Oakland Raiders News: Optimism Is Difficult to Kill
by Raymond St. Martin (Saint) on Oct 23, 2008 10:34 AM PDT
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PrintOne of the most beautiful things about football is that it is only a 16 game season. Each game counts for 6.33 percent of your teams wining percentage. That puts the largest weight on each victory of any major sport in America, bar none.
It seems that every year, there is a team that is 0-2 or 2-4 that ends up 10-6, or better, and in the Playoffs. Heck, last season the Giants started off 0-2 and won the SB. The Chargers started off 1-3 and went to the AFC Championship Game.
The keys to each of these teams is that they put together 5 or 6 wins in a row and that gave them wins in 32-38% of their games in a row.
That would be like the A's winning 50-60 games in a row or the Warriors winning 25-30 games in a row!!!
So, don't laugh when I say it, but, the Raiders can win 5-6 in a row IF they can win this week.
This weekend's game is as large a game as the Raiders have played since the Super Bowl.
After five seasons where this team has tallied only five wins, in their best season, this team is coming off of as big a win as they've had AND they only trail the Broncos and Chargers by one game in the loss column.
Now, with that being said, I DO NOT expect them to win in Baltimore. No way, no how...BUT...IF THEY DID, that could be THE stepping stone that they would need to become relevant in the AFC West again.
With Atlanta, Carolina, Miami, Denver and Kansas City on the schedule after this weekend, IF, the Raiders can stop McGehee, pressure Flacco and win the Special Teams game don't be surprised IF the Raiders are ruling the West by December by running off 6 wins in a row.
OOOOAAAKKKLLLAAANNDD!!!!
RRRRAAAIIDDDEERRSSSS!!!!!!
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See, Saint
This is the precise thing I am trying to avoid. It always bites me in the ass when I look ahead.
BTW, you’re right.
(No! Not looking!)
I'm here to talk about the past.
I heard McGehee is out
for this game, which would seemingly make the offense that more suspect. Even though they beat Miami in Miami, the stats suggest that it was turnovers that got them the win, the usual winning formula for the Ravens.
Of course I am concerned about the Ravens defense, they mauled Pitt although Pitt won the game. This game is winnable of course because it will certainly be a low scoring game but there is hope that Flacco will turnover some balls, it is what we do with it that makes the difference. I agree with you Saint, if they do happen by some luck or other beat Baltimore then it sets up rather well for a stretch of games. I like the Raiders chances against Atlanta and Carolina, not because Carolina is not good but they are not a great road team, the lucky win over SD notwithstanding. I like the vibes coming out from Rob Ryan who made it clear he was not a Kiffin fan, and got sick and tired of getting blamed for all the losses, pointing out correctly the offense did nothing.
He also pointed out that the defense did not like Kiffin either.
Just not true
My Ravens did have a pick six in Miami, but also had four long scoring drives, taking huge chunks of time off the clock and also had ZERO turnovers on offense. We didn’t have any interceptions, either, and although Pennington threw for alost 300 yards, most were after the outcome was no longer in doubt. Baltimore’s defense has always bent, but usually doesn’t break (except against the Colts!), which is why we Ravens fans stand behind the only defensive stat that really matters- points allowed. We’re averaging 16 points/game allowed, which is actually high for us, but I don’t see Oakland getting that many, and the Ravens won’t get much more than that themselves.
Rexx
the wheels are in motion
And we can see some positive things happening…
Good analysis of the importance of this game, and the next few, determining our place in the division. We haven’t won at the Ravens…eva, so a win would have to start building some confidence.
Disagree
I’m much more confident about our division games than I am about our games against the NFC South. Frankly I’m surprised that you wouldn’t be worried about Atlanta and Carolina teams that have played well.
Going into the season I looked at this stretch of the season as some of our best opportunities for wins. Now I expect us to go 1-2 (hope to go 2-1).
Thankfully, this season has shown that most teams are still competitive in the NFL and can beat just about anyone on any given week.
Go Raiders!
"I love being here. I love these players. I'm loyal to these players and this team, all right? I'm on the side of the players and the Raiders. And anybody who isn't on the side of the Raiders, then I'm not with them." - Randy Hanson, DB coach.
The reason I am not worried
so much about Atlanta and Carolina is that they are home games for the Raiders. A lot of teams including the Raiders don’t travel well, and experience tells me that dome teams never play very well on the road which is what Atlanta is. Carolina is very good and might punch us in the mouth but for them it is a 5 hour flight out West so will take my chances. Looking at the last 5 years no one can be very confident about the Raiders but we all know that what goes down has to someday come up, why not now?
Optimism...
I hate getting my hopes up and then having my feet swept out from under me. Anybody hear the “BOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!” in the overtime of last weeks game when Russell over threw McFadden (or McFadden was in the wrong place) on third down? The crowd felt their hopes getting trampled on.
I would feel much better about being optimistic if the team could score more than 20 points on a regular basis.
I live, breath and breed Silver and Black!
I tried to write about that:
But the ’Optomist" in me got in the way.
But when they start scheming us the way these guys did, and we weren't particularly ready for it, anything can happen."
by Raymond St. Martin (Saint) on Oct 24, 2008 10:30 AM PDT up reply actions
I've was
Super optimistic when the season ended last year… but that’s how I’m every year… like sabp I hate getting my soul trampled on by the poor tackling, penalties, missed fields goals… the usual stuff Raider Fans go through… I still have a wee bit o’ faith that we can pull it off the rest of this season, although I’m looking at it from a different angle than I did at the beginning of the season..
I like to believe my best HITS border on Felonious ASSAULT
-Jack Tatum
We Hate Sapp Now:
He has betrayed the Nation. Sapp is about Sapp.
But when they start scheming us the way these guys did, and we weren't particularly ready for it, anything can happen."
by Raymond St. Martin (Saint) on Oct 24, 2008 10:30 AM PDT up reply actions
Because
he spoke the truth about the Raiders? Do you know hate Gannon too?
Win, Lose, or Tie, Raiders til I die!
I Don't Hate Gannon: I Think He's A Bit Of A Whiner Though
Sapp was part of a team that won 15 games in his 4 years here, could NOT or would NOT stop the run and he just dismisses his degenerating skills with a stone cast at the Raider Organization.
It is too bad that in his 4 years here, he never allowed himself to become the RAIDER that Al apid him to be. Randy Moss either.
But when they start scheming us the way these guys did, and we weren't particularly ready for it, anything can happen."
by Raymond St. Martin (Saint) on Oct 24, 2008 1:06 PM PDT up reply actions
You're looking past some pretty good teams
Atlanta and Carolina have played much better than us so far this year and MIami could easily abuse our poor run defense. Denver in Denver is never an easy game, the only clear win in those games is Kansas City.
That IS the only clear win, BUT, They are all winnable.
But when they start scheming us the way these guys did, and we weren't particularly ready for it, anything can happen."
by Raymond St. Martin (Saint) on Oct 24, 2008 1:07 PM PDT up reply actions
And don't be surprised if the Raiders are Super Bowl champs by winning 15 in a
row!!!! Or for that matter, 2-time champs by winning 34 in a row!!! Or for that matter, 3-time champs by winning 53 in a row!!!! Or for that matter, 4-time champs by winning 72 in a row!!!! Go Raiders!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Taking off my Silver-and-Black covered glasses
The thing about those teams who have recovered from tough starts to make the post-season is that they were really good teams. It is very tough for a club like the Raiders to reel of five or six straight because their play is still going to be up-and-down. Look great one week, lay an egg the next. Again the key is consistency, even in defeat. That means losing some close ones along the way. Hey, we’re a long way from the Denver game, but not so much from New Orleans.
Now I do recall a certain team in 1980 that was picked last and somehow caught fire to turn a 2-3 start into Super Bowl glory. But that was Lester leading a very good defense, while Plunkett did enough each week.
The Raiders aren’t very good yet, but there is something to be said about momentum, and believing in yourself. And in this wacky season, anything is possible. But reality says we’re due for another letdown somewhere.
I'm here to talk about the past.
Neither are the Ravens
able to reel off a bunch in a row, because they are too young on offense to not make those mistakes that kill you. I won $$ on the 1980 Raiders in the Super Bowl.
Rexx
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