After a contentious history in California that included multiple relocations, the Oakland Raiders are packing up and moving away. The team started out in Oakland before relocating, against the wishes of the NFL, to Los Angeles and, later, back to Oakland once again. The team just played its last game at the Oakland Coliseum on Sunday, their playoff hopes dashed. If they had hoped to go out on a high note, the players missed their chance and the farewell they received was anything but pleasant.
The Raiders took on the Jacksonville Jaguars in a game that everyone knew would be tough. However, the Raiders had plenty of opportunities to take the victory, having led 16-3 as the first half came to a close. The second half was a complete shutout, as the Jaguars rallied to take the lead and the victory with 17 unanswered points on the board.
That defeat was the icing on the cake, the memory the Raiders leave behind to their fans. They started out relatively strong with the season began, taking a solid 6-4 record until they hit Week 11. From there, things started to disintegrate and they lost their next four games.
Sunday night saw the culmination of frustration on the part of the fans, more than a little upset over the loss and the team’s imminent relocation to Las Vegas. As the team left the field, dejected and embarrassed, they were pelted with food and beverages among a chorus of boos and negative chants – certainly not the way they would have hoped to be remembered.
The performance even caused head coach Jon Gruden to try to appease the masses. In a post-game press conference, he apologized for the team’s performance, saying:
“I’d like to say we could have sent the Raiders fans off with a lot better finish than that. I think, most importantly, before we talk about the game, I’d like to thank the fans. I’d like to thank the city of Oakland for supporting the Raiders and being faithful in all kinds of seasons. I’ll miss them. I love them and I’m sorry about the outcome today, but I think that’s something that needs to be said. An exclamation point. I really apologize that we weren’t able to deliver a victory.”
Next up, after the lockers are emptied and all the training equipment packed away, is Las Vegas. The Raiders are now on their way to Sin City and a new home field, Allegiant Stadium. The $2-billion venue is still under construction, and will hopefully energize the LA Raiders to achieve great things. After the team’s last season in Oakland, it’s only uphill from here.
