Raiders Game review

(12-26) 21:58 PST --

OFFENSE

The Raiders couldn't run the ball outside on the fast Colts front seven and gave up on trying to run the ball inside. Somehow Darren McFadden wound up with only 11 carries for 45 yards. And if Oakland doesn't run the ball, it can't use the play-action pass and Jason Campbell is not very effective. Plus, he didn't have much time to look for receivers, as the offensive line was overmatched.

DEFENSE

The defense did a lot of bending and not breaking, but in the end was bent backward having given up 31 points (38 if Peyton Manning hadn't slid at the 4 to kill the clock at the end). Richard Seymour was missed, and the Colts averaged 4.9 yards per carry (for 191 yards) as Manning's play-calling kept the Raiders on their heels. Plus, nobody could cover tight end Jacob Tamme (seven catches, one TD).

SPECIAL TEAMS

The only reason Oakland didn't get blown out. Jacoby Ford ran back the opening kickoff 99 yards and Sebastian Janikowski kicked four field goals (including 59- and 51-yarders). Shane Lechler even bounced back from a hamstring injury to boot a 63-yard punt and average 44.3 yards net.

COACHING

Offensive coordinator Hue Jackson has done a great job this season, but he has had two or three stinkers. And when Darren McFadden only has 11 carries and your quarterback is throwing most of his passes sideways, it's time to hold your nose. Defensive coordinator John Marshall couldn't crack the Manning code, and head coach Tom Cable has to wonder why his team is 2-8 in non-AFC West games.

OVERALL

The Raiders are not going to the playoffs, and there's no crime in that. They lost to a better team on Sunday, and there is no crime in that. But they lost only running the ball 20 times and never sacking - or even hitting - Manning, and there's the crime. Those two things are who they are, the reasons why they have won seven games. They need to find themselves again next week in Kansas City and finish up 8-8.

This article appeared on page B - 6 of the San Francisco Chronicle