The Raiders Somehow Couldn't Find Their Kicker in Overtime

It's often said in the NFL that it's hard to find a kicker.

However, that statement took on a whole new meaning last night when the Raiders literally could not find placekicker Daniel Carlson. With just under four minutes to play in overtime against the Ravens, the Raiders had a 43-yard field goal in sight when they looked to send Carlson onto the field to win the game. But nobody could find him.

"Our kicker was warming up in the net," head coach Jon Gruden said. "No one could find him." 

Uh, Chucky, don't you think you could have looked over to the kicking net to find Carlson warming up for the game-winning kick?

Evidently he did not, and what happened next sent Allegiant Stadium into a frenzy. Quarterback Derek Carr found receiver Zay Jones wide-open in busted coverage down the field for a walk-off touchdown in overtime to down the Ravens 33-27.

Carr spoke after the game about the confusion and said that he assumed they would attempt the now 48-yarder to win the game.

"I didn't know what happened," Carr said. "I turned my back and I was just praying we made it. I turned around and it was a delay of game. I was like 'OK, he can still make this.' Then it's 'Get back out there!' I hear in my headset, coach calling personnel, so I start running back out there."

Can you imagine if it doesn't work out and the Raiders lose or tie that football game? My goodness, we would have seen Gruden in rare form after the game and Carlson might have been on the unemployment line this morning.

We should still send our thoughts and prayers to all the Carlson fantasy owners who were counting on that field goal to win their week. Those people are the real losers in this after all.