After 2 wins in 3 games, Raiders feeling chipper

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When Khalil Mack got his first sack of the season in Week 11, the rookie linebacker didn’t want to talk to reporters. The reason was simple: The Raiders were 0-10, and it’s not about him.

On Sunday, Mack had his second and third sacks of the season, and this time he was in no rush to leave the locker room. His team had just picked up a 24-13 win over the 49ers, and the sold-out Coliseum crowd had been electric.

“It was an amazing feeling,” Mack said Sunday. “Something I will never forget.”

What’s really amazing is that the win came a Sunday after Oakland lost 52-0 in St. Louis. How does that happen?

“This team,” Mack said, pausing for a couple of seconds, “it has a solid foundation. We have some great leaders and we’re going to keep putting the pedal to the metal, and come in every week and give it our all. That doesn’t stop.”

Mack, the team’s first-round pick this season, is one of several young players who thrived in the win over San Francisco. Rookie quarterback Derek Carr had three touchdown passes, rookie guard Gabe Jackson held off 49ers defensive lineman Justin Smith, and second-year running back Latavius Murray had 76 tough inside yards.

All of a sudden, the Raiders have won two of three games — never mind that the loss in the middle was grotesque.

“We’re learning,” defensive end Justin Tuck said. “We have a great mixture of old guys and young guys on this team, but we’re learning how to win together.”

The players and interim head coach Tony Sparano readily admit that everybody got a little too happy after breaking their 16-game losing streak in the 24-20 win over the Chiefs on Nov. 20.

Sio Moore (55) and Tarell Brown (23) dance during a timeout to get the crowd energized during the second half of the Raiders game against the 49ers at O.co Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday December 7, 2014. less Sio Moore (55) and Tarell Brown (23) dance during a timeout to get the crowd energized during the second half of the Raiders game against the 49ers at O.co Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday December 7, ... more Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle Buy photo Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close After 2 wins in 3 games, Raiders feeling chipper 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

“Hopefully we learn from that,” Tuck said, when the Raiders travel to Kansas City for Sunday’s rematch.

The Chiefs (7-6) have lost three games in a row, a slide that started after they fell flat against Oakland following a home win over the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks.

“We’re going to have to, first of all, match their intensity,” Sparano said Monday. “Playing in Arrowhead is always tough. Knowing that we won the last time we played them, we know that they’re going to be 100 percent ready for us.”

Despite their slide, the Chiefs can make the playoffs if they win out, because two of the games are against Pittsburgh and San Diego, each 8-5.

The Raiders are playing for pride, and possibly saving the jobs of general manager Reggie McKenzie and Sparano. Sparano is 2-7 since replacing the fired Dennis Allen, with the victories coming against teams with winning records — something Allen wasn’t able to do in 36 games.

Sparano was asked if he is hopeful that owner Mark Davis and McKenzie will bring him back next season if the team plays the final three games as it played Sunday.

“It’s not a question for me,” Sparano said. “I was given a job to do several weeks ago. … I know where our players are. I know what they think and I know how they respond.

“I can tell by their response, so I feel really good about where we are right now. I love this group of guys, and I like coaching them, and I love this team.”