It took an extra period in their fourth game, but the Raiders finally have their first victory of 2018.
Oakland – which had lost three straight halftime leads to start 0-3 – rebounded Sunday against the Cleveland Browns at O.co Coliseum, rallying for a late, game-tying touchdown near the end of regulation to cap a 21-point fourth quarter, and then winning 45-42 late in overtime on a 29-yard field goal by Matt McCrane.
The victory gives head coach Jon Gruden his first win in his second stint with the team and improves Oakland to 1-3.
The Raiders went into Sunday’s game having gone dormant over the second half of their first three losses this year to the Rams, Broncos and Dolphins. In the fourth quarter, the Raiders had been outscored 37-3.
Against the Browns, that changed.
Oakland scored 20 unanswered points over the third and fourth quarters, then watched Cleveland come back for two late, long touchdown drives to take a 42-34 lead.
The Raiders, however, engineered a six-play, 53-yard drive that ended with Jared Cook catching a 7-yard touchdown pass from Derek Carr. Carr then hit Jordy Nelson on the two-point conversion play to tie things up 42-42 and send the game to extra time.
Sports
The winning field goal in OT came at the end of an 11-play, 70-yard drive.
Though Carr threw two interceptions Sunday to bump his total to seven in just four games (the most in the NFL), he also had some big plays, especially late. He completed 35-of-58 throws for 437 yards and four TDs. Two receivers, Amari Cooper (eight catches, 128 yards) and Cook (eight, 110) had terrific games. Running back Marshawn Lynch also came alive in the second half and overtime, rushing for the majority of his 130 yards (including one 52-yarder).
Rookie QB Baker Mayfield looked very good at times for the Browns, but committed four turnovers to help Oakland.
With a win finally secured, the Raiders will try to keep things rolling this coming Sunday when they travel to take on the Los Angeles Chargers at the Home Depot Center in Carson.
