Raiders Recap: Week 14- Jets

Raiders Fall to Lowly Jets

(Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

"If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it at all."

New York 37. Oakland 27. Final.

Seattle's Super Team

"We Dat", Richard Sherman tweeted after trouncing the Saints (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

It's been five years since the Sonics relocated to Oklahoma City, but Seattle has a new Super team playing within city limits.

At 11-1, the Seahawks hold the best record in the NFL, and are two games above the next best team in the conference. However, after dismantling the Saints on Monday Night Football, the gap between Seattle and the rest of the league looks much more dramatic.

Hardly a joyful expression. (Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

The New Orleans Saints entered Seattle with a lot riding on the outcome of the game. 

The showdown between the two top seeds in the NFC would likely determine home-field advantage for the playoffs. A win by New Orleans would even their record with Seattle, but give them the tiebreaker via head-to-head victory, thus supplanting Seattle as the number one seed and earning home-field advantage.

A win by the Seahawks would solidify their stranglehold on the conference and likely force any path to the Super Bowl to pass through Seattle.

This would be especially important given both teams' impregnable home records: Russell Wilson has yet to lose a game in Seattle, while Sean Payton and Drew Brees have won 14 straight home games in New Orleans.

Consider too the fact that New Orleans plays in a dome, a controlled environment starkly different from the cold and rainy Northwest, especially in January. Weather conditions can make all the difference, especially when you rely on a high-flying passing attack to win games. The Saints would much rather stay home and indoors for the duration of the playoffs.

Lastly, the red-hot Panthers, winners of 8 straight games, are nipping at the heels of the Saints. With their victory on Sunday, Carolina remained just one game back of New Orleans, and a loss to Seattle would drop the Saints into a tie for first in the NFC South.

All together, this was an absolute must-win game for New Orleans.

Michael Bennet's TD dance expressed the feeling as a whole of Seattle.

How disappointing, then, that the outcome was decided by the end of the first quarter.

The Saints' received the opening kickoff and went three-and-out on their first possession of the game. Seattle turned their first opportunity into points, eating up 5:44 of clock-time in the process of their 11 play, 61 yard drive. Their drive stalled short of the end zone, however, and they settled on a field goal.

3-0 Seattle.

The Saints' got the ball back hoping to respond. Instead, Drew Brees was stripped of the football on second down and Michael Bennet returned the fumble for a touchdown.

Make that 10-0 Seahawks.

New Orleans then received their third kickoff of the game, only to go three-and-out once more. This would be a theme for the night. They punted to the Seahawks and watched Russell Wilson lead his offense on a 73 yard drive for a touchdown.

17-0.

The Saints had time to run three plays before the quarter ended. It might as well have been the game.

On their first three drives, then, the third-best offense in the league had mustered only 9 yards, on 9 plays, for a total of zero first downs. This had never happened before in the Sean Payton / Drew Brees era. Their first three possessions resulted in two punts and a fumble, and they found themselves down 17 points after 15 minutes of football. It was the largest first quarter deficit Sean Payton and Drew Brees had ever faced, one that would prove too deep to overcome.

(ESPN)

Sean Payton is regarded as one of the top offensive-minded coaches in all of football. Unfortunately for him, he faced one of the top defensive-minded coaches in football, Pete Carroll.

The Seahawks totally and completely dominated the Saints' offense. New Orleans entered the match averaging over 400 yards of offense per game. They were held to just 188 total yards on the day. Drew Brees was absolutely stifled, and mustered only 144 passing yards-- his lowest total since 2006.

5 of their first 8 drives were three-and-outs. Of the three that weren't, one was a kneel-down at the end of the half. Another was extended by a "roughing the passer" call on third down. The penalty gave the Saints their first fresh set of downs since their lone scoring drive in the second quarter. Three plays later, they punted anyway.

Seattle came off their bye-week ready to play, and had an answer to everything that New Orleans tried. Their defense played chippy and physical, at times going out of their way to assert themselves-- even drawing penalties in the process.

But 15 yards is a small price to pay for the number one seed in the NFC.

Players aren't the only ones intimidated. (Twitter)

Their smash-mouth style of play is a cause for concern for most offenses for many reasons.

Turnovers of course play a huge role in the outcome of the game, and Seattle's defense ranks first in the league with 27 takeaways. This tendency creates more opportunities for their offense, and with a cool and composed QB in Russell Wilson to take care of the football, they also enjoy the best takeaway/giveaway ratio in the NFL.

But pass break-ups are often overlooked and hard to keep track of, and last night a large number of passes fell incomplete due to the punishing hits the receivers took before completing the catch.

The Seahawks fans absolutely love it, as well as all other aspects of their team, and have become one of the loudest crowds opponents can finds themselves pitted against, giving Seattle-- a team that already possesses the number one defense and the number two scoring offense-- just another advantage.

When you come to Seattle, you don't just face the players on the field. You face the cold, you face the rain, and you face the 12th man.

11.5 might be more accurate. (Raider Nation)

And, as the 34-7 blowout of the next best team in the NFC showed, you just don't win.

"DOH!" (Raider Nation)

Can anyone beat the Seahawks at home? Can anyone beat them anywhere? You tell me! Comment below. 

Raiders Recap-- Week 13: Cowboys

A Thanksgiving Game with One Extra Turkey

The Seat Grows Hotter. (AP Photo, Bob Leverone)

The game started about as well as you could have hoped.

Terrance Willams fumbled the game's opening kickoff and the Raiders were able to scoop and score, establishing a 7-0 lead over the Dallas Cowboys in only twelve seconds. This year, the Raiders have made a habit of getting off to quick starts, but this opening sequence happened so abruptly that it surprised even those aware of the trend.

It seemed too good to be true, and it was.

The Raiders extended their lead to 21-7 with less than 2 minutes to go in the second quarter before surrendering yet another late touchdown drive that allowed Dallas to half their deficit heading into the break. The Cowboys would then go on to score 17 unanswered points on their way to victory.

Oakland's only second-half points came on a Janikowski FG-- a curious attempt on second down with less than a minute to go in the game, down ten.

(Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

In other words, it was hardly redeeming.

Still, the Raiders had many opportunities to win the game.

Oakland drove the ball deep into Dallas territory in the 4th quarter, and, down only 7 points, found themselves in the red zone with a chance to tie the game late. QB Matt McGloin could not complete the drive, and inexplicably threw a jump ball to the shortest guy on the field. Jacoby Ford had no chance, and the pass was intercepted in the end zone for a touchback.

"Their guy gets paid too. He made a good play," said McGloin on the pass. "It was an opportunity ball."

Debatable. An opportunity for an interception, perhaps, but definitely not what might be known as a "50-50" ball.

"I mean, if it was a touchdown, nobody would have thought anything about it," he shrugged.

These words make me cringe.

Somewhere, RG3 is applauding, for he too recently denied responsibility for throwing a terrible interception with the game on the line. Instead of standing up and using the magic words "me" or "I", Griffen accused his coaches of developing a simplistic game-plan that the Eagles were able to dissect with ease. This led to much criticism from commentators and even from his own teammates.

But when you are the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year with an NFC East banner sitting in your trophy case next to your Heisman, you might be able to get away with these type of shots. Meanwhile, McGloin has nothing comprable under his belt. The only other commonality he shares with RG3 is a winning percentage of .333 and a tenuous grasp on the position for the remainder of a doomed season.

Say what you want about Pryor and his mechanics, at least he knew when to take responsibility for his mistakes. Hell, he took responsibility for the entire team's mistakes.

So as the QB controversy continues in Oakland, fans are left to ask themselves: "Do we want a passer? Or a leader?"

Apparently, you just can't have both.

IF McGloin doesn't throw that interception, and the Raiders are able to punch it in, we are potentially looking at a different outcome to that game. IF Oakland's defense was able to stop Romo and the Cowboys just before the half, the momentum changes completely before the third quarter. IF the Raiders do not allow DeMarco Murray to scamper into the end zone, untouched, on three separate occasions, perhaps they settle for 3, 6, 9 instead of 7, 14, 21.

If... If... If...

Untouched. Thrice. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Unfortunately, the focus cannot be on what might have been. Instead, we must look at what HAS been, and speculate on what lies ahead for the 4-8 Oakland Raiders.

So, what HAS been?

At 4-8, the Raiders have competed in very game except 2, and in those oh-so-fleeting moments, have looked much better than anyone expected with a team of replacements and one-year contracts.

Credit is due to Dennis Allen for turning this team into something no one thought possible, if only for one of the two halves of each game. However, these flashes of potential have only increased the expectations that the fans have for their team, making each return to earth more painful than the last.

It wasn't until the kickoff against Tennessee that anyone realized how close the Raiders were to wildcard contention, and a win against the Titans would have allowed Oakland to control its own destiny. 60 minutes later, they were back at the bottom.

Flashes of Brilliance? Or Gaps in Idiocy?
(Elsa/Getty Images)

Say what you want, the talent to win games IS there. Reggie McKenzie has put good players in place, if only temporarily, and given Dennis Allen enough tools to compete this year. Their shortcomings, then, must fall at the feet of the head coach, and his inability to get his team to play when it needs to play.

The Raiders are not a "first half team". There is no such thing. Their ability to jump out to early leads continues to surprise me, and though they have benefitted from early turnovers, they still have made enough plays to dispel the notion that this is pure luck. I'd call it about 50-50. (Not sure how McGloin would evaluate it.)

And the Raiders are definitely, astoundingly, 100% NOT a "second half team". Check the box score.

In their past 6 losses, the Raiders have been outscored in the second half by a combined score of 96-23. Even in their wins, they have been beaten in the second half: San Diego put up 17 to Oakland's 3, while Pittsburgh put up 15 and shut out the Raiders in the third and fourth quarters. Add those into the equation and the ratio becomes 128 to 26-- a difference of over one-hundred points.

What is going on at halftime? Are the players switching jerseys with the opposing team? Are the opponents chugging bottles of MJ's "Secret Stuff"? On Thanksgiving, did the Raiders sit down for a tryptophan-laced meal in between the 2nd and 3rd quarters and return to the field sluggish and half-asleep?

It's much simpler than that. At halftime, coaches are doing what they are supposed to do: making adjustments.

And that is where Dennis Allen is proving woefully inadequate.

How else can you explain such a disturbing trend? The Raiders have blown halftime leads in their each of their last three losses. Eight times they have been outscored in the second half, and eight times they have ended up on the wrong side of the scorecard.

The team has a lot of problems, but perhaps the issue is much simpler.

Factor in Dennis Allen's abysmal 2-12 road record (2-16 if you include preseason) and you have a trend that is simply too hard to ignore. His record at home is not stellar, but his continual inability to prepare his team to compete on the road is a glaring mark on a resume in desperate need of some bright spots.

The Raiders have 4 games to go in their 2013 season (unless... never mind). They face the Jets next week before finishing out against the AFC West, aka the best division in the NFL. With the playoffs likely out of reach, the focus will shift from this year to next, and Reggie McKenzie will be watching his team very closely. Make no mistake, jobs and contracts will be won and lost over the next four weeks, including that of the head coach. A respectable finish will solidify some positions and may help save Dennis Allen's job.

A loss on the road to the train-wreck Jets will certainly not.

Misspelling aside, the point is clear.

Is Dennis Allen officially on the hot seat? Can he save his job? If so, what does he have to do to keep it? Comment below!

Turkey Day Preview!

Your Guide to the NFL Games this Thanksgiving

(fangsbites.com)

Ah, Thanksgiving. A time to be thankful of many things: family, food, football, and the fact that forced family gatherings only happen a few times a year. Table conversation can get awkward, especially if you are answering questions about your goals in life for your distant relatives-- by the time you see them next, you might have already reached them! Don't get caught sounding unsure. This Thanksgiving, prove that you know what you are talking about by familiarizing yourself with the top story lines heading into Thursday's three games.

First Course: 

Green Bay at Detroit - 9:30 AM (PST)

(Packers.com)

Since losing QB Aaron Rodgers to a broken collarbone, the Green Bay Packers have had little to be thankful for. They lost three games in a row before tying the lowly Vikings last week, and therefore have yet to record a win without the former MVP at the helm. Early in the season they enjoyed a sure grip on first place, but with a rotating QB cast that has included Seneca Wallace, Scott Tolzein, and Matt Flynn, the Packers have seen their course shift dramatically. Incredibly, they remain just one game back in the win column (and are burdened with an awkward 5-5-1 record), but can increase their odds greatly with a win in Detroit on Thursday.

Three teams are currently vying for the NFC North crown, and the record within the division is the second-highest tiebreaker in the event of a draw, behind head-to-head record. The Lions have swept their series against the Bears, and own the tiebreaker there, but need a win against Green Bay to earn the series split. They have seen two winnable games slip through their fingers in the past two weeks, and have done little to take advantage of Aaron Rodgers' absence from their division rivals. They wasted a record-setting first-half performance from their QB and WR against Pittsburgh, then followed that debacle by losing to a team that started the season 0-8, at home against the Buccaneers.

I might also remind you that this is the team that lost eight straight games to close last year's season and miss the playoffs. The Lions desperately need a win to get back on track and prevent a nauseating sense of deja vu from permeating their fan base.

QB Matt Flynn will be starting the game for Green Bay, the same Matt Flynn who has already been cut by two teams this season alone. He will need help from the ground game to relieve some of the pressure, but will be going up against the 4th ranked rush defense in the league. However, the matchup through the air does favor him, as the Lions defense is 28th of 32 against the pass.

One can only assume that, because these stats are publicly broadcasted by ESPN, the Lions surely will take measures to force Green Bay to try to run on them. But then, Jim Schwartz is hardly conventional, as he has proven time and again-- most recently in the loss against Pittsburgh when he attempted an ill-advised fake FG, that ended in a fumble and a turnover instead of three points and inked a glaring ZERO under the category of "second half points".

(Rebecca Cook / Reuters)

Also, it could not be Thanksgiving without recalling the matchup of these same teams two years ago, in which Ndamukong Suh blatantly stomped on a Green Bay offensive lineman. This of course launched Suh into the discussion for the NFL's dirtiest player, hardly a desirable award to be nominated for.

He won, by the way.


To spice things up in advance of their Thanksgiving rematch, Green Bay OL Josh Sitton took to the media to announce his opinion of the Detroit Lions:


"I don't think there's any question about that... Their entire defense takes cheap shots all the time. That's what they do. That's who they are. They're a bunch of dirtbags or scumbags. That's how they play, and that's how they're coached... It starts with the head coach, Schwartz. He's a d---, too. I wouldn't want to play for him... They're all just scumbags, and so are the D-line."

His remarks certainly add a little spice to the match-up, and I am looking forward to their response as much as the Turkey itself. I'm not sure Matt Flynn is of the same mind, though.


Second Course:

Oakland at Dallas - 1:30 PM (PST)

(sfxoak.com)

After the beat-down that Drew Brees and the Saints put on the Cowboys three weeks ago, many have expected the inevitable collapse to come early this season for Dallas. Their victory over the surging Giants last week proved many doubters wrong, but still the pervading feeling is that it is only a matter of time. 

Statistics tell us that Tony Romo and the Cowboys usually do not collapse until AFTER Thanksgiving. His career record in November is 25-6, while he sinks to a paltry 13-17 in the month that follows (and a glaring 1-2 in January). Since the holiday comes late this year, Raiders fans are hoping the tradition arrives a bit ahead of schedule. 

Problems in the passing game have lead to heated exchanges between star WR Dez Bryant and his teammates and coaches. The return of (former?) star Miles Austin should help to lighten the load. So too should a matchup against the 25th ranked Oakland secondary. However, the Raiders have ridden rollercoasters with Romo all season long, and it is really anyone's guess as to which team will show up ready to play. (Point and case, I personally have missed each and every Raiders prediction I have attempted this year.) 

Meanwhile, the Raiders look to get back on track after suffering yet another loss at home. Their road record has been abysmal for two consecutive seasons, and they lost their last matchup against the Cowboys on Thanksgiving in 2009 (Justin Fargas, Bruce Gradkowski, anyone?). 

QB Matt McGloin has performed well in his first two career starts, splitting one win and one loss, but dissenters are already calling for Terrelle Pryor to reclaim the starting job once healthy. The ailing QB is getting closer each week, and may even be featured in select packages on Thursday. In any case, McGloin's margin for error is growing thin, and he needs a strong performance in Dallas to solidify his hold on the starting job. 

(jason farmer / times-shamrock)

Speaking of former-starters desperately hoping for a chance to prove their worth to the franchise, RB Darren McFadden is healthy (lol) enough to play this week. The delicate former Heisman contender has really only contributed a handful of respectable outings in his injury-plagued professional career. In his stead, RB Rashad Jennings has played very well, despite being hampered by the same battered offensive line that DMC struggled behind. Dennis Allen has said he will feature both backs in the game on Thursday, and with McFadden as healthy as he may ever be, fans and coaches alike may be able to see the competition for the next season's starting job unfolding before their very eyes. 

Dessert: 

Pittsburgh at Baltimore - 5:30 PM (PST)

Another chapter in the hardest-hitting rivalry in football will be written as many Americans slip into food comas across the nation. The teams have split their last 10 match-ups, and 8 of those games have been decided by 3 points or less.

This year, the stakes are at an all-time low, as both teams are mired by disappointing 5-6 records, two games behind the division-leading Bengals. However, a hope for a wildcard berth is still alive, and neither team can afford to lose many more games. Despite the lackluster circumstances, this heated rivalry should shape up to be as entertaining as always.

After winning the Super Bowl last season, the Ravens have been emphatically average, and have dropped 4 of their last 6 games. The vaunted defense, once ranked the best in the league, is not in the top ten in either passing- or rush-defense, but their offense is the cause of even more concern.

(Don Wright/AP)

"Elite" QB Joe Flacco is currently ranked 29th in passer rating and has thrown as many interceptions as touchdowns-- 14. Lately, he has even voiced his disgust with his offensive coordinator, publicly announcing his disdain for the "wildcat" system and comparing his team to a "high-school offense". As Tony Kornheiser pointed out, if Flacco would actually make plays with his arm, they likely would not be running it. But the team is not running the ball effectively either, and is averaging a meager 81.7 rushing yards per game.

On the other side, Ben Roethlisberger has been enjoying a renaissance over the past few weeks. The Steelers have won three straight games, and over that span Big Ben has passed for 7 touchdowns, compared to 1 interception. Antonio Brown has been on the receiving end of many of them, and the Ravens will need to stifle the WR if they hope to contain the Pittsburgh attack. The Steelers are the third-worst rushing team in the league, so Baltimore will most likely take away the pass and force Le'Veon Bell to make plays on the ground, increasing the already likely odds that you will see some hard-hitting plays made on both sides of the ball.

Good Food and Good Football... What a holiday!

Lastly, the Faded Raider would like to wish all his readers a Happy Thanksgiving. May your food be blessed and your bellies full, and remember to be thankful for what you have in life, especially those little things that are so often overlooked. 

Raiders Recap-- Week 12: Titans

After another home loss to a beatable team, plenty of blame is left to pass around.

Janikowski is as dumbfounded as the rest of Raider Nation

What is going on with SeaBass?

That is the first question Oakland fans are left to ask after watching their team blow a late lead to the visiting Titans. Kicker Sebastian Janikowski missed two field goals on the day-- a 32- and a 48-yarder-- and the Raiders lost by 4 after allowing a late-TD pass with 10 seconds to go.

The loss is especially frustrating for a number of reasons. By the time the game started, most of the early games had ended, and the Raiders were well aware of the implications of the outcome of their game: the winner would move into 6th place-- via tiebreaker-- and seize the last remaining AFC playoff spot.

Tennessee knew it as well as Oakland did, and when the cards were down, one team simply wanted it more.

"That would have been a big, big loss for us in terms of what the rest of the season was going to look like," Titans QB Ryan Fitzpatrick said. The second-stringer was starting in just his second game for Tennessee, but was able to deliver the victory on his 31st birthday.

Fitzpatrick found his team down by 3 with 80 yards to go and 6 minutes on the clock. "We knew this was a 'gotta-have-it' drive at the end of the game and the guys really stepped up," he said. He found WR Kendall Wright on a 3rd and goal from the 10 for the go-ahead score with only 10 seconds left in the ballgame.

The loss dropped the Raiders to a meager 3-3 at home, but was their third home-loss to a team with a losing record. Previously they lost by 10 to an 0-3 Washington team, and of course there was the blowout to the New Slim Shady and the 3-5 Eagles. The loss to the 4-6 Titans team continued the disturbing trend.

Oakland has also dropped away games to losing teams this season. However, for a team that has been abysmal on the road (2-11 under Coach Dennis Allen in his two seasons; Hue Jackson went 5-3) home games provide a much-needed opportunity to win. Thus far, the Raiders have failed to take advantage of it.

(larrybrownsports.com)

QB Matt McGloin, also in his second start, threw for 260 yards, a touchdown, and a pic, but was unable to convert on crucial possessions throughout the game. The Raiders were 3-10 on 3rd down, and though they punted only twice on the day, they saw many drives stall and were forced to settle for field goal attempts. For the first time in a long time, these attempts are no longer "gimmes", further magnifying the importance of 3rd down conversions and of putting the ball in the endzone.

McGloin did lead a touchdown drive on what would be team's only real possession of the fourth quarter (the other came with under 10 seconds to go). The rookie completed 4 of 4 passes for 74 of the drive's 75 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown strike to Marcel Reece, and put his team up 3 points with 6 minutes to go. But the defense was unable to get the stop to secure the game for Oakland.

For the fourth time this season, the Raiders defense failed to force a single turnover. Of late, the offense has been highly dependent on the defense to create scoring opportunities, and over a quarter of Oakland's total points have come off turnovers. However, the loss was less about an inability to intercept the surgical Peyton Manning Ryan Fitzpatrick and more about the inability to get stops when they were needed, by any means necessary.

Oakland's defense surrendered 10 of 18 3rd down conversions and allowed the Titans to convert all three attempts on the game's final drive. Tennessee was able to sustain three separate drives of over 6 minutes, and held the ball for a whopping 12:08 of the game's final 15 minutes, while Oakland's longest drive took 4:44 off the clock and resulted in a missed FG. And on the first drive of the third quarter, a critical opportunity to gain momentum and dictate the final half of football, the Raiders blew a coverage and surrendered a 54-yard TD pass.

Torched by a QB that was cut from the Bills (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

So at the end of the day, many fans were left fuming, and for good reason.

Despite the season's miscues, the Raiders found themselves in a position to take command of a wildcard spot, but it seems like the whispers of "playoffs" function only as a curse, and they fell from potentially 6th to 12th in the AFC with the loss.

The defense continues to be plagued by big plays and by an inability to get much-needed stops. Somehow they pulled it off last week in Houston, but I'm not convinced. If Andre Johnson did not stop on his route, and was in position to even contend for the game-winning catch with Usama Young, well, you tell me who you think comes down with that ball.

The once reliable kicker is suffering the worst stretch of his storied career, and has missed more FGs this year than the past 2 combined.

Lastly, an inability to extend drives, coupled with an over-reliance on the kicking game, is not a formula for success, especially when that kicking game becomes inexplicably erratic. You cannot beat good teams without scoring touchdowns.

But the most frustrating part is that, this season, they cannot beat the bad teams, either.

Week Twelve Pick-Em

The 2nd best corner in football (Marc Serota/Getty Images)

Last week: 10-4.

Pittsburgh at CLEVELAND

The Steelers have won two in a row and rallied into the AFC wildcard race,  thanks to a resurgent Big Ben and a top-ten passing game. Unfortunately, they will face Joe Hayden and a Browns defense that has held opponents to 207.5 yards-per-game-- 4th in the league. I expect the Browns to grind out a win at home in a game where points come at a premium.

Tampa Bay at DETROIT

After an embarrassing collapse last week, I expect the Lions to rebound against a the Bucs, despite the fact that the former winless team has won two straight. Expect much action through the air as both teams target their go-to receivers: Detroit's Calvin Johnson and Tampa's Vincent Jackson. Both teams also feature solid rushing attacks, which should open up the passing game anymore. The bombs will fall in this game, but when the dust settles, I'm picking the Lions to emerge as the victors.

Minnesota at GREEN BAY

The combined factors of an unhealthy AP and a Green Bay team absolutely desperate for a win push me toward the Packers to win this one. Tolzein threw the ball well last week, and Minnesota, despite the presence of Jared Allen, is only mediocre against the run, so Green Bay should have no trouble moving the ball down the field. On the flip side, AP and his injured groin will hamper an offense that has been lackluster all season anyway.

SAN DIEGO at Kansas City

This week's upset special! If you know the Chargers like I do, you know they are just as likely to beat the top-seed as they are to lose to the most dysfunctional franchise in football (Miami), which they did last week. By that logic, or lack thereof,  I am choosing them to go into KC and beat the Chiefs in their own territory. Last week's loss against Denver didn't expose as much as reemphasize the lack of offensive firepower of Alex Smith and the Chiefs, and I foresee a San Diego defense that rises to the challenge on Sunday.

Despite all common sense, I'm betting on Phillip Rivers (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

CHICAGO at St. Louis

I'm conducting the Josh McCown train myself, and I'm expecting the Bears to win on the road this week to maintain possession of first place in the NFC North. (They won't start to blow it until Cutler returns.) St. Louis has played surprisingly well from time to time, but I still have no faith in their ability to play consistent, and therefore I am going with the hot hand from the Windy City.

CAROLINA at Miami

I love the Panthers, and I love that they beat my most hated teams in back-to-back weeks. I almost picked them to get upset this week, as I think the attention they have gotten this week might be too much for a young, inexperienced team. However, I'm still taking them to win because of one thing: defense. Their defense has simply been playing too well to go against, especially against a Miami offense that has struggled to find an identity all season long. It doesn't matter how well Cam plays, Carolina will leave Florida with its 7th straight win.

NEW YORK JETS at Baltimore

The logic here: The Jets got destroyed last week, so the pattern dictates that they rebound this week. It's as easy as that. Also, I do not know what is going on in Baltimore, but I do not think they know either. This game also earns the nomination for "least interesting game of the week", despite the fact that the Jets, with a loss, would lose their grip on the AFC wildcard spot and open it up to about 8 different teams. Somehow, someway, I see Rex Ryan's team earning the W.

Jacksonville at HOUSTON

C'mon Houston. You cannot possibly lose 9 straight games, can you? Kubiak learned from his (inexplicable) mistake last week and will stick with Keenum in this game to earn the W against the league's worst team. Sidenote: the Texans actually have the league's best pass defense-- not that it matters against a team starting Chad Henne at QB.

(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Tennessee at OAKLAND

I expect Matt McGloin to look sharp from the pocket again, though I am tapering my expectations a little, as last week he was nearly flawless, statistically speaking. I also think that Oakland's running game, led by future RB Rashad Jennings, and an increasingly healthy O-Line, will look sharp against a team with a rush defense ranked in the bottom half of the league. Backup QB Ryan Fitzpatrick will struggle against a Raiders' defense invigorated by the Black Hole and motivated to redeem themselves after a most embarrassing outing in the last home game against the New Slim Shady and the Philadelphia Eagles.

Indianapolis at ARIZONA

You might call this an upset, but I see it as an underrated team beating an overrated team at home. Consider this: Trent Richardson has not rushed for over 60 yards once this season, and is also questionable for the match. Meanwhile, Arizona has the 2nd ranked rush defense in the league. Expect Andrew Luck to put the ball up many times this game. With Hilton covered, that leaves only the shaky hands of Darrius Heyward-Bey on the receiving end... and a host of Arizona defenders.

Dallas at NEW YORK GIANTS

How can you realistically pick Dallas anymore? They have let first place slip through their fingers yet again. The Giants (formerly 0-6) have won 4 straight and are starting to play well at the right time, while Dallas looks headed in the other direction. I'm predicting at least one Dez Bryant tantrum and several shots of an exasperated Jerry Jones in the booth to go with the Dallas loss.

Denver at NEW ENGLAND

*Sunday Night*

Peyton Manning's ankle, and the large concern with it, has shifted to the background after the Broncos beat the Chiefs. I have no idea why, as he looked noticeably incapable during the game and only stands to injure it worse as he continues to play on it. And we all know that Brady and Belichick are furious after being robbed of a chance to win last week. I'm anticipating a shootout in which Brady gets the best of Manning yet again.

SAN FRANCISCO at Washington

*Monday Night*

The rebound theory applies here as well, although the 49ers should not need any extra motivation to beat the lowly Washington team. RG3 and Kaepernick, despite their dazzling outbreaks last season, have both played poorly at times this season. San Francisco enjoys the benefit of one of the league's best defenses-- one that RG3 will become acquainted with multiple times on Monday night-- and will enjoy their long flight home from the east coast after winning this game.

The worst is yet to come (Rob Carr/Getty Images)

On the Bye:

Buffalo, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Seattle

Am I crazy to pick San Diego? Will RG3 out-duel Kaepernick? Does ANYONE have faith in the Cowboys? Comment below!

About That No-Call

By now we've all seen it.

I'm talking, of course, about the final play of Monday's game between the Panthers and Patriots.

With only seconds remaining, Tom Brady had worked the ball down to the Panthers' 18 yard line. Down just 4 points, he needed to throw a touchdown and only had time for one final play. He took the snap, scrambled for a moment, then set up and unleashed toward his favorite target, TE Rob Gronkowski, only to see the pass intercepted in the end zone by Robert Lester.

The crowd went nuts! The Carolina Panthers, a team that started the season ranked 23 of 32, had just upset the New England Patriots, and just a week after upsetting the 49ers in San Francisco. They had defeated legitimate contenders in back-to-back weeks, and had won 6 consecutive games. There could be no question that, for the first time in a long time, the Carolina Panthers were for real.

Then they saw the flag.

From the back of the endzone an official had witnessed an infraction of some sort. Everyone in the stadium knew the consequence: the game could not end on a penalty on the defense. The offense would be allowed one extra play, and a penalty in the endzone meant the ball would be placed on the one yard line.

Tom Brady would have one more chance.

The crowd held its collective breath as the officials gathered to discuss the call. The decision would be HUGE. The game would come down to this. Even Mike Tirico paused his league-sponsored blather as he awaited the announcement from the official. An image came to mind of Jon Gruden staring at him across the booth with a look that said "STFU for a minute and let me hear the call!"

It seemed inevitable that the Patriots, if given a second chance, would punch the ball in for the game-winning score. A defensive stop was out of the question, even for the hometown fans. Across the nation, Raiders fans, Jets fans, Ravens fans-- really all fans of any other team-- were momentarily thinking to themselves "I can't believe it's going to happen again."

Then the announcement came. There was no penalty on the play. The game was over. The Panthers had won.

(AP Photo/Bob Leverone)

Chaos erupted in Bedlam Carolina. In the stands, the people jumped up and down; hats were thrown; beverages were tossed; hugs and kisses and high-fives; and friendly punches fell harder than intended. But no pain was felt, for the Panthers had pulled off the greatest win in recent memory.

On the field, the Panthers rejoiced. Helmets were thrown, gatorade was dumped, and somewhere Steve Smith was yelling joyous obscenities into the midnight air. Cam Newton, with his iconic towel draped over his head, put on a face that he had practiced many times before. As the quarterback and captain, he had to show that he was unfazed, that he had expected to win all along. I think that's unfair-- no one else expected it.

Tom Brady was furious, and immediately chased the referee off the field for an explanation. Millions of people across America heard the "Golden Boy" scream a word that I'm too classy to print here, directed unequivocally at an official-- an offense for which he was not fined.

Bill Belichick, off camera, was no doubt crossing sleeveless arms across his chest and thinking what the rest of the world had been thinking just moments before: "I can't believe it happened again", while his tight-end, Rob Gronkowski (not the murderer) was still in the endzone, merely shrugging.

And that was the strangest part.

In the wake of the call, many sought an explanation for why the penalty was rescinded. The referee had merely announced the result of the play, without any sort of elaboration on the reasoning behind the decision, and had immediately sprinted off the field, leaving millions of baffled Americans to their best guesses.

Former referee Gerry Austin was in the booth with Gruden and Tirico and defended the official, claiming the ball was deemed "uncatchable" and that the right call had been made. Next to him, Jon Gruden struggled to contain himself and bear-hugged/threatened Austin during his enactment of the infraction, concluding, once again, that he would simply never understand the rules surrounding "pass interference" calls.

Patience wearing thin (Ben Koo)

After the game, the MNF crew-- Stuart Scott, Trent Dilfer, Steve Young, and Ray Lewis-- provided perhaps the most entertaining interpretation. They too reenacted the play, demonstrating it down on the field, and still failed to arrive at a reasonable defense for how the game had ended. Dilfer and Young, offensive geniuses in their day (well, one of them was) blasted the call and lambasted the official for waving the penalty off, while Ray Lewis, the eternal defender, could summon no enthusiasm in defense. Instead, he mumbled something vaguely resembling an admission that he did not even know the rules.

It seemed clear as day. Luke Kuechly has his hands wrapped around Gronk well before the ball was intercepted. His head was not turned, and he made no attempt to play the ball. If it wasn't pass interference or holding, it certainly qualified as face-guarding. Yet the penalty had been waived off, and the game declared over. It was a scam, a travesty, and it would be the majority of the talking points on ESPN for days to come.

As I looked on in glee (for I had clinched a fantasy victory on that very play)... (oh yeah, and I hate the Patriots) I tried to explain the call to my roommate. If the ball was tipped, pass interference was invalid, but it seemed no defender touched the pass until Lester made the interception, and by that point, Kuechly and Gronk had already been flamenco dancing for 7-8 yards. Contact began well before the ball was touched. Try as I might, even I failed to justify the no-call.

"If Gronk had sold it better, he would have gotten the call," my roommate concluded, and I agreed.

Then the question hit me: why hadn't he?

(ESPN/NFL)

It was so simple! There was so much immediate talk of conspiracy and controversy; of Newton's game-winning drive, and of Brady's drive that nearly replaced it; that the simplest, most logical explanation eluded even the most astute observers.

Steve Young criticized the call for being subjective: how could an official accurately asses what 6' 6", 265-pound Gronk was capable of? Never before had the league seen a receiver as large and dynamic as Gronk-- in a single season he broke the NFL record for receiving TDs and yardage by a TE. No one could rightly establish that pass as uncatchable, as long as it was within yards of Gronk's seven-foot wingspan. Many would go on to echo his sentiment the next day.

But no one else pointed out the obvious: Gronk never even tried. He simply didn't care.

The position would be unfair if unfounded, as it is an assault on Gronk's attitude, work-ethic, and dedication to his team. But it is actually very founded, and supported by numerous examples from throughout his career.

This season alone, his own teammates even questioned his dedication when he delayed his return from injury earlier this year. And just this past week he was blasted by the media for making racially insensitive remarks during a Q&A session with his own fans!

To me, it seems very feasible that Gronk would have got the call if he had reacted differently. He has 3 inches and 30 pounds on the linebacker that"carried him out of the endzone", and when you watch the replay, you see him make little to no effort to go back toward the ball.

"It's over," he seems to be saying to himself. "Oh well."

It seems like he has better things to do.

Gronk poses with adult film star, Bibi Jones (everywhere)

And, come to think of it, maybe he does.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of the sequence: Gronk's Greatest Gaffes. Coming Soon! 

Week Eleven Recap

As we inch closer to the playoffs, skies darken for some teams, while others pray for a break in the clouds.

Severe thunderstorms delayed the game in Chicago almost 2 hours (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Baltimore 20, Chicago 23 (OT)

Black skies turned sunny in Chicago when the Bears were able to outlast the Ravens in overtime. The game was delayed almost 2 hours by a passing storm system that saw over 50 tornadoes touch down across the Midwest, so technically speaking, the skies were actually still dark when the winning FG was kicked-- by then, it was night. 

Josh McCown again led the Bears to victory in the absence of Jay Cutler, and is making a very strong case to supplant Cutler as the starter. Consider these stats: McCown is completing 60% of his passes, has thrown 5 touchdowns, zero interceptions, and has won both of the games in which he has started. 

After escaping with a win last week in OT, the Ravens were unable to rally for the win in Chicago. They were able to drive the field and kick the game-tying FG as time expired, and their past playoff experience has given them the wherewithal to mount last-minute scoring drives when the game is on the line.  However, their concern should be the other 59 minutes of football; at 4-6, the defending Super Bowl champs are about to miss the playoffs entirely. 

New York Jets 14, Buffalo 37

The Geno Coaster continued to roll this weekend, and this week the drop was rather severe. The rookie fumbled twice and threw three interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown, before being replaced by backup Matt Simms in the fourth quarter.

More surprising was the fact that the Jets were coming off their bye week, and it looked like they would have preferred another week away from work. Instead, they were routed by the Bills in Buffalo and are tied for the last remaining wildcard spot, but performances like these (note: plural)  make you wonder how they are in such a position at all.

Cleveland 20, Cincinnati 41

After dropping two straight games, Cincinnati got a much needed victory over a division foe on Sunday, though in the beginning it looked like things were headed in the other direction. In their first five possessions, the Bengals went three-and-out 3 times and Andy Dalton threw 2 interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown. The hideous first quarter placed the Bengals in a 13 point hole and had their home fans booing raucously, but apparently that was what the team needed. They went on to score a franchise record 31 points in the second quarter alone and raced past the Browns on their way to their victory. 

Cleveland wasted an outstanding performance by CB Joe Haden, who held WR AJ Green to 7 yards on 2 catches, and returned an interception for a score in the first quarter. Jason Campbell had a rough day, throwing 3 interceptions of his own, completing less than half of his passes, and tallying twenty-nine incompletions-- especially troubling considering the team attempted only 19 running plays. But at 4-6, Cleveland still finds itself on the outskirts of the AFC wildcard picture. 

Washington 16, Philadelphia 24

The Eagles saw a 24 point lead evaporate almost entirely in the fourth quarter, as Washington scored two touchdowns and hit both two-point conversions to come within one score of a tie. They worked the ball down to the 18-yard line before RG3 threw a terrible interception in the end zone with just 24 seconds remaining, and the Eagles were able to hold on for their first home victory in their last 11 games. 

Detroit 27, Pittsburgh 37

Matt Stafford threw for 327 yards and Calvin Johnson came down with both touchdowns and 179 yards receiving of his own. Then the first half ended.

A Tale of Two Halves (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Yes, both players were on pace for a record-shattering day in Pittsburgh, but when the third quarter started, it seemed a completely different team took the field. The Lions were shut out in the second half and allowed Ben Roethlisberger to throw 2 fourth quarter touchdowns and complete the comeback for the Steelers. Matt Stafford threw for only 35 yards in the second half, and Calvin Johnson was held without a catch for the rest of the game. 

A tremendous opportunity was blown by Detroit; they now sit in a tie with the Chicago Bears for first in the NFC North, while Pittsburgh, at 4-6, moves into the AFC wildcard hunt.

Atlanta 28, Tampa Bay 41

We knew they were bad, but not certainly not that bad. Or are they? 

I'm talking about the Atlanta Falcons, who found themselves down by 28 points in the fourth quarter to a team that, nine days ago, still had not won a single game. Now the two teams are tied for last in the NFC South, just one win above the absolute bottom of the league. 

It has certainly been a disappointing season for the Buccaneers, who traded away their mercurial QB, Josh Freeman, early in the season and lost both first- and second-string running backs to season-ending injuries. But Atlanta was a team that many expected to contend for a Super Bowl this year-- they were in the NFC Championship just a year ago! Instead, their collapse will go down as the most complete I have ever witnessed-- and I'm a Raiders fan! 

Arizona 27, Jacksonville 14

Don't look now, but Arizona has won 5 of its last 7 and is sitting at 6-4, tied for the last NFC wildcard spot. They have flown under the radar all season long, and while a victory over the Jags is certainly nothing to brag about, the NFL pays no mind to strength of schedule. A win is a win, and the Cardinals now have enough to be tied for ninth-most in the league (out of 32). 

The Good News: Arizona's strong run-defense is ranked #2 in the league. On Sunday they held Maurice Jones drew to 23 yards on 14 carries-- an average of 1.9 yards per carry. Discount the one run of 9 yards, and that stat shrinks to 14 yards on 13 carries. 

The Bad News: their last two games of the season come at home against San Francisco and on the road in Seattle. 

Oakland 28, Houston 23

Undrafted rookie QB Matt McGloin threw for three touchdowns and no interceptions in his first NFL start and led the Raiders to their first road victory of the year. A fantastic defensive effort solidified the victory for Oakland, as the final Houston drive was stopped short on the 2-yard line. 

Houston has now lost 8 straight games and was so incapable that Coach Gary Kubiak pulled Case Keenum for former starter Matt Schaub. The puzzling maneuver did not provide the spark he had hoped, and only ignited the Houston teammates against one another. 

Rashad Jennings added 150 yards and a TD (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

San Diego 16,  Miami 20

A last-minute drive was too little, too late to bail out Phillip Rivers and the Chargers, who ran out of time on Miami's 25-yard line. A sloppy game featured interceptions by both QBs in the first quarter (and came on consecutive drives) and, when combined, the teams went a dismal 6-21 on third down conversions (29%). 

San Diego drops to 4-6 but remains alive one game back of the wildcard spot, while 5-5 Miami moves into a tie for that very spot with the New York Jets. 

San Francisco 20, New Orleans 23

The NFC showdown in New Orleans suddenly turned into a defensive showcase. The 49ers vaunted defense had a tall task in stopping Drew Brees, but New Orleans' defense played extremely well also, limiting Kaepernick to 127 yards through the air and holding Frank Gore to just 45 yards rushing. Brees managed only 1 touchdown on the day and threw an uncharacteristically poor interception. New Orleans was held without a touchdown in the second half, but 3 fourth quarter field goals, including one as time expired, were enough to lift the Saints to victory.

"Illegal Contact to the Head of the QB" (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

A controversial "roughing the passer" call overturned what would have been a game-winning fumble recovery by the 49ers, but San Francisco had other opportunities, and miscues had a large impact on the outcome as well. Most notably, the 49ers were penalized for tackling the defenseless punt-returner, after he had signaled fair catch, on what ended up being the game-winning drive.

Still, the game was well-played by both teams and may have been a potential playoff preview. However, if these two teams meet head-to-head in the postseason, it will likely be in New Orleans again, as the loss gives the Saints the tiebreaker over the 6-4 49ers. 

Green Bay 13, New York Giants 27

The suddenly-slumping Packers certainly miss Aaron Rodgers. Instead, QB Scott Tolzein got his first NFL start and threw for 339 yards on the day-- it was the three interceptions that doomed him. The Packers were able to move the ball at will, and even out-gained the Giants in total yards. However, they left the Meadowlands with a third consecutive loss, and at 5-5, now find themselves behind both Detroit and Chicago in their own division. 

Meanwhile, the Giants have rallied for 4 straight victories, and at 4-6, are very much alive in their own division race. After a horrendous start that many said they would never overcome, they seem desperate to prove their doubters wrong. If there is one thing we know about the Tom Coughlin/Eli Manning combination, its that 9-7 is sometimes good enough to win the Super Bowl. Don't give up on Big Blue just yet.

Minnesotta 20, Seattle 41

The train keeps on rolling in Seattle, and it may not stop until February. The NFL's most complete team let the Vikings hang around for three quarters before scoring 17 unanswered points in the 4th to put the game away. QB Russell Wilson continues to make incredibly athletic plays, and Marshawn Lynch, who is second in rushing yards and tied for first in touchdowns, is simply and truly in Beast Mode. 

The Seahawks enter their bye at 10-1, best in the NFL, and will need the week to prepare-- they host the Saints next and then will travel to San Francisco for a highly-anticipated divisional rematch.  

Kansas City 17, Denver 27

*Sunday Night*

Perfection came to an end in the Mile High city on Sunday Night Football as the Chiefs were dropped by Peyton Manning and the Broncos.

They say "slow and steady wins the race", but it does not win the NFL football game, and nowhere was a lack of urgency more apparent than on the KC offensive side of the ball. QB Alex Smith, eternal game-manager, is so programmed to not make costly mistakes that he refuses to take risks when plays need to be made. He took very few shots downfield when his team was down 17 in the fourth quarter, and instead stuck to a conservative style of mistake-free football.

His biggest mistake: losing the game!

Denver got the win but it was not pretty. In fact, they were held to their lowest point total of the season, and one wonders how Peyton Manning's ankle injury will affect his ability to make plays. His deep ball is already compromised by his infamous neck surgeries, and without a back foot to plant off, he threw wobblers all game long. In the end though, those wobblers fell into the hands of his lethal receiving core, and the NFL's best offense was able to get the best of the NFL's best defense.

New England 20, Carolina 24

*Monday Night*

Whoever decided to schedule a late-season monday night matchup between the Panthers and Patriots needs to immediately purchase a lottery ticket. I do not know at what point in the offseason this was decided, and I certainly do not know how the NFL was convinced to approve the match. All I know is that I am happy as hell they did!

The season's biggest surprise team won its sixth consecutive victory, and second consecutive over a legitimate contender, by upsetting the Patriots in Carolina. Much attention was given to a controversial "no-call" in the end zone on the last play of the game, but that attention rightfully belongs to Cam Newton, who played what may be his best game as a pro in a nationally televised game.

Finding himself down 4 points after Brady executed a vintage late scoring drive to put his team ahead, Cam Newton answered the call and led his team on an 83-yard touchdown drive to regain the lead with under a minute to go. The third-year pro made plays with his arm and his legs and one-upped Brady by earning 7 instead of settling on the field goal, and found WR Ted Ginn for what would be the game-clinching score.

Greatest Press Conference Ever (Mad Producer Productions)

Indianapolis 30, Tennessee 27

*Thursday Night*

The Colts squeaked out another iffy victory over a weak team. It took a halftime speech by Andrew Luck, as well as 24 second half points, but Indianapolis was able to survive the scare against the Titans. Trent Richardson was held to 22 yards, lowering his yards-per-carry as a member of the Colts to 2.83. The Colts improved to 7-3 and look to be running away with their division-- the NFC South-- thanks in part to the epic collapse of the Texans and the eternally hapless Jaguars.

Raiders Recap-- Week 11: Texans

Surprise!!

(Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images)

Well, I sure didn't see that coming.

Yesterday's win over the Texans featured some surprising events, but it also featured many of the tendencies typical of this year's Raiders team.

Let me explain.

Yesterday in Houston the Raiders went up big to start the game. They scored a touchdown on their opening drive for the fifth time this season, tying them with Denver for most in the NFL (Elias). Then they went on to give up 17 unanswered points and fell behind heading into the half.

Once again, the Raiders relied on their defense to produce scoring opportunities. The offense inherited two red-zone opportunities in the first quarter: a fumble and a Nick Roach interception gave the Raiders the ball on Houston's 16-yard line twice, and all of the Raiders' 14 first-half points came off turnovers generated by their defense.

On the day, the offense mustered just one respectable scoring-drive-- a 73-yard sequence that took only 2:21 of time off the clock-- and went a dismal 5-18 on third-down conversions, including 7 three-and-outs. They punted the ball eleven times, and had 8 drives that failed to travel over 5 yards. One punt was returned for a touchdown.

And yet, after a narrow victory over a team that has now lost 8 straight games, I'm here to tell you that the Raiders played one of their best games of the season and have much to build on going forward.

I know, it shocked me too.

(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

One of the biggest surprises on the day was the performance of undrafted rookie QB Matt McGloin. The Penn State product threw for three touchdowns and led the team to its first road victory of the season. He took advantage of the short field provided by the defense and threw strikes of 16, 5, and 26 yards for scores, and did not turn the ball over once.

He threw accurately, he utilized a quick release, and most impressively, he demonstrated excellent pocket presence, a concept so foreign of late that I hardly remember how to spell it.

McGloin started in place of injured QB Terrelle Pryor, who remained in Oakland to nurse a sprained knee and an unspecified "illness". That sickly feeling likely moved from his head to his stomach as Pryor watched his replacement flourish where he has faltered, giving rise to an interesting QB controversy in the East Bay.

Coach Dennis Allen refused to immediately comment on the starter moving forward. “Listen, here’s what I’m going to do – I’m going to enjoy this win," he said in the post-game conference. "We’re going to go back and we’ll evaluate, but (McGloin) definitely did a very good job today."

Meanwhile, on the other side of the field, Houston was starting an undrafted QB of its own, Case Keenum. The hometown rookie had played well in his previous three starts and entered the game against Oakland having thrown 7 TDs and 0 interceptions. The Texans lost each of those games, but after losing RB Arian Foster, LB Brian Cushing, and Head Coach Gary Kubiak, you can hardly blame the quarterback for the team's inability to win games. Houston had already lost 4 straight before Keenum took over in Week Seven.

However, the biggest surprise of the day came when Coach Gary Kubiak decided to pull the rookie in favor of former starter Matt Schaub.

(AP Photo/Patric Schneider)

The embattled QB has struggled this season, setting an NFL record by throwing interceptions that were returned for touchdowns in 4 straight games before injuring his ankle at home against the Rams. The Houston fans cheered when he was knocked out of the game, only to see his replacement, TJ Yates, continue the notorious streak by throwing an interception on the 2-yard line that was returned 98 yards for a score.

The move puzzled many, as Keenum has brought the most life to the offense of all three Houston quarterbacks. He had thrown for 170 yards and a touchdown before being benched in the third quarter after three consecutive three-and-outs. Schaub entered the game and led the Texans to the red zone three times, each time stalling inside the 15 and resulting in zero touchdowns for Houston.

Matt Schaub finished the game with 155 yards, 0 TDs, and a whole lot of quackers. He completed less than half of his passes on the day, and when he had the Texans two yards from victory, failed again to score and nearly threw an interception in the end zone. The incompletion resulted in a turnover on downs anyway, but that was no consolation to WR Andre Johnson, who expressed his discontent to the veteran QB after the drive was over, and walked off the field with about a minute to go in the game.

On the season, Schaub has thrown more interceptions (9) than touchdowns (8), while his rookie replacement has 8 TDs and just 1 interception, which was not even returned for a score. After an unbelievably disappointing season, I would believe that some big changes are in store for Houston.

(Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images)

The Raiders defense played exceptionally well against the Texans and did everything they could to contribute to Houston's frustrations. Aside from the 2 turnovers in the first quarter, Oakland's defense forced 9 punts, 7 of which followed three-and-outs. Twelve Houston drives lasted 5 plays or less, and in the second half the Texans managed just six points on two field goals.

The Raiders also stopped Matt Schaub and the Texans when it counted most. Desperate for a comeback, Houston mounted three fourth-quarter drives that reached the red zone, only to be stopped at the  8-, the 12-, and the 2-yard line by a resilient Raiders defense.

Charles Woodson aka "Old Man Raider" was a fundamental contributor to the resounding defensive effort. The 37-year-old stripped TE Garrett Graham in the first quarter and stonewalled RB Ben Tate on the 2-yard-line on what would have been the game-wining drive. The blow was so forceful it jarred the ball loose and left Woodson dazed on the ground, but on the whole was less surprising than it was nostalgic; the 16-year veteran has led by example all season long and provided the figurative spark for his team on many occasions.

Woodson's hit prevented the go-ahead TD (George Bridges)

With the win, the Raiders have moved within one game of the final AFC wild-card spot. None of their next three opponents have winning records, and the Raiders will host the Titans next week with a lot of momentum on their side.

At 4-6, Oakland cannot afford many more losses if they hope to make the playoffs. Two of their last three games come against Kansas City and Denver, but both are to be played in Oakland.

So, after an impressive outing in Houston, the Oakland Raiders still have many questions unanswered.

Can the Raiders sustain their success and reach the playoffs for the first time since their 2002 Super Bowl campaign? After another strong performance, should Jennings supplant McFadden when (or rather, IF) he gets healthy again? Will a healthy offensive line transform an inconsistent offense?

And, oh yeah, about that starting quarterback...

Don't worry, Raiders fans, the answers are in store for us shortly. So too, I would guess, are a few more surprises.