Oh, how very sweet it is….
the sweet scent of victory, the charismatic emotion, the thunderous applause, the laughter and the hunger all came back to the Coliseum, Sunday as YOUR Oakland Raiders grounded the Cardinals 22-9.
Welcome back, my beloved Raider Nation. What it is, peeps?
My, what a great week this has become. It’s funny how much more positive a Fan is after his/her team gathers a long, overdue victory: work becomes a little more tolerable, the nagging Friends are a little more silent, the families talk more often, even the sun shines a little more if you can believe it….every positive feeling is intensified by a billion. It almost feels like a damn drug.
Ah, if we could only obtain this blissful feeling week in, week out. Hey, as long as we concentrate on beating each opponent one team at a time, there is no problem we can’t overcome, my Empire. Just think of this win as step one. We have taken our first step into a larger world…

Offense: you all played like All Stars. The passes were deployed quickly. Padawan Andrew Walter still made a few mistakes, but the Sophomore Quarterback reacted as a season Vet for the most part. Let’s hope the kid carries that similar kind of swagger going in against the Steelers.
The run blocking was more explosive than this Sith has seen all year. Maybe there is hope for you yet, my Mammoths.
All of the Wide Receivers new routes were executed nicely, but still need to work on catching the ball in and out of traffic.(Mr Moss this means you).
The running committee ran more fierce than a Wookie. The combination of Fargas, Lee and Crockett overwhelmed the red birds. The force tells me it might even be more deadly after Lamont Jordon is added to the mix….well, as long as he’s cured of back pain AND turnover sickness..

Special Teams: Jano, the force was with your already powerful Foot. You kick the ball so hard I can hear it scream from the Dark Side. The blocking was superb and Chris Car still works wonders on Kick and Punt Returns. One day, you’ll break one to the house. I can feel it, number 23.

Defense: All of you get the Golden Lightsaber award. Nnamdi was like glue to Anquan Boldin. Kirk Morrison swarmed to the ball. Thomas Howard made great tackles while Poole, Rookie Mike Huff and Sands made the defensive plays of the season (so far..). Of course that first tackle was a Safety, but if you can’t get the correct play call the first time, there’s always the next down. Both plays made the crowd of over 60,000 scream and yell like there was no tomorrow.
And last, but definitely not least, I want to mention the best damn player on the team; Mr Derrick Burgess.
You brang the pain to Oliver Ross. You lead the team in tackles AND sacks. You caused an Interception. You are everything the team has has ever wanted in a Defensive Lineman. I only now ask this of you Master Jedi; NEVER STOP YOUR BRAND OF EXECUTION! Hawaii is a just a couple handful o’ sacks away. The force will remain strong with you as long as you want it to..

Nation, the next in line hails from mighty Pittsburgh. Ben Roethlisberger (probable), Willie Parker, Hines Ward, Joey Porter and Troy Polamalu all are pissed from losing against the elusive Atlanta Falcons. They expect a stomping. They are not impressed in what they have seen in game film.They think our Fans lack the kind of passion and dedication their crowd gives to them. They’ve said so.

So I say to you Oakland Raider Nation, how do we respond?
How do we help our team continue to gain furious momentum????

Be there, at the Coliseum, put your hard hats on and let’s go to work. Bring your big mouth and the game face.
Victory is ours as long as you all believe…

Inner Strength and vengeance,
-DR