RB Aaron Stecker and a 15-yard TD pass to Bush. In the fourth quarter, New Orleans closed the game out with Mehlhaff nailing a 33-yard field goal, along with Brees completing a 2-yard TD pass to TE Mark Campbell.
With the loss, the Raiders fell to 1–4.
Week 7: vs. New York Jets
Hoping to rebound from their road loss to the Saints, the Raiders went home for a Week 7 duel with the New York Jets. In the first quarter, Oakland trailed early as Jets kicker Jay Feely got a 40-yard field goal. The Raiders responded with kicker Sebastian Janikowski getting a 29-yard field goal. After a scoreless second quarter, Oakland took the lead as QB JaMarcus Russell completed an 8-yard TD pass to WR Javon Walker. In the fourth quarter, New York tied the game as RB Leon Washington got an 11-yard TD run. The Raiders answered with Janikowski making a 37-yard field goal. The Jets would send the game into overtime as Feely got a 52-yard field goal. In overtime, the Silver and Black prevailed as Janikowski nailed the game-winning 57-yard field goal (a franchise record).
With the win, the Raiders improved to 2–4.
Week 8: at Baltimore Ravens