BUSH EXCELS: RB Michael Bush posted his second straight 100-yard rushing game in a 27-21 victory at Minnesota on November 20, totaling 109 yards on 30 carries with a touchdown. In his first three starts of the season, Bush has rushed for 362 yards on 79 carries with two touchdowns, an average of 120.6 rushing yards per game. In those three contests, Bush has averaged 4.6 yards per attempt and his 30 carries against the Vikings matched his single-game career-high that was set the previous week against the San Diego Chargers.
TK'S DAY:Tommy Kelly led a Raider defense that produced four turnovers in a 27-21 win at Minnesota on November 20. Kelly registered two sacks in the game, getting to the quarterback for losses totaling eight yards, and recorded his first career interception on a tipped pass. Kelly's interception set up a third quarter field goal for the Silver and Black. For the game, Kelly was credited with three solo tackles, three quarterback hurries and two passes defensed.
VELDHEER SOLID: T Jared Veldheer anchored an offensive line that helped produce a 27-21 victory at Minnesota on Sunday. Veldheer held Vikings DE Jared Allen without a sack on the day, snapping a streak of 11 straight games with a sack for Allen. The second-year player contributed to 162 rushing yards on the day for the Raiders, as the team averaged 4.0 yards per attempt and RB Michael Bush produced 109 yards on the ground. Veldheer was also part of a unit that protected QB Carson Palmer, who completed 17 of 23 pass attempts and posted a 107.9 quarterback rating.
DVD ON THE SPOT: Rookie CB DeMarcus Van Dyke recovered a fumble on a kickoff at Minnesota on November 20, setting up a second quarter touchdown for the Silver and Black. TE Brandon Myers forced the fumble on a kickoff following a Raider touchdown and Van Dyke recorded his first career fumble recovery on Minnesota's 16-yard line.
27 STRAIGHT: After surrendering the first points of the game to Minnesota on November 20, the Raiders reeled off 27 straight points to take a commanding lead in what would eventually be a 27-21 victory. Following a 29-yard field goal by K Sebastian Janikowski, the Raider offense produced three touchdowns in the second quarter and added a field goal in the third frame before the Vikings scored again.
PRESSURE PACKAGE: The Raiders recorded five sacks in the win over the Vikings on November 20 in Minnesota, with DT Tommy Kelly and DT/DE Desmond Bryant each recording two sacks. CB Lito Sheppard added his first sack as a Raider and Silver and Black defenders got to the quarterback for losses totaling 24 yards.
PICK THREE: The Raider defense recorded three interceptions in the Silver and Black's win at Minnesota on November 20. S Matt Giordano picked off his team-leading third pass of the season, while Stanford Routt recorded an interception in the end zone to halt a Minnesota drive. DT Tommy Kelly notched his first career interception, picking off a deflected pass in the third quarter.
CP MAKES IT THREE: QB Carson Palmer connected with WR Chaz Schilens for an 11-yard touchdown pass against Minnesota on November 20, marking the third straight game in which Palmer has produced at least one touchdown pass for the Raiders. Palmer tossed three touchdown passes in his first start with the Silver and Black on November 6 and connected for scores twice at San Diego on November 10.
PALMER DIVE: QB Carson Palmer scored a touchdown on a one-yard dive at Minnesota on November 20, marking his sixth career rushing touchdown and his first as a member of the Silver and Black. Palmer's score marked his first rushing touchdown since the 2009 season.
LITO'S LEAD: In just his second start with the Silver and Black, veteran CB Lito Sheppard paced the Raider secondary at Minnesota on November 20. Sheppard led the team with six solo tackles on the day and recorded one of the team's five quarterback sacks. Sheppard was also credited with a pass defensed on a deflection that was intercepted by DT Tommy Kelly.
BRYANT BAGS TWO: DT/DE Desmond Bryant made his sixth straight start on the defensive line at Minnesota on November 20 and established a career high with two sacks in the game. Bryant, who posted his first sack of the season the previous week at San Diego on November 10, dropped the Minnesota quarterback for losses totaling 13 yards and added three solo tackles with a forced fumble on the day.
GIORDANO MAKES IT TWO STRAIGHT: S Matt Giordano picked off a second quarter pass and returned it 42 yards to halt a potential scoring drive at Minnesota on November 20. It marked the second straight game with an interception for Giordano, who produced a pick in the end zone at San Diego on November 10, and his team-leading third interception of the season.
RE-ROUTT-ED: CB Stanford Routt thwarted a potential scoring drive with an interception in the end zone at Minnesota on November 20. It was Routt's second interception of the season and eighth of his career.
VERTICAL GAME: The Raiders lead NFL with 58 plays of at least 20 yards. QB Carson Palmer has 19 completions of at least 20 yards in 99 attempts. Jason Campbell has 17 in 165. Nine of Denarius Moore's 23 receptions have gone for at least 20 yards. In addition, the Raiders have 19 runs of at least 20 yards this season, most in the NFL.
SPREADING THE WEALTH: QB Carson Palmer connected with seven different in the win over the Vikings in Minnesota on November 20, totaling 17 completions on the afternoon. Five different receivers recorded at least two catches.
WELCOME TO THE RAIDERS: DB/KR Bryan McCann saw his first action as a Raider the win over the Vikings in Minnesota on November 20, seeing time on special teams and returning two kickoffs for 58 yards with a long of 36.
CAREER LONGS, SO FAR: Two rookie returners posted their career high in returns during the win over the Vikings in Minnesota on November 20. RB Taiwan Jones returned a kickoff 46 yards while WR Denarius Moore returned a punt 34 yards for their longest so far in their first NFL seasons.
