Cowboys vs. Raiders: Carson Palmer Will Begin Comeback Season Against Dallas

Quarterback Carson Palmer finally has had a chance to learn the Oakland Raiders offense, and Monday, Aug. 13 will be the beginning of his comeback season when the silver and black face the Dallas Cowboys in preseason play.

ESPN reported Palmer was threatening to retire last season rather than play for the Cincinnati Bengals, so the team eventually gave him his wish and traded him to the Oakland Raiders. 

The former Heisman Trophy winner was thrown into the mix less than a week after being traded, and he struggled in his first game. In his first half of the season, Palmer threw three interceptions against the Kansas City Chiefs.

It foreshadowed things to come for the Raiders. Palmer would go on to throw 16 interceptions in 9.5 games in 2011.

Last year was a waste of a season for the veteran quarterback, and now he needs to prove he was worth sending two draft picks to Cincinnati.

All of the pressure was on Palmer to make the playoffs last season. The midseason trade brought high expectations, but he failed to live up to them.

However, he was unfairly criticized for his poor play because he had to carry the team. Darren McFadden was off to a good start in 2011, but was injured before Palmer arrived. The running back did not play in a single game with the team's new acquisition last year.

McFadden is a multi-purpose back, and his ability to catch the football makes him a dangerous threat. He will be a security blanket for the Raiders in the passing game this season.

Palmer had to play with Michael Bush as his running back, and he did a good job of filling in for McFadden. The biggest reason the 32-year-old struggled, though, was the lack of chemistry with his receivers. T.J. Houshmandzadeh was brought in to try helping the quarterback, but the two failed to relive their days in Cincinnati.

Now, Palmer has had a full offseason to build chemistry with receivers Darrius Heyward-Bey and Denarius Moore.

Heyward-Bey, a former first-round pick, had nearly 1,000 receiving yards last season and saw his receiving numbers go up at the end of the season. Moore had a good rookie season and also had better numbers with Palmer under center. He has the speed to get past defenders, and the veteran quarterback throws a great deep ball. That combination will help lead to many big plays this season.

Palmer will play a couple series Monday, but the Raiders will not show too much against the Cowboys; he will focus on being accurate rather than being spectacular.

In this preseason game, Palmer needs to be a great pocket passer. His accuracy is a concern after he threw more interceptions than touchdowns last season. Now that he has chemistry with his receivers, he can showcase his arm.

The key for the game will be making sure the offensive weapons stay healthy. An injury to any receiver or McFadden would be devastating for a team on the rise. 

After a crazy 2011, Palmer needs to move on and focus on winning. He has been to the playoffs twice in his career, but he has yet to win a postseason game.

The AFC West is now one of the toughest divisions in football with the addition of Peyton Manning. And, although it is not the toughest game on the team's schedule, Palmer will be ready to put up huge numbers when he visits Cincinnati in Week 12.  

Preseason play is not an indication of how a season will go, but Palmer can calm many Raiders fans by throwing precise passes against Dallas.