OAKLAND -- The Raiders struggled at times to move the football Sunday. Golden opportunities slipped away unrequited, and those fans gathered at Oakland Coliseum expressed their disappointment.
At maximum volume.
The team was booed regularly in this game, in which the Raiders stole a 45-42 overtime win over the Browns. Many left before things turned crazy at the end, with a significant portion of fans bailing after a failed Raiders comeback attempt with two minutes remaining in regulation.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
“I think our stadium emptied out about half way after that,” quarterback Derek Carr said. “The people that stayed got a fun show.”
The Raiders' defense forced a three-and-out, and Carr, who finished with 437 passing yards and four touchdowns, received another chance to tie the score. He threw a 7-yard TD pass to tight end Jared Cook and let wide receiver Jordy Nelson secure a 2-point conversion throw that sent the game into overtime.
The Raiders won it on Matt McCrane’s 29-yard field goal with roughly four minutes left in the extra period.
There was plenty to cheer during the crazy finish, but that didn’t erase the fact Raiders players heard all the booing when things weren’t quite so fun for them.
NFL
“Absolutely (we heard it). And they left,” said Cook, who caught eight passes for 110 yards and two TDs. “You can’t cancel the game just because they boo us. We had a game to finish.
"It’s about pride. It’s about the men in the room on this journey together. It doesn’t matter if they boo us. We have to go out and do our job.”
It’s never fun being booed in your own building, but the Raiders didn’t let it impact their play or their level of frustration.
“I don’t care. It’s us against the world. That’s how we feel,” Cook said. “They’re supposed to be fans for a reason, fair-weather or not. If you want to ride with us, ride with us. If not, well, holla.”