For the first 15 games of the season, rookie Connor Cook was inactive each week, making his biggest contribution as a scout team quarterback who would sometimes dress up like Cam Newton or Philip Rivers before Oakland faced those stars to lighten the mood at practice. Now with the Raiders set to play their first playoff game in 14 years, Cook has been thrust into a much more significant role.
Category: Stacy McGee
Raiders hoping to have enough healthy bodies for playoff game vs. Texans
In terms of optimism, Raiders coach Jack Del Rio didn’t start off his weekly news conference offering the sunniest picture. As Oakland faces a short week before opening the playoffs with Saturday’s Wild Card round game against the Houston Texans, Del Rio was asked if he was concerned about having enough healthy bodies.
Irvin’s stellar play helps boost Raiders’ improving defense
Bruce Irvin has joked about being Robin to Khalil Mack’s Batman as part of a dynamic pass-rushing duo for the Oakland Raiders. Irvin is coming off perhaps his most productive game of the season for the Raiders after posting two sacks and forcing Philip Rivers into a late-game interception that sealed Oakland’s 19-16 victory Sunday to clinch the team’s first playoff berth since 2002.