Archive for December, 2011

Time flies when you’re watching winning football. These last 12 months have been a blur for Raider Nation. When you reflect back on all of it you can’t help but be amazed that the Silver and Black are playing for a playoff berth on the last game of the season. But what better way to begin 2012 than with drama? We’ve had plenty of it in the last year. Hard to believe that at one point in time I thought Al Davis made the wrong move to promote Hue Jackson and allow Tom Cable to walk. 8 home sellouts, an [...]

Well, Nation, here we are. As Michael Huff said earlier this week this is a “one-game season”. Only fitting that the Raiders will meet their SoCal rivals the Chargers with everything to play for. Ok, so only one team has something to play for. The Silver and Black are looking to venture into the playoff waters for the first time in almost a decade. As for the Chargers, they could also be wading into unfamiliar waters as it looks like they’ll be fishing in the head coaching pool after Sunday. Charger faithful have been held hostage by the mediocre accomplishments [...]

Anytime you’re declared the best at something there is a certain amount of pride that comes with the honor. Unless that honor isn’t anything to be proud of…like…I don’t know…setting the NFL’s single season record for penalties and penalty yards. Well, that is exactly where the 2011 Oakland Raiders stand. 4 flags and 11 penalty yards away from standing alone in the record book. What began with Tom Cable has continued with Hue Jackson. Both coaches share a large portion of the credit for the culture change in the East Bay. However both coaches also continued a trend that began [...]

This Sunday the San Diego Chargers have absolutely nothing to play for besides raining on Oakland’s potential playoff parade. If there was ever a time for the Dolts to take pride in something it would be now. Norv Turner is a lame duck coach (again). Vincent Jackson could be playing his final game as a Charger (if he plays at all). The San Diego offensive line was destroyed by Kamerion Wimbley and the Raiders in their first meeting and not much has changed with that Charger O-line since. Yep, all signs would indicate a San Diego effort only JaMarcus Russell [...]

Eight home games for the Oakland Raiders this season and eight sellouts. Not a single game was blacked out and Raider Nation’s renewed sense of pride can be attributed to Hue Jackson. When Al Davis first introduced Jackson as the newest head coach of the Raiders he boldly claimed his guy would “light a fire under Raider Nation.” What can you say? When Mr. Davis is right he’s on the money. Al’s moved was met with mixed reviews but the balance sheet for the Raiders in 2011 will ultimately show it wasn’t a gamble at all. In fact, the decision [...]

This Sunday the San Diego Chargers have nothing to play for except pride. That is exactly why the Oakland Raiders should flatten those Chumps like a Snicker bar in Warren Sapp’s back pocket. When it comes to Norv Turner coached teams pride is nothing more than how you feel when you get your paycheck. There is no pride on the field only smiles at the bank. How Turner has remained employed as a head coach is a mystery. Well, at least it’s a mystery to Raider Nation who knows all too well how underwhelming Turner is as the head shot [...]

There hasn’t been a single moment this season when the Oakland Raiders have been at full strength. Going all the way back to camp injuries have prevented this squad from having even a single practice with every player healthy and active. Despite all those injury woes Hue Jackson has done an admirable job of keeping the Oakland ship afloat and on course. While there have been plenty of detours along the way, the final destination is still in sight on the horizon. That is why getting all the help possible for Sunday is so necessary. Today Jacoby Ford had his [...]

You can’t ever put too much stock in rumors, rumblings or general conjecture. Unfortunately in this day and age opinion seems to matter more than fact. However when it comes to Darren McFadden’s health this year the fact of the matter remains that since his foot sprain the Run has been removed from DMC. McFadden’s most noteworthy moment since that injury has been the occasional jog around practice to test his foot. Consider this fact as well, the Houston Texans shutdown Matt Schaub for the season when he suffered a similar injury. Apparently the Raiders and Hue Jackson have just [...]

No doubt the most pointless and boring of any All-Star competition yet none the less an honor, today the AFC and NFC Pro Bowl rosters were announced. Representing the Raiders in Hawaii will be Richard Seymour, Shane Lechler and (finally!) Sebastian Janikowski. Seymour isn’t having his best season as he’s been slowed by injury but the veteran D-lineman is on that perennial status when it comes to Pro Bowl honors. Forget stats though. Anybody that blocks two kicks in a must-win game is on legendary status. Seymour’s performance in Kansas City alone merits another Pro Bowl selection. For Seymour this [...]

With so much at stake in the season finale on Sunday there is no way Michael Huff is going to be on the sideline watching. He’s going to be right in the middle of the action and his return could not have come at a better time. Huff has missed the last two weeks but made it very clear that he’ll be on the field Sunday against the San Diego Chumps.  “This is a one-game season. I’m going to go out there and play and give my all. I don’t really worry about if I play this week that I [...]