2008 Oakland Raiders season The 2008 Oakland Raiders season was the team ' s forty - ninth season . The Raiders improved upon their 4 – 12 record from 2007 . This was also the first time in four seasons that the team did not play both contestants from the previous Super Bowl , playing the New England Patriots , but not the New York Giants . This was also the first time in six seasons the club did not finish 4th in their division , but stood alone at third instead ( they shared the spot with the Kansas City Chiefs the previous season ) . Schedule . All times are Pacific . Regular season results . Week 1 : vs . Denver Broncos . The Raiders began their 2008 campaign at home against their AFC West rival , the Denver Broncos , in the second game of Monday Night Football ' s doubleheader . In the first quarter , Oakland trailed early as Broncos QB Jay Cutler completed a 26 - yard TD pass to WR Eddie Royal . In the second quarter , the Raiders continued to trail as kicker Matt Prater got a 26 - yard field goal , while FB Michael Pittman got a 3 - yard TD run . In the third quarter , Oakland got even more black and blue as Cutler completed a 48 - yard TD pass to WR Darrell Jackson , while Prater nailed a 43 - yard field goal . In the fourth quarter , the Raiders finally got on the board as QB JaMarcus Russell completed an 8 - yard TD pass to WR Ashley Lelie . Denver ended its rout with RB Selvin Young ' s 5 - yard TD run and Pittman ' s 1 - yard TD run . Oakland would close the game with Russell ' s 4 - yard TD pass to WR Ronald Curry . With the dismal loss , the Raiders began their season at 0 – 1 for the sixth straight year . Week 2 : at Kansas City Chiefs . Hoping to rebound from their horrendous home loss to the Broncos , the Raiders flew to Arrowhead Stadium for a Week 2 AFC West showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs . In the first quarter , Oakland came out punching as kicker Sebastian Janikowski nailed a 56 - yard and a 25 - yard field goal . After a scoreless second quarter , rookie RB Darren McFadden picked up his first - ever career touchdown in the third quarter on a 19 - yard TD run . In the fourth quarter , the Raiders increased its lead with Janikowski getting a 40 - yard field goal . The Chiefs would respond with their only score of the game as QB Tyler Thigpen completed a 2 - yard TD pass to TE Tony Gonzalez ( along with a two - point conversion pass to FB Mike Cox ) . Oakland would close out the game with rookie RB Michael Bush getting a 32 - yard TD run . With the win , the Raiders improved to 1 – 1 . Darren McFadden ( 21 carries for 164 yards and a touchdown ) would become the first rookie Raider to run for 100 yards since Bo Jackson in 1987 . Also , the Raiders ' combined rushing attack would reach 300 yards for the first time since November 1987 . The defense ' s improvement from Week 1 showed , as they limited Kansas City to 8 points , which is the lowest that Oakland ever allowed since December 28 , 2002 ( 7 point from San Diego ) . Week 3 : at Buffalo Bills . Hoping to build off their divisional road win over the Chiefs , the Raiders flew to Ralph Wilson Stadium for a Week 3 duel with the Buffalo Bills . In the first quarter , Oakland got the early lead with kicker Sebastian Janikowski getting a 23 - yard and a 35 - yard field goal . In the second quarter , the Bills responded with RB Marshawn Lynch getting a 14 - yard TD run . The Raiders would end the half with Janikowski kicking a 32 - yard field goal . In the third quarter , the Raiders increased its lead with QB JaMarcus Russell getting a 1 - yard TD run . However , in the fourth quarter , Buffalo started to rally as Lynch got a 3 - yard TD run . Oakland would respond as Russell completed an 84 - yard TD pass to WR Johnnie Lee Higgins , yet the Bills got near as QB Trent Edwards completed a 14 - yard TD pass to WR Roscoe Parrish . Later , Buffalo completed its rally as kicker Rian Lindell nailed the game - winning 38 - yard field goal . With the heart - breaking loss , the Raiders fell to 1 – 2 . After the game , Chris Mortensen of ESPN and Jay Glazer of Fox Sports both erroneously reported that Lane Kiffin would be fired the following Monday ; this turned out not to be the case , as Kiffin was coaching the team during Week 4 . Week 4 : vs . San Diego Chargers . Hoping to rebound from their road loss to the Bills , the Raiders went home for a Week 4 AFC West duel with the San Diego Chargers . In the first quarter , Oakland struck first as kicker Sebastian Janikowski got a 22 - yard goal , with Safety Gibril Wilson sacking Chargers QB Philip Rivers in his endzone for a safety . In the second quarter , the Raiders increased their lead with QB JaMarcus Russell completing a 63 - yard TD pass to TE Zach Miller , along with Janikowski kicking a 28 - yard field goal . Just prior to halftime , Janikowski attempted to kick a 76 yard field goal , a full 13 yards longer than the NFL record and seven yards longer than the record at any level of gridiron football . Predictably , the kick fell well short , not even reaching the end zone ( much less the goal posts ) , and the ball was picked up by Chargers cornerback Antonio Cromartie . In the third quarter , the Chargers got on the board with kicker Nate Kaeding ' s 28 - yard field goal . In the fourth quarter , San Diego took the lead with Rivers ' 9 - yard TD pass to TE Antonio Gates and RB LaDainian Tomlinson ' s 13 - yard TD run ( along with a successful 2 - point conversion pass from Rivers to RB Darren Sproles ) . Oakland tried to prevent another collapse as Janikowski got a 32 - yard field goal . However , the Chargers sealed the win with Kaeding nailing a 47 - yard field goal and Tomlinson getting a 41 - yard TD run . With the loss , the Raiders went into their bye week at 1 – 3 . The following Tuesday , Lane Kiffin was officially fired as head coach and was replaced by offensive line coach Tom Cable . Week 6 : at New Orleans Saints . Coming off their bye week , the Raiders flew to the Louisiana Superdome for a Week 6 interconference duel with the New Orleans Saints . In the first quarter , Oakland struck first as kicker Sebastian Janikowski got a 24 - yard field goal . In the second quarter , the Saints took the lead as RB Reggie Bush got a 3 - yard TD run , along with kicker Taylor Mehlhaff getting a 44 - yard field goal . In the third quarter , the Saints increased their lead as QB Drew Brees completed an 8 - yard TD pass to RB Aaron Stecker and a 15 - yard TD pass to Bush . In the fourth quarter , New Orleans closed the game out with Mehlhaff nailing a 33 - yard field goal , along with Brees completing a 2 - yard TD pass to TE Mark Campbell . With the loss , the Raiders fell to 1 – 4 . Week 7 : vs . New York Jets . Hoping to rebound from their road loss to the Saints , the Raiders went home for a Week 7 duel with the New York Jets . In the first quarter , Oakland trailed early as Jets kicker Jay Feely got a 40 - yard field goal . The Raiders responded with kicker Sebastian Janikowski getting a 29 - yard field goal . After a scoreless second quarter , Oakland took the lead as QB JaMarcus Russell completed an 8 - yard TD pass to WR Javon Walker . In the fourth quarter , New York tied the game as RB Leon Washington got an 11 - yard TD run . The Raiders answered with Janikowski making a 37 - yard field goal . The Jets would send the game into overtime as Feely got a 52 - yard field goal . In overtime , the Silver & Black prevailed as Janikowski nailed the game - winning 57 - yard field goal ( a franchise record ) . With the win , the Raiders improved to 2 – 4 . Week 8 : at Baltimore Ravens . Coming off their overtime win over the Jets , the Raiders flew to M & T Bank Stadium for a Week 8 duel with the Baltimore Ravens . In the first quarter , Oakland trailed early as QB JaMarcus Russell was sacked by LB Jameel McClain in his own endzone for a safety . In the second quarter , the Raiders continued to struggle as Ravens RB Willis McGahee got a 1 - yard TD run , while QB Joe Flacco completed a 70 - yard TD pass to WR Demetrius Williams . The Ravens closed out the half with kicker Matt Stover getting a 38 - yard field goal . In the third quarter , Oakland got on the board as kicker Sebastian Janikowski got a 22 - yard field goal . Baltimore would respond with Stover nailing a 30 - yard field goal , yet the Raiders answered with Russell completing a 2 - yard TD pass to FB Justin Griffith . In the fourth quarter , the Ravens pulled away as Flacco got a 12 - yard TD run . With the loss , Oakland fell to 2 – 5 . Week 9 : vs . Atlanta Falcons . Hoping to rebound from their road loss to the Ravens , the Raiders went home for a Week 9 interconference duel with the Atlanta Falcons . In the first quarter , Oakland trailed early as Falcons QB Matt Ryan completed a 37 - yard TD pass to WR Michael Jenkins , while RB Jerious Norwood got a 12 - yard TD run . In the second quarter , the Raiders ' struggles continued as Ryan hooked up with Jenkins again on a 27 - yard TD pass , while kicker Jason Elam nailed a 48 - yard field goal . From then on out , Atlanta would prevent Oakland from getting any kind of positive drive going and the Raiders fell to 2 – 6 with the shutout loss . In the loss , Oakland was held to 77 total yards of offense ( fewest since 1961 ) , three first downs ( tied for the NFL ' s 3rd fewest since 1970 ) , and 14 : 45 time of possession ( 2nd lowest since 1991 ) . Week 10 : vs . Carolina Panthers . Hoping to rebound from their shutout loss to the Falcons , the Raiders stayed at home for a Week 10 interconference duel with the Carolina Panthers . With QB JaMarcus Russell recover from an injury , back - up QB Andrew Walter was given the start . In the first quarter , Oakland trailed early as Panthers QB Jake Delhomme completed a 3 - yard TD pass to WR Muhsin Muhammad . In the second quarter , the Raiders continued to trail as RB DeAngelo Williams got a 69 - yard TD run . In the third quarter , Oakland got on the board with kicker Sebastian Janikowski getting a 38 - yard and a 45 - yard field goal . In the fourth quarter , Carolina sealed the win with kicker John Kasay nailing a 32 - yard field goal . With the loss , the Raiders fell to 2 – 7 . This was also the Raiders 300th franchise loss . On a positive note , Janikowski ' s two field goals helped him surpass George Blanda and become the franchise ' s all - time career points leader with 865 points . Week 11 : at Miami Dolphins . Hoping to rebound from their three - game losing streak , the Raiders flew to Dolphin Stadium for a Week 11 duel with the Miami Dolphins . In the first quarter , Oakland trailed early as Dolphins WR Ted Ginn , Jr . got a 40 - yard TD run . In the second quarter , the Raiders responded with kicker Sebastian Janikowski getting a 21 - yard field goal . In the third quarter , Oakland started to catch up as DE Jay Richardson sacked QB Chad Pennington in his own endzone for a safety . Miami would answer with RB Patrick Cobbs getting a 10 - yard TD run . In the fourth quarter , the Raiders took the lead as Janikowski got a 37 - yard field goal , along with WR Johnnie Lee Higgins returning a punt 93 yards for a touchdown . However , the Dolphins sealed Oakland ' s fate as kicker Dan Carpenter nailed a 38 - yard field goal . With the loss , the Raiders fell to 2 – 8 . Week 12 : at Denver Broncos . Trying to snap a four - game losing streak , the Raiders flew to Invesco Field at Mile High for a Week 12 AFC West rematch with the Denver Broncos . After a scoreless first quarter , Oakland drew first blood with kicker Sebastian Janikowski getting a 26 - yard field goal . The Broncos would respond with kicker Matt Prater getting a 44 - yard field goal . The Raiders would close out the half as WR Johnnie Lee Higgins returned a punt 89 yards for a touchdown . In the third quarter , Denver tied the game with FB Peyton Hillis getting a 6 - yard TD run . Oakland would reply with rookie RB Darren McFadden getting a 1 - yard TD run . In the fourth quarter , the Raiders pulled away as QB JaMarcus Russell completed a 4 - yard TD pass to former Broncos WR Ashley Lelie , while McFadden got another 1 - yard TD run . With the upset win , Oakland improved to 3 – 8 . Week 13 : vs . Kansas City Chiefs . Coming off their upset road win over the Broncos , the Raiders went home for a Week 13 AFC West rematch with the Kansas City Chiefs . In the first quarter , Oakland struck first as kicker Sebastian Janikowski got a 25 - yard field goal . The Chiefs would respond with kicker Connor Barth getting a 38 - yard field goal . In the second quarter , Kansas City took the lead as CB Maurice Leggett returned a fumble ( who was from a trick play on a field goal attempt ) 67 yards for a touchdown . In the third quarter , Oakland responded with RB Justin Fargas getting a 1 - yard TD run . In the fourth quarter , the Chiefs replied with RB Larry Johnson getting a 2 - yard TD run , along with Barth making a 27 - yard field goal . The Raiders tried to come back as Janikowski nailed a 51 - yard field goal , but Kansas City ' s defense was too much to overcome . With the loss , Oakland fell to 3 – 9 . Week 14 : vs . San Diego Chargers . Hoping to rebound from their home loss to the Chiefs , the Raiders flew to Qualcomm Stadium for a Week 14 AFC West rematch with the San Diego Chargers . In the first quarter , Oakland trailed early as Chargers kicker Nate Kaeding getting a 20 - yard field goal , along with RB LaDainian Tomlinson getting a 3 - yard TD run . The Raiders continued to trail as QB Philip Rivers completed an 8 - yard TD pass to RB Darren Sproles and a 59 - yard TD pass to WR Vincent Jackson , while Kaeding got a 39 - yard field goal . Oakland responded with CB Justin Miller returning a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown . After a scoreless third quarter , San Diego pulled away in the fourth quarter as Rivers hooked up with Sproles again on an 18 - yard TD pass . With the loss , not only did the Raiders fall to 3 – 10 , but they also suffered their sixth - straight 10 - loss season . Week 16 : vs . Houston Texans . Hoping to rebound from their loss to the Patriots , the Raiders stayed at home for a Week 16 duel with the Houston Texans . Oakland would get the early lead in the first quarter as quarterback JaMarcus Russell completed a 20 - yard touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Chaz Schilens . The Texans would respond with fullback Vonta Leach getting a 1 - yard touchdown run , yet the Raiders would answer with kicker Sebastian Janikowski getting a 33 - yard and a 30 - yard field goal . Houston would tie the game in the second quarter with kicker Kris Brown getting a 53 - yard and a 24 - yard field goal . Oakland would take the lead in the third quarter with wide receiver Johnnie Lee Higgins catching a 29 - yard touchdown pass from Russell , followed up by an 80 - yard punt return for a touchdown . The Texans tried to rally in the fourth quarter as Brown nailed a 40 - yard field goal , yet the Raiders ' defense would shut down any possible attempt . With the win , Oakland improved to 4 – 11 . Week 17 : at Tampa Bay Buccaneers . After a scoreless first quarter Oakland scored on a 3 - yd TD run by second year running back Michael Bush who finished the game with 27 rushes for 177 yards . After a touchdown by both teams the Bucs scored 17 unanswered points to take a 24 – 14 lead in the fourth quarter but a 12 - yd touchdown pass from quarterback JaMarcus Russell to wide receiver Johnnie Lee Higgins and a 67 - yard run by running back Michael Bush gave the Raiders a 28 – 24 lead . on the Bucs next drive Jeff Garcia threw an interception to safety Rashad Baker . After a goal line stand by the Bucs defense the Raiders kicked a 25 - yd field goal by kicker Sebastian Janikowski to give Oakland a 7 - point lead . On the next drive the first career sack by rookie defensive end Greyson Gunheim s ended the game . The Raiders have ended their season on a 2 - game winning streak and finish their season with a 5 – 11 record ; the best since they also went 5 – 11 in 2004 and the Raiders knocked the Buccaneers out of Playoff contention . Interim head coach Tom Cable was named permanent head coach February 4 , 2009 . Following the conclusion of the 2008 season the Oakland Raiders were identified as the ' Coach Killers ' of the NFL . Following losses to the Raiders during the season , Jon Gruden of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers , Herm Edwards of the Kansas City Chiefs , Eric Mangini of the New York Jets and Mike Shanahan of the Washington Redskins were all let go from their respective programs . Gary Kubiak of the Houston Texans was the only head coach to lose to the Oakland Raiders in the 2008 season and keep his job .