For the first time since 2002, the Oakland Raiders are 2-0.
After opening the season last week with an impressive road win over the Tennessee Titans, the Silver and Black opened their home slate of games with a 45-20 victory over the New York Jets.
The Raiders are 2-0 for the first time since 2002, so here are four, quick observations from their impressive Week 2 win.
1. We got our first look at Gareon Conley
After missing the entire preseason, as well as the Week 1 win over the Jets, the Raiders first-round draft pick, cornerback Gareon Conley, made his NFL debut against the New York Jets.
The former Ohio State Buckeye checked in on the second defensive play of the afternoon, and was a fixture in Ken Norton, Jr.'s defense for the rest of the game.
The stage certainly didn't appear to be too big for Conley either; on just his second defensive series of the afternoon, Jets quarterback Josh McCown went right at the rookie, but Conley responded, playing tight coverage, and batting away the intended pass, much to the delight of the crowd.
Over the past few months, Conley had become a bit of a mystery man, so it was good to see No. 22 make his NFL debut, and actually play pretty well throughout.
2. The Raiders took advantage of their opportunities
Football is hard, but the Jets certainly didn't do anything to make it easier on themselves Sunday afternoon at the OACC.
Down 14-10 with just a little over three minutes left in the first half, the Jets gifted the football back to the Silver and Black after Kalif Raymond muffed a punt that was eventually recovered by Raiders wide receiver Johnny Holton.
Derek Carr and the Raiders offense took over at the New York four-yard line, and just three plays later, Marshawn Lynch made reservations for six, scoring his first touchdown as a Raider to give the team a commanding 21-10 lead in the half.
The Jets couldn't respond after the break, scoring just X, while Raiders…
3. All hail, The King.
Man, have a day, Michael Crabtrree.
The veteran wide receiver put on a show this afternoon at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, finishing his day with not one, not two, but three touchdowns.
Crabtree, who actually turned 30 earlier this week, was a thorn in the side of the Jets defense all day, making his presence felt all afternoon. I talk all the time about how smooth Crabtree is, but I really think that's the best adjective for how No. 15 plays football.
He glides through his routes, and as soon as the ball gets in his vicinity, he seems to pluck it out of the air with ease.
Now in his ninth season, Crabtree is no doubt the wise, veteran presence in the wide receivers room, but don't get it twisted, the man can still ball.
4. There are still things to clean up.
Penalties are part of the game, I get it, but I think that headed into next week's game against the Washington Redskins, Head Coach Del Rio would like to see just a little less laundry on the field.
At game's end, the Silver and Black had been called for nine penalties for 79 yards, and while the penalties ended up not costing the team a win, it's certainly an area that should be cleaned up going forward.
The penalties were particularly problematic in the first half, where the Raiders were flagged for four 15-yard penalties. That's giving away a lot of free yardage, and while it didn't come back and bite them today, that might not be the case each week going forward.
But hey, it's just Week 2, and there's still plenty of time to tighten up the areas that need a little TLC.
