The 2010 season was the Oakland Raiders' 41st in the National Football League (NFL), their 51st overall, and their second and final full season under head coach Tom Cable. It also marked the last full season under the ownership of Al Davis, who died in October 2011. The Raiders had improved from a five-win season, their first since 2002, and achieved their first non-losing season since losing Super Bowl XXXVII on January 26, 2003. However, the team missed the playoffs for the eighth consecutive season. The Raiders picked 8th in the 2010 NFL draft. There were no blacked-out home games after the early part of the season, and the team won all six divisional matches, including a then-franchise-record 59 points in Denver. The Raiders became the first team in NFL history to go undefeated in their division and still not make the playoffs.
The season was notable not only because the Raiders swept their division, but every victory came against a rival, both divisional and geographically. The Raiders recorded home victories against the Seattle Seahawks, their former division foes from 1977 to 2001, and the St. Louis Rams, whom the Raiders used to have a rivalry with during their time in Los Angeles from 1982 to 1994.
Offseason
Draft
After finishing the 2009 season with a record of 5–11, the Raiders got the 8th overall pick in the 2010 NFL draft. They had an additional third round pick acquired in a trade with the New England Patriots for defensive end Derrick Burgess. Their sixth-round pick was traded to the Carolina Panthers as part of a deal that gave the Raiders a seventh-round pick in the 2009 NFL draft.
Staff Oakland Raiders 2010 staff Front office Principal owner/general manager – Al Davis Chief executive – Amy Trask Senior executive – John Herrera Pro player personnel – Keith Rowen Salary cap administrator – Tom Delaney Director of college scouting – Jon Kingdon
Head coaches Head coach – Tom Cable
Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Hue Jackson Passing game coordinator – Ted Tollner Quarterbacks – Paul Hackett Running backs – Kelly Skipper Wide receivers – Sanjay Lal Tight ends – Adam Henry Offensive line – Jim Michalczik Assistant offensive line – Chris Morgan Offensive assistant – Eric Sanders Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – John Marshall Defensive line – Mike Waufle Linebackers – Mike Haluchak Defensive backs – Lionel Washington Defensive backs – Kevin Ross Assistant coach on defense – Greg Biekert Defensive assistant – Mike Clark
Special teams coaches Special teams coordinator – John Fassel Special teams assistant – Craig Dickenson
Strength and conditioning Strength and conditioning – Brad Roll
Final roster
Schedule
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue NFL.comrecap 1 August 12 at Dallas Cowboys W 17–9 1–0 Cowboys Stadium Recap 2 August 21 at Chicago Bears W 32–17 2–0 Soldier Field Recap 3 August 28 San Francisco 49ers L 24–28 2–1 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Recap 4 September 2 Seattle Seahawks W 27–24 3–1 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Recap
Regular season Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue NFL.comrecap 1 September 12 at Tennessee Titans L 13–38 0–1 LP Field Recap 2 September 19 St. Louis Rams W 16–14 1–1 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Recap 3 September 26 at Arizona Cardinals L 23–24 1–2 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 4 October 3 Houston Texans L 24–31 1–3 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Recap 5 October 10 San Diego Chargers W 35–27 2–3 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Recap 6 October 17 at San Francisco 49ers L 9–17 2–4 Candlestick Park Recap 7 October 24 at Denver Broncos W 59–14 3–4 INVESCO Field at Mile High Recap 8 October 31 Seattle Seahawks W 33–3 4–4 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Recap 9 November 7 Kansas City Chiefs W 23–20 5–4 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Recap 10 Bye 11 November 21 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 3–35 5–5 Heinz Field Recap 12 November 28 Miami Dolphins L 17–33 5–6 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Recap 13 December 5 at San Diego Chargers W 28–13 6–6 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 14 December 12 at Jacksonville Jaguars L 31–38 6–7 EverBank Field Recap 15 December 19 Denver Broncos W 39–23 7–7 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Recap 16 December 26 Indianapolis Colts L 26–31 7–8 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Recap 17 January 2 at Kansas City Chiefs W 31–10 8–8 Arrowhead Stadium Recap
Standings
Preseason results Preseason Week 1 – at Dallas Cowboys
'Preseason Week 2 – at Chicago Bears
Regular season results
Week 1: at Tennessee Titans
The Raiders began their season at LP Field against the Tennessee Titans. In the first quarter, Oakland got the opening strike as kicker Sebastian Janikowski made a 34-yard field goal. The Titans would answer as quarterback Vince Young completed a 56-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Nate Washington, followed by a 43-yard field goal from kicker Rob Bironas. Tennessee would add onto their lead in the second quarter as running back Javon Ringer 15-yard touchdown run, followed by running back Chris Johnson getting a 76-yard touchdown run. The Raiders would close out the half with Janikowski's 30-yard field goal.
Oakland's deficit would increase in the third quarter as Johnson got a 4-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. The Titans would close out their dominating day in the fourth quarter as Young hooked up with tight end Bo Scaife on a 1-yard touchdown pass. The Raiders would close out the game with quarterback Jason Campbell's 7-yard touchdown pass to running back Darren McFadden.
With the loss, Oakland began its season at 0–1.
Week 2: vs. St. Louis Rams
Hoping to rebound from their loss to the Titans the Raiders played on home ground for an interconference duel with the Rams. In the 2nd quarter the Raiders trailed early with QB Sam Bradford making a 7-yard TD pass to WR Mark Clayton. Then the Raiders replied with kicker Sebastian Janikowski nailing a 38-yard field goal; then he booted a 41-yard field goal in the third quarter. Then the Raiders fought back and took the lead when QB Bruce Gradkowski made a 4-yard TD pass to WR Louis Murphy, followed in the fourth quarter by Janikowski nailing a 22-yard field goal. The Rams cut the lead to 2 when Bradford found WR Mark Clayton on a 17-yard TD pass, but the Raiders' defense prevented any more scoring.
With the win, the Raiders improved to 1–1.
Week 3: at Arizona Cardinals
Bruce Gradkowski came into the game as Oakland's starter at Quarterback, trying to cap on his gamewinning performance last week vs. St. Louis
Arizona started the game with a 102-yard kickoff return from LaRod Stephens-Howling. The Raiders answered quickly though when Gradkowski completed a 22-yard pass to tight-end Zach Miller. This was followed by three field goals, two for Oakland, one for Arizona, and Oakland led 13–10 at the end of the first quarter. Both Gradkowski and Derek Anderson then traded touchdowns and the Raiders led 20–17 at the half. Anderson helped Arizona take the lead late in the third quarter with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Larry Fitzgerald. Arizona led 24–20 at the end of the third quarter.
Sebastian Janikowski made the lead 24–23 with another field goal in the fourth quarter.
Arizona held on for the win after Janikowski missed a 32-yard field goal as time expired.
Both the Raiders and Cardinals committed numerous mistakes, including two muffed punts by Arizona. Oakland committed 11 penalties for 123 yards, Arizona seven for 104.
The Raiders fell to 1–2 with the loss.
Week 4: vs. Houston Texans
The Raiders' fourth game was an AFC duel with the Texans at home ground. The Raiders trailed early in the 1st quarter as RB Derrick Ward got a 33-yard TD run. The Raiders replied with RB Michael Bush making a 2-yard TD run. The Raiders fell behind again when QB Matt Schaub completed an 11-yard TD pass to TE Joel Dreessen. The Raiders responded in the 2nd quarter with QB Bruce Gradkowski getting a 13-yard TD pass to FB Marcel Reece. In the 3rd quarter the Texans started to rally with RB Arian Foster making a 74-yard TD run, followed by kicker Neil Rackers getting a 35-yard field goal, then in the 4th quarter Schaub threw a 10-yard TD pass to RB Arian Foster. The Raiders tried to fight back when Gradkowski found TE Zach Miller on a 14-yard TD pass, and then kicker Sebastian Janikowski nailed a 39-yard field goal, but the Texans' defense prevented any more chances.
With the loss, the Raiders fell to 1–3.
Week 5: vs. San Diego Chargers
The Raiders started the game with 12 unanswered points off of two blocked punts and a field goal. But San Diego quickly responded with a touchdown pass by Philip Rivers and a rush by Mike Tolbert. After the Raiders and Chargers traded field goals, the Chargers led, 17–15, after the first half.
Bruce Gradkowski was injured in the first half and after briefly starting the second half, he left the game. Jason Campbell relieved Gradkowski at the quarterback position for the rest of the game.
In the third quarter, The Chargers and Raiders traded touchdowns and heading into the fourth quarter the Raiders trailed, 24–22.
In the 4th, Nate Kaeding kicked a field goal early and extended the Chargers' lead to five, 27–22. The Raiders then capped off a 14-play, 73-yard drive with a rushing touchdown by Michael Bush, who took back the lead. After a failed two- point attempt by Oakland, they led, 28–27, with 3:24 remaining in the ballgame. The Chargers than began to drive trying to get themselves into field goal position to win the game. The Chargers eventually made it to the Raiders 23-yard line, but after a 10-yard holding penalty by the Chargers, San Diego faced a 2nd and 20 on Oakland's 33-yard line. Looking to pass, Rivers was stripped by Michael Huff and Tyvon Branch returned the fumble 64 yards for a touchdown, sealing the win for the Raiders, 35–27.
Though the Chargers outgained the Raiders, 506–279, their special teams were ultimately the deciding factor, giving up two blocked punts for a safety and touchdown. With the win the Raiders not only improved to 2–3, but also snapped a 13-game losing streak to the Chargers, with the first win over the Chargers since September 28, 2003.
Week 6: at San Francisco 49ers
Coming off their win over the Chargers the Raiders crossed the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge to Candlestick Park where they played their San Francisco Bay rival, the 49ers. In the first quarter, the Raiders took the lead as kicker Sebastian Janikowski got a 27-yard field goal. Then he made a 24-yard field goal in the 2nd quarter. The 49ers replied with kicker Joe Nedney making a 25-yard field goal. The Raiders fell behind in the third quarter with QB Alex Smith making a 32-yard TD pass to WR Michael Crabtree. The Raiders cut the lead with Janikowski making a 40-yard field goal. The 49ers pulled away after Smith found TE Vernon Davis on a 17-yard TD pass.
With the loss, Oakland fell to 2–4.
Week 7: at Denver Broncos
The Raiders traveled to Denver for a week 7 AFC matchup for the ages. The game began with a 42-yard touchdown pass by Jason Campbell to tight-end Zach Miller to put the Raiders ahead 7–0 with 10:44 remaining in the first quarter. But only 8 seconds later, on the Broncos' first play from scrimmage, Kyle Orton threw an interception to cornerback Chris Johnson which was returned 30 yards for a touchdown. The Raiders now led 14–0 with 10:36 remaining. But then on the Broncos' next possession, Denver fumbled the ball, which was recovered by Oakland. The Raiders capitalized on the turnover with a 4-yard rushing touchdown by Darren McFadden. But the Raiders were not yet done, forcing the Broncos to a 4th down situation on their next drive and eventually making them turn the ball over on downs, adding a field goal to the score later in the quarter for the Raiders. At the end of the first quarter, Oakland led 24–0.