Atlanta at Oakland, Week 9
For a defense that was getting dominated by a rookie quarterback and the league's 24th-ranked offense last Sunday, the Raiders were sure doing a lot of woofing. And they seem fine with it.
"I'm having fun. That's how I play," said linebacker Thomas Howard, who patted the referee on the back and pointed at the crowd after a penalty nullified a Ravens touchdown late in the game. "If we're up 30 or down 30, I'm going to give you what I am. I don't care what [fans] think. I love playing the game. You can't tell me I can't have fun if we're up 30 or down 30. It's what the game's all about."
On the next play, quarterback Joe Flacco ran it in from 12 yards, giving Baltimore a 29-10 lead.
The Raiders finished with zero sacks and allowed Baltimore to convert 10 of 18 third-down attempts. For the season, Oakland ranks 26th in the league in total defense (362.6 yards per game) and has allowed 11 rushing touchdowns. Only the Chiefs have allowed more.
The Falcons rank third in the league in rushing offense. But Atlanta's offensive line took a rather significant hit this week when it was learned that rookie left tackle Sam Baker will be out for a unknown amount of time because of a back injury. The first-round draft pick, who started every game until the injury kept him out of Sunday's game against the Eagles, will be replaced by Todd Weiner, who suffered a knee injury on Sunday and didn't practice on Wednesday. Wayne Gandy, a 14-year veteran who was released by Atlanta in the offseason, was signed in case Weiner is limited.
Without Baker, the Falcons rushed for only 77 yards against Philadelphia, 73.7 yards less than their season average. Twenty-two of those rushing yards came on one run by Michael Turner.
By
Matthew Bonesteel
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October 31, 2008; 10:00 AM ET
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Game Previews Week 9
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