Key stat: The Raiders outgained the Chargers 316-253 but turned the ball over five times, compared to only one fumble by San Diego..
and that was the game.
JaMarcus Russell showed he has was it takes to be a starting Quarterback in the NFL despite throwing one interception in the first Quarter. Let it be known, finally..
there is now hope for the future under Center.
Russell completed 23 out of 31 passes and threw one hell of a Touchdown pass to Jerry Porter in the “Dark Side” end zone like he had been doing it for years.
Hopefully, with the proper training, the right players added and continued positive progression, he will be.

The words “The right players” makes me wonder how many of our current Oakland Raider Receivers on the roster will be asked back to the team next year.
I mean, I know we have SOME talent in this area..but is it truly enough?
Really????
Out of all the WR’s, it seems Ronald Curry is capable of being a continuing threat to the opposition, but what about Jerry Porter?
People still groan when I bring up his name..
Both players have logged around 700 yards for the season, but are these the kind of stats that are going to bring us to the next level?
I have to be honest, I expect a lot more from our players in this position. I’m sure they expect more from themselves as well…
Does anyone still wonder if we will ever see over a 1,000 yards from either of our starting Wides again??
Maybe this negative criticism comes to mind because I was so used to having Tim Brown suit up all of those years…with Jerry Rice helping out eventually..
If Kiffin was serious about “attacking” Free Agency, looking for Wides should be the first priority.
I’m also thinking our lack of receiving yards might be due to our previous “Band-Aid” Quarterbacks brought in to help out our team this year..
but who really knows if our Receivers would have better stats if Jam signed a little earlier?
The right Quarterback can obviously make regular Receivers look like Pro Bowl Receivers.
I hate to say it, but look at the bitch in New England…..
enough said.
Linemen, it seems like you’re protecting a wee bit better since the beginning of the season..
but if I ever see JaMarcus take another hit like the one he took in the 4th Quarter, I swear I’m taking the field and cut blocking you guys my damn self.
Barry Sims, Robert Gallery…this means you.
On the positive side, good Job opening holes for Dominic, big men.
Rhodes actually looked like he was running with the Colts in the playoffs last year.
I sense the organization will do what they must to keep this kid on our team. Not only does he have the talent, he also knows what it takes to get us to the next phase of Football.
With him, Fargas and Mike Bush activated next year, we’ll finally have what it takes to run against any team.
Lamont? I find your lack of faith disturbing…
execute order 66.
BTW….FB and TE? I think we’re good.
Defense: LT was held to 56 yards, but who knows what would really happen if he stayed in?
Then again, I guess they still ran over us without the All-star…
SD’s Rushing total: 120 yards…what else is new?
The tackle position MUST be addressed in either the Draft or Free Agency. After the game, my boy Chad told me Sapp looked at the field like he was looking at it for the last time. (Gasp) let’s hope not.
Another DE might be helpful…especially if we’re not able to bring Burgess back for more mula.
LB’s? You know we’re good. This actually might be one of our strongest positions..
Corners seem ok….let’s all pray we can keep Nnamdi.
At Safety, for some reason, we’re always looking to bring in new talent at this position. Sure, I also think we need help here…but not as much as other positions.
Is Rob Ryan safe? I guess only if we actually KNOW Pa Kiffin will want to come aboard to help us…
I’m sure more exciting news will be coming our way in the next few days, weeks and months.
Despite any change, know that I’ll be here.
Hopefully, you will be too…

A BIG GIGANTIC “HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!” GOES OUT TO THE ENTIRE OAKLAND RAIDER NATION!!!!! 2 ALL OF MY FRIENDS AND BELOVED FAMILIA??
LOVE U ALL, KIDS!!!!
PARTY LIKE ROCK STARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PACE!!!!!

-DR

Behold, the worst loss of the year..
When did YOU start turning your heads away, Nation?
I have to admit, with games like these, I need the Sunday Tribune in my hand; complete with Holiday shopping gift ideas and another channel to flip to to unfocus.. thank you, NBATV.
Holy Christmas, was that bad.

“Unfortunately, it’s like one of your nightmares come true. This was my fear all along.”
-Lane Kiffin, after going over JaMarcus Russell’s stats.
The Official tally:
He completed only 7 of 23 passes for 83 yards, with his final throw resulting in his first NFL touchdown. He also had three passes intercepted — several more came close to being intercepted — fumbled once, was sacked twice, was called for intentional grounding, and directed only two scoring drives.

Jam Russell was eventually going to take his lumps and lickings like everyone else. Us die hards knew it all along..
When your team makes it a habit of playing bad, you kind of expect the worst from time to time. It’s just a damn pity we got our asses kicked THAT bad.

The real test is to witness how a player responds to getting punched in the mouth a few times..
Does the kid curl up in a ball like a Slinky or does he actually study and practice like next week’s finale was like the damn Super Bowl? Only time will tell..
In case you kids didn’t know, after the game, Lane Kiffin told the media Mr. Russell is going to start next week against the San Diego Chargers.
May the force be with you, sir.

“That’s good to hear,” cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha said. “He’s the future. We want him on the field getting the game experience if he’s going to be the future of this franchise. So, nobody was upset with that. We welcome that. If you want to play him the whole game, play him the whole game.”
I believe the Nation thinks that’s actually a wise decision also. I just pray they don’t boo #2 after any natural Rookie mistakes. The kid needs our support.

Jacksonville safety Jamaal Fudge, who had one of his team’s three interceptions, said he liked what he saw from Russell.
“He has a strong arm, he’s still young and he’s going to make mistakes right now,” Fudge said, “so you really can’t judge him. As the years go on, he’s going to be a good player but, for right now, he’s still learning the system.”
“Sweet Fudge”.. you got to love it.

De La Salle High graduate Maurice Jones-Drew made short work of the Raiders from the first time he touched the ball Sunday.
Drew scampered 43 yards for a first down on a third-and-6 play from Jacksonville’s 32-yard line. He capped the drive with a 14-yard run that featured Drew running past linebacker Robert Thomas, around cornerback Fabian Washington and over free safety Hiram Eugene into the end zone.
In all, Jones-Drew rushed 10 times for 44 yards and caught six passes for 96 yards — both game-highs. He also earned the praise of teammates and opponents. He recorded a first down or a touchdown on seven of his first nine touches.
“He’s a little ball of muscle,” Raiders linebacker Thomas Howard said. “He definitely can pack a punch.”
Jones-Drew called it “a dream come true” to play against a team he watched growing up in the Bay Area.
“There are a lot of guys I know from being out there in the off season, seeing them work out and working out with them,” Jones-Drew said. “It was just fun playing with them. They’re a great team. It just wasn’t their day today.”

I have to admit..
These guys play hard and do so with honor and dignity. Let’s just pray they have enough talent to beat..
Oh, I don’t know..let’s say the New England Patriots in the playoffs.
What a great Christmas present that would be..

Running back Dominic Rhodes surpassed his season totals (19 for 65) with 27 rushes for 115 yards.
Makes you wonder if ol’ Dom should of been played a bit more in the regular season. Well,if all goes as expected and Lamont Jordan is cut, I believe Rhodes would make a great number 2 back if the Raiders restructured his contract a bit.
Poor guy..I sense the man often thinks to himself “How did I go from a Super Bowl championship caliber player to this?”
I can only ask him so many times (and all of you) to stick around, ya ugly pirates.
We’re about to turn the corner after we focus on our needs in the off season. I believe the pecking order now stands as followed:
1) DT
2) WR
3) LB
4) OT
5) SS
Reminder: This list also might be subjected to change after watching next week’s game..
So make a note of all of this, Santa.. and bring the Lord of the Sith and the Nation what they deserve and need!!!
..Or I swear I’m deploying AT AT’s to destroy your rebel base in the North Pole.
Feliz Navidad and Merry Christmas, Nation. Enjoy your time with family and friends….
I will!!
PEACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-DR

Behold, the best loss of the year!!!! Yeah, I know you don’t believe in moral victories, valiant Nation. I also know the thought of a loss always eats the insides of your silver and black shiny soul and carries over until the end of the week like a virus..
But you really have to give our Oakland Raiders credit for giving us a fighting chance in a competition in which people thought we had NO CHANCE at winning..
Manning was supposed to eat us alive…
Joseph Addai was supposed to run all over us..
The Colts were supposed to be unsackable and flawless with their spectacular, beautiful, vertical passing game!!!!!
guess again.
Honestly, I think we exploited a few weaknesses, Sunday. I sense in the future, more teams will now crowd the box against the Colts and play our kind of D.
I also believe that with a few more calls going our way (The Colts got away with TWO P.I. calls in the 4th Quarter),
a better showing of our Punting team unit (first zilch and now 2 opponent TD Punt returns in 2 weeks..WTF?)
and a better showing of our # 1 Draft Pick (Occasionally too much Mustard on the Hot dog..)
we could of won that damn game!!!

Eh, maybe it’s my fault. I only asked the force for our Raiders to be competitive before the game…
and that was it.
Maybe I should of asked for the whole %$&#$ Enchilada….
(mmmm Enchiladas…)
maybe not.
With every Oakland Raider win moves us farther down the Draft pick list, do we really need that?
Tsk, tsk…might as well be happy with what we witnessed yesterday.

Defense, Defense, DEFENSE!! You played one hell of a game!!! Master Derrick Burgess has finally risen from the dead to show his fearsome, dreadful, evil head; 1 sack for a loss and a tip off Manning that resulted in a Thomas Howard Interception. I sense our 2 time Pro Bowler Defensive Lineman now wants to make a late bid to make it back to Hawaii. May the force be with ya on your journey, sir.
The Defense also did a stellar job in containing the Colts starting running back, Joseph Addai, who was limited to 44 yards.
Gerard Warren had 5 tackles and a Sack on Manning that made the ground shake.
Linebacker Chris Clemons also netted a sack which still makes him the team’s Sack lead leader. We’re you at, D-Linemen???!?!?!??
Nnamdi Asomugha also had some great pass defensive plays and stuck to the Colt’s Receivers like tongues to frozen poles.
Offense??
Josh MCcown, I don’t care what the hell they say about you, you’re alright with me. Sure, it was only 94 passing yards gained…but you showed more heart than any other Quarterback out there on that field, Sunday…you took a big hit and got right back up while your body language shouted out “Was that it, Bitch?”
I’m not saying you’re our future Starter…
but you’d might play a nice backup role next year, J. Keep working on that A game.
The Offensive line also continues to impress me. You guys don’t even know the meaning of the words “Let up”. These Giant men just continue to better themselves; keeping our Starting QB’s jersey from getting dirty AGAIN and help our star Running Back Justin Fargas receive over 1,000 rushing yards for the year. Lord, is this an improvement from last year or what?
Thank you, Tom Cable. You’re Golden Lightsaber award is in the mail.
Son of Bear, congratulations on logging your first 1,000 yard season.
I have to admit, when you first came in the league, I originally thought you were too undurable and too small to play the role of our Starting Running back for years to come..
but I then remember seeing you play well against the Niners last year and was impressed from there on. It seems like ever since then, you had fire in your eyes and belly… like you had something to prove…
Well, kid…..
you’ve proved it.
You deserve the big pay day that’s coming..
you deserve the accolades presented..
the future rewards…
and the fan’s cheers and praises for making this long, aggravating, losing season at least somewhat tolerable to watch.
Thank you, Justin..you bring us hope for the future.

I also want to thank “The original Dark Raider” for his kind words, encouragement and friendship he has given me throughout the years. I pray his Wife’s health improves and will be here to support him until the day I die. Praise goes out to all of your family, Legend.
-Dr out

“We don’t let one game define us. But if we keep playing the way we played today, it will.”
-Lane Kiffin

Yeah Coach, I don’t think that ass whupping will define us either. There were just too many high points coming into yesterdays game to believe that our team is actually that damn bad.
I’m chalking that one up to cold weather, bad officiating, clouded minds and self uncertainty.
I’d like to think that we have made some positive strides in the running game, passing game and special teams, but what still bothers the Lord of the Sith, Master of all evil, is our run stopping ability in the last couple of years….
or should I say, lack there of….
Ryan Grant was the latest mediocre Running Back to run over our battered, broken backs.
We all knew right away what kind of game it was about to be when Grant bursted for 12 yards through our Defense like a hot bullet through tracing paper on the Packers first offensive play.
“You’re only as strong as your weakest link on defense.” Warren Sapp said.
“If somebody can find your weak link and expose it, they’re going to come and get you. As much as (Green Bay) likes to throw the ball, there’s no way they were going to throw the ball.”
Maybe somebody should give the “QB Killa” the passing stat sheet. Old man Farve torched us for 266 passing yards…
but it was a quiet 266 yards. Is that possible??
“It’s just about being in your gaps and being were your supposed to be when your supposed to be there.. For some reason, we haven’t figured that out yet.”
Warren, it’s week 15 of the 2007 season schedule. Do you think we’ll EVER learn how to stop the run in this entire decade?? I believe it’s now the time to start looking for a nice run stopper in the draft or through free agency.
Has anyone seen the play of Howie Long’s son, Chris?
Maybe that progressive Padawan could be the answer…
Just to be safe, maybe we can sign Voltron, Mechazilla and Galactus to hold off the ongoing ugly monster named”Back attack?”
Someone bring me my damn Christmas list.

Sunday, I swear I didn’t know Will Blackmon from any other baller before we entered this game..
Swell, now I f#&ing know.
The kid scored two special teams touchdowns, including one from a fumbled punt recovery and also a 57-yard punt return. Blackmon was the first player to score a touchdown on a punt return and fumble recovery in the same game since Cincinnati’s Lemar Parrish had a 90-yard punt return and 47-yard fumble return TD against the Redskins on Oct. 6, 1974.
Whup…
pitydoodah.
As it turns out, those were the plays that made the game get out of hand.
You want a drive to define us? I believe it was the one that was executed right before the end of the first half. That beautiful drive had plays that included Tim Dwight, Lamont Jordan and the team that concluded in a 25 yard TD pass to Jerry Porter. Porter ripped the ball out of Al Harris’s hands and looked at the crowd to let them know we weren’t going out quietly…
then we did next half….. Ouches.

The positives? I listened to Lane Kiffin’s press conference today were the following question was asked:
“Will Jamarcus Russell play against the Colts?”
Kiffin answered..
“Jamarcus will see some time against the Colts next Sunday.”
Coach said Russell will not start, but definitely see more time than the last game he played in.
“Hallelujah!!!” shouts the Nation….

Let’s just hope Justin Fargas can still play after acquiring bruised ribs from the Pack attack.
We have to give the kid the best possible chance to win. That includes having our favorite speedy son of a Bear healthy (or somewhat healthy) for the world Champions.

Before I go, I would also like to thank the Offensive Line for AGAIN not surrendering a Sack.
Let’s just hope we can keep that solid wall strong for the mighty Colts.

Hey, we took out one defending Super Bowl champ in the biggity O before….
whose to say we can’t do it again?
Keep it S and B.
-DR out.

ps congratulations goes out to one of my favorite friends, Lil Sanchez on receiving her Bachelors degree from the University of Reno. All of your hard work has paid off, Wookie…
now get a job, ya furry bum(:

I’ll only ask it once….

Can you say “The best win of the ENTIRE damn year?”

How about “..the best in the last 2 years?”

For me?
TRY FOUR LONG ONES, HOMIES!!!!!

Greeting and Salutations, notorious Nation.
This win was big…
big like Oprah…
big like Gigantic…
Gigantic like Enormous…
Overwhelming…
Exhilarating….
Ya know? Sometimes, there’s not enough words in the Ebonics or English dictionary to decipher what I’ve felt in the past few hours..
You honestly have to be placed in the large walls of the Coliseum, home of YOUR Oakland Raiders, to understand and appreciate the warmth, passion and respect fans give one other after a glorious win.
Raider Fans around the world visit thousands of miles to witness this feeling I try to describe.

The word “Party” now comes to mind.
Party like it’s your 70th Birthday, Jim Otto.
Party like the family is coming to visit.
Party like it’s the newborn King’s Birthday early.
Party like you got her number or he calls you back…
Party like you’re on Vacation.
Party like a Rock…Party like a Rock star..

Linemen, you were playing off your f%#$* ass.
Offensive, I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen holes that big. You could of ran a Tractor Trailer AND Noah’s Arc through ‘em. Denver didn’t even rack in a Sack.
This was clearly the best Gallery, Sims, Coop, Jerms and Paul have ever played collectively. You get the MVP golden Lightsabers, big boys.
Defensive…how in the hell do you hold off Travis Henry to 49 yards when your dead last in Run stopping D???? Now I know why other players hit you guys after making the kind of plays that helped us win the game…
Impressive..most impressive!!!!

Thomas Howard, there you go again…
“Well, I know Jay (Cutler). He likes throwing to me and I like catching the balls he throws..” he said after receiving his 2nd pick after his 2nd game against the Denver Bronco’s this year.
Our Linebackers are priceless, Nation. Captain Kirk and Sir Thomas had a field day with a combined effort of 17 tackles. They couldn’t of possibly played a better game today….
or could they?

Back to the O…
Justin..another stellar performance:
33 carries for 146 yards which equals 863 total rushing yards for the 2007 season. If you reach 1000 (which will likely happen soon) , I’m pretty sure the starting Running back position is yours for the foreseeable future, Mr Fargas. Congratulations, son of a Bear….
I sense big money is coming for a 6′1 big man. Hang up your Stockings, boy!!

Josh McCown. I apologize for anything negative I have ever said about you. You played like a true Warrior, today. 3 Touchdown passes is not something that comes very often from our present day Quarterbacks. The kids that booed you after the Rookie had his turn should be slapped and force choked. That TD pass to Tim Dwight was right on the money….
BTW…You should also thank me for pointing out Jerry Porter WIDE OPEN in the Dark Side end zone……
you’re welcome, bub.

Now… how about we end with a humongous congratulations for our 1st round Draft pick??!?!?
aka..The kid…
The human Cannon..
The chosen one..
The eye of the Tiger, Mr JaMarcus Russel.
AKA JAMMMMMMMMMMM! OHHHH JAMMMMMMM!
You were ballin’, sir!!! (4/7 for 56 exciting yards)
Sure, I know you want to play more.
Sure, I know the fans wanted you to play more..
But you have to realize, Rook…this is how it has be done.

“I tried to tell myself just to relax,” Russell said. “It’s same thing that you do each and every day in practice. That’s exactly what it felt like.”

In my opinion? Coach Kiff played it perfectly.
If you realize a player is hungry, you keep him hungry until the time is right to feed him.
I’m sure it’s not the last time Coach will use that special ability of yours to get down field.
You keep starving for more, #2. We have a lifetime to witness the greatness within….

“It’s big. It’s not just another game for us,” Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha said. “Back-to-back AFC West games. That’s huge. That’s never been done since I’ve been here. We’re taking strides.”

Finally…..
we’re finally making steps to the next level of progression.
Drinks are on me, Nation. “Black Holes” for everyone!!!!!!
Now let’s take all of this positivity to Green Bay and show them what we’re made of..
for tonight, we dine in silver and black bliss..
-DR out