As the rain came down Sunday afternoon at O.co Coliseum, another drought ended on the field in Oakland.
For the first time since Randy Moss in 2005, the Raiders produced a 1,000-yard receiver, as rookie wide receiver Amari Cooper passed the benchmark in the third quarter of the team's 30-20 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
The No. 4 overall pick in last year's NFL Draft finished the day with a team-leading 6 catches for 120 yards and 2 touchdowns, but after the game he downplayed his impressive performance.
"I guess it's a good thing to do, but people go for 1,000 yards every year, so it's not really a big thing," the soft-spoken receiver said.
And even if he doesn't want to admit it publicly, his accomplishment is a big thing, as Cooper's season ended the franchise's 1,000-yard receiving drought – the longest active streak in the NFL.
"He's the ultimate team guy so that doesn't surprise me that he said that," quarterback Derek Carr said when told about Cooper's postgame statement. "But anytime you can do that in this league against the [defensive backs] of today, that is no small feat. That means you are a really good wide receiver, one of the best in the world, obviously."
Cooper was impressive Sunday, routinely beating fellow rookie Damarious Randall en route to his fifth 100-yard game of his rookie campaign, and showing off the poise and polish he was heralded for coming out of the University of Alabama.
"Coop [Cooper], has it all," Raiders cornerback David Amerson said. "He's fast. He's quick. He has enough size to go get [the football]. He's an all-around, complete receiver I think. He gives a lot of good guys problems. He's definitely a matchup problem for anybody."
And Cooper has indeed been that matchup problem for opposing defenses all season, hauling in six touchdowns which is the most ever by a Raiders rookie wide receiver; but even with his impressive rookie season, fellow receiver Andre Holmes believes that Cooper is far from reaching his pro potential.
"As a receiver, he's getting better," Holmes said. "He's extremely quick. He's hard to guard, just the regular things that a rookie would get better at. He's been making amazing plays all year."
With Sunday's loss, the Raiders dropped to 6-8 and were officially eliminated from postseason contention, but Cooper doesn't fear the team will lose their confidence coming down the home stretch.
"I feel like we still have our confidence, because we know that every team we've played, we were in the game and had a good chance at winning," Cooper said. "Our confidence is still there."
No, the Raiders will not be headed to the postseason for the first time 2002, but for the first time in recent memory, the future looks bright for the Silver and Black.
The team has their franchise quarterback in Carr, and now they have weapons for him to work and grow with.
While Cooper wasn't willing to take credit for his accomplishment Sunday, what his season does is mark another milestone for a franchise on the rise.
"He works his tail off," Carr said. "I know he'd rather win than have any stats, but he deserves a lot of credit. The guy works his tail off."
