(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
Bold, yes, but I'm not a fan, I'm a fanatic.
I'm part of a Nation that bleeds Silver and Black.
A Nation that believes in their team, no matter the outcome.
Part of a Nation that stands by its guys in good times and bad.
A Nation that holds in the highest esteem the echoes of ancient legends.
A Nation that is the one and only Nation.
Raider Nation.
I've posted prediction articles before, forecasting 10 things that will happen this year.
I've told you why this year is different than the past.
All of these things are meaningless if it doesn't actually pay off. Now, my boldest prediction yet, Nation. I am giving you a reason to think, even if unbelievably, that the Raiders could sneak right into those playoffs.
Playoffs? Playoffs? Don't talk to me about playoffs!
Oh, but I did, NFL comrades, I said it. Now I will explain my somewhat skewed rational—not skewed to me, of course—but I am sure there will be doubters, *COUGH* Coach Elkins, excuse me, *COUGH* Al's Wingman.
There are always skeptics, but never as many as there are for the NFL team from Oakland.
Number one, sheer logic. The time is now, the quarterback is ready. If you don't believe me, just check his preseason stats.
The coaching staff is the best we've had in many years, if not ever. This is a group of consummate professionals. The reason you haven't seen the capabilities of Oakland's ground game is a highly complex plan, developed by mad geniuses called "Operation: Save It for San Diego."
The bottom line is the Raiders are working the passing game right now. Once the regular season gun goes off, it's off with the passing, and on with the run control, clock management, highly potent and precise passing, and rested defense style of play that wins games in this league.
Head Coach Tom Cable is testing the waters. He is making sure there are no loose ends. He puts one of the worst defenses in the league last year on the field against the best offense from last year for nearly 40 minutes this preseason; we have to call that making progress, even though it looked dramatically ugly live.
Okay, all that said, true Raiders fans and avid readers of Raider news from around the Web know where the hidden talents are on this team.
People around the league, who are not Raiders fans, will soon know exactly why Chaz Schilens is the next household name as far as NFL wide receivers.
They will soon be biting their tongues, wishing they could take back all their JaMarcus Russell bashing.
They will soon realize that Oakland's ground game is no joke, and they will be wishing that their team didn't have to get pounded this week by an extraordinary combination of tailbacks.
Moving on, now that I've gotten your attention, let me explain to you why, game by game, Oakland is the AFC's sleeper team for 2009.
Week 1, Oakland, California: September 14th, 2009 vs. San Diego Chargers
This game is almost meaningless to San Diego, in comparison to what it means to Oakland. San Diego and their fans expect this to be an easy victory.
Due to that fact alone, they will not be completely prepared. While they do know that they do not want to start slow again, like in 2008 when they lost five of their first eight games, they do not realize that their time atop the division is slowly withering away.
They expect their opponent to come out and play flat, on their third straight Monday Night Football showdown to open the season. They expect their opponent to go down again like the 11 previous matchups played by these two rivals.
What they don't expect is for Oakland's halfbacks to outgain theirs in yardage. They don't expect tight end Zach Miller to out preform veteran Antonio Gates. They don't expect to only get 23 minutes of offensive clock to work with.
They don't expect Oakland to keep a 15-0 lead this time, but they are wrong. I think Oakland wins big in this one, 31-17. Sorry "D"olts fans, but I feel no pity for you homers.
Week 2, Kansas City, Missouri: September 20th, 2009 @ Kansas City Chiefs
We're going to send you the most entertaining Oakland Raiders articles, videos, and podcasts from around the web.
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