PRO FOOTBALL REPORT : WEEKDAY UPDATE : RAIDERS : Armchair Experts Don’t Bother Shell

With a first down at the Kansas City Chief 49-yard line and 10:17 to play Sunday, the Raiders needed about 25 yards to set up a potential winning field goal. The team chose to throw three consecutive deep passes, all of which fell incomplete.

Raider Coach Art Shell has been criticized for that play-calling, but firmly stands his ground.

“I said this (Sunday),” he said, “and I’m going to say it for the last time. I’m not going to second-guess my play-calling. I’m not going to second-guess the play-calling of our staff. . . . It doesn’t always work out the way it should work out, but you have to do what you feel is best for your football team.”

Not only did tackle Bruce Wilkerson play his first game of the season Sunday after returning from a knee injury, he played a different position. Wilkerson, the team’s starting right tackle last season, stepped in at left tackle for the injured Rory Graves and did a good job, Shell said.

Shell said Graves, who had a strained foot, could have played had Wilkerson not been available for activation on injured reserve.