IF... (Rudyard Kipling)
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!
Yes, you can!
Surely (I hope), any Raiders reading this will realize that you have a chance to win the division. If the Raiders win out, the Chargers lose only to Oakland, and Denver suffers three losses (which is likely), then the Raiders will be tied with the Chargers.
After what I saw the Raiders do to the Broncos—surely, the Raiders can handle any of the remaining teams (Kansas City, New England, Houston, San Diego, Tampa Bay). In 2002, Oakland defeated the Broncos in Denver, 34-10, on Monday Night. In 2008, the Raiders went to Denver and defeated the Broncos, 31-10. In 2002, Rod Woodson intercepted Brian Griese for a 98-yard TD return to spark the victory, in a game that Oakland needed to win after losing 4-straight. QB Rich Gannon had a record day for consecutive completions at 21. The Broncos also had a big catch by TE Shannon Sharpe negated by instant replay. The win that night propelled Oakland to a 5-game win streak to ultimately take the AFC West and the AFC. In 2008, WR Johnnie Lee Higgins returned a punt for 89-yards TD in Denver to spark the Raiders to victory after losing 4-straight. QB JaMarcus Russell had a career day for completions with 10 for 11. The Broncos also had a big catch by TE Tony Scheffler negated by instant replay. Can the Raiders make this part of a 6-game win streak to take the AFC West? Anything can happen. So make "anything" happen! But don't be foolish either. Yes, you can!
Plus, three remaining games of which are at home in Oakland: New England, Houston, and Kansas City. Yes, New England is tough right now, BUT, coastal teams that go on the road to the opposite coast, are historically against the odds. If the Raiders can win at Arrowhead and at Denver, then PLEASE win at San Diego. And if the game is the difference between 7-9 and 8-8, then you can win at Tampa Bay. Consider this, if a win over Jon "Chucky" Gruden would earn a postseason berth for the first time since the Super Bowl loss to Gruden, then the Raiders will have come full-circle. Detroit nearly beat Tampa Bay for crying out loud. Consider this to, only once has the Mike Shanahan Broncos been defeated by the Raiders in Denver and still earned a playoff spot (2004). Consider the Broncos DONE.
I know it. Yes, you can!
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about 1 month ago
Interesting look on the chance....would be fun to see it happen, because so far, the Chargers haven't done anything to change my mind, and Denver.....um, trainwreck?
Right now, if we get past the Chargers, and the home field refs, sorry, fans, then we'll need to get inside Matt Cassel's head. I'd say stick Nmandi on Moss, Johnson on Welker, and then blitz heavy like there's no tomorrow....because that's what we're playing for.
One loss ends the ride.
about 1 month ago
I don't give a rat's ASS that the so-called experts tell me I am a fool for being a proud Raider fan. When I read articles like this, it shows me that the RAIDER NATION is alive and well and waiting out this extended down time. You guys are beautiful, we'll see you at the Coliseum.
about 1 month ago
It's OK for Raider fans to speculate about the playoffs and winning out and all that stuff. It's fun to think about the possibilities. But Raider players need to block all that out and think about their next game - their next opponent. They need to think about how they can improve each week. This team is simply not good enough to overlook anybody including the lowly Chiefs. Their focus needs to be on the task at hand, which is to beat Kansas City on Sunday.
from about 1 month ago
Very true, but Oakland needs to believe that winning will add-up. That they can win, which is what they've struggled with. I believe after what they did in Denver -- they are good enough to win, so long as they stay focused.
about 1 month ago
You make an excellent point David, and I agree with you to a point. There is a fine line the Raiders have to tread here - gaining confidence and being over confident. A loss to the Chiefs this weekend would be devastating. It's a huge cliche, but there is something to be said for taking it one game at a time. Every time they've had a victory that looked like a turning point over the last few seasons, they've followed it up with a loss that sets them back. I'm not trying to be negative here, I just don't want the players getting ahead of themselves when there's so much work yet to do.
about 1 month ago
Dude I'm as big a Raider fan as you're going to find, but you are a complete IDIOT. Seriously, how can you actually write a seriously article about the trainwreck of a team winning out and making the playoffs? Are you that completely dillusional or just retarded? This team is poorly coached, totally incohesive and lacking talent in key areas. Plus you can't win consistently in the paranoid environment that Al has created. It's just impossible.
The win over the Broncos, while encouraging, is nothing more than a red herring. We'll probaby get beaten by New England by 30, get trampled by the Chargers and LT (who we've never had an answer for), and lose a close one to Texas. And winning against Gruden in Tampa ... are you for real?
So stop pretending to be a journalist and come back down to reality. That's where the real fans live. Moron.
from about 1 month ago
Mike, do me a favor.
Go study your history a bit more. We've had teams, that were supposed to be 4th place squads, that won the super bowl. We've had players, who were supposed to be out of football, winning games.
True, we've had a bit of a trainwreck. But by the numbers...we're both still alive, the AFC West is still a joke of winning, but that's why we're still in it. Which would you prefer, a 2-8 record, or an 8-8 team, looking to the playoffs, with a great point to lead into next year?
about 1 month ago
That is the attitude that Raider players have given into. I'm saying that the Raiders can be above that, IF they choose to be above it. Tune out the Al Davis experience, and simply focus on playing great football.
You know, once upon a time, football teams DID NOT have coaches. They played as a team to win. That's what I want to see from Oakland, and I believe they can.
As a fan, I always say, that a fan can say anything they want about their team, and I won't impugn them for it. I hold them accountable for what they say about other teams. I prefer to see the ways in which Oakland can win. It's not delusional. It's called "thinking outside the box."
about 1 month ago
Lets go Nation !!! Just win baby!
fg
from about 1 month ago
All we can do is hope they can.
about 1 month ago
I agree with Farris!!!!!!! Go Nation!!
26 days ago
So much for that, eh? I've reiterated time and again that when it comes to the Raiders, I will always defend them. But you can impugn me for what I saw about other teams. The fact is however, I picked the Dolphins to be at least 8-8, and so I have won that argument. The purpose of this article though was that, the Raiders have had their heads in the sand for years, not believing they can win. So it was meant to be inspirational to break fans out of the "Al Davis must go" funk. It wasn't meant to be a prediction.
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