Oakland has had a rough ride this year , the loss of Al Davis , their starting QB , Mc Fadden , etc. , and the Raiders are still standing . Though the Raiders  have come out of the turmoil in first place the path to the playoffs will not be an easy one . To be taken seriously Oakland must start beating teams they should beat . Oakland has had a nasty habit of playing down to lesser competition ,picking up bonehead flags , and letting lesser teams hang around and steal a win as they did against Denver .

  In order to be taken seriously as contenders for the AFC West , they must start beating the teams they should beat , starting with Minnesota . With a rookie QB , an anemic passing attack , the Vikings have but one weapon Adrian Peterson . As awesome a weapon as Peterson is , with a front seven that includes Lamarr Houston , John Henderson , Tommy Kelly , Richard Seymour , Kamerion Wimbley , Rolando McClain , and Aaron Curry , Oakland should be more than capable of handling the Vikings , considering their passing game is no threat what so ever . Oaklands front seven should be able to stack the box , shut down their rushing attack , and molest their rookie QB to the point of embarrassing a very weak opponent .

 If Oakland wants to be AFC West Champions it is time to take it . The road does not get any easier with GB , CHI , and DET ahead of us . It's time for our front seven to stand and be counted , for our team to play with discipline , and quit shooting themselves in the foot with bonehead penalties . The AFC West is Oakland's for the taking , all they have to do is play to their potential. The Raiders are the most talented team in the AFC West , and if they play like it Oakland should be Division Champions when the dust settles .