OT: Raiders may be a playoff team...

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Since I live out here in LA, we see all the Raider games during P.S. and they are just a different offensive team with Cambell at the QB spot... His play action is fantastic and the team is running big screens all over the place. He also has the ability to niftly step up in a tight pocket and throws pretty good on the run--though he occasionally puts too much zip on the ball.

Johnny L. Higgins seems to be open all the time and they have a nice staple of RB's in B.F., M. Bush, and Rock Cartright.

Their defense will certainly be top 5 in the NFL with what could be the best secondary in the league and their D-line is gettig nice push and Cameron Wimbley appears to be a beast on this team thus far.

It will be a huge mistake for any of us Cards fans to think the home opener vs. OAK will be easy.

 

[Buckybird]

It will be a huge mistake for any of us Cards fans to think the home opener vs. OAK will be easy.

I personally think it would be a mistake to think anyone on our schedule is a given win.

 

[hafey]

I too live in Los Angeles and had a similar reaction watching the raiders for a bit this morning. Just replacing Russell with a very average Campbell makes a big difference. McFadden may be a bust but Bush is a really nice back. They have some players on defense. I think they might end up having a solid season.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Honestly, Campbell reminds me a lot of Jake Plummer, but a little better...

 

[DoTheDew]

Oakland is one of my sleeper teams this year. I see them winning 7 to 9 games and coming in second in that division after SD, especially with all the injuries Denver is piling up.

 

[Russ Smith]

They're definitely much better without Russell, I'm not sold yet on that
offense they're still not that great at WR, but they won't lose games on
turnovers like they did with Russell at QB.

They should be much better overall.

 

[football karma]

I am always suspicious of defenses from teams with bad offenses

The majority of NFL coaches get conservative when they have a two score lead. Go up 10 points on the Raiders in the third quarter, and you have all the points you need to win the game -- and likely -- the only way you lose is to turn the ball over a couple times.

Consequently -- lets see what that defense looks like when they face teams that know they have to keep scoring in the last 20 minutes or so of the football game.

 

[kerouac9]

The Raiders certainly look intriguing and are an interesting story. I guess the questions that I have are:

1) Do they have the talent along the offensive line to compete?

2) Do they have the talent in the middle of the defense to stop the run?

3) Do they have the coaching to keep the team motivated through a three-game losing streak or make good decisions in the final two minutes?

I'm really unsure about all three, but mostly #3. The NFL is a coaching league, and their HC might be the worst coach in the division and among the three worst coaches in the NFL.

 

[splitsecond]

In the AFC west, anyone can be a playoff team this year.

 

[IAWarnerFan]

In the AFC west, anyone can be a playoff team this year.

I'd expect the Chargers to win the division by a game. Followed closely by the Raiders or Broncos and then Kansas City.

 

[Scott MS]

I'm sure the Raiders will be decent. They are good in the first season of each decade:

1970 - won AFC West, 8-4-2
1980 - won AFC West and Super Bowl, 11-5
1990 - won AFC West, 12-4
2000 - won AFC West, 12-4

2010 - they'll probably win the AFC West

 

[Brian in Mesa]

My dad has a bet in Vegas on them winning the Super Bowl. $5 with 80-1 odds.

 

[Shane]

Whoa not ready to annoint the raiders anything yet. Many a 5 win teams have looked good in pre season.

 

[TheHopToad]

Whoa not ready to annoint the raiders anything yet. Many a 5 win teams have looked good in pre season.

2008 Detroit Lions:

Pre-Season: 4-0

Regular Season: 0-16

http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/schedule/_/name/det/year/2008

 

[seesred]

I agree that the Bad boys look good in PRE-SEASON! We will see what happens during the real games. Cardinals have only won 2 games with Whiz pre-season? Two staight Western division champs.

GBR
40

 

[conraddobler]

We could easily lose that game, I dread the implications and board melt downs that will occur if that happens but the truth is they have a great big advantage because no one has a clue what's comming out of them, I would be highly suspect of them actually running much in pre-season that they are really going to do when we meet, if they are, they're very stupid.