Advertisement

PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : RAIDERS : Fourth Quarter Is a Real Loser

Share

Magic Johnson used to call it winning time. For the Raiders, it has been losing time.

When the game is on the line, the Raiders have not been on their game, having been outscored in the fourth quarter this season, 98-49, and 39-13 in the last four games.

“Our strategy doesn’t change from the first quarter to the fourth quarter,” cornerback Albert Lewis said. “I believe in the fourth quarter we have had too many mental letdowns that just cost us some big plays.

“I think it’s more mental than physical.... The key factor for us is that we haven’t been mature enough to understand the importance of playing four quarters in this league.”

Advertisement

Although he wouldn’t name names, Lewis indicated that it shouldn’t be assumed that some of the team’s older players were automatically mature.

“Maturity, you can’t measure that in number of years,” said Lewis, a 12-year veteran who had spent his entire career with the Kansas City Chiefs before joining the Raiders this season. “It has more to do with attitude and what you’ve learned. There are a lot of guys who have played 10 years in the league and don’t know any more than they did when they were rookies.”

*

Although he has recovered from an ankle injury, Derrick Hoskins will remain a backup to Patrick Bates at strong safety. Hoskins had been the starter before getting hurt.

Advertisement