Oakland Raiders' Strength Made Strong in Weakness

How can anyone anticipate a strong finish in the performance of the Oakland Raiders in 2009? I can, and I have data on which to base my anticipated outcome between the Oakland Raiders and the Baltimore Ravens.

Why wouldn't a team that is 36 years older than its opponent, have a strong finish. The data shows that there is a possibility. Take a look:

The top curve represents the performance of the Ravens during the last six games in 2009. The bottom curve represents the Oakland Raiders.

Notice that there are more peaks in the curve for the Raiders, indicating to me that the Raiders are performing better than the Ravens during the last six games in 2009.

The overall average in the category of win-loss ratio is .518 for the Ravens, and the Raiders have .551.

Both teams lost the Dec. 27 game. However, if the extrapolation is done for the historical data over the last six games, the Raiders will come out on top.

Yes, the Oakland Raiders started out a bit weak during the earlier portion of the 2009 season, but the graph below shows that the Ravens have experienced a decline for one reason or another.

During the first five weeks of the 2009 season, the Ravens were stronger, but as we look at the last five weeks (before Dec. 27) for the Ravens we have L-L-L-W-L compared to a pattern of W-L-W-L-W. Note that both teams loss on Dec. 27. 

If the numbers tell the story, then the Raiders have a very good chance of showing that "when most folks think they are weak, they are in fact, strong."

What's the moral of the story: It seems the Oakland Raiders play better when they are perceived to be the underdog, and they, somehow and someway, lose to opponent teams that are perceived to be the underdog.

What could be a piece for advice for the Oakland Raiders? Here we go again: Perceive yourself weaker (so you play harder and smarter) in each game and then because you depend on intangibles like pride, faith, transcendence, beat the opponent and send him home in a state of shock.

We did it to the Steelers, Bengals, and Broncos. We can do it to the Ravens and anyone else we play in 2010.

Article complete 3:33 pm, 1.2.2010