Oakland Finds Offense, Loses Defense and Game, 49-26

On Sundays like this, it didn't matter where the game was played...it was a cold and rainy day in Oakland.

For Oakland, they already had a bad run coming in...Randy Moss and the Patriots didn't help any.

For starters, the conditions for the game looked like something out of a monsoon: constant drizzle, making conditions for slipping a common occurrence, and hanging onto the ball at times impossible.

On one running play, in which Kevin Faulk scored, Kirk Morrison was seen slipping down, allowing the RB to skirt to the outside, scoring the first TD of the game.

Another play, with the Raiders trying to kick an extra point, the ball proved to be too slick to handle, but thankfully for the Raiders, Janikowski didn't try anything, he simply kept the ball.

Even JaMarcus got to see how bad catching conditions were. Late in the game, he tried an out pattern, letting Michael Bush try to pass. The ball hit him in the chest, down between his arms, and to the ground for an incomplete pass.

But not everything was hopeless for the Raiders.

For the second week, Justin Miller took another kickoff to the end zone, giving the faithful that stayed something to cheer about. Johnnie Lee Higgins caught and ran in from 56 yards out.

Even Ronald Curry, who had a hard time hanging onto the ball was found in the end zone, and Darren McFadden finished up running one in with less than 2 minutes to go in the game.

But the biggest problem Oakland had wasn't scoring, it was stopping the Patriots' offense.

Randy Moss got into the end zone twice, once from 20 yards out, another from nine yards.

LaMont Jordan seemed to want it more, scoring from 49 yards, on a play that some people would call me a homer for.

And the Patriots had their own return for a TD, from Ellis Hobbs, right after Oakland's TD.

For the numbers, Russell actually out-gained Cassel in yardage, while Cassel took advantage of short field drives.

By the time Cassel's team was stopped, the damage was done.

Both teams put up good numbers, New England finished the day with 487 yards and Oakland with 334.

The Raiders kept Moss from 100 yards, and the Patriots kept Fargas from the century mark, or the end zone.

One note, was Zach Miller was seen on the turf, having gotten his bell rung by three Patriots in the middle.

Although, I think the one act that shows a little lack of class was the Belichick challenge late in the game.

On a 4th and 4, with 2:33 remaining, Russell connected with Chaz Schilens, who was able to turn and go out at the marker, ball clearly over the mark.

Bill decided the refs needed some extra work and decided to challenge the first down ruling, and even Rosevelt Colvin was seen trying to signal New England's ball for turnover on downs. Apparently, he shouldn't apply to be a referee in the league, as it was ruled a first down, for Oakland.

One of these days, Oakland should get their offense and defense together in the same game. No one would recognize them.