by Dennis J. GeorgatosFiled under: Raiders, AFC West
Raiders quarterback Jason Campbell traces the team's mid-season resurgence to coach Tom Cable's emotional address to his players on the eve of their game against the Denver Broncos two weeks ago."Ever since then, he says, 'Just cut it loose,' " Campbell told the Contra Costa Times. "He told us, 'Cut it loose. Don't worry about pressuring yourself to make every play. Just play ball.' And it kind of won that team over."
The team, which has put together consecutive victories for the first time since the final two games of the 2008 season, may be winning over its skeptics next.
The Raiders improved to 4-4 with Sunday's 33-3 victory against NFC West-leading Seattle.
Taking into account last week's 59-14 beating of the Broncos in Denver, the Raiders have outscored their last two opponents 92-17 to reach .500 at the midway point of the season for the first time since 2002.
Not only that, but the Raiders are hitting an offensive peak despite missing leading receiver Louis Murphy , who suffered a bruised lung a week ago, and starting quarterback Bruce Gradkowski, who was sidelined for a third consecutive game because of a shoulder injury.
In his team address, Cable drew on the bitter lessons from a 17-9 loss to the previously winless 49ers three weeks ago and his message seems to have hit home with his players.
"We started to be accountable to each other," Cable said. "'If I don't let you down and you don't let me down, we have a chance.'"
There's no arguing with the results so far.
On Sunday, Campbell passed for 310 yards, Darren McFadden ran for 111 yards and Darrius Heyward-Bey had a career-best 105 yards receiving on five catches. It was all part of the 545 yards in total offense generated by the Raiders, who also had 508 yards in offense the week before in their thrashing of the Broncos. It's the first time in Raiders history that the offense has produced successive 500-yard games.
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