Before the kickoff of each NFL season, us fans of each 32 teams stand on fairly even ground. We’ve all seen worst-to-first, we’ve all seen the dynasties fall, we’ve all see miracles happen on the gridiron. We each believe our team can achieve the pinnacle. It’s a beautiful illusion that paints a picture of hope. For Raider fans, this illusion can be mistake for reality.

Oakland vs Denver, 44-14 LOSS

  • We were favored to win the game. On paper, we seemed to have the advantage. Our tough defense could certainly shut down Cutler and his rookie WR, Royal. The game was a sellout. 62,762 fans present to launch our 2008-9 season in appropriate style. The emotions were high, it was truly a Super Bowl like atmosphere.
  • Gloria Loring took the field for our National Anthem. Monday Night Football, national television, and for the National Anthem we get Gloria Loring? Now I’m an old school “Days of Our Lives” fan (on which Loring starred as Liz Chanlder for six years), so I have a fondness for Gloria. But “Raider Nation Favorite Gloria Loring”? I think her son, Robin Thicke, would have been a more popular choice. But I digress… Gloria did deliver a lovely version of our National Anthem as local school children unfolded a large flag on the field behind her. The traditional NFL flyover, with missing man formation, followed. Perhaps the upcoming anniversary of 9/11 fed the atmosphere, but the moment gave me goosebumps.
  • Raiders loose the coin toss, Denver receives. Their immediate drive, eating our defense alive, and subsequent score was deflating. However, our next possession drove a knife through our collective hearts. JaMarcus Russell fumbled the ball in the redzone, losing a critical opportunity for us to tie the game or at least get some points on the board. His fumble seemed to rattle him pretty badly and our offense never recovered.
  • Our best defensive play of the night was Asomugha’s hit on Cutler as he scrambled to get back to the line. Cutler cart wheeled into the air and landed with a thud. Those kinds of hits feel good even when you are down 17-0. I think our big screen replay guy felt we needed to feel good about something, because that hit must have been replayed 6 or 7 times. Thanks, dude.
  • I’m sending DeAngelo Hall a bill for $402.09. That is exactly 1/62,762th of the $25,550,000 he has pocketed to date. Our 25 Million Dollar Man got schooled by rookie Eddie Royal to the tune of 146 yards. And to thank us for his warm welcome, Hall gave us two back to back personal fouls. His performance inspired these classic quotes from Warren Sapp, “DeAngelo Hall has been getting burnt since he was in Atlanta. DeAngelo Hall is the flashiest burnt-up corner ever in the history of the game. I mean, he gets burnt more than anybody else, and he all of the sudden is this great Pro Bowl cover corner. I never saw that in DeAngelo Hall.”
  • Talk of Kiffin’s firing began sometime in the 3rd Quarter. We have to blame someone… and we know Mr. Davis isn’t going anywhere. And most likely, neither is Rob Ryan. Al Davis was a great NFL Owner. Without Mr. Davis the NFL would not have achieved the status is enjoys today. That’s not a homer view, and that’s not an exaggeration. It’s fact. However, we, as Raider fans, need to know it’s ok to say – OUTLOUD – the man needs to step aside. He’s not only killing his legacy, he’s killing our franchise. There is no dishonor in professing our admiration, gratitude and affection for Mr. Davis. But we don’t need to cosign this insanity anymore.



By: Knup on Sep 13th, 2008
Tagged as: Game Reports

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