Raiders Hope to Rebound

First, the Oakland Raiders fell behind. Then, they were pummeled, shoved and sacked in a humbling opening-week loss. It’s a scenario they desperately hope to avoid today against the New York Giants and their attacking defense.

“You have to put pressure on yourself and say this is a must win, especially our first home game and in front of the home fans,” Raider quarterback Jeff George said.

The Raiders are coming off a 28-8 loss at Kansas City in which they drew 15 penalties and allowed George to be sacked 10 times.

The Chiefs took a 17-0 first-quarter lead and then mounted a ferocious assault, blitzing the Raiders 51 times. George also lost four fumbles and took crushing blows that twice knocked him out of the game, though he returned each time.

“We hope not to get into a desperate situation where every down is an obvious passing situation and we are suspect to every blitz under the sun,” Oakland Coach Jon Gruden said.

“If we can keep the game where we want it to be in the fourth quarter, maintain some balance and not get into those predictable situations, that will help us more than anything.”