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

You can’t read too much into the preseason let alone one preseason game. Before the Detroit Lions joined the infamous sports club by going 0-for-the-season they went a perfect 4-0 in the preseason. Such is the nature of exhibition football were there’s more drama to be found in the players competing to make the practice squad than there is in the entire team trying to get up to speed.

None the less, what we saw in Oakland’s preseason opener – a 3-0 snooze fest against the Cowboys – raised some serious concerns.

Reggie McKenzie has stressed that Rome wasn’t built in a day but at this rate it will take the Raiders a year to raise a camping tent. Minus the brief brilliance of Darren McFadden the offense is looking nothing like a playoff contender. In fact both the Raiders and Cowboys put a good scare into their respective fan bases.

Jacoby Ford’s belly flop of a 2012 debut could easily be forgotten in less than a week. Then again, for all we know Ford could be showing Johnnie Lee Higgins symptoms of disappearing. The latter is highly unlikely given Ford’s impressive form prior to his injury last season. He’ll right the ship. Well, he’ll have to get back on track considering McKenzie’s approach to roster revamping.

One of the bright spots during the pitiful preseason debut was Oakland’s new look defense which did plenty of things well yet still showed some cracks in key areas. We’re still not sure what to make of the linebackers or the cornerbacks just yet.

And let’s not even get started on Terrelle Pryor who only reassured me a position change is in the best interest of not only his career but the silver and black as well.

But I don’t want to read too much into one hideous preseason showing. Working out the kinks is what this time of year is all about. It will be on Dennis Allen to make sure these types of showings don’t develop into bad tendencies. Hopefully Carson Palmer will get all of the bad throws out of his system now before the curtain goes up on the regular season. Some things are more concerning than others and the last thing we need is for Palmer to repeat his turnover tendencies displayed a year ago.

If Palmer can’t cure that problem then Ford’s lack of effort combined with Pryor’s slow adjustment to the pro game will be the least of our concerns.

Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE

Yes in deed Nation, we have our first date set in stone for the premier of the 2012 Oakland Raiders. Get your popcorn ready cause it will be Raiders-Cowboys on the Monday Night preseason opener live from The Bay on August 13^th.

As of now that is the only date set in stone. Today the Raiders announced their preseason schedule. The opponents are locked as are they weeks the Raiders will play the Cardinals, Lions and Seahawks. The exact date and time has yet to be confirmed for the every game except the Monday Night opener.

You’ll take not there is no Battle of the Bay this time around. No telling when we’ll get that game back on the books. It really is a shame that a few bad apples could ruin the whole bunch. Hopefully this is just a one year hiatus.

Now one rivalry that is building back up is Raiders-Cowboys. These two have met in the preseason for three years running. It’s not the same as the regular season but you’d better believe the Bay will be rocking when them Boys come knocking.