“Just Win, baby.”
-Al Davis
They say that failures are steps to success. Coach Isaiah is a perfect example of that. After 6 seasons of heartbreak. Upset losses in the playoffs. Constant losses in the AFC Championship. Even taking a short break from the league. After all those steps that looked like an endless loop of unfortunate events, Coach Isaiah found that those steps led him to the door of success. Even better, he discovered that he has the key to success in the palm of his hands. He has won back-to-back Super Bowls in the OG league (one with the Giants and one with the Raiders). A combined record of 33-1 with that one loss being a forfeited game. He has gone from “Little Bro” (to Banky) to “The Tribal Chief”. The Story never ended…it was only the beginning.
The Raiders (16-1) went against the Saints (11-6) in the Super Bowl in New Orleans at the Ceasars Stadium. The Saints and the Raiders would both put on a great defensive performance in a 6-12 1st half with the Saints in the lead. Granted, the Saints would score two touchdowns but miss the extra point both times. With the Raiders offense usually being their weakness, it was looking like Coach Sasuke would be the 2nd rookie coach to win a Super Bowl. But Coach Isaiah and the Raiders had other ideas.
An adjustment made on the defensive side changed the landscape of the game. The Saints started the 3rd quarter with 12 points and ended the game with 18. The coverage defense by the secondary and pressure by the defensive line of the Raiders was too much for PJ Walker. The defensive performance was truly a thing of art. It’s hard to pick one player on the defense because everyone played as a team. As one. But shout out to Tyree Wilson who would get a huge pick-6 that put the Raiders in comfortable a position. Also, Jonathan Allen, who the Raiders traded for before the trade deadline, blew up a lot of plays.
The Raiders started the 3rd quarter with 6 points and ended the game with 37. Other than an unusual interception from him, Trey Lance did a great job leading the offense. But it was Super Bowl MVP, Brock Bowers, who shined the brightest. 130 receiving yards and a big touchdown that saw him break multiple tackles to get in the endzone.
After the game, Coach Isaiah was quick to give credit to Coach Sasuke:
“Tons of respect to him. For a rookie coach to lead a team that may not be the most talented to the Super Bowl is very impressive. He talks a lot of trash but the greatest tend to have that trait. No one saw them going that far and he is the main reason they did. As for us, we told you. Not to be cocky, but we did tell you. Not because we felt that we are big and bad…which we are. But because we never give up. And that will always be the difference. I failed a lot and never gave up and I will continue to preach that those who persevere will prosper. “
So there it is. Your OG Season 9 Champions…THE LAS VEGAS RAIDERS.
© Any Given Sunday