Oakland Raiders

[flaccopoe]

What do you make of this team? They scored 115 points in their last 3 games. Previously, they hadn't won 2
consecutive games in 2 seasons or 3 consecutive wins since 2002. They have Darren McFadden, who had 365 receiving yd & 3 TD in the last 3 wins. How do you think they'll do against their upcoming opponents, particularly the Steelers?

[Ed_Reed20]

They're young(for the most part), very talented and seem to pretty motivated. I think they're a dangerous team.

[BloodRaven]

Teams with little success in recent seasons usually reemerge with a real chip on their shoulders. Just like the Browns they're now a very dangerous trap team.

[Radinho84]

[quote name='flaccopoe' timestamp='1289795300' post='541398']
What do you make of this team? They scored 115 points in their last 3 games. Previously, they hadn't won 2
consecutive games in 2 seasons or 3 consecutive wins since 2002. They have Darren McFadden, who had 365 receiving yd & 3 TD in the last 3 wins. How do you think they'll do against their upcoming opponents, particularly the Steelers?
[/quote]
i hope they can play their best football against the steelers. would love to see them winning this one. like someone said before: they are a dangerous team right now...

[flaccopoe]

[quote name='Radinho84' timestamp='1289818629' post='541626']
i hope they can play their best football against the steelers. would love to see them winning this one. like someone said before: they are a dangerous team right now...
[/quote]

Got my fingers crossed on the Steelers loss. Hopefully, the Raiders will pull off another Denver slaughter. If the Steelers perform like they did against NE, we'll easily win the division.

[Ed_Reed20]

I just can't get over how physical McFadden has been this year.

[Polamaluisabeast_43]

If the Steelers lose this game at home on Sunday to the Raiders then not only do their chances of winning the AFC North take a major major hit their chances of making the playoffs as well will begin to take a major hit also. I know the Raiders are improved a great deal and have been playing good so far this season but they are still a team that pretty much needs to play perfect football to beat the elite teams in this league. The Raiders while they have blown out teams like the Broncos and Seattle have still lost to sub-par teams such as Arizona and San Francisco on the road this season and got blown out in the opener this year by the Titans. They play better football at home and are still not a very good road team. Plain and simply this is a game the Steelers if youre suppose to be a top team in the AFC and a Super Bowl Contender have got to win especially when you have them coming into your place. West Coast teams normally dont fair well on the East Coast either while playing at 1 o clock. Losing to Oakland two years in a row at Heinz Field would be completely inexcusable and could very well destroy the Steelers season should it indeed happen...

[flaccopoe]

[quote name='Polamaluisabeast_43' timestamp='1289871138' post='542225']
If the Steelers lose this game at home on Sunday to the Raiders then not only do their chances of winning the AFC North take a major major hit their chances of making the playoffs as well will begin to take a major hit also. I know the Raiders are improved a great deal and have been playing good so far this season but they are still a team that pretty much needs to play perfect football to beat the elite teams in this league. The Raiders while they have blown out teams like the Broncos and Seattle have still lost to sub-par teams such as Arizona and San Francisco on the road this season and got blown out in the opener this year by the Titans. They play better football at home and are still not a very good road team. Plain and simply this is a game the Steelers if youre suppose to be a top team in the AFC and a Super Bowl Contender have got to win especially when you have them coming into your place. West Coast teams normally dont fair well on the East Coast either while playing at 1 o clock. Losing to Oakland two years in a row at Heinz Field would be completely inexcusable and could very well destroy the Steelers season should it indeed happen...
[/quote]

I was thinking the same thought: the Raiders are traditionally a very shaky team. Is this a new team, or are they just having a Seahawk streak: short yet bright bursts?!

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='flaccopoe' timestamp='1289872111' post='542240']
I was thinking the same thought: the Raiders are traditionally a very shaky team. Is this a new team, or are they just having a Seahawk streak: short yet bright bursts?!
[/quote]

I think a number of things are just going right for them. Offensively, they're getting relative stability at the QB position, McFadden is a versatile weapon, they have one of the better receiving TEs in the league in Zach Miller and their WRs all have speed.

Defensively, Seymour, Kelly and Houston are all making plays along the d-line, their LB corps is solid and they have a lot of athletes in the secondary including one of the best CBs in the league in Asomugha. Top that off with the Janikowski and the best punter inn the league in Lechlar and more speed in the return game, you have a solid team.

[flaccopoe]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1289872661' post='542251']
I think a number of things are just going right for them. Offensively, they're getting relative stability at the QB position, McFadden is a versatile weapon, they have one of the better receiving TEs in the league in Zach Miller and their WRs all have speed.

Defensively, Seymour, Kelly and Houston are all making plays along the d-line, their LB corps is solid and they have a lot of athletes in the secondary including one of the best CBs in the league in Asomugha. Top that off with the Janikowski and the best punter inn the league in Lechlar and more speed in the return game, you have a solid team.
[/quote]

I'm guessing you value Gradkowski over Jason Campbell?

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='flaccopoe' timestamp='1289872977' post='542258']
I'm guessing you value Gradkowski over Jason Campbell?
[/quote]

Not really. I think Gradkowski is slightly better but as he's proven, Campbell can get the job done.

[JO_75]

Wow........ The Chiefs are hoping the Raiders hang on.

Raiders 21
Chargers 03

You guys think Oakland could win the AFC West?

[PuRock]

[quote name='JO_75' timestamp='1291590794' post='560057']
Wow........ The Chiefs are hoping the Raiders hang on.

Raiders 21
Chargers 03

You guys think Oakland could win the AFC West?
[/quote]

I'm just hoping they hold off the Chargers today. I can't go through another week listening to everybody talk about how the Chargers are undefeated in December the last few years.

[JO_75]

[quote name='PuRock' timestamp='1291590959' post='560062']
I'm just hoping they hold off the Chargers today. I can't go through another week listening to everybody talk about how the Chargers are undefeated in December the last few years.
[/quote]

As much as I would like to see Oakland win, I'm somewhat pulling for SD for the fact that they can at least try getting a final wild card spot an taking it from Pittsburgh.

Raiders 21
Chargers 13

Under 10 minutes left in 4th.

[PuRock]

Wow Campbell just had everybody and their momma faked out. The Chargers thought they stopped the runner short of the 1st, the cameraman followed the runner. Then the ball was down the field. He threw it for 40 yards! Crazy!

[Ravenite]

[quote name='PuRock' timestamp='1291593171' post='560106']
Wow Campbell just had everybody and their momma faked out. The Chargers thought they stopped the runner short of the 1st, the cameraman followed the runner. Then the ball was down the field. He threw it for 40 yards! Crazy!
[/quote]

If you fake out the camera man, then that was a very successful play-action. Nevertheless, this is a pretty good outing from the Raiders.

[JO_75]

Make it Official! The Chargers winning streak in December is over! Raiders win!

Raiders 28
Chargers 13

[PuRock]

[quote name='JO_75' timestamp='1291594654' post='560146']
Make it Official! The Chargers winning streak in December is over! Raiders win!

Raiders 28
Chargers 13
[/quote]

Thank god. Cut the head off early on this one. I'm glad we won't have to listen to another week about how good the Chargers are in December. They look like crap this December.

[George70]

Over the past few weeks, I have seen the Oakland Raiders show some flashes of brilliance - just knowing what to do, and doing it when they need to do it.

Today's win convinces me that these Raiders are going for broke, and could possibly go to the playoffs. It could happen - as, to me, these Raiders are channeling the Raiders of old.

[SaVaGe]

[quote name='George70' timestamp='1291604921' post='561199']
Over the past few weeks, I have seen the Oakland Raiders show some flashes of brilliance - just knowing what to do, and doing it when they need to do it.

Today's win convinces me that these Raiders are going for broke, and could possibly go to the playoffs. It could happen - as, to me, these Raiders are channeling the Raiders of old.
[/quote]

Then get ready for penalties for facemasks, horsecollars, fumbling forward for extra yards, haha. They do look good though, and if they can stay consistent they easily make the playoffs.

[Clutch Ravens]

Am I the only one that has noticed how effective their play-calling is offensively?

That's our very own Hue Jackson at work right there. Come back to Baltimore, Hue!

[McBoller]

as mediocre as their records are, this is going to be one entertaining finish to the season in the AFC west. Its anybody's division right now. KC still has one against the chargers and raiders....Seeing as how the Ravens will likely be a wild card Id like to see the Chiefs come out on top purely for selfish reasons as I tihnk they're the best matchup for us.

[flaccopoe]

[quote name='SaVaGe' timestamp='1291656118' post='563637']
Then get ready for penalties for facemasks, horsecollars, fumbling forward for extra yards, haha. They do look good though, and if they can stay consistent they easily make the playoffs.
[/quote]

If they can cut down on penalties and stop KC's run game, then they can definitely win in the AFC West!

[flaccopoe]

I think they also have a good chance of beatig SD, what with the Cahrgers' 31st ranked defense and all of their injuries.

[1/28/01]

[quote name='flaccopoe' timestamp='1291870686' post='567867']
I think they also have a good chance of beatig SD, what with the Cahrgers' 31st ranked defense and all of their injuries.
[/quote]
Uh, SD's defense is 1st in yards (although they're 16th in points, which should really be the barometer for ranking a defense). Either way, they're not 31st.....