1. Dallas at Oakland

Dec 23, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) in the huddle against the New Orleans Saints at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Dallas was third in the league in passing last season (I see you earned that new extension Romo). So this game will be a nice test for the secondary. Freshly signed Tracy Porter will have a chance to showcase his abilities or lack thereof against a team who passed for close to 300 yards a game. Assuming Reggie McKenzie drafts a corner or two, it should prove to be a good chance to see how truly explosive NFL passers can be. I am also personally excited to see how Taiwan Jones plays in his first NFL season as a cornerback.

2.  Oakland at New Orleans

November 18, 2012; Oakland, CA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) talks to his teammates in the huddle during the first quarter against the Oakland Raiders at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

The Saints are friendlier with the end zone then Bill Clinton is with his secretaries. Third in the league in points and first in passing, the Saints will prove to be another challenge for this Raider defense. Other then watching the secondary, it will be interesting to see how the Raider’s generate a pass rush against future hall of famer Drew Brees. The former Charger may be the toughest foe to face all preseason long.

3.   Chicago at Oakland

Nov 25, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears running back Michael Bush (29) celebrates scoring a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings during the second quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

Michael Bush will have a chance to revisit Oakland with another great rushing team. Tenth in the league in rushing last year, the Bears will test what the Raiders have been historically bad at. Stopping Matt Forte and the former McFadden backup will show Raider Nation how the new front seven will fall apart or come together. Miles Burris will be a returning Raider to watch as he enters his second season in the league.

4.   Oakland at Seattle

Aug 11, 2012; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) (left) and Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Flynn (15) (right) enter the field during warm ups prior to the game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Tennessee Titans at CenturyLink Field. Seattle defeated Tennessee 27-17. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

Of course everybody knows what the storyline of this game will be. Matt Flynn will return to Seattle and face the number one defense from 2012. This game will test the entire team as Seattle’s offense was ranked number 9 in the league. Marshawn Lynch and Russell Wilson will test how the defense plays against mobile quarterbacks and versatile running backs. The silver and black’s offense must find the end zone in a great preseason finale that is sure to be a shootout.

I hate the preseason. It is a month of anticipation, getting just glimpses of your team. Every week makes you just hungrier to see the real thing. Not to mention saying prayers every night in hopes nobody ends up injured (an all to common problem in Oakland). The best part of the preseason is the end of the preseason. An end that is ushered in by an Autumn Wind.

Cary Edmondson-US PRESSWIRE

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter the Oakland Raiders are unlikely to activate Darren McFadden for today’s game against the Cleveland Browns.

Despite participating in practice this week for the first time in a month it appears as if Run DMC will have to wait at least another week until he’s back on the field. It could be that the Raiders are considering both the weather conditions today and the short week coming up what with Oakland playing again on Thursday.

Or it could just be that the Raiders don’t want to take an unnecessary risk with their most valuable asset. Whatever the reasoning it doesn’t look like we’ll see #20 in Silver and Black this Sunday.

Nov 11, 2012; Baltimore, MD, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Carson Palmer (3) leads the huddle during the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M

Normally I’d be calling out for the Oakland Raiders to just win, baby. Hello! That’s why they play they game.

Instead all I’m hoping to see today is a game that isn’t over before the National Anthem is sung.

These last few weeks have been filled with some of the most brutal football we’ve ever suffered through as devout followers of the Silver and Black. If the odds makers are correct then this Sunday’s clash in Cincinnati won’t be any different. The Bengals are giving 7.5 to the Raiders which means an ATS win (my apologies if you don’t speak degenerate gambler) would require a Cincy victory by at least 8. That half point looms large.

Sadly an 8-point defeat would be an improvement for Oakland. But in the end it’s not the final score that matters…not when the season was effectively over once Doug Martin ran all over Oakland. Nope, instead it’s the way the Raiders play that will ultimately display where this team truly stands.

Has Dennis Allen lost the locker room? Has Reggie McKenzie’s non-rebuild rebuilding effort sent the wrong message to the men on his roster? Is Mark Davis just as impatient as his father?

All of these questions are legitimate after Davis’ rant to the media following last week’s woeful performance against the Saints.

For Raider Nation we just want a reason to believe in our team. Nobody is expecting playoffs anymore. That ship sank in the Bay weeks ago.

What we’re looking for is the dogged determination expected of every man in Silver and Black. Struggle builds character and if McKenzie’s regime is looking to gain any traction going forward then his coaches had better get an A+ effort today out of the players. Anything less will surely cause another week of unwanted commotion.

Losing we can tolerate if there’s at least a worthy effort put forth. A respectable showing in Cincinnati won’t matter in the standings. This is the NFL where moral victories are not allowed. But this is also a business and if Davis wants to keep filling the stands then his team had better show something on the field worth paying for.