The Oakland Raiders' Secret Weapon? Teams Don't Take Them Seriously

If anything can be learned from 2008, is that you never underestimate your opponent.

Teams like the Miami Dolphins, Atlanta Falcons and the Baltimore Ravens all retooled and wound up playing well throughout the season. Miami, who was one missed FG from going winless last year, lucked out thanks to some foolish work on behalf of the Jets.

Atlanta, thanks to some shrewd moves in the offseason landed a star in the making QB, a great clutch kicker, and a great running back. And the Ravens...well, they've always been known for their defense, but at least Joe Flacco is working the numbers...maybe someday they'll be more of a threat on the offense.

How does all of this play into the Raiders' favor?

First of all, everyone who quotes "what have you done in the last six years", will be shocked if the Raiders win two of three right off the start. In the first three games, Oakland has San Diego, Kansas City and Denver.

San Diego, if anyone has forgot has had a history of problems in the first half of the season. Last year, San Diego went on a 4-8 slide that had both the media and local people wondering if Norv Turner would be gone at the end of the year.

As it was, Denver's historical meltdown helped keep Norv in position. But, it also doesn't hide the fact that San Diego's first half failures are well noted:

2007: 1-3 first four games, then 5-5 after week 11. finished 11-5.

2008: 2-2 first four games, then 4-6 after week 11, finished 8-8.

A lot of what makes or breaks the Chargers, is how they play the division games: sweep the six games, and you have an inside track to the playoffs. Go 3-3, things level out, and you hope a team can lock up your opponent in a hurry.

If San Diego comes into this game looking rusty, or tired like last year's surprise loss in week one....Oakland could celebrate on Monday Night.

Week Two, against Kansas City is it's own mystery. The last two years, Oakland has split the games with KC, with Darren McFadden ripping up the KC turf, and then the Seabass blunder losing the next game last year.

A lot of people are looking at Kansas City turning into another New England team, since the adoption of several players, a GM, and the reformation of a defense.

Probably what will be the biggest question mark, will be if the team plays well in it's new look, or will it self-destruct as the players struggle to adapt?

Week Three against Denver should be the most intriguing matchup, as Mike Shanahan will no longer be patrolling the sidelines, looking like he just had something nasty to eat.

With Jay Cutler gone as well, this team could be a mystery, as no one knows what to expect....will they function the same way, or will McDaniels' overhaul cripple this team's ability to score?

Probably the biggest question, looming for the Raiders, is how will they approach this next season? Last year, we had problems in the red zone, problems with catching the ball and problems period just running out the clock.

If Oakland can keep it's running game healthy, stop the run and make good use of the players we have, we may be doing our own shock to the system.

People will expect us to only score 13-20 points...won't know what to do when we score 28-30 a game.

It might not seem like a big difference...but the ten point variation, against last year's teams would have given us a 12-4 record...11-5, if you give the Raven's the win last year too.

11-5, and we win the division.

Who likes to surprise opposing teams?

Tom Cable...bring everything, but the Kicker.