We ended the same way we begun. We competed and then did not finish in the 4th Quarter to get the job done. Many of the die hards knew the score as soon as the 3rd Quarter began..
When Mr. Russell takes the field, you can be sure as Hell you’re going to hear more boos than you’ve ever heard in your entire life. Being the loyalist I am, I actually always feel sorry for the guy after he takes the field. Here is a kid that has battled all of his life to achieve playing in the NFL as an accomplished Starter..
and everyone shits on you as if they were Coliseum birds before you even throw a pass.
Then he throws a pick/fumbles and I realize I’m not analyzing or thinking of the entire picture of the kid. The following comments have followed Jam like a stinky cologne from inside of the organization from the past two years:
“Doesn’t work hard enough”
“Isn’t fast enough”
“Has weight issues”
“Doesn’t have a fast enough reaction to the speed of the game”
“Has the biggest damn ego anyone has ever seen since Randy Moss”
“Does not dedicate himself”
“Parties with Cough Syrup dropped in his drinks; loving the lean”

Etc. etc. It’s too easy kicking a lame Dog when he’s down..

At the same time, It is very difficult to ignore all of these negative facts stewing around in my plastic head peice.
Should we keep him? I’m glad you asked.. ONLY if the kid agrees to stay on next season for a lower price. There is no way Al should keep him if he doesn’t consider getting tagged at a “discount price”. The bottom line is you got paid, did not dedicate yourself, sucked balls and will continue to suck balls if you don’t change your way of thinking. I can’t see how anyone would not want to try to improve after such criticism was heard around the World. Maybe some in life are ok by accepting ongoing failure…
But we, as the critical, fanatical, forever complaining Raider Nation… do not. We’ll always want more, even when we’re winning..forever striving.

Coach Cable on his way out? I hope not. People have already emailed me their favorite Coaching suggestions. What we need here is a little bit of continuity! We need familiarity, positive progression and to be recognized as a team that is growing and moving forward rather than stepping in the wrong direction. Sure, he might of stuck with with Ja-bust-us a wee bit too long for all our tastes, but the fact is the team rallied and responded positively around the other starting QBs we have on our roster! The weapons are there…
Zack Miller, Nnamdi
Chaz Schilens, Trevor Scott
Louis Murphy, Captain Kirk (if resigned)
Mike Bush, Tyvon Brach
Gallery (if healthy), Seymour (if resigned)
Satele, Thomas Howard , Sea Bass, Shane, etc..

We just need to draft or sign better defensive run stoppers (Linemen OR Linebackers). The opponent has run all day on us for the past 7 years!!!! When will we try to fix this????? NOW, I SAY!!!!! NOWNOWNOW!!!!
This has to be followed by drafting or signing better Offensive Linemen. If Bruce or Frye start next year, you can bet your ass they will be put down and injured if the wall is not more stable. If you disagree, please realize both guys did not last the season by only playing in a few games each this year..
I suggest the Quarterback situation will be a battle again next year with Frye, Bruce and perhaps another free agent QB competing for the #1 spot. Again, if Jam comes at a discount price…Al will have no choice but to stick with him. Let it be known that old man Al does NOT want to be wrong. He stuck by his players from the beginning of time and already gave a billion of examples when Quarterbacks started slowly. By mentioning those facts this year, that gave me, the Sith Lord and other Fans more insight on how the Emperor thinks and will react..

Summary:
OAKLAND, Calif. — With one vicious stiff-arm, Willis McGahee pushed aside the last obstacle standing between the Baltimore Ravens and another playoff bid on his way to a career-best day.
McGahee ran for a career-high 167 yards and three touchdowns, pushing down Hiram Eugene on a 77-yarder, and the Ravens clinched an AFC wild-card berth by beating the Oakland Raiders 21-13 on Sunday.

“We’re in the same position as last year where we had to win the last couple of games,” McGahee said. “Once we get in there, we know we can do damage, and now we’re in there.”
It really must be a blessing to always compete at a high level…or at least most of the time.
The Ravens (9-7) went into the regular season finale knowing a win would put them in the playoffs and a loss would send them home for an early winter. Just like last season when they beat Jacksonville in the final game to make the postseason, the Ravens came through against the Raiders.
Baltimore will open the playoffs next weekend at New England. The Ravens are 0-5 all-time against the Patriots, including a 27-21 loss at New England on Nov. 4.
Somehow, I wish both teams could lose the battle.
“In my 14 years, I’ve never had a pretty road to the playoffs,” linebacker Ray Lewis said. “It’s always been a grind, but there’s no better thing than having that grind and getting to advance. I like where we’re positioned right now, and I like all the adversity we’ve gone through. I just like seeing this team fight.”
Retire already Ray Ray..I’m tired of seeing your damn face.
The Raiders (5-11) provided a stiff challenge for much of the game but were unable to pull it out in the end behind former starter JaMarcus Russell.
Dannell Ellerbe intercepted a pass from Russell late in the third quarter to set up McGahee’s third touchdown that made it 21-13. Ellerbe then recovered a fumble by Russell at the Ravens 23 with 9:42 to go to end a possible scoring threat by Oakland.
After a three-and-out for the Raiders, McGahee iced the game with a 36-yard run on third-and-4 from his 15 to cap his first 100-yard rushing game of the season.
“Willis took over the game the way he ran,” coach John Harbaugh said. “I think our offensive line deserves a lot of credit. Obviously there were holes, but this guy was running north and south. He was powerful, he was explosive, and I think he’s worked really hard all season to have this kind of game.
The Ravens have clinched a second consecutive playoff berth and the sixth playoff berth in franchise history.

Notes:

The Ravens are now 6-1 all-time against the Raiders including playoff games, winning the last three matchups. I’m not sure if we have a worse record with any other NFL team..

The Ravens scored 391 points this season, which ties a franchise record set in 2003.

The Raiders (5-11) finished a seventh consecutive season with 11 or more losses. Can everyone go to Church this off season?
The loss gave the Raiders seven straight seasons with at least 11 defeats, the worst run in NFL history. May the Force be with us too..
Cable made some progress in his 28 games as Raiders coach but his inability to develop Russell into a legitimate NFL starter may ultimately doom him. He said he’s confident he’ll be back next season but has received no reassurances from owner Al Davis.
“I’m disappointed because we didn’t win,” Cable said. “I thought we were going to. And yet I feel excited about what’s coming back. But there’s got to be some things added and tweaked and fixed.”
Russell was benched midway through this season and came on in relief in three of the final seven games, including in the second half Sunday after Charlie Frye left with an injured ankle and back.
Russell led a comeback in Denver two weeks ago and appeared poised to do so again after directing the Raiders to a field goal that cut Baltimore’s lead to 14-13 late in the third quarter. But his two turnovers brought out the boo birds in Oakland and provided a fitting end to a disappointing third season for the former No. 1 overall pick. Russell committed 17 turnovers while throwing only three touchdown passes all season.
“You can’t turn the ball over when you’re playing a team as good as the Ravens,” Russell said.
YA THINK?!??!?!?! (fingers are up)
The Ravens struck first when McGahee scored on a 2-yard run to cap Baltimore’s second drive. It was McGahee’s touchdown in the second quarter that was truly highlight-reel material. Hiram will be thinking about that play for a while…
He took a handoff at the 23 and burst through the line. With Eugene in position to make a tackle near midfield, McGahee stiff-armed him to the ground and took it in the rest of the way for a 14-3 lead.
“I wasn’t expecting it to work that way,” McGahee said. “I was shocked just like everyone else was shocked. I knew I was gonna stiff arm, but I didn’t know he was going to fall backward. There’s no going back, though; you got to keep going forward.”
Frye responded by leading the Raiders on a 79-yard drive capped by a 12-yard touchdown pass to Zach Miller in the final minute of the half. Billy Cundiff missed a 37-yard field goal attempt wide right on the final play of the half, keeping Baltimore’s lead at 14-10.
Baltimore RB Ray Rice joined Jamal Lewis as the only Ravens with 2,000 yards from scrimmage in a season. He finished with 2,041. … The seven points for Raiders K Sebastian Janikowski gave him 1,000 for his career. … Oakland P Shane Lechler set a single-season record with a 43.9-yard net punting average. His 51.1-yard gross average fell just shy of Sammy Baugh’s mark of 51.4 yards set in 1940. There always next year, Pro Bowler!!
That’s it for this season, Nation! I’ll still be checking in weekly when any other big news comes in from our Reporters, Players and Team Office in the future. It has been a pleasure to give my opinion on all of our cheers and jeers that have come from the entire season.
Thanks for reading ya’ll!!! Raider Nation for life! Blogging from the Dark Side shall return!!!!!
-DR

Merry Christmas Kids! Thank you Ronald and Leonard from the bottom of the Lord of the Sith’s black, mechanical heart. That place was off the hook and I do believe everyone should spend Xmas in Lake Tahoe sometime in their long lives. My body is still aching from Snowboarding, the gloves are still wet and the Ice is still embedded in my finger nails, but damn..was that a great trip!!!!
See ya in days, my lovely Wookie. It’s always nice seeing great friends again.

Well, I guess Frye is not the guy eh Nation? Sure, it was only his 2nd start, but do we really need a kid that throws up THAT many INT’s? Let’s be honest, 300 yards is always impressive, but if you’re going to turn over the ball 3 times, you might as well be riding pine with the fat headed, overweight and overpaid JaMarcus Russell.
I do believe Charlie should get another shot next Sunday, but I only hope he is better prepared for the blitzes that are coming fast and hard from the hated, always a pain in our asses, Baltimore Ravens.

Anyone else think both game rushers should of gotten more carries? This WAS Rob Ryan’s defense after all??? Sheezusss…
Michael Bush had some great runs, but I do believe if he had a few more carries we could of actually won this damn game. Aw Hell, “Irish Stu” has been barking that same suggestion for months now, kids. Somebody get the kind sir a bigger Megaphone.

Summary:

CLEVELAND — Walking through the wide doors of Cleveland’s locker room, Browns coach Eric Mangini was greeted by smiling faces.

“Congratulations, coach,” a team employee hollered at Mangini.

“Thank you,” he replied.

Once thought to be on his way out of Cleveland after just one season, Mangini may be staging a stunning comeback of his own.

Jerome Harrison rushed for 148 yards on 39 carries and the Browns won their third straight, 23-9 over the reckless Oakland Raiders on Sunday, extending a surprising streak that Mangini can use to strengthen his case to convince new Browns boss Mike Holmgren to keep him.

With consecutive wins over Pittsburgh, Kansas City and Oakland, the Browns (4-11) have their first three-game winning streak since 2007 and only their third since 1999. Holmgren, who last week agreed to become Cleveland’s team president, may have to factor Cleveland’s late-season surge into whether he retains Mangini.

When the Browns were 1-11, Mangini’s fate seemed to be sealed. There’s no telling now what his future could hold.

“I’m happy with the way things have been going,” he said. “I’ve seen progress from the group. It is a process. To see this is a real positive.”

The Browns had been expected to introduce Holmgren at a news conference this week. However, those plans may be pushed back until the new year. Following Sunday’s game, the team announced that Holmgren would be available only via conference call on Monday.

The team has no firm plans to bring in Holmgren, who may be waiting until the conclusion of the season before arriving from his home in Arizona and officially taking over the Browns. Speculation has centered on Holmgren hiring his own coach, but the Browns’ sudden spurt could cause him to consider giving Mangini more time.

If the Browns can beat Jacksonville at home next Sunday, they would have their first four-game winning streak in their expansion era.

“This shows the character of the guys we have in this locker room,” said quarterback Derek Anderson, who finished 8 of 17 for 121 yards with one TD pass and didn’t throw an interception in his first start since Nov. 1. “Nobody is going to quit.”

There’s no denying the Browns have improved. They’ve cut down on turnovers, penalties, showed imagination on offense and had backups emerge as playmakers, none more so than Harrison, who followed up a 286-yard game last week by scoring the second time he touched the ball and breaking Lee Suggs’ team mark for attempts.

“We see it as we’re moving in the right direction,” said Harrison, who was happy to be the workhorse for a second straight week. “If my number is called, I just try to make the best of it, whether it’s running, blocking, catching whatever it may be.”

The Raiders (5-10) helped the Browns beat them.

They committed 13 penalties for 126 yards, had two players ejected and failed for the fifth time this season to win two straight games.

“Some it is uncalled for stuff,” Oakland coach Tom Cable said. “We’ve got to see what’s going on, but that’s 130 yards and that’s disappointing.”

One positive for the Raiders was Sebastian Janikowski, who kicked a 61-yard field goal — the fourth longest in league history — on the final play of the first half. Janikowski’s low line drive barely cleared the crossbar, hitting the goose-neck support and bouncing back onto the field.

Janikowski’s kick has only been bettered by New Orleans’ Tom Dempsey (1970) and Denver’s Jason Elam (1998), who share the record of 63 yards and Tampa Bay’s Matt Bryant (2006), who hit from 62 yards.

“That’s one of the best kicks I’ve ever had,” Janikowski said. “In these conditions with the snow and wind, I’m proud of it. In warmups, we kicked it 60 yards going in that direction. I hit it hard. I thought it was short at first and it barely got in there.”

Congrats, Sea Bass, that was one of the best kicks I have ever seen.

Janikowski also made kicks from 44 and 34.

PhilDawson kicked field goals of 42, 33 and 34 yards for Cleveland.

Oakland’s Charlie Frye had a rough homecoming.

The former Browns QB went 26 of 45 for a career-high 333 yards, but was sacked four times and threw three interceptions, including one on his first pass.

“I didn’t give our team a very good chance to win. Turnovers trump everything,” said Frye, who sustained a concussion last week at Denver.

Anderson’s 19-yard TD pass to rookie Mohamed Massaquoi with 18 seconds left before halftime gave the Browns a 17-6 lead, capping a drive in which the Raiders lost their cool. Pro Bowl lineman Richard Seymour was called for unsportsmanlike conduct and cornerback Stanford Routt was flagged for head-butting and ejected.

“A little light just started the whole thing,” Seymour said. “Everybody just jumped on. Obviously, we have to keep our composure. You never want to have personal fouls on a drive, especially on a play that didn’t even happen and you get another one.”

Self destruction? Eh, we’re used to it in December..

Notes: Browns WR Brian Robiskie (ankle) and DE Kenyon Coleman (ankle) were injured and did not return. … Janikowski’s previous career best was a 57-yarder in overtime last season to beat the Jets. … Frye joins Marc Wilson (1987) as the only Raiders QBs to throw for at least 300 yards, with three or more picks and 0 TDs.

Happy New Year Nation! Drink hearty, heavily and safe..
for tonight we dine in Hell!!!
..or somewhere close.
Peace,
DR

Damn, Nation…Do you see what happens when I go to Church??!?! Ahh, this one meant the World to me, kids!! I mean, not only do I consider the Broncos as one of my most hated teams, but I also know of a boss that’s a huge Bronco fan. He walks by the computer daily to check up on what me and my team is doing. I’m not sure he’s aware of it, but I ALWAYS put a Raiders highlight screen saver up after every game. His face afterwards?… priceless, mates…priceless.

If you can’t help to wonder why we weren’t winning like this in the first few weeks? That’s an easy answer, Fans…
consistent Quarterback play.
Sure, fatty pulled it out in the final seconds (you gotta give it to him), but let’s face it…there is no way in Hell he gets in that position if he starts the game. Sure, you can argue that he has actually won in Denver before..
but the fact is; the man has regressed. I guess, if anything..the kid deserves another shot to compete for the starting position next year. I know more than half of you are asking “why?” but let’s be real: The Emperor is a stubborn man. He also does not want to lose his money on nothing but horrible accuracy and added buffalo wing weight. This also only happens if he doesn’t get a pay cut soon. If not? Peace, bro…don’t let the door hit your enormous arse on the way out.

Truth be told, Michael Bush and the Defense grab the MVP awards. #29 looked like a mini Bo Jackson out there. There he was; Rumblin’, Stumblin’ and Tumblin’ into the End Zone like he was doing it for years. The Denver defense actually looked like they didn’t want to even want to attempt to tackle him. He trucked for 133 yards and even a logged in a catch for 11 yards.
Run DMC even got in the mix with 74 yards with a long run for 28.
I wish we ran this way all year…could you imagine our record??!?!
The defense was superb. Anytime you stop a power house like Denver from getting in the End Zone, it’s a great accomplishment. Tyvon tied for tackle count with Captain Kirk and appears to be legit. Branch is honestly one of the best defenders on the field. His stats tell all that needs to be told.
God bless us…everyone indeed!

Summary:
DENVER — JaMarcus Russell found redemption and Chaz Schilens together in the end zone.
Schilens caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from Russell with 35 seconds left that gave the Raiders a 20-19 scrum-filled win on Sunday that dealt a serious blow to the Broncos’ playoff hopes.
“They’re all special, but this one’s pretty high,” said Russell, who was benched a month ago and passed by Charlie Frye on the depth chart this week.

-The Raiders outrushed the Broncos 241-80. It’s the most rushing yards for Oakland since Sept. 14, 2008.

- Michael Bush had 18 carries for a season-high 133 yards. It’s the second-most rushing yards of his career and his third 100-yard game.

- The Broncos have lost six of their last eight games following a 6-0 start.

- Denver came away with three field goals in four trips inside the red zone.

The former No. 1 overall draft pick entered when Frye was knocked out of the game early in the fourth quarter when he struck his head on the ground after a hard hit from linebacker Andra Davis.
The Broncos (8-6) are still in the AFC wild-card hunt but they were expecting a win over Oakland (5-9), who won at Invesco Field for the second straight season thanks to Russell. Now, they’ll likely have to win at Philadelphia and beat Kansas City at home to end their three-year playoff drought.

May the Force be with us. We could be so lucky to put them out…again.

“We have no margin for error,” defensive end Vonnie Holliday said. “The sense of urgency was supposed to be today. And unfortunately it wasn’t.”

Although Russell and Schilens delivered the knockout, it was a heads-up play by Raiders cornerback Stanford Routt that enabled Oakland to pull off the upset.
With the Broncos ahead 16-13 in the closing minutes, Brandon Stokley hauled in a pass from Kyle Orton and raced 63 yards before being horse-collared by Routt at the Oakland 4. The penalty saved the game-clinching touchdown and gave the Broncos the ball at the 2.
Once again, the Broncos couldn’t punch it in from close. They settled for Matt Prater’s fourth field goal that made it 19-13 and left the Raiders within a touchdown with less than six minutes left.
“I just had to go get him. You never let somebody just run into the end zone, you know what I mean? You never do that,” Routt said. “I just grabbed him and tried to bring him down. I didn’t know it was illegal. I mean I didn’t hurt him or nothing. I grabbed his neck and he came down.”
Routt didn’t realize the flag would only give the Broncos 2 yards or that they might have to settle for another field goal. He was just trying to save the score — and the Broncos are 11-for-22 in goal-to-go situations this season.
This failure hurt the most.
“You get down there you’ve got to score a touchdown,” Stokley said. “Those end up coming back and costing you the game.”

HAHHAHAHAAAAaaa!!!!…sorry, I couldn’t help it!!!!

After Prater made it 19-13, the Raiders went three-and-out and punted with four minutes left. But the Broncos also went three-and-out and punted it back to Oakland with 3:29 left.
Then, the Raiders came up with a series of big plays.
Louis Murphy drew a 32-yard pass interference flag on cornerback Andre’ Goodman on second-and-25 and tight end Tony Stewart caught an 11-yard pass from Russell on fourth-and-10 from the 43 just before the 2-minute warning.
After a false start moved them back to the 10-yard line with 39 seconds left, Schilens ran a crossing route, caught Russell’s pass at the 2 and broke a tackle from rookie Alphonso Smith for the score.
“I’ll have to watch the film to see what happened,” Broncos safety Brian Dawkins said. “Great route, great throw, great catch. We had a couple of opportunities to get off the field before that, so it shouldn’t have come to that.”

Yup!!!!

The Broncos were outgained on the ground 241-80, with Michael Bush gashing Denver for 133 yards on 18 carries and Darren McFadden gaining 74 yards on a dozen handoffs.
“All week we preached going into this game, we knew they have a young quarterback coming in, they don’t want to put a lot of pressure on this guy, the running game’s going to be big,” Holliday said. “They’ve got a three-headed monster back there (with Justin Fargas). Big, bruising backs, physical, fast. You’ve got to know that’s going to be a big part of their game plan, make it easy on their quarterback. And we didn’t step up and answer the challenge.”
Frye was 9 for 17 for 68 yards and an interception, plus a 26-yard scamper on his only keeper. He had not played this season and worked strictly with Oakland’s scout team. His last start was for Seattle on Oct. 12, 2008, against Green Bay.
Russell was knocked out for one play on the winning drive and newly signed J.P. Losman took a snap, throwing an incompletion while also getting knocked down.

So, who’s the Raiders’ starting quarterback now?
“We’ll have to sort through the bodies on the way home and we’ll decide,” said Raiders coach Tom Cable, indicating that if Frye is healthy, he’s his guy.

Notes: Mitch Berger’s 7-yard punt set up Oakland’s first score, a 23-yard untouched run by Bush up the middle. … The game was halted for a few minutes with 6:53 left after a fan shined a laser on the players from the south end zone while the Broncos were lined up on second-and-goal. … Promoted from the practice squad Saturday, Broncos rookie DB Tony Carter knocked away a possible touchdown catch by Schilens and recovered a fumble by McFadden.

Merry X-mas Silver and black heads! I hope you get everything you wished for!! I Love u all!!!!!!
Ho Ho Ho!!!!!
-DR

It was nice while it lasted, ey Nation? You should of known we couldn’t have had THAT kind of luck continue to the last quarter of the season. Damn, I KNEW I should of visited Church this weekend, even though the blessed Lord assured me that even with his high powered help, we could not obtain a back to back win.

Oh JaMarcus, how I’ve missed the Army of Boo’s. Thanks for giving me the gift defining moronic laughter. People DID NOT waste their precious time.. as soon as that large QB took the field, you’d think it was Bin Laden himself walking on the wet field with guns o’ blazing..
“Give him a chance, ya bastards! You’re not helping!!” the Lord of the Sith shouts. A few more minutes pass…
“Ok, my bad, you were right..lo siento!!”

What a shame for the “Great Gradkowsi” aka “Bruce Almighty” aka who in the Hell cares now..
I mean the guy had a 2-1 record and we still aren’t completely sure what he has to bring to the table. We know he had a winning record when he left, but do you think we could of won that kind of game with Bruce intact? (10-17 at the Half).
“I actually didn’t get to see the second half, I had to come in here. But it’s just tough. It’s tough because the past couple weeks I felt us great positive attitudes and energy and then this happens. But you know stuff happens for a reason. We just have to battle back and we’ll be all right.” Bruce said.
Always Mr. Enthusiastic..Maybe he thinks Cable will try to suit up Charlie Frye for the next game. It sounds kind of nuts, but let’s face it…the other guy will never be an All-Star Quarterback. All Star Food Fair eating contestant? Possibly..
The crowd even chanted repeatedly: “ CHARLIE!CHARLIE!CHARLIE!”” several times. Only time will tell if Cable makes the move. I mean if the self proclaimed “All-new” JaMarcus plays like the one we all witnessed Sunday, you can bet the farm Cable has already started choppin’ it up with Chuck.

It appears like the rest of the squad really wanted this one too..
“I feel for the guys here, because we don’t come into the week saying, ‘Well, we got our one, so who cares about this next one,”‘ cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha said. “Guys are really actually going out there saying, ‘Let’s get two. Let’s get three.’ And then for some reason it has always happened this way. You can’t put your finger on it. But this is one we thought we gonna be able to get. Guys came in confident. That second-in-a-row thing got us again.”
Eh, even the greatest players can never predict injury, Nam.
Come to think of it, I had already envisioned Bruce throwing a TD late in the 4th for another comeback win. May the Force bring you back quicker than expected, sir.

Summary:
OAKLAND, Calif. — The Washington Redskins again went into the fourth quarter with a lead. Whether it was playing against JaMarcus Russell and the Oakland Raiders or their own resiliency, the Redskins were able to hold onto this lead and end a string of three straight fourth-quarter collapses.
Jason Campbell threw two touchdown passes to give Washington the lead, Quinton Ganther extended it with two fourth-quarter scores and Brian Orakpo helped secure the 34-13 victory Sunday by tying a franchise record with four sacks.
“This seemed like a long time coming,” coach Jim Zorn said. “We had been so close in the last couple games. To be able to close it out like we did today, to be able to keep that pressure on the entire game and overcome some of the adversity that was put forth, I just can’t tell you how excited I am for our players.”
The Redskins (4-9) had lost three straight, blowing leads of six, eight and 10 points. Those losses came against upper-echelon teams in Dallas, Philadelphia and New Orleans, not the bottom-dwelling Raiders (4-9).
Washington took a 17-13 lead into the fourth quarter this week, but just built on it from there.
“We’ve got a lot of heart and a lot of pride,” Campbell said. “The last couple weeks there have been opportunities for us to win all those games, and we feel like we beat our opponents, it just hasn’t come out on the scoreboard. We understand we’re not going to the playoffs, but at the same time, we’re building.”
Oakland had won two of three, led by fourth-quarter comebacks by Bruce Gradkowski, who replaced an ineffective Russell as the Raiders quarterback last month but was injured in this game.

There would be no such comeback this week. Ganther capped an 80-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 24-13. Russell threw an interception to LaRon Landry on the next play and Ganther scored on another 1-yard run four plays later.
The Redskins then teed off on Russell, getting six of their eight sacks in the second half. It was the most sacks for Washington since getting eight against Dallas in 1990. It was also the team’s most lopsided win since a 21-point victory over Dallas in Joe Gibbs’ final regular-season game in 2007.
“We had heard that Russell’s just had a tough time, and you could tell when he stepped on the field and the crowd started booing,” Washington defensive end Andre Carter said. “To go through that and play through that level of environment, I can’t imagine. But as a defense, we can’t show mercy. We’ve got to get to him, and that’s what we did.”

I personally witnessed more than a fair share of fans wanting the Redskins to sack Russell beneath the dirt. Now THAT is hatred.

Russell, who lost his job last month after completing just 46.8 percent of his passes and committing 14 turnovers, entered to start the third quarter for Oakland after Gradkowski left with two injured knees.
Russell completed his first two passes to help set up a 53-yard field goal by Sebastian Janikowski that cut Washington’s lead to 17-13 midway through the third quarter. That was the highlight of the day for Russell, who finished 10 for 16 for 74 yards and an interception and was booed incessantly by the sparse crowd.

Other Notes:

The Redskins scored their most points in the Jim Zorn era.

Washington got its first road win in over a year and snapped a nine-game road losing skid.

The Raiders gave up their most sacks (eight) since 2006. You think the O-Line purposely plays down to Jam’s level? Just a thought…

Oakland lost its second consecutive game to Washington at home, the last coming in 1998. Don’t let the door hit your arses on the way out..at least we beat you in a Super Bowl..

It was a rough day overall for the Raiders, who committed 14 penalties and lost by at least 20 points for the fifth time this season. They also assured themselves of a seventh straight losing season and have been outscored 119-23 in four games following a win this season. You think the new 2010 banners will read “Commitment to Crapulence”?

Campbell completed 16 of 28 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns to Fred Davis. The second TD came at the end of one particularly frustrating sequence for the Raiders late in the first half. It started when a 27-yard pass to Louis Murphy on third-and-2 was overturned by replay.

Hiram Eugene then committed a false start before the punt and a 15-yard penalty for interfering with punt returner Antwaan Randle El. A personal foul on special teams coach John Fassel moved the ball out to the Washington 40. That foul call was one of the worst calls I have seen this entire year.
Four plays later, Campbell threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Davis that gave the Redskins a 17-10 lead with 56 seconds remaining in the half.

Dexter Manley, Ken Harvey and Phillip Daniels also had four sacks in a game for Washington. … Gradkowski went 10-for-18 for 153 yards. … Raiders S Michael Huff left in the second quarter with a stinger. … Janikowski was well short on a 65-yard FG attempt at the end of the first half.

Everyone now pray for a quick recovery or a 3rd option..Episode 3 awaits!!!
Have a great week,
DR

“OH, AND NOW HE’S STABLER??!?!?! WTF?!?!?!!?” was heard after “Bruce Almighty” had scored his last TD with an ear to ear smile; looking like a split Watermelon! Holy Toledo!!!
What it do, Nation?? I bet you’re having one hell of a day, ey kids? I can foresee and vision a bounce in your step right about now.

BTW, I just wanted to ask all of you..
What in all holy Hell is it with our team beating ALL of the elite teams on our bloody Schedule??!?! (With exception of those bastard Giants). Sure, the Bengals are one thing, but the defending Super Bowl F$#king champs?!?! Are you serious????

What can you say? Our team fought a good fight , scrapped until their finger nails were no more and gave every ounce of energy needed to win this glorious, battering, bruising battle!!!

Louis Murphy? I ALWAYS had a good feeling about you, sir!! Maybe it was from how I’ve seen you speak so confidently while in misery..maybe it was from watching you stand furious at your teammates and Refs after something didn’t go your way..maybe it was from looking over your Resume…I just had a feeling. The man racked up 128 yards PLUS 2 TDs in the 4th Quarter! He even caught a ball so damn high in the air, I thought it was a live Duck!
Actually, the ENTIRE Offense was playing like it was their last game they ever played! JL Higgins also grabbed 4 catches for 63, Schilens had 3 for 45 and Zack attack had 4 for 43. I’m also not sure we couldn’t of done it without the will of Justin Fargas; pounding it for 63 hard fought yards. Last, but not definitely not least, I’d like to mention the “Great Gradkowski”. There hasn’t been a QB display of talent like that since…Eh, I’m sure you’ve heard ALL of the comparisons by now. Anyone see his Dad tear up afterwards? Priceless..I’m now getting numerous texts, emails and IM’s about how great big Bruce can and will be. THREE DAMN TOUCHDOWNS In the 4th..does it get any better than that?!?!?

Sure, I think he had a great game, but do I see a future with him? Put on your brakes, Pirates!! Let’s all witness what he can accomplish in these next few games from Washington and beyond. If the matching baldy (my haircut) can swing a winning record after the 2nd half of the season? Sky’s the damn limit, Sir!!! I’m sure the Nation doesn’t mind sitting Fatty regardless of the situation, right???RIGHT!!!!
Ha! What a beautiful day indeed. Defense, congratulations, you did enough to win and that’s all that counts!!! BTW..Make those DB sack wraps!!! AUGHHH!!!!
Screw it, “leave them to me, I will deal with them myself….”

Summary:
PITTSBURGH — The Super Bowl champion Steelers are losing their confidence as fast as they’re losing leads and losing games. The Oakland Raiders? Suddenly, they’re winning like they did in the old days, with remarkable comebacks and surprise finishes.
Louis Murphy caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Bruce Gradkowski with nine seconds remaining, his second score in the final 5 1/2 minutes, and the Raiders scored three late touchdowns to stun Pittsburgh 27-24 on Sunday and deal the Steelers their fourth consecutive loss.

The Steelers (6-6), in danger of missing the playoffs after winning the Super Bowl for a second time in four seasons, went ahead 24-20 on Ben Roethlisberger’s 11-yard touchdown pass to Hines Ward with 1:56 remaining, only to have the Raiders (4-8) rally and win it.

You’re damn right!!!

For the two-touchdown underdog Raiders, it was a comeback win even better than their 20-17 upset over Cincinnati two weeks before. Then, Murphy caught a 29-yard touchdown pass and Sebastian Janikowski kicked a 33-yard field goal in the final 33 seconds.
Overmatched against his hometown Steelers last season, Gradkowski became the first Raiders quarterback to throw three touchdowns in a fourth quarter since Ken Stabler during a 42-35 win over New Orleans on Dec. 3, 1979, when Oakland trailed 35-14.

(so I guess some comparisons are actually valid!)

Who does Gradkowski think he is, one-time Raiders comeback king George Blanda? Until Sunday, the Raiders had thrown only five touchdown passes all season.
Gradkowski, who completed only two passes and had a 1.0 passer rating during a 31-0 loss in Pittsburgh with Cleveland last December, finished 20 of 33 for 308 yards with a passer rating of 121.8.
“Our receivers coach (Sanjay Lal) gave us a message, and he brought up the Miracle on Ice, Buster Douglas knocking out (Mike) Tyson, and things that were just unbelievable but the people that did it believed they could,” wide receiver Todd Watkins said.

“You gotta believe” -Dark Side End Zone’s favorite chant

Pittsburgh, 6-2 at midseason, has lost to two of the NFL’s worst teams in the last three weeks, the Chiefs (3-9) and the Raiders, to fall three games behind Cincinnati (9-3) in the AFC North.
“I can’t even describe how frustrating it is right now to be 6-6,” linebacker James Farrior said. “We thought we’d be doing a lot better at this point. But we are what our record says we are.”

It was the fifth time in six losses the Steelers couldn’t hold a lead in the fourth quarter. They led 10-6, 17-13 and 24-20.
“As a defense, you want to be dominant,” cornerback Deshea Townsend said. “The way to be dominating is when your team needs you to finish.”
After three quarters with little scoring, long stretches of inactivity and an unusually quiet crowd, the fourth quarter became a back-and-forth duel between revived offenses, with the lead changing five times in the final 8 1/2 minutes.
“We’d score, they’d score, we’d score,” Oakland’s Jon Condo said.
It all started when Gradkowski connected with Chaz Schilens on a 17-yard scoring pass with 8:21 remaining to give Oakland its first lead at 13-10.
The Raiders, held to 49 points in their first five road games and next to last in the NFL in offense, fell behind 17-13 on Rashard Mendenhall’s 3-yard TD run one play after Roethlisberger’s 57-yard hookup with Santonio Holmes. Holmes earlier put Pittsburgh up 10-3 with a 34-yard scoring catch.
Oakland answered again when Murphy got behind Ike Taylor on a 75-yard touchdown pass that made it 20-17 with 5:28 to go, but it wasn’t nearly over.
Pittsburgh drove 80 yards in seven plays for Ward’s touchdown, but left enough time on the clock — almost three minutes — for Oakland to win it with the kind of drive it’s rarely mounted all season, much less three times in a quarter.

Other Notes:
Raiders QB Bruce Gradkowski had the first 300-yard passing game of his career.

Oakland snapped a four-game losing skid and improved to 2-4 on the road this year.

The Steelers are just 2-5 this season without safety Troy Polamalu.

All six of Pittsburgh’s losses this year have come by less than a touchdown.
Gradkowski found Murphy for 19 yards to the Steelers 40 and 17 yards to the 23, and a late-hit penalty on backup safety Ryan Mundy gave Oakland a first down at the 11. Murphy then got free behind Mundy — playing only because Troy Polamalu (left knee) missed a third consecutive game — for the game-winner.
“That was so exciting, I can’t even put into words how I feel,” said Gradkowski, whose first two starts in Pittsburgh in 2006 and 2008 yielded three points, five interceptions and zero wins.
Playing 17 days shy of the 37th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception, the Steelers had one more chance. Roethlisberger threw into the end zone from the 50 on the final play, but Hiram Eugene knocked down a pass intended for Limas Sweed.
No miracle finish against Oakland this time.

“We played poorly at a critical time, so you lose when you do that,” coach Mike Tomlin said.
You wanted to Unleash Hell? You got Hell, sir!!!!!

Behold, the best bit comment I’ve read after the game..
On the Raiders final drive, Henderson looked up at the big screen to see how he had carried out his assignment on the previous play.

Big mistake.

“Bruce was like, `Stop (bleeping) looking at that thing and get your mind right,’ ” Henderson said. “I looked at him like, `You talkin’ to me?’ . . . I was like, `OK, you’re right. You’re right. You the man. You the man.’ ”

Ahh..Leadership. I almost forgot the meaning of the damn word!!!!!

Destroy Washington, fellas…VICTORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-DR

Here we go again. We went from a team that can compete with the elite,
to a team that can’t fight.
Eh, at least my Thanksgiving lunch was delicious. Hopefully, yours was too.
Ah Hell, it did feel like a game there for a minute didn’t it? When the score was 3-0 after a quarter, I thought “this is the type of game we can win”.
Then, the expected inevitable happened.
Big plays, followed by more big plays, and more big plays, followed by more sadness from a holiday Turkey than from our players.

“We’ve had a few games like this year, people scheming us and finding big plays on us,” free safety Michael Huff said. “I think once one comes, we start to think more and play outside our game, and then they hit us with another one and another one. I don’t really know what it is. We’ll watch film the next day and see what happened, but as its going on, we don’t realize it.”

“I think it all starts in practice, understanding where you’re supposed to be, doing what you’re supposed to do and taking care of your job. I can’t take care of someone else’s job and someone else can’t take care of mine. Everybody has to take responsibility for their play on the field and we have to get better as a group.” -Richard Seymour

Sometimes I think these kind of losses are due to the fact that we play more man on man defense than any other team in the league. The scheming for this kind of defense just seems more easier for offensive coordinators around the league to complicate things for our Team.
Now I know I stick up for the Emperor (Al Davis) more than anyone, but even THIS damn loyalist says we should change things up a bit on D for teams like this.
It just seems to be make sense, right???

Eh, what the hell do I know about sense… I’m a loud idiot in a suit…

Summary:
The Oakland Raiders visited the Dallas Cowboys for a Thanksgiving Day match-up at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys defeated the Raiders 24-7. QB Bruce Gradkowski completed 18 of 35 pass attempts for 200 yards including a touchdown pass resulting in rookie WR Darrius Heyward-Bey ’s first career touchdown.

The Raiders won the opening coin toss and elected to receive. K David Buehler’s opening kickoff bounced through the end zone for a touchback and the Raiders offense took the field with Bruce Gradkowski at quarterback. The Raiders moved out to their own 45 before the Cowboys forced a P Shane Lechler punt. Lechler’s 55-yard punt bounced into the end zone for a touchback and the Cowboys offense took the field for the first time with Tony Romo at quarterback.

The Cowboys drove into Raiders territory but two penalties forced the Cowboys into 3rd and 24. FS Michael Huff broke up a pass from Romo to WR Roy Williams and P Matt McBriar’s punt went out of bounds at the Oakland 7 where the Raiders took over with 9:27 left in the first quarter.
The Raiders drove out to their 35 before the Cowboys forced a punt. WR Patrick Crayton returned the punt and a penalty backed the Cowboys up to their 8-yard line. The Raiders defense forced a punt and McBriar came on to punt the ball away to WR/PR Johnnie Lee Higgins . After Higgins’ return and a penalty, the Raiders offense took the field at their 30.

The Raiders moved out to their own 48 before the Cowboys forced a Lechler punt. WR Patrick
Crayton called for and made a fair catch at the 13. A penalty moved the ball out to the 23. RB Tashard Choice ripped off a 66-yard run to the Raiders 11. The Raiders held and forced a K Nick Folk 36-yard field goal attempt. The kick was good and Dallas took a 3-0 lead with 39 seconds left in the first quarter.

RB Gary Russell fielded the ensuing kickoff in the end zone for a touchback. The Raiders managed one first down before Dallas forced a punt. Crayton was dropped at the 11 after Lechler’s 66-yard rocket and a 6-yard return.

The Cowboys took a 10-0 lead with 10:48 left in the 2nd quarter when RB Felix Jones broke loose for a 46-yard touchdown run and Folk added the extra point.
Gary Russell returned the ensuing kickoff to the Oakland 17. The Raiders managed one first down before the Cowboys defense forced a punt. Crayton returned Lechler’s 69-yard boot to the Dallas 28. Dallas drove into Raiders territory but Folk clanged a 49-yard field goal attempt off the right upright and the Raiders offense took over at the Oakland 40.
The Cowboys defense forced a three and out and Lechler punted the ball away. The 59-yard punt bounced into the end zone for a touchback and the Cowboys took over at their 20. Romo hooked up with Austin on a jailbreak screen and Austin ran it in for the score. Folk added the extra point and Dallas took a 17-0 lead with 33 second left in the second quarter.

TE Tony Stewart fielded the ensuing kickoff and returned it to the Raiders 26. The Raiders moved out to midfield but were unable to score before halftime.
K Sebastian Janikowski ’s opening kickoff of the second half bounced through the end zone for a touchback. The Cowboys drove to midfield but DE Trevor Scott ’s second sack of the day helped force a McBriar punt. Higgins called for and made a fair catch at the Raiders 11.
Gradkowski capped the 11-play, 88-yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown pass to WR Darrius Heyward-Bey – Heyward-Bey’s first career touchdown reception – and Janikowski added the extra point to cut the Cowboys lead to 17-7 with 5:37 left in the third quarter.

The ensuing kickoff was fielded in the end zone for a touchback and Dallas’ offense took the field at the 20. The Cowboys drove to midfield before the Raiders forced a punt. Higgins returned the McBriar punt and a penalty backed the Raiders up to their own 5.
The Cowboys held the Raiders to a three-and-out. Lechler’s punt was muffed but recovered by the Cowboys at the Dallas 48. The Cowboys took a 24-7 lead with 13:12 left in the game when Romo hit WR Roy Williams from six yards out for the score and Folk tacked on the extra point.
The ensuing kickoff was fielded in the end zone for a touchback and the Raiders offense took the field at the 20. The Cowboys held the Raiders to a three and out and Lechler came on to punt. Crayton returned the punt to the Dallas 28.
The Raiders forced a three and out and McBriar punted to Higgins. After the punt and the return, the Raiders took possession at their 31. The Raiders went three and out and Lechler’s punt was downed at the Cowboys 11. The Cowboys drove to the Raiders 41 before the Silver and Black forced a McBriar punt. Higgins called for and made a fair catch at the Raiders 14.
The Raiders drove to the Cowboys 18 but failed to convert a 4th and 6 and Dallas took over with 1:49 left to play.

The Raiders fall to 3-8 on the season and travel to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers at Heinz Field on Sunday, December 6
May the Lord, the Force, the Sith, Buddha, Allah and the Holy Ghost help us.

Hope you had a nice Silver and Black Friday,
-DR

Now THAT’S more like it, Nation!! I heart when our team plays at a f##&ing higher level!!!
FINALLY!!!
Occasionally, I wonder what Coach Cable has said to inspire the team before the game to make them play like the aggressive Warriors of the old days..
After I heard that the game was dedicated to Marquis Cooper and his family?
People, that’s all you really had to say..
His family also visited the Coliseum and I’m sure that made it extra special for the team before they took the field.
“Before the game his daughter said she was excited to watch the game. She said, ‘I get to see my daddy play!”‘ Sam Williams said. “Man. I just spread the word and everybody felt the emotions of that. It was special.”
Angels walk among us and will continue to walk among us as long as we remember their smiles, words, integrity and strong character.
Thank ya, Coop. Say Hi to the others for me, kid. Make sure to keep visiting!!!

Bruce, what can you say? This was Gradkowski’s first start as a Raider and the result?
1-0!!
When was the last time we were 1-0 with ANYTHING?
Sure, he was off when he was pressured..
Sure, there were a few passes he didn’t connect with..
Sure, he did not play the perfect game..

but he won.
That’s all you really needed to know, kids.

He didn’t get much help from the running game.. but boy, did Zack Miller, Chaz Schilens and the O-line make up for that lack of power. Murphy, Chaz and Zack also made some critical catches during that last drive that I’m STILL crowing about on all feeds around the Internet world. Honest to Blog!
The line? They held the Bengals to no sacks and kept “loose Bruce” pants clean!!
I guess you also have to pat Bruce on the back again for that one. His feet are deadly when they want to be. I aways admired QB’s who wield that weapon.
Stabler (at times), Hostetler, Gannon, etc…
Everyone’s covered? No problem!…Wooosh!
The Defense also came up big when they needed to. Tyvon Branch was off the chain with 11 tackles and a sack that was a big time play.
Special teams? You have to give the game ball to Brandon Myers. During the return, I was screaming out loud how great it would be to pick up a fumble…and then..
SWOOP!!! Cheers erupted like multiple Volcanoes!!
Jano, you’re forgiven for that missed long one. Straight down the line..
Easier then taking candy from a kissed baby… right, #85?

Laughter came afterwards…
followed by Beer..
followed by more laughter…
and more beer.

Summary:
OAKLAND, Calif. — Before the season even started, the Oakland Raiders picked this week’s game to dedicate to Marquis Cooper, their former special teams star who died in a boating accident this year.
With Cooper’s family watching, it was only fitting that it was the type of special teams play Cooper took so much pride in that decided this game.
Bruce Gradkowski threw a 29-yard game-tying touchdown pass to Louis Murphy with 33 seconds left and Brandon Myers forced a fumble on the ensuing kickoff to set up Sebastian Janikowski’s game-winning 33-yard field goal that gave the Raiders a 20-17 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
“He caused the fumble,” linebacker Sam Williams said. “That was unbelievable.”
Cooper died in a boating mishap off the Florida coast earlier this year. He went on the trip with three friends on Feb. 28, but their boat capsized about 70 miles west of Clearwater as the men tried to free a stuck anchor.
Cooper, free-agent NFL defensive lineman Corey Smith and former South Florida player William Bleakley died in the accident. Nick Schuyler, also a former USF player, was the only survivor.
Williams and Justin Fargas showed Cooper’s wife, Rebekah, mother, Donna, and 3-year-old daughter, Delaney around this weekend, allowing Rebekah to see the locker where her late husband prepared for games after joining the Raiders last season. After the game, coach Tom Cable told the team that the only game ball would be presented to Cooper’s family.

It took nearly all 60 minutes, four turnovers and a thrilling comeback for the Raiders (3-7) to improve to 10-0 all time in Oakland against the Bengals (7-3), including one playoff win.
But this had to be one of the most painful for Cincinnati. The Bengals maintained their one-game lead over Pittsburgh in the AFC North after the Steelers lost in overtime at Kansas City, yet this loss could prove critical to seedings or even a playoff berth down the stretch.

“Coach (Marvin) Lewis talks about it all the time, about really stealing games on the road,” receiver Chad Ochocinco said. “These are one of the teams — no disrespect to them — that we should have had the game.”

shoulda, coulda, woulda…..didn’t.

Oakland rallied from an early 14-point deficit and trailed 17-10 with 2:06 left and the ball at the 20. Gradkowski, who took the starting job from JaMarcus Russell this week, threw a 19-yard pass to Zach Miller, then a 16-yarder to Chaz Schilens on fourth-and-10.
After a spike, Gradkowski found Murphy near the goal line. Murphy got loose from Morgan Trent and dived across the goal line for the tying score.
“As a team, we’re not really known for fighting back, and we came back,” Murphy said.
Just when it seemed the game was headed to overtime, Andre Caldwell fumbled the kickoff return, giving the Raiders the ball at the 17. After three kneel-downs, Janikowski delivered the winning kick, setting off a celebration in the crowd of 34,112. Nnamdi Asomugha intercepted a last-ditch pass from Carson Palmer to seal the victory.

The Captain arose from the pile like he was the last man standing in a Braveheart movie.

“We came out today and didn’t play well enough to win,” Palmer said. “It’s not something we need to sit around and talk about. The point is we lost. Anybody is capable of beating you on any day of the week no matter how good you think you are. When it comes down to it, you have to make plays and beat teams you’re supposed to beat, and we didn’t do that today.”

It’s a “Hard Knock” life, eh Car?

The Bengals scored touchdowns on two of their first three drives, but managed only three more points the rest of the way. Fullback Jeremi Johnson fumbled at the Oakland 15 with Cincinnati leading 17-10 and Shayne Graham also missed a 37-yard field goal in the third quarter.
Palmer completed 14 of 22 passes for 207 yards and became the first Bengals quarterback to run for two touchdowns in a game since Jack Thompson in 1979. Rookie Bernard Scott ran for a season-high 119 yards in place of the injured Cedric Benson.
Gradkowski replaced Russell in two of the past three games, but was unable to lead a single scoring drive. He did plenty with an entire week to prepare, giving the Raiders their first two-touchdown game since the opener.
He connected on a 10-yarder to Miller in the second quarter and then the tying TD to Murphy. He finished 17 for 34 for 183 yards, with two turnovers, including an interception with 6 minutes left that almost cost Oakland the game.
“We’re just fortunate the defense did a great job, got the ball back,” Gradkowski said. “We made a couple plays and that’s it.”

Notes: Larry Johnson had two carries for 5 yards in his debut for the Bengals. … Raiders DL Richard Seymour left the game in the first quarter with a lower back injury that is not expected to be serious. … Oakland LB Isaiah Ekejiuba had a knee injury that could be serious, Cable said.

The only problem now is possibly only enjoying this victory for a few more days!!
Thanksgiving? Let’s hope for the best, Nation!!!! At least we can now compete!!
Hey? Even Phili beat Dallas once right????
Have a great week, Pirates!!! Every single damn hour….
-DR

What a great game.
Sarcasm, can’t live or die without it.
What changed over the start of 2nd half of the season?
Yesterday, I saw an old man dance faster than any other Food Vendor on the Planet. My beloved Niece, Caitlin even joined in the fun and got on the big screen. Thank the Force…that brought me a half a smile.
As for the game?
I’m not sure when the enthusiasm, inspiration and excitement will ever come back to the great city of Oakland.

Perhaps, when my eyebrows are a little greyer, when my knees are more fragile and when the Coliseum reaches its lowest attendance record of 10,000 peeps. I’ll barely be able to yell, my older friends will be 6 feet under and the Youth will take over the Darth Raider persona.
We’ll go 9-7 and I’ll fall out my wheel chair crying “We did it! We did…eckk”.
R.I.P. Darth Raider. You lived an ok life. You attended an AFC championship and a Super Bowl blow out.
Ouch..

Positives, positives, positives..I’m always looking for ‘em. Lesseee…(sigh)
Michael Bush had a great game. His Bulldozer running style makes me wonder if we’d win more games by simply giving him more touches while the others sit in awe.
Chaz Schilens is back and looks as if he’s just warming up (3 catches for 27 yards). I know he’s capable of so much more, but I also realize he has to get back into the feel of things before he puts up bigger numbers.
Shane Lechler is still bomb and is going for the All-time punting record. BTW Unless your name is Pele, It’s really hard to root for kicker…(oops, stay positive)
Kirk Morrison and Tyvon Branch combined for 19 Tackles.
Bruce Gradkowski went 5 /9 for 49 yards. The guy had 2 picks, but still looks like he could give our team a better chance to win if he starts..
or not.
I don’t even want to mention our current case of the dropsy’s. That last offensive play was pitiful. DHB stands for Dropping Hella Balls..

Whiskey anyone?

Summary:
OAKLAND, Calif. — Since the middle of the 2007 season, no team in the NFL has been worse than the Kansas City Chiefs. All the losing and mistakes somehow disappear when the Chiefs arrive in Oakland.
Jamaal Charles scored on a 44-yard run for Kansas City’s first rushing touchdown of the season and the Chiefs used a late interception to win their seventh straight road game against the Oakland Raiders, 16-10 on Sunday.

“I guess we got a winning streak here,” receiver Dwayne Bowe said. “Every time we play a division team our goal is to win. But every time we play the Raiders, it’s always a heated rivalry and coach stressed it all during the week: Hate the Raiders, we’ve got to beat the Raiders.”

I think the Oakland Raiders rivalry against ANYONE is outdated. We’re currently more at war within ourselves than anyone else…

The Chiefs (2-7) have managed to win just five of their past 35 games. But three of those wins have come at the Oakland Coliseum, where Kansas City has the longest winning streak ever by a visiting team.
Ryan Succop kicked three field goals and Kansas City once again pulled out a close one against the Raiders (2-7) in Oakland in the Chiefs’ first game since releasing running back Larry Johnson. Charles stepped in and ran for 103 yards, including Kansas City’s only touchdown on a fourth-and-1 in the second quarter. That was the first rushing touchdown for the Chiefs since Tyler Thigpen had one Dec. 21, 2008, against Miami.
“I feel like I’m getting the opportunity to play,” Charles said. “I’m really trying to take over at the spot. I don’t just want to take over, I want to win so it’s not all about taking over the job, it’s who can make plays.”

The Raiders scored a touchdown on their opening drive and then managed just three points and 202 yards the rest of the way. For the second straight home game, the Raiders pulled former No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell for ineffectiveness.
He was taken out in the first half against the Jets last month after committing three first-half turnovers. He lasted into the second half this week, before being replaced by Bruce Gradkowski late in the third quarter after going 8 for 24 for 64 yards. Russell said he was surprised and disappointed by coach Tom Cable’s decision.
“Things were going OK,” Russell said. “Toward the end, we weren’t able (to) move the ball as well.”

HA! WHEN WERE WE EVER ABLE TO MOVE THE BALL WELL?!??!?!?!?

The change didn’t provide an immediate spark as Gradkowski failed to get a first down after a fumble gave the Raiders the ball at the Kansas City 49. Gradkowski then threw an interception to Mike Brown on a tipped pass on the next drive, giving the Chiefs the ball at the Oakland 47.
The Chiefs drove the ball down to the 11 before settling for a 31-yard field goal by Succop that gave them a 16-10 lead with 6:17 remaining.

Other Notes:
Jamaal Charles scored the Chiefs’ first rushing touchdown of the season.

Kansas City won its seventh consecutive game at Oakland.

Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell has a passer rating of 50 or below in six of nine games this year.

Oakland had a season-high 182 rushing yards.
Gradkowski drove the Raiders to the Kansas City 26 before rookie Darrius Heyward-Bey bobbled a pass inside the 10 and it ended up in Brown’s hands for a game-sealing interception.
“It’s tough to swallow,” Gradkowski said. “You know that kind of summed up today though. We had plays out there that we need to make.”

No shit.

Cable said he wanted to look at the film before deciding who he will start next week against Cincinnati. He blamed eight drops for some of the poor play but said Russell missed open receivers too often.
“This game is about making plays and we just did not do that whether it was JaMarcus in there or Bruce in there,” Cable said. “I’m just looking for the guy who gives us the best chance to win.”

10/1 odds: Darth Raider is in the House..

The Raiders, playing with a healthy offense for the first time all season, got off to a fast start. Michael Bush’s 60-yard run set up a 1-yard plunge by Justin Fargas. Oakland’s only other score came on Sebastian Janikowski’s 50-yard field goal after Dantrell Savage muffed a punt later in the first quarter.
One play in the third quarter provided some comic relief. Dwayne Bowe fumbled after a 12-yard catch for Kansas City. At least six players had a shot to fall on the ball, but it kept squirting down field until offensive lineman Brian Waters fell on at the Oakland 22, giving the Chiefs an extra 23 yards on the play. Kansas City was unable to capitalize on the good fortune as Matt Cassel threw an incomplete pass on fourth-and-1. … Janikowski missed a 45-yard FG in the third quarter, ending a streak of 20 straight makes.

Eh, Jano has been solid until this last mistake. I’m sure he’ll get back on track next Sunday.

It seems like the Bengals are no longer the team to kick around. Who knows? Maybe the team that beat the Eagles will show up. If not?

I sure hope the old man’s dancing again.
I need something to keep me entertained.

Peace,
DR

At times it seems like the Sun will never come out again, doesn’t it?
Of course we’re still “showing progress” and “staying the course” for something like 7 years, but the simple fact remains:
We are still losing more games than we are winning as we live past that delightful year of 2002.

Hey, I’m one of the most the positive guys in the World (appearances can be deceiving),
but when I heard that our Head Coach beat women like Chris Brown back in the day AND recently?..
Even the Lord of the Sith wanted to use his Lightsaber for a Guillotine exercise.

My bud, Master Chad said it right the other day “Sometimes, It’s pure torture being a fan of this team”.
Makes you wonder if the Devil is simply collecting for that deal he made with Al in 1963.
(In the most Demonic voice possible)
“Win now, pay it later!!!”

Lord, all personal arrests and issues aside?
Our Team HAS to get better. I’m not sure how…I’m not sure when…
but it just has to!!!!!!!
Hell, if you read enough of the daily blogs, news feeds and articles?? I guess even YOU start sounding like the players!
You speak positively, your goals sound unrealistic and your chin is always up to the Sky.
I believe that’s the life of a professional Athlete. No one needs your negative feedback, what does that even accomplish?
(Sigh)
Right, it can currently be a negative OR positive vibe in the Locker room right now and our team would still respond the same way, correct??!!
This is the only problem with waiting for younger players to perform like the Crabtrees and Ryans of the Universe.
(Double Sigh)

I’m not sure where I can find the Silver lining today. Suggestions would be greatly appreciated..

(Lightsaber SFX)

Summary:
LaDainian Tomlinson did what he always does against the Oakland Raiders.
Shawne Merriman got to break out his spasmodic “Lights Out” sack dance for the first time since 2007.

It was simply business as usual for the San Diego Chargers, (who got two touchdowns from Tomlinson) in beating Oakland 24-16 on Sunday, their 13th straight against our hapless Raiders. It’s the longest active NFL winning streak by one team over another.

The Chargers (4-3) have swept the series for the sixth straight season. Many Chargers, including quarterback Philip Rivers, have never lost to the Raiders (2-6). It was San Diego’s seventh straight home win against the Raiders.

“When I first got here, the intensity and atmosphere of the game, it rubbed me the wrong way,” said Tomlinson, who was drafted by the Chargers in 2001. “By beating them 13 times, it means 13 times their fans went home with their heads hanging.”
Oakland coach Tom Cable called it “a big hump to get over. We’ve had two good opportunities this year. Are we closer? Yes. But you don’t take anything from it until you get over the hump.”

That “Hump” seems like the size of Antarctica right about now.

With the Denver Broncos losing 30-7 at Baltimore, the Chargers pulled within two games of the AFC West lead. San Diego is trying to win its fourth straight division title.

Whup..PEE.

Merriman got his first two sacks since 2007, dropping JaMarcus Russell late in the second quarter and again late in the fourth. The outside linebacker has been working his way back from knee surgery that cost him the final 15 regular-season games and both playoff games last year.

“It’s one of those things that was long coming,” Merriman said. “I don’t put as big an emphasis on sacks as everybody else does. But they are important. I realize I’ve got to go out and make plays and get those sacks in order for us to be a better defense. As long as I’m doing that and putting pressure on the quarterback and forcing him to do things that he doesn’t want to do, we’re going to be better.”

Or at least as long as Steroids still exist..

San Diego had a season-high five sacks and allowed a season-low 180 yards. The other outside linebacker, Shaun Phillips, also had two.
Rivers, who was sacked only once, was impressed watching his defense.
“Not that they haven’t been applying pressure, but it’s good to see. There’s something to getting the quarterback on the ground,” Rivers said. “I think it’s huge. The thing about sacks, just what I’ve seen from the sideline, these guys have had a force in some of these games. But when you don’t see it in sacks, it doesn’t get the attention.
“The thing with sacks that’s funny is you can have a spurt in a few games and all of a sudden have six, seven. I think it just shows what a huge pro he is, all these guys, that they just kept hammering away.”

The Chargers didn’t have to rally to win as they did in the season opener at Oakland, when they were physically beaten up by the Raiders despite taking a 24-20 victory.
Cornerback Antonio Cromartie intercepted Russell when tight end Zach Miller fell down. It was the first pickoff in 20 games for Cromartie, who had 10 in 2007 but dropped off to two last season.
The Chargers’ first play from scrimmage was a 53-yard pass from Rivers to Malcom Floyd, who replaced struggling Chris Chambers in the starting lineup. It gave San Diego first-and-goal on the 6. Tomlinson took the direct snap and ran around the right end for a 7-0 lead.

Notes:

Chris Chambers was let go of the Chargers after the game. Is signing the WR a good idea? Yup! Will the Oakland Raiders even consider? Nope!!

Oakland’s Sebastian Janikowski made all three of his field goal attempts and has hit 12 of 12 on the season.

Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell threw an interception for the fourth consecutive game.

Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson scored twice and now has 22 rushing touchdowns against the Raiders in his career.
Oakland tied it early in the second quarter after Rivers’ pass to Vincent Jackson glanced off the receiver’s hands and was intercepted by Chris Johnson, who returned it 20 yards to the San Diego 27. Justin Fargas scored on a 3-yard run to cap the short drive.
San Diego scored on its next two drives to go up 21-7. Rivers hit a wide-open Jackson on an 8-yard scoring pass and Tomlinson scored on a 10-yard run.
Rivers was 16 of 25 for 249 yards. Tomlinson had 56 yards on 18 carries. Fargas also carried 18 times for 59 yards.
Tomlinson has accounted for 28 touchdowns against Oakland in his nine-year career: 22 rushing, three receiving and three passing.
All the Raiders got the rest of the way were three field goals by Sebastian Janikowski, of 48, 41 and 28 yards.
Russell, benched in a 38-0 home loss to the New York Jets a week earlier, was 14 of 22 for 109 yards.
“He seemed very much to be in control today,” Cable said. “A couple throws he’d probably like to have over again, but for the most part he gave us a chance to win today.”

Ok, I have suddenly found ALL of the positives lurking in my mechanical brain:
We had a CHANCE Sunday!!! (unlike last week)
The Sun IS actually shining outside.
The Lakers won
My Godchild is beautiful in Halloween pictures
I have a good job.
My brother’s family is moving closer to me.
I’m listening to the Beatles.
You’re STILL reading this..

Life is good, Lads

Be well in Hell, my friends…
DR

So we’re reverting back to comedy!!! SUPERB! I’ve always been one to enjoy laughter from time to time..
It’s just usually appreciated at Comedy Clubs!

The worst loss in Home Franchise history? Pshh, I could of swore we’ve already lived through that wonderful moment with Brooks, but ok..
What do we do now? You ask

..Hope and pray for a better day, Sirs…before we’re old and damn gray!

Hell, you got what you wanted, Boo Birds. Bruce Gradkowski lit it up like an inferno! 4 TD’s, 300 passing yards, 100 rushing yards and ate a Turkey on the sideline!!!!
Oops..sorry… my mind wanders.

Sure, Jam has his terrible, horrible and idiotic moments, but he’s not the only problem and we all know it!
The run Defense STILL couldn’t catch a back to save their own lives…even with the NY Jets number 2 RB out with an injury. The team logged 316 total rushing yards and looked fresh the entire game. This problem has followed us since the start of 2003 season!!! You’d think we would have had the leaky roof fixed by now, but I guess we keep thinking it will be fixed with duck tape instead of new shingles!!!

Murphy and Heyward-Bey STILL stick to the corners like Peanut Butter sticks to bread. Catching??!?! Hey, one thing at a time, Dog!
Yes whiners, I know Crabtree had a better day and I still don’t care. You still lost. This game was never about individuals anyways, you delusional Bastards.
I guess we can only really know how bad/good our Wides are in a few years. Only then will I give ‘em the Sith Lord choke if they’re not productive!
O-line? Next…
D backs? Who needs ‘em when Thomas Jones is running faster than the Flash? Doesn’t it seem like Chris Johnson has reverted back to a 2nd stringer?
Shane Lechler? MVP! MVP! MVP!
Coaching? At least no one’s Jaw was broke….
uh, yet.

I say again…help us Chaz Schilens, you’re our only hope.

Summary:
Mark Sanchez had to apologize for his sideline demeanor again. This time, he was hot-dogging it. Literally.
Sanchez shook off the worst start of his young career by running for one touchdown and throwing for another, before taking time to munch on a snack in the closing minutes of a 38-0 victory over the Oakland Raiders on Sunday.
Sanchez was criticized last week for looking dejected on the sideline while throwing five interceptions in an overtime loss to Buffalo. He was happy enough after this performance that he was caught by television cameras trying to discretely eat a hot dog at the end of the blowout.
“I want to apologize for that,” he said. “I wasn’t feeling very good and didn’t eat much before the game, so I was feeling a little queasy. Toward the end of the game, I probably should have eaten one of those bars or something, but someone offered (a hot dog), so I grabbed it and tried to be discreet about it, but obviously not discreet enough. So I shouldn’t have done that, and it won’t happen again.”

I’m just surprised it wasn’t a Taco. (Hey, I can say that as I am also on Team Bean) .

The game plan for the Jets (4-3) was to take pressure off Sanchez and they did just that by forcing four turnovers and becoming the first team in 34 years to run for at least 300 yards in two straight games. And that was after losing Leon Washington indefinitely to a broken right leg.
The Jets started two of their first three drives at the Oakland 4 after turnovers by JaMarcus Russell, setting up touchdown runs by Thomas Jones and Sanchez.
“It makes it so easy on the offense when your defense is playing like that,” Sanchez said. “Hats off to them, they had a heck of a game to shut that team out. I don’t care who we’re playing, that’s a big-time accomplishment for our team.”
It was so bad for Oakland that Russell, its former No. 1 overall pick, was benched in the first half after committing three early turnovers. This was the most lopsided home loss in the 50-year history of the Raiders (2-5). They were shut out at home for the fifth time ever, with four coming in the past four seasons. The crowd of 39,354 was the smallest since the team returned to Oakland in 1995.

Pretty soon it will be just me and the lucky Pigeon.

“I don’t think we could have beaten an Oakland high school team today,” said defensive lineman Richard Seymour, who earlier in the week said the Raiders would make the playoffs.
Rookie Shonn Greene ran for 144 yards and two scores, and Jones had 121 on 26 carries as the Jets ended up with 316 on the ground.
Calvin Pace beat right tackle Khalif Barnes on the first play from scrimmage, sacking Russell and forcing a fumble that Marques Douglas recovered at the 4. Jones eventually scored from the 1 on fourth down.
Jim Leonhard then intercepted a badly overthrown ball by Russell, who was pressured by David Harris, and returned it 44 yards to the 4. Two plays later, Sanchez scored on a 3-yard quarterback draw.
Sanchez got into the act passing the ball in the second half with a pretty 35-yard strike to David Clowney, but by that point it didn’t really matter as the blowout was already on. Sanchez was 9 for 15 for 143 yards with no interceptions.
“Sanchez was great,” Ryan said. “He was just smart with the football. I think sometimes he could have put the ball on a receiver, but he was making sure the ball wasn’t intercepted. It was great to see him respond.”
The Raiders came in full of confidence following last week’s 13-9 victory over Philadelphia. The week got only better when the Napa County district attorney announced Thursday he would not file charges against Cable for an alleged attack on a former defensive assistant.
But any good feeling ended as soon as this game started, as Oakland lost by at least 20 points for the fourth time in five weeks.

Thank the Lord for Basketball season.

Other Notes:
Ok I looked it up again…This was TRULY Oakland’s worst home loss in club history.

The Raiders were held without a touchdown for the third time this season. Sign Kolb…yesterday.

Russell has committed 13 turnovers and completed just 46 percent of his passes in a horrific start to his third NFL season. He has been booed heavily in the past three home games and was finally benched late in the second quarter.
“I thought he was really out of sorts early in the game,” Cable said. “I just did not feel like at that point he gave us the best chance to have the success we needed to have offensively and made the move. JaMarcus will continue to be our starter. There is no issue there.”

Russell was 6 for 11 for 61 yards, with two interceptions and a fumble. He disagreed with his coach’s assessment, saying he felt just fine but that the results weren’t there.
“I’ve never been in that situation,” he said. “It was kind of shocking to me at first.”

What’s really shocking, Jam? HONESTLY? Is when you play like an average Quarterback!!!

Backup Bruce Gradkowski also lost a fumble to end one potential scoring drive and failed to convert on fourth-and-goal in the closing minutes.

Someone pass the Tequila.

Still love you all, Nation! Sometimes? We’re all we got!!!!
Infinite Peace,
-DR