Oakland-San Diego: Can Oakland Change History Again?

If Tom Cable wants something to inspire his players with, maybe he should dust off the week 16 tape against the Houston Texans.

Last year, Oakland was going into their last two games and most people were wondering if the Raiders would finish with a 3-13 record. For the Raiders, playing the last game at home would put them up against a team they never had beaten in three attempts. For Oakland, the season was already gone: At 3-11, there was nothing to play for.

Nothing, that is, except pride.

Oakland, along with the loyal home crowd, would go on to shock the Texans, who were entertaining the thought of a season above .500 for the first time in their history. They had two very big pieces of offense in 2008. Steve Slaton had over 1,200 yards on the ground and 377 yards in catches. Andre Johnson would have over 1,500 yards by the end of the year.

Even the betting odds were unkind: 92 percent of the Pro-Football-Pickem group would think the Texans had an easy win.

That is why we play the games, I guess.

Oakland's offense, which started to come to life at the end of the New England game, carried some momentum into this game with JaMarcus Russell and Chaz Schilens hooking up for a 20-yard touchdown. The Texans would respond with their own TD before the Raiders dropped two field goals.

Houston would tie the score again with field goals of their own, making it 13 all at halftime.

Oakland would then put 14 points on the board, both touchdowns from Johnnie Lee Higgins. One would come from a TD pass of 29 yards and the other from an 80-yard punt return to finish the scoring for the Raiders. The Texans would add a single field goal at the end, but the win would go to Oakland.

Some will argue that the Chargers defense is much stronger than the Texans. Others will say the Raiders offense is missing Chaz Schilens.

With a healthy Darren McFadden and the Raiders looking to change their history, this is a brand new year.

And this is why we play the games.