AP photo: Oakland Raiders running back Latavius Murray (28) runs past the Buffalo Bills inside linebacker Preston Brown (52) for a second half touchdown Sunday at the Oakland Coliseum
By Jeremy Kahn
OAKLAND-Once again, the Oakland Raiders pulled off a big comeback victory over a good Buffalo Bills team
Trailing 24-9 early in the third quarter, the Raiders scored the next 29 points to defeat the Bills 38-24 before a raucous crowd of 54,759 at the Coliseum.
Derek Carr threw for 260 yards and two touchdowns, as the Raiders pulled off their biggest comeback since September 10, 2000, when they came back from a 21-deficit to defeat the Indianapolis Colts 38-31 at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis.
It was the sixth straight victory for the Raiders, who remain one game ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs for first place in the AFC West.
After falling behind by those 15 points after the Bills first two possessions of the third quarter, Carr and the Raiders scored on their next three possessions to take a 30-24 lead and send the Raider Nation into a frenzy.
“No. We’re always engaged with our guys. It wasn’t anything dramatic that occurred at one point or another. It was us staying the course,” said Jack Del Rio
Carr found Michael Crabtree for a three-yard touchdown pass to get them within eight points, and then on their next possession, Latavius Murray scored from one yard out to get the Silver and Black within one point.
Amari Cooper caught only two passes on the afternoon, but his second catch of the game was a 37-yard touchdown pass that gave the Raiders the lead for good.
Murray completed the comeback, as he scored his second touchdown of the game with 8:34 remaining in the game.
After the Murray touchdown, the Bills got all the way down to the Raiders 22-yard line; however former University of Buffalo star Khalil Mack sacked Tyrod Taylor, who fumbled the ball on the play and Mack recovered the ball.
“Khalil Mack is really making his mark on these ball games. That interception he caused. He just keeps showing huge and that’s what great players do. He’s a great player,” said Del Rio.
The Raiders began to run out the clock, but were unable to close out the game; however on the Marquette King punt, Corey White was called for a personal foul, thus giving the ball back to the Raiders.
After the penalty on White, King was called for taunting, as he picked up the officials flag and began to use it as a Pom-Pom and was hit for a 15-yard Unsportsmanlike Conduct call. The Raiders once again could not close it out, as they were forced to punt the ball to the Bills with 28 seconds remaining in the game.
Taylor completed one of three on the final drive of the game, as the Raiders improve to 10-2 on the season and Bills fall to 6-6.
It looked the Bills were going to run away with this one, as they gained a season-high 147 yards in the first quarter and scored on a Dan Carpenter field goal and a Mike Gillislee one-yard touchdown run.
The Raiders got within 10-9 at the half, as Carr drove the Raiders down the field by completing four straight passes for 57 yards. The drive and the half ended when Sebastian Janikowski hit a 47-yard field goal.
Murray led the Raiders with 82 yards rushing on 20 carries and those two touchdowns, while Jalen Richard carried the ball nine times for 53 yards.
Crabtree caught seven passes for 74 yards and the one touchdown.
Nate Allen intercepted a pass for the Raiders late in the fourth quarter, and Mack’s fumble recovery were the only two turnovers of the game for either team.
McCoy led the Bills with 17 carries for 130 yards, while he also led the team with seven catches for 61 yards receiving.
