2011 Oakland Raiders season

Offseason

The Raiders lost guard Robert Gallery and tight end Zach Miller to the Seattle Seahawks and cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha to the Philadelphia Eagles. Bruce Gradkowski, who had been with the team since 2009, left to go to Cincinnati. After the 2010 season, Daniel Loper and Jay Alford decided they had played their final NFL games.

Draft

Main article: 2011 NFL draft

The Raiders did not have a first-round selection. In September 2009, the team acquired DT Richard Seymour from the New England Patriots in exchange for its 2011 first-round selection (#17 overall).

Staff

Final roster

Preseason

Schedule

The Raiders' preseason schedule was announced on April 12, 2011.

Candlestick Park incident

The preseason game against the 49ers was marked by brawls in the stands and a major beating in a restroom at Candlestick Park. The NFL officially discontinued all future preseason games between the two teams.

Regular season

Schedule

Game summaries

Week 1

The Raiders began their 2011 campaign at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, for a Week 1 AFC West duel with the Denver Broncos in the second game of Monday Night Football's doubleheader. Oakland trailed early in the first quarter as Broncos kicker Matt Prater got a 28-yard field goal. The Raiders answered in the second quarter as quarterback Jason Campbell found fullback Marcel Reece on a 3-yard touchdown pass, followed by a 37-yard, a 21-yard, and an NFL record tying 63-yard field goal from kicker Sebastian Janikowski. Janikowski's leg helped put the Raiders up 16–3 at halftime.

Denver answered in the third quarter as wide receiver Eric Decker returned a punt 90 yards for a touchdown, followed by Prater getting a 30-yard field goal. Oakland struck back in the fourth quarter with Campbell's 1-yard touchdown. The Broncos tried to rally with quarterback Kyle Orton completing a 9-yard touchdown pass to running back Lance Ball, yet the Raiders' offense was able to run out the clock.

With the win, not only did Oakland begin their season at 1–0, but they also snapped their 8-straight opening day losing streak.

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

A day after owner Al Davis died, the Raiders fought back from an early deficit and defensive back Michael Huff made a pick in the end zone in the waning seconds for an emotional victory. On that final play, the Raiders only had ten men on the field on defense, and Huff emotionally stated that he believed the team's late owner, Al Davis, "had his hand on that ball."

Week 6

Week 7

With the loss, the Raiders went into their bye week at 4–3. Also, the Raiders were shut out at home for the first time since Week 1 of the 2006 season when the team was shut out by the Chargers.

Week 9

Week 10

Trying to snap a two-game losing streak, the Raiders flew to Qualcomm Stadium for a Week 10 AFC West duel with the San Diego Chargers on Thursday night. Oakland trailed early in the first quarter as Chargers kicker Nick Novak got a 20-yard field goal, yet the Raiders answered with a 2-yard touchdown run from running back Michael Bush. Oakland added onto their lead in the second quarter with a 23-yard field goal from kicker Sebastian Janikowski, followed by quarterback Carson Palmer finding rookie wide receiver Denarius Moore on a 33-yard touchdown pass.

San Diego began the third quarter with quarterback Philip Rivers completing a 30-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Vincent Brown, yet the Raiders struck back with Palmer hooking up with Moore again on a 26-yard touchdown pass. Afterwards, the Chargers closed out the quarter with Rivers completing a 7-yard touchdown pass to fullback Jacob Hester. From there, Oakland's defense held on to preserve the victory.

With the win, the Raiders improved to 5–4, and took the lead of the AFC West.

Week 11

Week 12

Sebastian Janikowski kicked a team-record six field goals and the Raiders took advantage of three interceptions from Chicago's Caleb Hanie to beat the Bears 25–20 Sunday.

Carson Palmer threw for 301 yards and Michael Bush iced the game with a touchdown run in the fourth quarter to lead the Raiders (7–4) to their third straight win against a Bears team missing starting quarterback Jay Cutler.

Week 13

Week 14

Week 15

Week 16

Week 17

With the loss, the Raiders' season ended at 8–8 and their three-game winning streak over the Chargers was snapped. The loss also allowed the Broncos to win the AFC West.

Standings

Death of owner Al Davis

On October 8, one day before the team's Week 5 game at the Houston Texans, owner Al Davis died in his Oakland, California home at the age of 82. The Raiders won the game 25–20.

Acquisition of Carson Palmer

On October 18, 2011, the Raiders acquired quarterback Carson Palmer from the Cincinnati Bengals for a 2012 first round draft pick and a conditional 2013 first round pick based on incentives. The trade was made two days after Jason Campbell suffered a potential season ending collarbone injury in Week 6 against the Cleveland Browns.

Firing of Hue Jackson

On January 10, 2012, the Raiders announced that head coach Hue Jackson would be fired.

References

1. (January 2012). "Tebow, Broncos lose game, win division".
2. (December 31, 2011). "Raiders complete first full-season sellout since returning to Oakland".
3. "NFL penalty records just red flag for Oakland Raiders - San Jose Mercury News".
4. "LA Chargers 38 - 26 Las Vegas: Final | 2012-01-01".
5. (September 6, 2009). "Seymour dealt to Raiders".
6. (August 22, 2011). "49ers to ban tailgating after kickoff".
7. (September 13, 2011). "Oakland Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski joins NFL's 63-yard club". Denver Post.
8. "Raiders beat Texans with 10 men on the field ... Or did they?".
9. "Oakland Raiders at San Diego Chargers – November 10, 2011". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
10. [http://www.nfl.com/liveupdate/gamecenter/55382/OAK_Gamebook.pdf Gamebook]
11. https://www.nfl.com/news/al-davis-hall-of-fame-owner-of-raiders-dies-at-age-82-09000d5d822ed9f9 Al Davis, Hall of Fame owner of Raiders, passes at age 82
12. (October 18, 2011). "Carson Palmer traded to Raiders".
13. (October 17, 2011). "Sports Now". Los Angeles Times.
14. (January 11, 2012). "Raiders fire Hue Jackson". [[ESPN]].