Raiders special teams make special plays in victory

By JIMMY DURKIN for the San Jose Mercury News.

OAKLAND — The play will get lost in the shuffle, except in the film room.

After the Raiders had taken a 30-24 lead, their offense finally got stopped. But then Marquette King boomed a punt and his gunners got to work.

Taiwan Jones raced down to knock the ball back to Andre Holmes and the play was downed at the 4-yard line. With the Buffalo Bills then backed up, Khalil Mack pressured Tyrod Taylor, tipped his pass as it left his hand and Nate Allen had the interception that set up the Raiders’ game-clinching score.

“Our special teams, we understand we are the spark to the offense or defense depending on what phase of the game we’re in,” Jones said. “We got the opportunity to makes plays and make a difference and we did. Got the crowd into it and the defense was able to pin their ears back and go out there and make plays like they did.”

Holmes and Jones have developed a good rapport that helps them on plays just like that one,

“Taiwan knows I’m there,” Holmes said. “I know he knows where he’s at and I know — because he’s a great special teams player — he’s going to get the ball back to me, so it’s a great combination and great punt by Marquette.”

The Raiders special teams were truly special Sunday. Jalen Richard also added a big 17-yard punt return that gave the Raiders great field position when they were still trailing 24-16.

“You’ve got to win at all three levels,” Richard said. “We won the field position battle and took advantage of it with big plays. That’s how you win in this league. That’s how you win football, period.”

King continues to have a Pro Bowl-caliber season and he captured some more attention in this game. After drawing a roughing the kicker penalty, King picked up the flag to celebrate. That, however, drew him an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

“Obviously, it’s definitely a teachable moment,” coach Jack Del Rio said. “ He’s not mean spirit in what he’s doing. He’s having fun. He enjoys himself. He had the Pee Wee Herman out there today. I saw that. I got a giggle. He’s enjoying himself.

“Now, right there, he just didn’t realize you can’t do that. He was like, ‘Really? I couldn’t do that? Oh man. I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Mr. Ref.’ It really was innocent and obviously, we’ll make sure we don’t leave any stone unturned when it comes to teaching to make sure we understand what we need to do there. That should never happen again.”

Jones said he’s got no problem stomaching a play like that from King.

“He’s having a hell of a year, a Pro Bowl year,” Jones said. “As a gunner, you can’t be mad at him. Just as long as we didn’t have to redo it or run back down, I’m OK with what he’s doing.”