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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The Oakland Raiders think they got into the end zone and answered the challenge. But because of a questionable holding call, the Raiders were forced to try to get back in the end zone (something they didn't do on their other eight offensive drives). In the end, they couldn’t. So, as the Raiders -- who elevated their defensive play in their 16-9 loss at New England on Sunday as they fell to 0-3 -- head to London for next Sunday’s game against Miami, they are regretting two things: The holding penalty on rookie guard Gabe Jackson that nullified Darren McFadden's 6-yard touchdown run in the final minutes and their inability to produce touchdowns. "I thought we tied the football game or at least got to the next point of being able to tie the football game," said Oakland coach Dennis Allen, who said he saw the play in the big screen, and it didn’t appear that Jackson held. "Disappointed about that. You know, still, at the moment of truth there are times when we have to be able to make some plays. We didn’t do that enough today and came up on the short end of the stick." Added Oakland left tackle Donald Penn: "That wasn’t a penalty. I saw it. He drove his guy down. I ran to the ref, yelling "no.'" Instead of having to decide whether to kick the PAT or go for two, the Raiders had to gear up and try to score again. They couldn’t get it done. On the next play, Oakland receiver Denarius Moore had the ball bounce out of his hands. It deflected into the hands of New England defensive tackle Vince Wilfork at the Patriots' 11 yard-line to seal the game for New England. It was another example of the Raiders not being able to make a key play. On a day when the defense improved against the run, the Raiders’ offense continued to be stagnant for the most part. "Again, it comes down to some moment of truth plays and being able to keep drives alive," Allen said. Added guard Austin Howard: "I don’t know (if Jackson’s hold) was a penalty or not, but we have focus on finish drives, finish plays. That’s what we have to get better at." The Raiders were only able to muster three Sebastian Janikowski field goals. Oakland, which has scored a total of 37 points this season, has one touchdown that has not come in garbage time. Before the Raiders’ final drive, their two other drives in the fourth quarter were three-and-outs. Oakland continues to rely on a conservative game plan with rookie quarterback Derek Carr. Though he threw downfield more Sunday than in the first two games, it’s clear the Raiders aren’t comfortable yet with letting him air it. Oakland tried to establish the ground game all day without much success for the third time this season. McFadden had little impact with 59 yards on 18 carries. He had just one carry of 10 yards. It was his longest carry of the season. In three games the Raiders have not been able to identify any playmakers. It doesn’t help that one of the few reliable receivers -- Rod Streater -- fractured his foot Sunday and is likely out for an extended period of time. Carr has a chance to grow. But the next step for him and the rest of the offense is to finish drives and games when given the opportunity. The reality is, the game didn’t end on Jackson’s penalty. It ended on Moore’s miscue.
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