Limit Russell's PT

Jamarcus Russell

So the notion of playing Jamarcus Russell this weekend against the Denver Broncos isn’t the worst idea in the world, granted Lane Kiffin doesn’t get greedy and play the kid significant reps, or worse on a continuing basis the remainder of the season. Here’s why I say that. The Raiders are banged up everywhere, but most notably on the offensive line. Sticking Russell out there for the wolves to devour makes no sense if the intent is to simply get his feet wet.

Kiffin needs to limit Russell’s stint to 10-15 plays from scrimmage this weekend, preferably with the game out of reach (one way or the other). I think Mike Shanahan would like nothing more than to knock around the Raiders future, regardless of his own job status in Denver. Don’t give Shanahan the opportunity to muddy the waters by either injuring the kid or making his first taste of NFL caliber ball a thumping.

The fact that the Raiders decided to do this at home is smart. Russell won’t be playing in a hostile environment, and the Coliseum has no shortage of his supporters.

I’d love nothing more than to see Russell tear up the Broncos secondary with laser beam passes being delivered all over the place, but the Raiders need to be patient. Let him get a taste of the pace, before extending him against hostile defenders.

Of the teams remaining on the Raiders schedule, this is probably the weakest opponent remaining. Jacksonville is ranked 28th in passing defense, so let him air things out in week 16 against the Jags. The Raiders face the Colts and Charges at home, but both of those teams are embroiled in division chases.

Forget about giving Russell any lengthy time over center next week at Lambeau. The weather will most likely be bad and the Packers will still be battling for some semblance of home field in the playoffs. Brett Favre’s injury on Thursday night may make that game more interesting from Green Bay’s perspective, but the Packers pass defense has been one of their strong suits this season.

Let Russell build confidence against teams he’ll have any opportunity to succeed against. Yes, Jacksonville is in the playoff hunt, but that secondary is just what Dr Kiffin ordered. Yes, I’ve heard that the Raiders are a “running team” (or at least until Big Al reminds Kiffin that he isn’t shelling out $80 million to someone so they can hand off the ball), but Russell needs to cut his teeth in the air.

Limit his reps against Denver, extend them against Jacksonville, then wait and see if San Diego is playing for anything on December 30th. If they’re not, turn him loose then.

Then start scouting offensive lineman that you can build an offense around. Russell won’t do squat laying on his back 5-10 times a game or on the IR.

Live Blogging Game 11

Welcome to The Eye Patch's live in-game blogging of the Raiders 11th game of the season vs the Kansas City Chiefs.

• Game Balls: Justin Fargas (119 yards rushing, 1 TD), Jerry Porter (3 catches 75 yards receiving), Michael Huff (7 tackles, 2 assists, 1 INT).

• (END OF REGULATION) OAK 20 - KC 17 The Raiders break a 9 game losing streak against Kansas City and a 17 game losing streak against the division. And the Raiders do it on the road. Kiffin learned a thing or two about his opponent and finally had a chance to apply it. The Raiders were a running team today.

• (Q4 1:54) 3rd & 11, Chiefs take their last timeout. That challenge by KC may prove costly. Raiders can end it with a 1st down. Justin Fargas scampers 21 HUGE yards to hammer the final nail in the coffin. Holy Toledo!

• (Q4 2:00) Two Minute Warning. 2nd and 14 on the Chiefs 47 yard line. Get that ball another 15 yards to give Janikowski a chance to force the Chiefs to have to drive the entire length of the field to take this one.

• (Q4 3:23) Play action fake on the obvious run down, Culpepper to Curry for 9 yards.

• (Q4 3:51) Fargas rumbles for 12 yards and a 1st down. Tack on another 11.

• (Q4 4:26) Chiefs lose the challenge and go for it on 4th and 1. Smith is stacked up two yards short of the marker. Raiders defense tackles a runner for the first time today...parade scheduled for downtown Oakland tomorrow morning!

• (Q4 4:26) Kennison makes a crazy catch between his knees. Cheifs are short of the 1st down by a yard. KC calls timeout to figure out what they want to do. Now Herm Edwards challenges the spot of the catch. If he loses, that means KC will have burned two timeouts on the play.

• (Q4 6:36) Croyle finally figuring out how to use Gonzalez. The big Tight End converts his second 1st down of the drive. Smith with 150 rushing yards is killing the Raiders.

• (Q4 9:34) Justin Fargas busts up the middle for 14 yards and a TOUHDOWN RAIDERS! HUGE run by the Raiders tailback. 96 yards on the day for the USC alum. Raiders reclaim the lead. OAK 20 - KC 17

• (Q4 9:45) Culpepper hits Miller for 28 yards, then follows it up a 35 yard pass to Porter. Raiders inside the red zone for the 3rd time today.

• (Q4 10:51) Croyle kills the Cheifs drive with two bad passes. Rayner hooks the field goal attempt badly, keeping the game a 4 point ballgame.

• (Q4 12:20) Raiders finally stop the run, but Michael Huff commits teh personal foul facemask infraction. Move the ball another 15 yards.

• (Q4 14:25) Chiefs open thier drive with a run. Note to Rob Ryan: The Cheifs are going to run the ball this quarter. Run, run, run, run, run. Load up the box and tell your guys to gang tackle for god's sake.

• (Q4 14:44) Raiders open the 4th quarter with a dud. 3 & out, followed by a 30 yard punt. Bleccchh.

• (END of Q3) KC 17 - OAK 13 Nice to see the Dominic Rhodes contributing with his 3rd kickoff return of the game. The Raiders offense is so potent, they can relegate a guy like Rhodes to kickoff returns.

• (Q3 :47) Smith goes 5 for his 2nd touchdown of the day. Raiders defense hucks up all the momentum the offense had generated with that awful series. KC 17 - OAK 13

• (Q3 4:17) Tony Gonzalez makes a big 22 yard catch to extend his consecutive catch streak to 110 games.

• (Q3 5:15) Derrick Burgess follows up Richardson's gaff with the big sack.

• (Q3 5:49) Brainless penalty by Jay Richardson, tacking on an additional 15 yards to Croyle's run.

• (Q3 6:10) Lamont "Release Me" Jordan takes the pitch right, then rumbles for 5 yards and the TOUCHDOWN RAIDERS! Give Culpepper credit for getting that drive started early. Fargas added two key runs for 1st downs. OAK 13 - KC 10

• (Q3 8:00) Raiders try a little razzle dazzle and Tim Dwight turns it into a 9 yard gain after the containment looked like they had him trapped.

• (Q3 12:35) McQuistan kills a 3rd and inches opportunity with a false start. Inexcusable penalties.

• (HALFTIME) KC 10 - OAK 6 The rookie Smith goes for 94 yards and a touchdown in the first half. The only thing that has stopped the Chiefs offense thus far, is the Cheifs offense. Penalties after teh Miller turnover saved the Raiders at teh end of the half.

• (Q2 :22) Why would the Raiders burn two timeouts with 4 downs to go and under 30 seconds???? That makes absolutely no sense.

• (Q2 1:42) Raiders playing out the half with the goal of keeping teh Chiefs off the board. "We're a running team"

• (Q2 3:11) Miller now with the false start to back the Raiders up to their own 2 yard line. Fargas 12-yard run then called back because fo a hold on Paul McQuistan.

• (Q2 3:33) Cheifs offense looks like the Raiders on the ensuing series, moving backwards, then punting. Raiders will start on their own 5-yard line.

• (Q2 4:30) Zach Miller coughs up the ball deep in the Raiders zone, but the bigger question is why Culpepper is throwing the ball 10-yards short of the markers on 3rd down? This guy is supposed to be the seasoned veteran? What exactly is he teaching Jamarcus Russell?

• (Q2 5:30) Raiders stop the Chiefs drive, but not before KC moves the ball 68 yards to the Raiders 12-yard line. Dave Rayner converts the short field goal to push the Chiefs lead to 4. KC 10 - OAK 6

• (Q2 9:41) Missed tackle by Michael Huff, followed up by the lack of a pass rush allowing Cheifs to march down the field. Down to the Raiders 32 yard line.

• (Q2 10:43) Porter catch is now ruled a drop. Drive stalls. Janikowski nails the 54-yard field goal to cut the Cheifs lead to a point. KC 7 - OAK 6

• (Q2 10:54) 3rd and long, Jerry Porter makes the catch, then gets popped. 16 yard gain to keep the drive alive. Chiefs will challenge.

• (End of Q1) KC 7 - OAK 3 Run defense needs to buckle down and make Croyle put the ball in the air.

• (Q1 0:49) Ronald Curry drops a very catchable ball to stall the Raiders drive. Gotta make those catches.

• (Q1 1:53) I like the play action fake after the sequence of run plays. Way to mix it up a bit. Patrick Surtain hurt on the play.

• (Q1 6:02) Smith dances through the pylons for a 10 yard touchdown run. Raiders defense is pathetic. KC 7 - OAK 3

• (Q1 7:25) Smith busts another 16 yard run. Why even bother to throw the ball against this papier mache run defense?

• (Q1 8:23) Herman Edwards got the scouting report on the Raiders run defense. Goes for it on 4th and inches, and converts with a 19 yard run.

• (Q1 10:55) Jarrod Cooper injured on the kickoff. Sports Illustrated ranked the top 4 most losing players in teh NFL (team winning % as a member of the teams that player has suited up for)...Cooper was ranked 2nd. Cooper being carted off the field

• (Q1 11:15) Raiders drive stalls, even though they move the ball inside the 20. Sebastian Janikowski converts the short pooch chot for the first score of the game. OAK 3 - KC 0

• (Q1 13:23) First big play of the game...Michael Huff picks off Croyle giving the Raiders the ball deep in Chiefs territory

• (15:00 before kickoff) Kansas City Chiefs Inactives: QB Tyler Thigpen (3rd QB), RB Larry Johnson, CB Rashad Barksdale, T Herbert Taylor, T Will Svitek, WR Eddie Drummond, DT James Reed, LB Kendrell Bell.

• (15:00 before kickoff) Oakland Raiders Inactives: QB JaMarcus Russell (3rd QB), QB Andrew Walter, FS Stuart Schweigert, CB John Bowie, LB Isaiah Ekejiuba, C Jake Grove, T Seth Wand, DT Josh Shaw.

Live Blogging Game 10

Welcome to The Eye Patch's live in-game blogging of the Raiders 10th game of the season vs the Minnesota Vikings.

• (END OF REGULATION) MIN 29 - OAK 22 Chester Taylor, a backup, 2nd rate running back, runs for a rediculous 164 yards and 3 TDs. Tack on the 38 receiving yards for 202 total yards. My grandmother could go for 100 against this Raiders defense. Taylor carried teh ball 22 times, none for a loss.

• (Q4 :00) Final Hail Mary gets bated down in the end zone...I'm surprised Culpepper had enough time to get the throw off.

• (Q4 :12) Raiders stop the clock by downing the ball, but they get called for a false start, forcing 10 seconds to be removed. This is comedy at its finest.

• (Q4 :44) Raiders chipping away with 4 and 5 yard plays.

• (Q4 1:48) 83 yards to go to tie the game...Culpepper throws the pick, but Chad Greeway then fumbles the ball back to Oakland.

• (Q4 2:00) Taylor carries teh ball right down to the 1st down marker. The measurement says short. Raiders will get the ball back, so we can agonize for a few more minutes.

• (Q4 3:04) Morrison shoots the gap to stop Taylor (one of the the few times today), the Raiders burn their final timeout.

• (Q4 3:23) Fake onside kick, pooch it over the blockers and the ball dribbles out of bounds. Raiders football at its finest folks.

• (Q4 3:23) Raiders can't sustain the drive, but they lean on Janikowski for yet another field goal. Down by 7 with 3:23 to play. MIN 29 - OAK 22

• (Q4 7:24) Taylor draws the peronal foul for the leg whip. I think that may be the first penalty called ont eh Vikings in the 2nd half.

• (Q4 8:05) Vikings milking the clock, inching the Raiders closer to that top 5 draft pick.

• (Q4 11:35) Culpepper sacked for teh 4th time today, offense continues to go backwards. 3rd & 22, all the Raiders cando is dump off the screen play...which nets 2 yards.

• (Q4 14:52) Vikings take the Culpepper turnover and drive it 75 yards, capped by a rediculous touchdown run by Taylor. The Vikings running back leaps over the pile at the 5, but he's stood up and the pile carries him forward for 5 yards. MIN 29 - OAK 19

• (End of Q3) Vikings driving downfield. Quarter ends on a receiver pass, that floats like a duck, but a Vikings receiver still makes a shoestring grab to convert the 1st down.

• (Q3 2:44) Culpepper gets hit, fumbles teh ball, then two Raider lineman have a chance to fall on the ball, but they fight each other for it, spitting it up to the Vikings. This team isn't 2-7 for no reason.

• (Q3 3:01) Culpepper dances around the rush, then finds Jerry Porterfor the 31-yard gain. Backing the Vikings into the red zone, the Raiders elect to run on the subsequent play for no gain. Fall start Paul McQuistan to back the Raiders up another 5.

• (Q3 4:42) Chris Clemons with his 2nd sack of the day, ending a Minessota drive. The front 4 has shown life today.

• (Q3 5:53) Run, run, pass, drive stalls. The Raiders might be the only team the Patriots don't need to cheat agains, because everyone already knows what's coming.

• (Q3 8:23) Vikings march down field, capped by Taylor's 15 yard run. Longwell hits another mid-distance field goal to give teh Vikings the lead back. MIN 22 - OAK 19

• (Q3 11:07) For whatever reason, Kiffin & Knaoo are intent on establishing a run game. Drive nets 13 yards after 7 plays, then the drive stalls.

• (HALFTIME) OAK 19 - MIN 19 Raiders running game has gone nowhere. They're moving the ball when putting it up top. Defense still needs to start wrapping up people.

• (Q2 0:00) Raiders move teh ball downfield, then Janikowski cashes in to end teh half all tied up. Nice sequence to draw even. OAK 19 - MIN 19

• (Q2 :58) Tarvaris Jackson is leveled, then fumbles the ball. Sapp recovers. Raiders back in business.

• (Q2 1:47) Two incompletions stal the drive. Janikowski converts to cut the Vikings lead to 3. MIN 19 - OAK 16

• (Q2 2:00) Nice play action fake on 3rd & short, then Culpepper finds Curry for a big gainer. THAT is the kid of play calling the Raiders need more of. 2 minute warning, Raiders in striking distance.

• (Q2 3:25) Justin Fargas blows up Lieber with a monster block.

• (Q2 8:30) The brain trust calls for a short plass play on 3rd & 15, but Curry is tackled well short of the sticks. Drive stalls.

• (Q2 9:17) Raiders learn to tackle this week...ah, just kidding... tackling is as shoddy as ever. Taylor rumbles 38 yards for the TD. Vikings retake the lead. MIN 19 - OAK 13

• (Q2 12:00) 3 & 12 deep in Vikings territory, playing the worst pass defense int eh league, and the Raides run a sweep right for no gain. Janikowski converts the short field goal, but the Raiders fail for the second time today to get the ball in teh end zone from the red zone. OAK 13 - MIN 12

• (Q2 12:44) Holy Toledo, the Vikings cough up the ball again. Sapp knocks the ball loose from Taylor, and Jarrod Cooper pounces on it.

• (Q2 12:57) Culpepper finds John Madsen all alone in the end zone, TOUCHDOWN RAIDERS! The O-line started to collapse, but Culpepper slid forward to avoid the rush. MIN 12 - OAK 10

• (Q2 14:12) WOW! What a catch by Ron Curry. Splits two defenders in the secondary and snatches the ball out of the air for the 49 yards.

• (Q2 14:56) Ryan Longwell converts the 30-yard pooch shot to put the Vikings back up by 9. MIN 12 - OAK 3

• (End of Q1) Minnesota having their way on the line of scrimmage (both offense and defense). This could be a long afternoon. MIN 9 - OAK 3

• (Q1 1:14) Schweigert is on the sidelines nursing a hip injury. Hiram Eugene in at safety. Chester Taylor looking like Ladanian Tomlinson against the porous Raiders defense.

• (Q1 4:45) The turnstiles allow Culpepper to get sacked again. Sebastian Janikowski converts the 42 yard field goal to get on the board. MIN 9 - OAK 3

• (Q1 5:33) Culpepper prefers throwing 15 yard touchdowns to 6 yarders, so he backs the line of scrimmage up by taking a 9 yard sack.

• (Q1 6:20) Culpepper unleashes the cannon and hits Curry with the big 46 yard pass play. 1st & goal on the Vikings 6 yard line.

• (Q1 6:50) Kirk Morrison pounces on the Minnesota fumble. Finally a break in the Raiders direction.

• (Q1 8:30) So Asomugha's brain cramp results in 2 points for the Vikings. The Raiders offense stays consistent in moving the ball backwards. MIN 9 - OAK 0

• (Q1 9:51) Vikings get great field posession, then drive the ball right down teh Raider's throats again. Namndi Asomugha stops the drive with a pick in the end zone, then runs the ball out and gets tackled on teh 2 yard line. Brilliant. Help your inept offense by starting their drive on the 2 rather than the 20.

• (Q1 14:10) Chester Taylor pounces into the end zone for the easy 5 yard TD run. Schweigert playing deep in the end zone so he doesn't get burned again. MIN 7 - OAK 0

• (Q1 14:30) My computer's not even warm and Stu Schweigert bites on the end around and gives up the deep ball. Only reason it wasn't a touchdown was that the ball was under thrown.

Live Blogging Game 9

Welcome to The Eye Patch's live in-game blogging of the Raiders 9th game of the season vs the Chicago Bears.

• Game Balls: The parking attendants (they had the Coliseum gates open on time. It was the only thing that wnet as planned today.

• (END OF REGULATION) Ah, the icing on the cake with an INT by McCown. Hopefully the Raiders wrote (un)incentives into McCown's contrac...like he pays the Raiders for every INT he throws. this season. CHI 17 - OAK 6

• (Q4 1:06) If you're going to go through the motions, why not just chuck it downfield on every play from here on out? What does a 10 yard dump off do?

• (Q4 1:39) McCown hit, fumbles, Bears recover on the Raiders 3. Cedric Benson punches it in for a TD. Paper bags available at all Raider Image stores on Monday. CHI 17 - OAK 6

• (Q4 2:24) Just over two minutes to play, Raiders need 4 to tie and they elect to punt. It's unreal that these people get paid as much as they do to make these kinds of decisions.

• (Q4 2:36) Raiders need a first down to extend the drive, and McCown elects to chuck it downfield, then overthrows his receiver by 10 yards.

• (Q4 2:58) Raiders couldn't sustain a drive al lseason, and there's no reason to believe they're going to do it here. McCown can't even hit a wide open Zach Miller.

• (Q4 3:11) Grossman to Berrian with the 59 yard TD with 3 minutes to play. Raiders football at its finest. Who are the top 3 draft prospects again? Why does Chris Carr have a job in the NFL? He should be parking cars for a living. Berrian ran right past hm and had 15 yards on him as he crossed teh end zone. CHI 10 - OAK 6

• (Q4 4:04) Janikowski hits from 52-yards. Could he be the Raiders savior? OAK 6 - CHI 3

• (Q4 7:12) Oh my god, are you kidding me? How can this team continue to try running up the middle on 1st & 2nd down? This is absolutely rediculous.

• (Q4 11:18) Run, Run, incomplete pass. Lane Kifin is supposed to be an offensive genius??? I'll do his job for half the pay and give the same dead ends.

• (Q4 12:44) Back-to-back sacks will give the Raiders the ball back at midfield. If the offense is going to do anything today, this is the drive to do it.

• (Q4 14:06) Incomplete pass, penalty, penalty, draw, end of drive. This is Pride & Poise? I'd hate to see Indifference & Futility.

• (End of Q3) OAK 3 - CHI 3 I could take a nap and still be more productive than either of these offenses.

• (Q3 5:09) Magic 8 Ball is correct. The offensive turnstiles let the Bears bust into the Raidres backfield. McCown throws it 2 yards out of bounds.

• (Q3 5:33) 3rd & 8...I'm guessing a pass play. I can't tell you if they'll convert or not. Magic 8 Ball says "unlikely".

• (Q3 7:29) Here is where the Raiders will lose this game if they can't move the ball out of their own end. Chicago will get the ball with great field position.

• (Q3 10:13) Raiders play calling is becoming so predictable, the Bears are loading up the box on run plays. Now Fargas coughs it up.

• (Q3 11:36) Gould misses the 53-yard attempt short.

• (Q3 11:44) Officials turning a blind eye to the holding while Gross man rolls out. No Fair League.

• (Q3 12:40) Muhammed goes for another 33 yards on the reception from Grossman. Blitz fails.

• (Q3 13:40) 2nd down and long and the Raidres elect to run the ball setting up 3rd and long. Ensuing play goes for a pass play well short of the sticks, which is irrelevant because the receiver drops the ball. Do any of these coaches know how down & distance works?

• (Q3 14:15) First 1st down of the drive killed because of a holding penalty. More of the same. Moving backwards.

• (HALFTIME) OAK 3 - CHI 3 Raiders can do nothing on offense and the defense has dodged bullets. Only bright spot has been kick coverage, which has not allowed Devin Hester to return anything.

• (Q2 :25) McCown gets sacked, then has to scramble for his life, thus ending any chance for a late score before the half. Raiders offense is pathetic.

• (Q2 :44) Griese, left shoulder injury. Taken into the lockerroom for x-rays.

• (Q2 1:08) Tim Dwight replaces Higgins on punt returns. He doesn't fumble on his first chance...good start.

• (Q2 1:22) Nice to see Grossman in his prefered position...laid out on on the turf

• (Q2 1:32) Rex Grossman warming up after Griese gets banged up on the Kirk Morrison sack.

• (Q2 3:54) Awful play selection and exceution on 3rd & 3. Another drive stalled. Terrible.

• (Q2 5:41) Justin Fargas pounding out yards, but he needs to bust one to get the offense kick started.

• (Q2 6:51) Raiders defense bends, but doesn't break. Robbie Gould hits the 31-yard field goal to tie the game. OAK 3 - CHI 3

• (Q2 11:45) Secondary exposed. Mushin Muhammed for 45 yards.

• (END of Q1) OAK 3 - CHI 0 No offense to speak of from either side.

• (Q1 1:00) Johnnie Lee Higgins resumed his punt return duties today...that may may have been his last of the day (season maybe).

• (Q1 1:07) Nice coverage by Chris Carr to stall the Bears drive

• (Q1 1:53) Brainless penalty by Jarrod Cooper. Uncontrolled mayhem does not win championships

• (Q1 4:55) Stu Schweigart lays out Bernard Berrian on that sideline throw. Gotta send a message with Asomugha and Washington out in the secondary.

• (Q1 9:22) Drive stalls, but Sebastian Janikowski converts the 37-yard field goal for the lead. OAK 3 - CHI 0

• (Q1 12:40) I told you McCown should be the starting tailback on this team! 45 yards on the opening offensive play.

• (Q1 13:20) 3 & out for the bears. Good opening defensive series for the Raiders

• (20:00 before kickoff) Chicago Bears Inactives: QB Kyle Orton (3rd QB), CB Nathan Vasher, DB Brandon McGowan, RB Lousaka Polite, LB Rod Wilson, G Josh Beekman, WR Mike Haas, DE Antonio Garay.

• (20:00 before kickoff) Oakland Raiders Inactives: QB JaMarcus Russell (3rd QB), QB Andrew Walter, CB Nnamdi Asomugha, CB Fabian Washington, LB Sam Williams, C Jake Grove, T Mario Henderson, DT Josh Shaw.

Live Blogging Game 8

Welcome to The Eye Patch's live in-game blogging of the Raiders 8th game of the season vs the Houston Texans.

• (END OF REGULATION) HOU 24 - OAK 17 4th consecutive loss, including the 3rd straight to the Texans. The Raiders are 0-3 all time vs the expansion team. Raiders get the defending NFC Champion Chicago Bears next week.

• (Q4 1:28) Raiders attempt the onside kick, fail to recover it. Ballgame.

• (Q4 1:37) McCown heaes into the end zone and recently signed receiver Tim Dwight hauls it in for the TOUCHDOWN RAIDERS! HOU 24 - OAK 17

• (Q4 1:57) Barry Sims false start...again.

• (Q4 1:57) No timeouts and under 2 minutes to play. Only question will be if McCown can throw a 4th pick today.

• (Q4 2:04) Matt Turk shanks the punt, giving the Raiders the ball on the Houston 31 yard line.

• (Q4 4:24) Raiders burn another timeout, before allowing the Texans to make the 1st down. Attention Raiders coaching staff...Ron Dayne is going to carry the ball. Oakland burns its final TO, resulting in 6 additional hot dog sales.

• (Q4 4:37) Raiders call timeout. Stop the clock with the intent of dragging this out a few minutes longer so they can sell some more concessions.

• (Q4 4:47) Ah, there's the INT by Ryan. This one counts. McCown's 3rd pick of the day into a three white jerseys. Raiders did one smart thing in cutting Mike Williams...let's hope they can follow that up by sendig mcCown packing.

• (Q4 5:17) McCown scrambles for the 1st down. The guy can't pass for his life, but he can run. Hmmmm, make him your starting tailback once Russell is ready to go.

• (Q4 5:30) Lamont Jordan had a 1st down, but he redirects it in the air directly in the hands of Dameco Ryans for the INT. No, the play is ruled incomplete. Raiders need to go for the 4th and 7.

• (Q4 7:05) Now they huddle up after earning a 1st down. Coem on guys, why is this so hard to understand?

• (Q4 7:42) Down by 14 points, and the first play Lane Kiffin calls is a running play. This isn't your USC offense Kif, gotta huck that ball.

• (Q4 7:58) Rosenfels to Andre Davis for the 42 yard bomb. Touchdown Texans. Raiders don't have the team to comeback from a 14 point defecit this late in the game. Drive home safely folks. HOU 24 - OAK 10

• (Q4 10:05) Ron Dayne continues to pound the ball, rumbling for 15 yards up the gut. Ball is now at midfield. Raiders can't allow anymore points, much less the clock to dribble down to nothing.

• (Q4 11:26) Fargas finally breaks through into the end zone, TOUCHDOWN RAIDERS! The Rsiders first D in 2 games. HOU 17 - OAK 10

• (Q4 12:24) 3rd and 10 on the 12, Raiders pass short, then draw the another personal foul. Hope they realize you can't score a TD on a personal foul.

• (Q4 13:33) 3rd and 7 on the Texans 24 and the Raiders convert the old fashoined way...they let Houston commit a personal foul - facemask penalty.

• (End of Q3) HOU 17 - OAK 3 Raiders need two touchdowns just to tie.

• (Q3 1:28) Jerry porter breaks a tackle and runs 32 yards into Texans territory

• (Q3 6:51) Texans moving the ball again. If the Raiders can't stop the Houston Texans with a backup QB at the helm, who can they stop?

• (Q3 7:41) Namndi Asomugha on the sideline with an icepack strapped to his shoulder.

• (Q3 7:41) Janikowski hits the pooch shot for the Raiders first points of the game. They needed 7 and got 3. Story of the season. HOU 17 - OAK 3

• (Q3 7:47) 1st and goal at the 7 and the Raiders can't get the ball in the end zone. Why is Josh McCown still in the NFL, much less the game?

• (Q3 11:52) Jay Richardon blocks a kick by Brown to stop the bleeding.

• (Q3 11:59) One of the best runners in camp, Adimchinobe Echemandu who was waived by teh Raiders, gets in on the act and runs twice for 6 yards. Setting up another Texans field goal try.

• (Q3 13:40) Dane busts for another 39 yards around the end. The umpire is not able to make the tackle on that play.

• (Q3 14:41) The Riaders make a tackle, stopping Ron Dane who busts for 9 yards on first down. Check that, it was teh umpire that brought Dane down. Raiders still can't tackle.

• (HALFTIME) HOU 17 - OAK 0 The Texans are torching the Raiders porous defense with a castoff running back in Ahman Green and a 3rd string QB in Sage Rosenfels. That makes sense when you have a 4th string QB leading the Raiders and a back in Justin Fargas that has had one big game in his career.

• (Q2 :06) Brown hits the 40 yard field goal to take the 17 point lead. The Raiders defense is a joke. HOU 17 - OAK 0

• (Q2 :39) Houston now gets to drive downfield points of their own. Rosenfels hits Walter for 11 yards to the Raiders 30, then again for another 10 yards to the Raiders 20.

• (Q2 1:18) Janikowski doinks it off the right upright, missing the would be NFL record kick. The Raiders get NO breaks.

• (Q2 1:18) The interception is overturned. McCown is only really bad instead of extremely bad. 4th and 9 and the Raiders are going to go for teh field goal...a 64 yarder, which would be an NFL record.

• (Q2 1:18) McCown throws his 3rd pick of the half to Vaughn Hutchins. The play is under review.

• (Q2 1:53) 3rd and 4 on the Texans 37 with 1:53 to play and Barry Sims jumps again. His 8th false start infraction of the season.

• (Q2 2:00) 2 minute warning and Lamont Jordan has touched tehball once in the half. Is he hurt? No inury report on him..

• (Q2 4:09) Ron Dane busts a 14 yard run up the gut for the touchdown. Again, more Pop Warner tackling. Rediculous. HOU 14 - OAK 0

• (Q2 4:15) McCown tries a deep pass. only to have it picked for another turnover. Bennet makes another play and returns it to the Raiders 15.

• (Q2 10:15) Another stalled drive. Jamarcus Russell, calling Mr. Jamarcus Russell. Please report to the sidelines.

• (Q2 14:21) Schweigart makes the pick on the Texans 1 yard line. Returns it to the 6, so the Raiders have some work to do to get out of their own end zone

• (End of Q1) HOU 7 - OAK 0 A turnover and shoddy tackling leave the Raiders down to tend the 1st quarter.

• (Q1 1:03) McCown's pass is deflected and intercepted by former Raider Danny Clark.

• (Q1 1:27) Daunte Robinson is down, after getting his leg caught underneath himself. Looks like his right knee is torn up. Raiders bringing the cart out on the field to collect him.

• (Q1 1:27) Gah! Raiders convert the 1st down, but Zach Miller is whistled for holding.

• (Q1 4:14) Ronald Curry catches a ball for a 1st down, then get leveled by Fred Bennet along the sideline. Both players are down for the count. Vicious hit.

• (Q1 6:34) Oh no, Raiders turn to the run for the first two plays, setting up a long 3rd down conversion attempt. Only a scrambling McCown saves the drive.

• (Q1 6:51) more of the same thinning technique at the line and Green makes Schweigart look like a Pop Warner tackler at the line of scrimmage. HOU 7 - OAK 0

• (Q1 8:28) 4th and inches on the Raiders 4, and Sage Rosenfels sneaks for the 1st down. Raiders bite on the 3 receiver set and Green in motion, thinning out the line.

• (Q1 10:52) Ahman Green on the screen, and leaves Stuart Schweigart in the dust for 52 yards. Apparently the Raiders did not learn to tackle in the last week.

• (Q1 13:40) Michael Huff pops Owen Daniels, jarring the ball loose, but Houston pounces on it.

• (Q1 14:00) McCown starts under center. 3 pass plays to open the game...Good. Incomplete, Incomplete, QB run for nothing...Bad.

• (2:00 before kickoff) Raiders win the toss and elect to receive the opening kickoff

• (20:00 before kickoff) Houston Texans Inactives: T Jordan Black, DB Jamar Fletcher, OT Brandon Frye, WR Andre Johnson, LB Shantee Orr, TE Jeb Putzier, QB Matt Schaub, G Kasey Studdard.

• (20:00 before kickoff) Oakland Raiders Inactives: C Jake Grove, T Mario Henderson, DB Chris Johnson, QB JaMarcus Russell (3rd QB), QB Andrew Walter, DT Gerard Warren, LB Sam Williams.