Must Win, Baby
Is there such a thing as a "must win" game in the first week of the season? We're about to find out.
The Chargers are poised for a strong playoff run, and while it was hilarious to watch them get burned on special teams right out of the gates yesterday, they won the game.
Meanwhile, the Raiders are preparing to play what should be one of our weaker opponents, a division rival, on a stage (Monday night) that has turned into a mean little clown show for our beloved franchise in recent years.
In other words, we need to make a statement and notch a division victory and get a monkey off of our back and keep pace with the Chargers. All in week one.
A must win.
A side note...A few weeks ago, as I was watching the Raiders get pounded by the Saints in the preseason, I found myself oddly contented. Why? Because the Raiders were competent, and occasionally brilliant, on offense.
After years of incompetence on offense, including some of the worst football I've ever seen, it's so refreshing to be...well, competent.
But the slogan is Commitment to Excellence, not Commitment to Competence. I can't be content with competence. The Raiders are nothing more than a middling NFL team (8-8) until they prove they aren't.
Being a middling team sure beats being a laughingstock, but we can't let that become a place of contentment. We can't be so relieved at not being awful that we adjust our expectations. The bar needs to be raised, now lowered. The Raiders have spent eight long years being mostly awful. A return to excellence is long overdue. No excuses.
Must win, baby.
The Chargers are poised for a strong playoff run, and while it was hilarious to watch them get burned on special teams right out of the gates yesterday, they won the game.
Meanwhile, the Raiders are preparing to play what should be one of our weaker opponents, a division rival, on a stage (Monday night) that has turned into a mean little clown show for our beloved franchise in recent years.
In other words, we need to make a statement and notch a division victory and get a monkey off of our back and keep pace with the Chargers. All in week one.
A must win.
A side note...A few weeks ago, as I was watching the Raiders get pounded by the Saints in the preseason, I found myself oddly contented. Why? Because the Raiders were competent, and occasionally brilliant, on offense.
After years of incompetence on offense, including some of the worst football I've ever seen, it's so refreshing to be...well, competent.
But the slogan is Commitment to Excellence, not Commitment to Competence. I can't be content with competence. The Raiders are nothing more than a middling NFL team (8-8) until they prove they aren't.
Being a middling team sure beats being a laughingstock, but we can't let that become a place of contentment. We can't be so relieved at not being awful that we adjust our expectations. The bar needs to be raised, now lowered. The Raiders have spent eight long years being mostly awful. A return to excellence is long overdue. No excuses.
Must win, baby.
posted by Raider Take at 6:55 AM
7 Comments:
RT, I agree with you.
I think we will find out a lot about the Raiders in this first game.
We have been told this off season, the Raiders will, "be better then last year". "will build a bully". and, "will show up to play every game".
ok, nice words. now lets see what really happens.
Unfortunately though, RT, like most people in the world who are content in gas prices dropping 10 cents, there is still no reason to be paying $3-5 per gallon (depending on the state you live in). Gas should not be over $2; but because of little 10 cent breaks, people become more accustomed to the higher prices. It's all part of their marketing scheme to keep raising them.
That's how I feel about the Raiders doing anything less than a Super Bowl. I will not settle for being a "playoff team". If we are a playoff caliber team, then we are a Super Bowl winning caliber team. Anything less than that is disappointing. It's time for the Raiders organization to walk the talk of the last 10 years.
I'm down with that, Raider00.
Great analogy, Raider Nate. That's exactly it. There I was, watching the Saints game, happy that the gallon of gas was suddenly $3.50 instead of $4, forgetting that it was $2.50 not that long ago.
Let's not fall for manipulated expectations and lowered standards.
Must win, baby.
I will preface this post by stating that T Pryor is serving a 5-game suspension and he is not on the Raiders 53-man roster. That leaves only Boss as a notable addition to the team and should give me a stay in terms of my exile from Raider Take.
The Raiders think they had a playoff caliber team last year, so this year — not just this game — is a must win year.
Preseason was ugly on many levels. Suffice to say, if the Raiders don’t get better in a hurry, they will not meet anyone’s expectation.
We saw how unprepared the Chiefs were on Sunday. Will Jackson have his team, which went 0-4 in preseason, ready to play tonight?
Pre-game notes:
- When DHB hits the field as starter with the first team offense, who’s call will that be?
- How long before Khalif Barnes is replaced at RT?
There are no gimmes in sports. You have to earn your success.
So I guess if gas prices are going up, let’s hope the Raiders own some stock in Exxon/Mobil.
Go Raiders!
Closer than I expected but a "V" is a "V"...
23-20 and I'll take it!!!
OAK DEN
First Downs 20 25
Total Yards 289 310
Passing Yards 99 272
Rushing Yards 190 38
Penalties (Yds) 15(131) 10(91)
Turnovers 1 3
Punts (AVG) 6(34) 4(31)
Time of Pos. 32:35 27:25
Stats
OAKLAND RAIDERS
Passing CP/AT YDS TD INT
J. Campbell 13/22 105 1 0
Rushing CAR YDS TD LG
D. McFadden 22 150 0 47
M. Bush 9 30 0 12
M. Reece 1 11 0 11
J. Campbell 6 2 1 7
J. Ford 1 -3 0 -3
Receiving REC YDS TD LG
D. Heyward-Bey 4 44 0 17
M. Reece 3 23 1 16
J. Ford 3 22 0 12
B. Myers 2 10 0 7
D. McFadden 1 6 0 6
PantyRaider...Now 2 "MuleHead"s Will Be Changing Their Post Pics To Our Raider Image...Of Our Choice!!!/_
Great to hear from you, NY.
Five postgame takes are now up.
NYR...
I will concede your technicality and post no contention to it adding that Boss was also out due to injury....
For info Heyer was at "RT" many times in this game in an offset "OL" where Barnes is inside...He was in for the 2nd or 3rd play of the game...That's a "FA" Starter in my book...
At "S" our other new "FA" played extensively and had an Int...He replaced Huff later...Prolley also should be categorized as a "FA" Starter...
Thin air contributed to this as it was necessary to keep everyone fresh...
Expect a new "FA" "LB" very shortly and possible move at "CB" as well....
PantyRaider...Happy With This "V"!!!/_
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