2007 Predictions
As I sit preparing to hunker down for the evening to watch the NFL kickoff the 2007 season, with Indianapolis and New Orleans squaring off, I thought I’d put together a little evaluation of how I think the Raiders season will turn out. There are a number of factors that will influence the outcome of the latest campaign, but pre-season prognostication is half the fun of following a team right?
So with that, here’s my crack at predicting the Raider’s 2007 campaign.
Sept 9 vs Detroit – (W 1-0)
Raiders should squeak out a win versus an offense that did little to upgrade beyond the addition of Calvin Johnson. John Kitna and Tatum Bell don’t exactly strike fear in the defenses like Oakland’s, but offensive coordinator Mike Martz should make things interesting. Detroit’s 28th ranked defense a year ago should provide a nice warm up for Lane Kiffin’s new offense.
Sept 16 at Denver – (L 1-1)
Reality sets in when the Raiders drop their first of the season against their bitter rival. Denver’s run defense may be a weak spot, but playing at Invesco Field is always tough.
Sept 23 vs Cleveland – (W 2-1)
Assuming the Browns haven’t figured out that Charlie Frye isn’t the answer by week 3, the Raiders should win this game handily. Jamal Lewis’ better days are behind him and the Browns offensive line won’t provide much support in his quest to turn around his career.
Sept 30 at Miami – (L 2-2)
This could be one of the more interesting games of the season if the Raiders actually do play Daunte Culpepper at quarterback. Culpepper wants nothing more then to rip the team that bailed on him after one season. Miami will have more stability at quarterback with Trent Green. The Dolphins defense will decide this game.
Oct 14 at San Diego (L 2-3)
Norv Turner isn’t going to get the Chargers over the Super Bowl hump, but he has all the weapons to take out the Raiders. He also has a little motivation. Nothing beats beating the team that fired you.
Oct 21 vs Kansas City (L 2-4)
Kansas City is a middle of the pack team that will be better offensively than many expect. Larry Johnson is one of the top 5 backs in the league and Damon Huard will surprise some people this season.
Oct 28 at Tennessee – (W 3-4)
Vince Young may have been a rookie phenom, but the Titans were still only ranked 27th in offense last season and dead last in team defense. Giving up almost 400 yards per game is something the Raiders should exploit. The Raiders running combo of Lamont Jordan and Dominic Rhodes should be in gear in Rhodes 3rd game back after serving his four-game suspension.
Nov 4 vs Houston -- (W 4-4)
For as big a mess the Raiders were in 2006, then came within two bad series from easily knocking off one of the worst teams in the league. Oakland will exact some retribution for Houston’s 23-14 win in Oakland last season. The Raiders can turn to the air, in attempt to exploit the Texan’s porous secondary.
Nov 11 vs Chicago – (L 4-5)
The defending NFC Champs should bum-rush the Raiders defensively. Home field advantage will have little effect against the best team in the NFC.
Nov 18 at Minnesota – (L 4-6)
A weak offense overshadowed the best run defense in the league in 2006, but that defense will force the Raiders to put the ball in the air. The Raiders have proven ineffective when forced to rely on a single aspect on offense.
Nov 25 at Kansas City – (L 4-7)
The Raiders almost pulled out a win at Arrowhead in 2006, but the home field advantage still plays an important role in this series. The Chiefs offense will again carry the day for Kansas City.
Dec 2 vs Denver – (L 4-8)
The pressures of a three-game losing streak will weigh heavily on the Raiders, and the Broncos will be clawing for a playoff spot come the first week of December. Mike Shanahan still has the motivation to beat the Raiders and his players seem to rally around that.
Dec 9 at Green Bay – (W 5-8)
Don’t let the Packers 9th ranked offense in 2006 fool you. This is a team on the decline and Brett Favre will be wishing he decided to retire last year. Green Bay has started rebuilding and will feel the affects of that late in the season.
Dec 16 vs Indianapolis – (L 5-9)
The highlight of this game will be that Raider fans will get to see the defending World Champions on their romp to another strong playoff showing in 2007. Hopefully the Raiders put up a fight.
Dec 23 at Jacksonville – (L 5-10)
The Jags got serious about taking the next step by cutting ties with Byron Leftwich. 2006 was no fluke. Too much consistency on offense and defense will prove too much for the Raiders.
Dec 30 vs San Diego – (L 5-11)
San Diego will have the AFC West locked up well before this game, but home field throughout the playoffs may be at stake for the Chargers. Again, too much firepower stacked up against a team that will be playing to close out their season.
So there you have it. A 5-11 season. I’m sure many that read this will think that’s anywhere from 2 to 5 wins shy of where the Raiders will end up in 2007. The way I think of it, Oakland will have improved from their horrific 2-14 2006 season. If the Raiders can get JaMarcus Russell locked up to a deal, and land a decent receiver and lineman in next year’s draft, this team isn’t that far away from a 10 win season.
But 2-14 teams don’t make 8 win leaps in a single season. This team is headed in the right direction, and 5 wins is more than 2 wins. The math is simple, the waiting will be the hard part.
So with that, here’s my crack at predicting the Raider’s 2007 campaign.
Sept 9 vs Detroit – (W 1-0)
Raiders should squeak out a win versus an offense that did little to upgrade beyond the addition of Calvin Johnson. John Kitna and Tatum Bell don’t exactly strike fear in the defenses like Oakland’s, but offensive coordinator Mike Martz should make things interesting. Detroit’s 28th ranked defense a year ago should provide a nice warm up for Lane Kiffin’s new offense.
Sept 16 at Denver – (L 1-1)
Reality sets in when the Raiders drop their first of the season against their bitter rival. Denver’s run defense may be a weak spot, but playing at Invesco Field is always tough.
Sept 23 vs Cleveland – (W 2-1)
Assuming the Browns haven’t figured out that Charlie Frye isn’t the answer by week 3, the Raiders should win this game handily. Jamal Lewis’ better days are behind him and the Browns offensive line won’t provide much support in his quest to turn around his career.
Sept 30 at Miami – (L 2-2)
This could be one of the more interesting games of the season if the Raiders actually do play Daunte Culpepper at quarterback. Culpepper wants nothing more then to rip the team that bailed on him after one season. Miami will have more stability at quarterback with Trent Green. The Dolphins defense will decide this game.
Oct 14 at San Diego (L 2-3)
Norv Turner isn’t going to get the Chargers over the Super Bowl hump, but he has all the weapons to take out the Raiders. He also has a little motivation. Nothing beats beating the team that fired you.
Oct 21 vs Kansas City (L 2-4)
Kansas City is a middle of the pack team that will be better offensively than many expect. Larry Johnson is one of the top 5 backs in the league and Damon Huard will surprise some people this season.
Oct 28 at Tennessee – (W 3-4)
Vince Young may have been a rookie phenom, but the Titans were still only ranked 27th in offense last season and dead last in team defense. Giving up almost 400 yards per game is something the Raiders should exploit. The Raiders running combo of Lamont Jordan and Dominic Rhodes should be in gear in Rhodes 3rd game back after serving his four-game suspension.
Nov 4 vs Houston -- (W 4-4)
For as big a mess the Raiders were in 2006, then came within two bad series from easily knocking off one of the worst teams in the league. Oakland will exact some retribution for Houston’s 23-14 win in Oakland last season. The Raiders can turn to the air, in attempt to exploit the Texan’s porous secondary.
Nov 11 vs Chicago – (L 4-5)
The defending NFC Champs should bum-rush the Raiders defensively. Home field advantage will have little effect against the best team in the NFC.
Nov 18 at Minnesota – (L 4-6)
A weak offense overshadowed the best run defense in the league in 2006, but that defense will force the Raiders to put the ball in the air. The Raiders have proven ineffective when forced to rely on a single aspect on offense.
Nov 25 at Kansas City – (L 4-7)
The Raiders almost pulled out a win at Arrowhead in 2006, but the home field advantage still plays an important role in this series. The Chiefs offense will again carry the day for Kansas City.
Dec 2 vs Denver – (L 4-8)
The pressures of a three-game losing streak will weigh heavily on the Raiders, and the Broncos will be clawing for a playoff spot come the first week of December. Mike Shanahan still has the motivation to beat the Raiders and his players seem to rally around that.
Dec 9 at Green Bay – (W 5-8)
Don’t let the Packers 9th ranked offense in 2006 fool you. This is a team on the decline and Brett Favre will be wishing he decided to retire last year. Green Bay has started rebuilding and will feel the affects of that late in the season.
Dec 16 vs Indianapolis – (L 5-9)
The highlight of this game will be that Raider fans will get to see the defending World Champions on their romp to another strong playoff showing in 2007. Hopefully the Raiders put up a fight.
Dec 23 at Jacksonville – (L 5-10)
The Jags got serious about taking the next step by cutting ties with Byron Leftwich. 2006 was no fluke. Too much consistency on offense and defense will prove too much for the Raiders.
Dec 30 vs San Diego – (L 5-11)
San Diego will have the AFC West locked up well before this game, but home field throughout the playoffs may be at stake for the Chargers. Again, too much firepower stacked up against a team that will be playing to close out their season.
So there you have it. A 5-11 season. I’m sure many that read this will think that’s anywhere from 2 to 5 wins shy of where the Raiders will end up in 2007. The way I think of it, Oakland will have improved from their horrific 2-14 2006 season. If the Raiders can get JaMarcus Russell locked up to a deal, and land a decent receiver and lineman in next year’s draft, this team isn’t that far away from a 10 win season.
But 2-14 teams don’t make 8 win leaps in a single season. This team is headed in the right direction, and 5 wins is more than 2 wins. The math is simple, the waiting will be the hard part.
posted by Mike at
11:14 PM
9 Comments:
By and large, I agree with your assessment, which is not true of many Raider Fans' assessments. We have a good shot there. We probably will lose one or two that we "should" win, but may win one or two that we "shouldn't." For example, beating Pittsburgh last year was a big surprise and we certainly lost more than we should have. Also, I don't feel that the Jags made a sound decision by releasing Leftwich. Garrard can't throw, and if I were on the Oakland secondary, I would be salivating at the thought of facing him.
I grudgingly agree with you on your end of year record, give or take a game, but I predict at least one divisional win. Probably Kansas City at least once.
I agree with the won-loss numbers in general, but I don't think we'll go 0-6 in the division again. I think we'll beat KC at least once and could possibly sweep them. We almost beat them both times last year, and I think our offense is improved enough to take them this year. Also, Larry Johnson is great, but he won't have the year he had last year simply because KC's O-line is not what it used to be.
Mike Martz is not the head coach of Det.
Whoop, brain fart on the MArtz comment. Meant to say O. Coordinator. Corrected.
swept again in the afc west? I don't think so. All but one game could have been won last year, even with last years pathetic offense. Defense should even be better. Especially, since they won't be on the field as long. Take the patch off when you watch the games. Big difference in this years offense.
Swept again in the afc west? I don't think so. All but one game could have been won last year, even with last years pathetic offense. Defense should even be better. Especially, since they won't be on the field as long. Take the patch off when you watch the games. Big difference in this years offense.
Again, just an opinion. I think anything more than 5 wins would be a HUGE bonus this season. I don't think they have much chance against San Diego and Denver, but we'll see. I'm hoping Kiffin turns out to be the prodigy that everyone seems to think he is.
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