An interview with Oakland Raiders/former Iowa Hawkeye tight end Brandon Myers

I watched the second half and overtime of the Oakland Raiders' 23-20 win over the Kansas City Chiefs game Sunday, and wow. Entertaining stuff.

It was going back in time to when Chiefs-Raiders games meant something, and Oakland fans were in in full voice (and costume). Oakland improved to 5-4 with its third-straight win while Kansas City slipped to 5-3. It's the first time the Raiders have had a winning record in November since 2002, I believe.

The tight ends in the game were all Hawkeyes, all the time. Kansas City rookie Tony Moeaki had six catches for 63 yards, continuing his excellent first year. Oakland second-year TE Brandon Myers started because Zach Miller was inactive with a foot injury. Myers had three catches for 20 yards, and drew a Kansas City holding penalty on the drive in which Oakland tied the game late in the fourth quarter.

So I called Myers Monday, and he said the following:

"It was a pretty good experience. Wild, actually. We haven't had a sellout in a while, and to have a sellout and play a big division game with Kansas City was something."

"I just think players on the team were tired of people bad-talking the Raiders to the point they made up their mind to want to turn it around. We've really come together as a team. I know it sounds like a cliche, but everyone's pulling for the guy next to them."

"It's been a while (since the Raiders have been winning). It's getting bigger and bigger. It's a fun atmosphere in and around Oakland."

On Moeaki: "You knew right away, he's a good player. That has never been an issue. It was a matter of staying healthy. He and I both playing in that game, that was pretty cool. We're good friends."

On getting his opportunity with the Raiders (he was a sixth-round draft pick in 2009): "A lot of it has to do with coming from Iowa. The coaches don't necessarily prepare you for the next level, but a lot of the things they do put you ahead of the guys from other schools."

On Raiders fans: "I'll give them this: They're loyal. Everything you see on TV is what you get. They're rowdy and ruthless. I think yesterday Kansas City was 0-for-5 on third-down conversions on 3rd-and-1. That's unheard of."