OAKLAND – Raiders receiver Seth Roberts has been a professional football player for two years. He has four catches to his name. Only one of them came on Sunday afternoon, but it was a biggie.
Roberts scored the game-winning touchdown in a 37-33 victory over the Baltimore Ravens at O.co Coliseum, securing the biggest catch of his career with 26 seconds remaining. He established inside position on a 12-yard slant where Derek Carr’s pass met him right at the goal line.
Roberts fell into the end zone and lay still for a moment, as the crowd roared in approval at a dramatic, come-from-behind victory sealed with Roberts’ catch.
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“I heard the crowd go nuts, and I knew how important that catch was,” Roberts said. “I just held my composure until the game was over.”
Neiko Thorpe ended it with an interception a few plays later, validating an eight-play, 80-yard two-minute drill that ended in success.
Roberts wasn’t involved much beyond the final moment. Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree exceeded 100 yards each and were primary weapons in the passing game. Roberts wasn’t even target despite being the team’s third receiver, but stayed focused in case a big moment came.
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“I kept my head in the game and stayed focused,” Roberts said. “I read the coverage and I slipped inside, found a crease and got open.”
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Carr threw a strike that gave Roberts a big moment, something he dreamed about while grinding on the practice squad in 2014.
"It felt awesome," Roberts said. "I am just so thankful to the Raiders organization for the opportunity to play."
The West Alabama alum earned his opportunities. He worked his way onto the 53-man roster with a solid preseason and gained a role in the slot over more established receivers in Rod Streater and Andre Holmes.
“That was a nice moment for Seth,” Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio said. “He’s worked hard. He’s worked really hard. The wide receiver group is good with Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree coming in. The guys that were here before, there was a lot of competition for those spots and for playing time. It was great for him, great for us to see him do well in that spot.”