Daily Madden: Raiders Execute Basics To Cherish First Victory
OAKLAND (KCBS) - So how did the Raiders beat the Kansas City Chiefs to get in the win column for the first time this season?
"The Raiders did a few things last night that they hadn't done," John Madden told the KCBS Radio morning crew.
"Kansas City is a good running team. That Jamaal Charles is a heck of a back, and (the Raiders) stopped the run early. And then they were able to run. So you get that combination. You can talk about the rookie quarterback and this guy and that guy, but you have to start off with your basics, being able to run the ball and stop the run, and that's how they started. Then they got the 14 to nothing lead, and then you had a real football game."
Madden said he was most surprised by the Raiders' run defense.
"Usually against the Raiders a good running back early in the game (will) break one for 20 or 30 yards and get a couple of first downs and go down and score a touchdown. And I kind of envisioned that was going to happen to them and it didn't. (The Chiefs) kept trying to run that stretch play, and the Raiders played that stretch play against Kansas City as well as anyone I've ever seen play it."
Even near the end as the Raiders were celebrating a bit early, Madden was worried.
"When the Raiders are winning, you always think that doom is right around corner." But they held on to win their first game of the season 24-20. (7:30)
Daily Madden
(Listen to the John Madden segment live weekday mornings at 8:15 and Monday and Friday mornings at 9:15 on KCBS All News 740 AM/106.9 FM.)
