OAKLAND, Calif. -- Observed and heard in the locker room after the Oakland Raiders' 26-24 victory Sunday over the Buffalo Bills:
Indications are owner Mark Davis intends to sign a one-year lease extension with O.co Coliseum in the coming days while he continues his pursuit of a new stadium. Considering all three of the Raiders' wins this season have come at home, defensive lineman Antonio Smith believes it's important the team stays put. "We love playing in front of the best fans in the NFL," Smith said. "This is an electric environment. I think it radiates. I think it flows through us all. I hate to say it, because we do have to get better in road games, but we're a totally different team when we're in this stadium. You come in, you're going to get hit."
Charles Woodson said he wants to wait and see what happens with the Raiders coaching staff before deciding whether to come back for an 18th NFL season. The thing is, Woodson doesn't seem too worried about the head-coaching position. He's more concerned about assistant defensive backs coach Marcus Robertson, whom Woodson has repeatedly credited for his success this season. "Marcus Robertson has been a big help to me this year, man," Woodson said. "That's one of the things, depending on what happens with that guy. It would be hard to play under another guy. I hope he's back because he's done a tremendous job with myself, with the other guys in that room. And also [defensive backs coach] Joe Woods -- he's done a tremendous job. If I were to come back, I would want those guys back as well."
Sebastian Janikowski converted on four of his five field goal attempts, which guarantees he won't set the dubious franchise record for fewest tries in a season. Janikowski was perilously close to that before his big day against the Bills. He went into the game having attempted only 17 -- three shy of the record. It's the 19th game of his career in which Janikowski has made four or more field goals.
Offensive coordinator Greg Olson has been guilty of abandoning the run too early at times this season, but Oakland stuck to the game plan against Buffalo and piled up 140 yards on the ground. It's the second best day the Raiders have had running the ball this season and only the fourth time this year they've topped the 100-yard mark as a team. "You get those little runs, and the big runs will come," said running back Latavius Murray, who had 86 yards on 23 carries. "Obviously D-Mac [Darren McFadden] got in there, and the same thing. It was something we know we're capable of. We just have to go out there and do it. We did that today."