Calling All Raiders: You Control Your Destiny in The Unforgiving Minute

IF... (Rudyard Kipling)

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!

Yes, you can!

Surely (I hope), any Raiders reading this will realize that you have a chance to win the division. If the Raiders win out, the Chargers lose only to Oakland, and Denver suffers three losses (which is likely), then the Raiders will be tied with the Chargers.

After what I saw the Raiders do to the Broncos—surely, the Raiders can handle any of the remaining teams (Kansas City, New England, Houston, San Diego, Tampa Bay).  In 2002, Oakland defeated the Broncos in Denver, 34-10, on Monday Night.  In 2008, the Raiders went to Denver and defeated the Broncos, 31-10.  In 2002, Rod Woodson intercepted Brian Griese for a 98-yard TD return to spark the victory, in a game that Oakland needed to win after losing 4-straight.  QB Rich Gannon had a record day for consecutive completions at 21.  The Broncos also had a big catch by TE Shannon Sharpe negated by instant replay.  The win that night propelled Oakland to a 5-game win streak to ultimately take the AFC West and the AFC.  In 2008, WR Johnnie Lee Higgins returned a punt for 89-yards TD in Denver to spark the Raiders to victory after losing 4-straight.  QB JaMarcus Russell had a career day for completions with 10 for 11. The Broncos also had a big catch by TE Tony Scheffler negated by instant replay.  Can the Raiders make this part of a 6-game win streak to take the AFC West?  Anything can happen.  So make "anything" happen!  But don't be foolish either.  Yes, you can!

Plus, three remaining games of which are at home in Oakland: New England, Houston, and Kansas City.  Yes, New England is tough right now, BUT, coastal teams that go on the road to the opposite coast, are historically against the odds.  If the Raiders can win at Arrowhead and at Denver, then PLEASE win at San Diego. And if the game is the difference between 7-9 and 8-8, then you can win at Tampa Bay.  Consider this, if a win over Jon "Chucky" Gruden would earn a postseason berth for the first time since the Super Bowl loss to Gruden, then the Raiders will have come full-circle.  Detroit nearly beat Tampa Bay for crying out loud. Consider this to, only once has the Mike Shanahan Broncos been defeated by the Raiders in Denver and still earned a playoff spot (2004). Consider the Broncos DONE.

I know it.  Yes, you can!

If the Raiders win out and the Chargers lose only to Oakland, the Raiders would be 4-2 in the AFC West, as would be the Chargers.  The Broncos would be eliminated if they lose to San Diego and finish 8-8 because they would be 3-3 in the AFC West.  Both Oakland and San Diego would also have equal winning percentages with common opponents.  "Win Out" Oakland.  One loss and you're done; kinda like the BCS.  What it would come down to is point differential. Unless San Diego loses to Atlanta. Then the Raiders would just need to win-out and hope Denver falls flat, which they probably will.

I'm saying that the Raiders can be above the Al Davis drama, IF they choose to be above it. Let the coaches and staff worry about Davis.  Cast off the yoke of the Al Davis Experience Featuring the Ghost of Pete Rozelle and take-up the Silver & Black's burden, and simply focus on playing great football.  You know, once upon a time, football teams DID NOT have coaches (until Walter Camp). They played as a team to win.  Even if, Al Davis forces a bad call: play great football, regardless of the playcall.  That's what I want to see from Oakland, and I believe they can.  Yes, you can!

As a fan, I always say, that a fan can say anything they want about their team, and I won't impugn them for it. I hold them accountable for what they say about other teams. I prefer to see the ways in which Oakland can win. It's not delusional. It's called "thinking outside the box."  I can't stand fair-weather fans that float between temporary winners.  Because when you can find the courage to see through perceptions of reality to, how the team can win and not loose your cool -- that is when YOU have truly won.

Play for pride, play to win. Sure, you're out there to have fun, but isn't it more fun to win? 

"I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies!"  Just win, baby!  Yes, you can!