Wow! Just wow! That was truly incredible. Raider Nation got a real treat on Thursday night. This Las Vegas Raiders team has not always been the easiest to root for. The fanbase’s patience through years of frustration and heartbreak finally got them to experience what was essentially a perfect night. We could spend hours gushing over this game. However, let’s delve into more detailed immediate responses as the Los Angeles Chargers reached their lowest point as a consequence.
One Of The Greatest Moments In Raiders History
Obviously, it was a historical night due to the score being a franchise, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. It wasn’t just the final score, or even the halftime score, that made this game so great. It was the sheer dominance that Las Vegas displayed from start to finish. The defense was ruthless, and the offense took whatever it wanted.
For those of us under the age of 40, we have really only seen the Silver and Black dominate like that on NFL films. It was surreal. When watching Maxx Crosby and company brutalize Easton Stick, it felt like it should have been in slow motion and narrated by John Facenda.
We will look back on this game 30 years from now as a special moment in Raiders history. In the grand scheme of things, the game likely won’t have much consequence, as Las Vegas is unlikely to make the playoffs. Nonetheless, it was an unforgettable night that Raider Nation truly deserved.
It was a very different story on the opposite sideline.
The Chargers Finally Fell Off
While this was a great moment for the Raiders, Thursday’s game was special for the Chargers as well, but for all the wrong reasons. That was an all-time low point for Los Angeles and their fans (they do exist).
It feels like the Chargers have been “on the cusp” for 20 years now. Every year, they are the hot pick to make a deep playoff run. Thursday night was a sobering reality check for the Bolts fanbase. It is time to acknowledge that Los Angeles is nowhere near contending.
It seems as though owner Dean Spanos has come to this realization as well. He cleaned house on Friday morning, jettisoning general manager Tom Telesco, head coach Brandon Staley, and several other members of the coaching staff. It was certainly long overdue, as the Chargers have vastly underperformed given the talent on the roster. That being said, Spanos sure picked a trivial game to decide the fates of so many people.
Thursday Night Football Continues To Be Absurd
Not to take too much away from this shining moment in Raiders history, but this game was a perfect example of everything that is wrong with Thursday Night Football. Again, Raider Nation has every reason to celebrate, but that was not an NFL game. This is supposed to be the highest level of football. That looked more like a high-school game.
The Chargers looked sloppy, lost, and just plain disinterested. In contrast to the team that the Vikings shut out, the Raiders played well, but they did not magically change into a completely different team in just four days. Four days are the issue. You cannot expect teams to perform at their peak after beating these players week after week for three months and then giving them half the time to recover.
You cannot accurately assess anything the Raiders did on Thursday night because they barely played a real football team. Both teams suffered injuries and executed poorly planned game strategies. On top of that, the Chargers have clearly quit this season. As great of a night as it was, it would have been nice to see how the Raiders responded to last week’s loss by playing against an actual football team. Nevertheless, let’s not dampen the spirits of this celebration excessively.
*Top Photo: Mile High Sports
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