SB Nation - Kalimba Edwards

San Diego Chargers @ Oakland Raiders Game Preview

John (obviousman) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 18:30:31 -0000

by Gene J. Puskar - AP

3 months ago: In this Nov. 16, 2008, photo, San Diego Chargers running back LaDanian Tomlinson (21) takes a handoff from quarterback Philip Rivers against the Pittsburgh Steelers during an NFL football game in Pittsburgh. Tomlinson, the star running back, almost got the heave-ho in the offseason due to salary cap and injury concerns. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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Football is back! WOOHOOO! It's like Chrismas in the Fall. Tonight, the Titans travel to Pittsburgh to take on the defending champions in a matchup of bruising defenses. I'll be watching, with a cold beer in my hand, and be happy that football means something again. However, in the back of my mind I'll be thinking about Monday's San Diego Chargers game against the Oakland Raiders.

After the jump, an in-depth preview on Monday's game.

When the Raiders Have the Ball

Week 1 games are difficult to analyze because mostly what you have to go on is the players and what happened in 2008. I'll try my best though. In 2008, the Raiders ranked 29th in total offense, 32nd in passing offense and 10th in rushing offense. You're not going to get very far with the worst passing attack in the NFL. Their leading pass catchers were Zach Miller, Darren McFadden and Johnnie Lee Higgins. McFadden had only 29 catches, Higgins only 56. I can't stress enough how horrible this passing offense was in 2008.

In his first full season as an NFL starter, JaMarcus Russell completed less than 54% of his passes. By comparison, Philip Rivers completed more than 65% of his passes. There's no doubt about it, the Raiders are a running offense. You could argue that with an improved offensive line (meaning Kwame Harris is gone) and a healthy Darren McFadden, the rushing attack will be even more potent. Also, with a legitimate deep-threat receiver in Darris Heyward-Bey, the Raiders may be facing more seven man fronts in 2009.

However, one of the reasons the Chargers were able to dominate the Raiders in 2008 (combined score 62-25) is because on defense San Diego's weaknesses were with the passing game. Although they were 25th in total defense, and 31st is passing defense, the Chargers were still able to finish 11th in rushing defense. With hope for Oakland's offense comes hope for San Diego's defense. Kevin Burnett and Shawne Merriman, along with a healthy Jamal Williams, should make the run defense even stronger. With Ron Rivera creating an aggressive scheme to get after the quarterback, Russell may have a difficult time throwing against the Bolts.

Advantage: Tie. The Raiders will try to run the ball and get control of the time of possession to keep Philip Rivers and the Chargers' potent offense off of the field. That might move the chains, but JaMarcus Russell will have to make a few plays for them to actually score touchdowns.

When the Chargers Have the Ball

Let us return to those 2008 team stats again. Last season the Raiders ranked 27th in total defense, 10th in passing defense and 31st in run defense. The Chargers ranked 11th in total offense, 7th in passing offense and 20th in rushing offense. In the offseason the Raiders replaced the very capable Gibril Wilson with fourth round draft pick Tyvon Branch (an SB Nation contributor), and have replaced DEs Kalimba Edwards and Derrick Burgess with Greg Ellis and Trevor Scott. Is that an improvement? It could be, but when you add Pro Bowl DT/DE Richard Seymour to the mix it's a definite improvement. Luckily for the Chargers, he won't be involved in this week 1 matchup.

A healthy LaDainian Tomlinson means bad news for the Raiders. Look at how consistently he's beaten them up:

10/16/05 - 31 carries, 140 yards, 1 rush TD. 2 catches, 39 yards, 1 rec TD.
12/04/05 - 25 carries, 86 yards. 5 catches, 24 yards.
9/11/06 - 31 carries, 131 yards, 1 rush TD. 3 catches, 18 yards.
11/26/06 - 19 carries, 109 yards, 2 rush TD. 1 catch, 5 yards. 1 pass, 19 yards, 1 pass TD.
10/14/07 - 24 carries, 198 yards, 4 rush TD. 3 catches, 16 yards.
12/30/07 - 16 carries, 56 yards. 1 catch, 7 yards, 1 rec TD. (*Week 17 with division clinched)
9/28/08 - 20 carries, 106 yards, 2 rush TDs. 2 catches, 9 yards.
12/04/08 - 25 carries, 91 yards, 1 rush TD.

Facing them in week 1, before he even gets a chance to get injured, means that LT should have a big game against Oakland's lack of a run defense. If they start sending their LBs on blitzes to help, Darren Sproles could create problems with the screen pass. The Raiders secondary did a good job of keeping Rivers in check in 2008, but he still managed to throw 4 TDs against only 2 interceptions against them. He won't look like a superstar against Oakland because their secondary is quite good, but should be able to find enough holes to get the job done and could probably burn the rookie SS once or twice as well.

Advantage: Chargers. There's no doubt about it. The Chargers offense is one of the best in the league and the Raiders, while respectable, will not be able to shut them out. I think the Raiders will have a hard time getting a pass-rush on Philip, which will lead to a lot of 7 yard passes over the middle to Antonio Gates. I also think the running game will be good enough to get first downs and keep the defense rested.

Don't forget to send in your Mailbag Questions to be answered on Saturday. Your questions do not necessarily have to be related to the Chargers.

Best Case or Worst Case = Basket Case

DrewsLions — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 19:14:53 -0000

Disclaimer: The thoughts and opinions represented in this article are those of the author and any similarity of ideas or depictions of persons, real or fictional, is purely coincidental. Using this article without the expressed, written consent of the author is perfectly fine and can be shared with whoever the hell wants to read it.

Everyone here has an opinion on the Lions, right? Optimistic, pessimistic, indifferent... whatever it might be, it's still a formed opinion based on the data presented in the argument or situation. As the countdown to the Lion's training camp now enters the final week, I feel that we've all put our best thoughts and ideas to pen and paper (or more like keyboard to screen) to try to exude our feelings on what will happen with the Lions this year. Some are very optimistic and think that we can make the "P-word" (for those new to the site, I have vowed not to use the word that starts in "play" and ends in "offs" with respect to the Lions until they actually make it). Some feel like we have a lot to prove and are quite far from true contention. The thing about it is... none of us really knows.

The Lions of 2009 could be anywhere from a true-blue contender to a bona-fide joke. Where you think we might fall into place within that very wide margin is simply a guess based on your personal views of the off-season moves. Truth be told, this is probably the most unpredictable team put forth in Lions history. It's a perfect storm of intriguing mystery and debatable unknowns. The Lions were a winless team a year ago, but "appear" to have made some significant strides in the off-season. They also still "appear" to have some major holes. All of this breeds a level of uncertainty and it can be maddening to say the least.

I think the Lions will fall somewhere in the middle of the pack. I don't think we'll see all the potential come to fruition this year, but I also don't think we see a bunch of turkeys crapping all over the field all season long like last year. But for the first time in a long time, I think that the best case and worst case scenarios are miles apart.

The Best Case Scenario

This is all a matter of opinion... so I'm sure other's opinion of a best case scenario will vary. But taking all factors into account (schedule, off-season moves, etc.), I think the '09 Lions have a very high ceiling. Call me a Kool-Aid addict, call me über-optimistic, whatever... but I think if everything clicks, the Lions could shock a lot of people this year. This is not me saying that this will happen or that the Lions can go to the Super Bowl... it's just me saying that the Lions could accomplish more than some might think. Obviously, the stars must align and certain conditions must happen for the Lions to achieve the top end of the potential spectrum. I'll list a few of those.

First and foremost, the quarterback situation must sort itself out before the season starts. It cannot be a revolving door between Culpepper and Stafford and whoever is practicing best that particular week. And more importantly than the "who" is the "how"... meaning, how well the starter ultimately plays. In order for the Lions to achieve a high level of success, it is imperative that the Lion's offense is run efficiently and with leadership exuding from that position. I think both guys have that leadership quality, so it's ultimately about winning and execution. I know most will be shocked to hear me utter these words (especially you, KDawg), but I think the top end of this best case scenario can only be reached by playing Culpepper. Now let me level-set here. I personally think that the best thing for the team long-term is to play Stafford, but that's not what I'm talking about here. I'm talking about the best case scenario for this year... and with that as the backdrop - Culpepper might be the best shot of achieving that.

Next, the offensive line must show significant improvement in both the passing and rushing game. Duh, right? But to get more specific, I think the key is in momentous potential shifts from Cherilus, Loper and Peterman. It can happen. I think all three of those guys could surprise us and all of a sudden we find ourselves with a much improved offensive line. With Backus and Raiola, I think by this point it's "what you see is what you get". Backus will never be more than an average, inconsistent tackle - regardless of scheme. I do think his flaws can be masked somewhat by not leaving him one-on-one in the passing game and by having a good, bulky left guard next to him when executing the run offense. Raiola is feisty and probably an above average center for the most part. Regardless of what a lot of fans think about him, he is an asset to the team both on the field and in the locker room. If more players had his attitude, we would win more games. That said, Raiola will always struggle with the bigger defensive tackles in this league. He's just a tad too small and will always have that work against him. In the end though, if Cherilus, Loper and Peterman show tremendous strides, especially in the run game, we will have ourselves a pretty good line. So contrary to many opinions I've read here, this could be the first time in many years where our line is an asset versus a liability.

We all know Calvin is a mega-stud. He should account for most of our offense if Linehan is as smart as we all hope. Kevin Smith should turn out to be a good back for the Lions and is brimming with confidence and youthful energy. If Smith can turn into a great downhill runner and punch out 1300 yds this year, we will win a lot of games... even a few shockers. If you can combine that with a 100 catch season for Calvin Johnson, we will be fielding one of the better offenses in the league. I think two of the keys of that happening lie with two other players. Both Brandon Pettigrew and Bryant Johnson need defenses to fear them. Not like they fear Calvin, of course, but to fear them as enough of a threat that the defense is forced to view Pettigrew as a bona-fide blocking and receiving threat and Bryant Johnson as a guy that can burn the defense if too much attention is given to Calvin. If those two can pick up their roles quickly, this offense could be absolutely explosive... both running and passing. That's a scary and delightfully giddy thought.

The boom/bust potential of this team becomes very apparent when critiquing the defensive side of the ball. The obvious holes in the defensive line and secondary cannot be ignored. But again, if the dream of potential meets reality, this could be a really good group... my heavens, did I just say that?

First, the linebackers were the most significant upgrade to the entire team this off-season. If Larry Foote can show he's an every-down middle linebacker and a field general for this defense, we are going to be improved. If Julian Peterson shows that he can still be the versatile Pro-Bowl caliber player that has the ability to flawlessly cover as well as add 5-8 sacks to the defense, we are going to be greatly improved. If you put those two together with a newly energized Ernie Sims - who should be allowed to unleash his animal instincts and use his speed and tenacity effectively once again - we are going to have the best linebacking corps in the league - bar none. That is very exciting to me and is not simply a pipe dream - it could very well happen.

Second, we must get pressure from the down lineman to be at all successful. Avril needs to have a double-digit sack season. There's no room for wiggle there. To reach our max defensive potential, Avril needs to take a massive step forward and become the next, young Dwight Freeney. Also, we need to get more plays than we think we can get from both Grady Jackson and Chuck Darby. They need to surprise everyone with their play. We also need to get some semblance of a rotation from our depth guys. From Fluellen to Cohen to the young Stillman alum, we need our back-ups to make an impact - or better yet... play well enough to take over as starters. Even the best case scenario on the line is not very good, I think. But if we can keep from leaking like a sieve and get some pressure on the opposing quarterback, we should be moderately improved.

As for the secondary... two things are vital. The first thing depends on the defensive line getting pressure. That should mask some of the matchup problems in coverage, because again... I think the ceiling of the secondary is not very high. Second, Delmas must be an animal. He must catch on quickly to the speed of the NFL and make an immediate impact in the run defense. If we are forced to rely on the likes of Manual and Pearson, we can really only be below average at best in our secondary.

All in all, I believe the offense has the potential to be very good... maybe a top ten offense if all of the above happens. The defense, while potentially fielding the best linebacking corps in the league, might only be able to crack the top fifteen to twenty if all the stars align. But if the offense is ranked 8th-12th and the defense is ranked 15th-20th, that might mean a winning season. This, of course, is all barring significant injuries to our key playmakers. Unlikely scenario... yes, but what a wonderful thought and my most realistic best case scenario.

The Worst Case Scenario

Well, coming up with the worst case is pretty easy. Just sit back in your desk chair, close your eyes and think about the 2008 season. There you go... worst case scenario. But, we have a different coaching staff and different personnel... so the road to unimaginably horrible will have to follow a different set of street signs this year.

First, a catastrophic injury to someone like Calvin Johnson, Kevin Smith, Julian Peterson, Larry Foote, Louis Delmas or one of the quarterbacks without the other being able to match great play, would likely end any bid to reach our peak potential. Calvin would be a deal-breaker. Without him, our passing game will lose every bit of potency and most likely become the anemic game of dink-and-dunk that we've come so accustomed to watching over the past few years. Our defense without Peterson or Foote will most definitely be a setback. Those types of big-name injuries almost always start a bleeding process for the team and slowly through the season, it all unravels.

Of course, if both Culpepper and Stafford struggle... game over offensively. I think we are sure to get some good play out of Calvin and a few good runs from Smith, but we had those last year. What we lacked was consistent line and quarterback play and without that again, we will rank no higher than last year. And that, my friends, is losing football. Not just losing, but badly losing football.... as in, down by 24 at the half and not getting any better kind of football. That same level of offensive play will result in five or fewer wins and a guarantee at another top ten pick in the draft next year.

Defensively, it is a very slippery slope. I don't think I need to go into a ton of detail here as we all know that there is a good chance that this defense could really struggle this year. As stated above, an injury to one or two of the starting linebackers and this thing could get ugly very quickly. We might see those same gaping holes and blown coverages of last year. Also, we have to remember that Cliff Avril is a Matt Millen pick and although not taken in the second round, how well have his third rounders panned out? We have to face the possibility that he might not produce his potential alá Kalimba Edwards. If he doesn't, we'll get an average-at-best outing from White and that simply won't be enough pressure. Without at least a decent rush from the front four, we are looking at an exposed secondary and a weakened linebacking group. I believe in Schwartz and that he will be prepared on gameday, but I don't care if you are Vince Lombardi incarnate, you can't win or scheme without talent... period. If we can't get pressure, cover or do the simple things like tackle or force turnovers, it's 2008 all over again and we are looking at a long, long season.

I think that it might be very easy to see a worst case scenario, unfortunately. I think that's why I've tempered my expectations to brace for some of those situations above to materialize. Injuries will happen. That's just a part of football. Let's just hope that they are not tagged to a Larry Foote or a Julian Peterson. If they do, they will neutralize a massive amount of our defensive versatility and you will see less blitzing and a lot more of the bend but don't break zone scheming we all hate so much.

In Conclusion...

As I alluded to in the name of this article, there are so many unknown factors that could shift the Lions from contenders to cellar-dwellers that it can drive you crazy trying to decide which team we will ultimately see. I think we'll see a combination of the two resulting in a progressive, but ultimately losing season. I think that they'll make opponents respect them, but still not have enough talent to shut teams down or get over that hurdle of closing games out. If that's the case, we're in for a roller coaster ride this season. I foresee with all my Jedi wisdom that we will have some shining moments that give great hope to the future mixed with moments of shear frustration and speculation of whether we will ever turn the corner. I see all this happening within each game. I can see a 90 yd Culpepper/Stafford to Calvin Johnson play to go up by 3 late in the fourth quarter, only to turn around and see our secondary get torched on a skinny post for 75 yds between Anthony Henry and Daniel Bullocks with 30 seconds to go. I think it's going to be one of those seasons. Most likely, it won't be until week 8 or so before we will know the true identity of this team.

Ultimately, we have to understand this is really year one of the Detroit Lions Version 50.0. There's just not enough talent and it will take the best of every scenario to realistically come away with a winning record. Could it happen? Absolutely. Will it? Most likely, no. But the excitement and frustration lies in this team's enigmatic character. High hopes shrouded in the unknown. But guess what? The Lion's first preseason game is in exactly 21 days. That's when we'll get our first glimpse of either Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde... whichever decides to show up.

Previewing the Kansas City Chiefs 2009 Schedule: Week 2

Chris Thorman — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:49:32 -0000

OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 30: Larry Johnson #27 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the second half against the Oakland Raiders during an NFL game on November 30, 2008 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

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On September 20th, the Oakland Raiders (5-11) will travel to Arrowhead Stadium to face the Kansas City Chiefs (2-14). This will be the Chiefs first AFC West opponent of the year, while Oakland will be in the middle of three straight divisional games to start off the season. They play San Diego in Week 1 and Denver in Week 3.

Last season, when the Kansas City Chiefs played the Oakland Raiders in Week 2, the fans got their first indication that something was seriously wrong with our football team. On 47 rushing attempts that day, the Raiders ran for 300 yards and 14 first downs. QB Jamarcus Russell only completed six passes on seventeen attempts. The Chiefs didn't even score until there was four minutes left in the game. And we gave up a Raider touchdown after that, making the final score 23 to 8.

Needless to say, it was a rough day to be a Chiefs fan.

But as a consolation, the Oakland Raiders 2009 off season has made it tough to be an Oakland Raider fan. It hasn't been the comedy of errors that we've seen play on in Denver but we're talking about Al Davis here. We're talking about the league's second worst run defense and an owner who has done virtually nothing to address the problem.

After the jump, we take a look at what the Raiders have done this off season to improve their team and then we'll examine how this Week 2 match up in Kansas City may go down.

2008 Season Snapshot

The 2008 Oakland Raiders finished the season ranked 29th in both points and yards gained per game, 32nd in passing yards and 10th in rushing yards per game. Their defense didn't fare much better over the long haul. Oakland finished 2008 24th in points allowed; 27th in yards allowed; 10th in passing yards allowed; and finally 31st in rushing yards allowed.

Where the Raiders excelled was rushing the football. They rushed for more than 150 yards in five contests and went over 100 yards rushing in nine games total last year. The rushing combo of Michael Bush, Darren McFadden and Justin Fargas was a potent one, as the team split carries mainly between those three players and amassed nearly 2,000 yards rushing for the season.

With Jamarcus Russell throwing the football last year, the Raiders were absolutely terrible in the passing game. Russell passed for over 200 yards only three times and passed under 150 yards a game nine times.

Much like the Chiefs did, the Raiders got killed in the running game last year on defense. The Raiders gave up over 2,500 yards rushing on the ground and had a middle of the season stretch where nearly every team destroyed Oakland on the ground.

2009 Off Season Roster Moves

Veteran Signings: QB Jeff Garcia, RB Gary Russell, FB Lorenzo Neal, OT Khalif Barnes, OT Erik Pears, G Marcus Johnson, C Samson Satele, DE Greg Ellis, DT Ryan Boschetti, S Keith Davis.

Draft Picks: WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, SS Michael Mitchell, DE Matt Shaughnessy, WR Louis Murphy, OLB Slade Norris, DE Stryker Sulak, TE Brandon Myers.

Offseason Losses: FB Justin Griffith, WR Ronald Curry, WR Drew Carter, WR Ashley Lelie, OT Kwame Harris, C Jake Grove, DE Kalimba Edwards, OLB Robert Thomas, SS Gibril Wilson, S Rashad Baker.

While Al Davis continues this off season to sign guys with serious knee problems, let's go straight to the source of Raiders fandom over at Silver and Black Pride to get their thoughts on the team's first round pick, WR Darrius Heyward-Bey:

40 YARD DASH TIMES ARE NOT EVERYTHING

This is why we will never win until al davis goes away. if you want fast guys there’s plenty of skiny sprinters in the olympics. WE ARE THE WORST RUN ORG IN THE NFL.

Even if he turns out to be descent picking him at 7 is terrible imo. We could have grabbed a 4th rounder and traded down a dozen spots to snag him. Bah being a Raiders fan on draft day is rough.

So, without going into too much more detail, Raiders fans are quite upset with Al Davis not properly addressing the team's needs through the draft. Through the draft, Oakland did bolster what is quickly becoming one of the best secondaries in the NFL. Despite being a reach, second round pick S Michael Mitchell is highly talented. Top corner Nnamdi Asomugha makes #2 CB Chris Johnson's job that much easier as well.

The team did address part of their offensive line needs through free agency by adding OT Khalif Barnes. As you can see though, the Raiders did pretty much nothing to address that terrible defensive line. Al Davis, at it again.

Darren McFadden #20 of the Oakland Raiders carries the ball as Derrick Johnson #56 of the Kansas City Chiefs defends during the first half of the game on September 14, 2008 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Why the Chiefs Will Win

It was clear last season that teams knew what to do against the Raiders - run the football. And with Al Davis doing virtually nothing to fix that problem this off season, the Chiefs' best chance to beat the Raiders in Week 2 is to pound, pound the football. Larry Johnson and Jamaal Charles are going to have to combine for at least thirty rushing attempts this game to ensure a Chiefs win. It would make no sense not to attack the Raiders biggest weak point.

Couple that terrible run defense with what will hopefully be an improved and more efficient passing game with Matt Cassel leading the way and the Chiefs should definitley have the Raiders' number on defense. If the team can't produce yards and points against this Raider defense in Week 2, it's going to feel a lot like last season's Week 2 loss in Oakland - demoralizing, depressing and a sad indication of things to come in KC.

The lack of a decent Oakland passing attack will also help the Chiefs win this game. Jamarcus Russell still hasn't impressed really anyone and the addition of WR Darrius Heyward-Bey hasn't exactly put the Raiders over the top in the receiving talent category. If you take a look at the Raiders roster, tell me who exactly besides Heyward-Bey is Russell going to throw to? Javon Walker? TE Zach Miller should see an increase in his production this year. He may end up being Oakland's most reliable target.

Why the Raiders Will Win

By far the biggest reason the Oakland Raiders were able to win one of their two games against the Chiefs last year was their ability to run the football. The Raiders may have been 31st in the NFL in rushing yards allowed but the Chiefs were 30th (and not far behind Oakland's average). The Raiders will be looking to do what the Chiefs will be looking to do against them - run the football all day long.

Quarterback Tyler Thigpen #4 of the Kansas City Chiefs is sacked by Derrick Burgess #56 of the Oakland Raiders during the first half of the game on Saptember 14, 2008 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

I'll admit it. A new defensive scheme with hopeful but unproven younger guys makes me scared against Darren McFadden, Michael Bush and Justin Fargas. Those three destroyed the Chiefs last year in Week 2 and there really isn't a whole lot, besides the addition of Tyson Jackson, that makes me think the Chiefs will have solved their rushing problems by Week 2.

Also, I know I'm not in the minority when I emphasize how much different this offense is going to look without Tony Gonzalez. I really have no idea what to expect without TG lining up for the Chiefs. I suspect that the loss of TG is going to hurt much more than any of us really want to admit right now. We'll be finding out very early in the season, and especially during Week 2, just how well the Chiefs are going to function without the Hall of Fame tight end.

Finally, the Raiders have a big edge on special teams. Sebastian Janikowski will continue to be a top notch kicker, even if the last few seasons haven't reflected that. Shane Lechler is the NFL's best punter. Plus, Oakland has two great return men in Justin Miller and Johnnie Lee Higgins. Miller returned two kickoffs for TDs last year and Higgins took three punt returns all the way back for scores. One big return by either one of those guys, resulting in a field goal or a touchdown, could be the difference in what I predict is going to be a close game.

My Prediction

I hate admitting this but the Chiefs and Raiders are pretty close in talent level right now. Things could easily change if say our rush defense gels quickly in 2009 but for right now, these two teams are pretty even.

I don't believe that either one of these team's defenses are going to be markedly improved by Week 2. With that said, I'm not predicting a shootout either. Both secondaries could be considered team strengths, which will limit both team's relatively weak passing games. I predict a sloppy game that is decided by one or two defensive breakdowns that result in points for the opposing offense. Looking at last year's Chiefs/Raiders point totals, I predict a 20 to 17 Chiefs win. The Arrowhead Advantage pulls the Chiefs through in a close divisional game.

More...

Previewing Week 1: Baltimore Ravens

Chiefs Not the Busiest but Having the Best Off Season in the AFC West

Chris Thorman — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 13:59:08 -0000

I know it's always fun to give Broncos, Raiders and Chargers fans a good ribbing now and then about their respective teams but the joke is really on the AFC West.

The Chargers, 8-8 last year, won their final four games of the year to snatch the divisional crown away from the bumbling Broncos. The Chiefs and Raiders were never in it. As a whole, the teams of the AFC West averaged about 5.5 wins each last year and no team's record was over .500.

So, you'd expect a lot of changes in personnel in the AFC West after such a poor showing by, well, everyone. The Broncos have been by far the busiest AFC West team in free agency and the activity dwindles as you go from the Chiefs, to the Raiders and to the Chargers.

The Chiefs cut a few salary cap heavy veterans and traded for a franchise quarterback and a defensive leader. Not too shabby for the first three days of free agency.

Let's see how the rest of the AFC West fared in the first wave of free agency.

Denver Broncos

Cap space before free agency: ~$37 million

ADDITIONS (8)	SUBTRACTIONS (15)	RE-SIGNED (0)
RB J.J. Arrington (FA, ARZ) RB Correll Buckhalter (FA, PHI) WR Jabar Gaffney (FA, NE) FS Renaldo Hill (FA, MIA) G Matt McChesney (waivers, MIA) LS Lonie Paxton (FA, NE) DT Darrell Reid (FA, IND) S Brian Dawkins (FA, PHI)	RB Anthony Aldridge (waivers, WSH) CB Dré Bly (cut) DE John Engelberger (cut) CB Domonique Foxworth (FA, BAL) RB Alex Haynes (cut) TE Nate Jackson (cut) LB Niko Koutouvides (cut) S John Lynch (retired) S Marquand Manuel (cut) TE Chad Mustard (cut) RB P.J. Pope (cut) DT Dewayne Robertson (cut) WR Cliff Russell (cut) DT Josh Shaw (cut) LB Jamie Winborn (cut)

It says something about how unhappy your new head coach is with the team when there have been 23 transactions on your team and nobody was re-signed. New Denver head coach Josh McDaniels wants no part of Mike Shanahan's legacy, even QB Jay Cutler.

Brian Dawkins is a decorated safety who will turn 36-years old in October. J.J. Arrington and Correll Buckhalter are the exact type of running backs you'd expect the old Broncos to sign (and subsequently get injured). Considering Denver was down to it's 7th running back or something close to that last year, it's probably a good idea to nab at least two of them in free agency.

To add to those sub par signings, WR Brandon Marshall was arr ested over the weekend and charged with disorderly conduct. ESPN is speculating that an 8-game suspension in 2009 could be in order for Marshall. Whatever the punishment is, it's good to see a great rival WR go down the tubes. Even if nothing comes of this latest arrest, you know Marshall is going to get arrested again. And again. And again. He's that stupid.

Verdict: Lots of movement by the Broncos but little of it was in a forward direction.

Oakland Raiders

Cap space before free agency: ~$8 million

ADDITIONS (1)	SUBTRACTIONS (5)	RE-SIGNED (3)
QB Bruce Gradkowski (waivers, CLE)	WR Ronald Curry (cut) DE Kalimba Edwards (cut) FB Justin Griffith (cut) OT Kwame Harris (cut) S Gibril Wilson (cut, MIA)	CB Nnamdi Asomugha CB Chris Johnson P Shane Lechler

If it wasn't for the whole winning thing or putting together a solid football team, it wouldn't be that bad to be an Oakland Raider. CB Nnamdi Asomugha was re-signed in mid-February to a deal that guarantees him $28.5 million in the first two years of his contract. I mean, if you hang around in Oakland for a couple of seasons and keep your mouth shut, Al Davis is going to throw you a bunch of cash.

Right now, the Raiders don't even enter my thoughts as AFC West competitors. And they probably won't until Al Davis leaves his ownership post. Despite putting together a Super Bowl team in the early part of this decade, Davis has fallen even further off of literal rocker in the last few seasons.

Verdict: Still the Raiders, which is like being the Keystone Cops of the NFL.

San Diego Chargers

Cap space before free agency: ~$14 million

ADDITIONS (0)	SUBTRACTIONS (1)	RE-SIGNED (1)
	LB Anthony Waters (cut)	G Kynan Forney

The big news isn't about any of the Charger's moves but only about one potential move- LaDainian Tomlinson. Rumors have surfaced mentioning the New Orleans Saints as a potential LT landing spot but nothing concrete has occurred. Moving LT would be contract related, as the Chargers will have to re-sign QB Philip Rivers to a huge contract next season.

The Chargers were the most stable team personnel wise in the AFC West, which may account for part of their lack of activity in free agency.

Verdict: Still the most talented team in the AFC West but the gap is closing quickly.

Poll

Which AFC West team did the best in the first wave of free agency?

Chiefs

930 votes

Raiders

4 votes

Broncos

160 votes

Chargers

7 votes

1101 votes | Poll has closed

Breaking down Buffalo's likely free agency strategy

Brian Galliford — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 16:30:07 -0000

Might Bills pursue Houshmandzadeh? (US Presswire)

With the 2009 NFL Scouting Combine wrapping up today in Indianapolis, all eyes will be on the free agency spending spree that's about to commence. Black Friday isn't just the day after Thanksgiving, folks - there's another high-stakes shopping day to pay attention to, and it's coming up quickly.

The Buffalo Bills are in a tight spot. With a coaching staff sitting upon blazing thrones that make the term "hot seat" seem downright chilly, the Bills are in a win-now mode and are expected to be aggressive in finding players that can make an impact immediately. However, considering the current state of the economy, there is also a prevailing theory that the Bills will consider scaling back spending on veterans. It's a Catch 22, but for the staff and 90-year-old owner Ralph Wilson, winning is expected to trump penny-pinching.

Unfortunately for Buffalo, this year's free agent class is devoid of many difference makers. Considering the amount of statistical impact and leadership necessary for the Bills to make a serious playoff push in 2009, there's really only one logical way to go about attacking free agency. In terms of a plan for midnight Friday morning, here's how I think Buffalo's strategy could play out...

Step One: Make a run at offensive weapons
Outside of Tennessee DT Albert Haynesworth and Ravens LB Ray Lewis (both unlikely to be pursued by Buffalo), there aren't any defensive playmakers worth pursuing heavily out of the gate. There are good players, but none that will command the immediate attention of a Haynesworth or a Lewis. Offensively, however, there is one big name that the Bills very well could sniff around, and that's Bengals free agent WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Though he'll be 32 in September, Houshmandzadeh is currently on a three-season streak of at least 90 receptions and has 25 touchdowns in that time frame. By far the best receiver on the market, Houshmandzadeh is expected to garner interest from serious contenders like the Giants and Titans, but that won't stop the Bills from kicking the proverbial tires.

Beyond Houshmandzadeh, the pickings are slim. One productive name that has already been linked to the Bills is tight end Owen Daniels, a restricted free agent in Houston. In just three seasons, Daniels has quickly established himself as a bona fide receiving threat and is coming off of his first Pro Bowl invitation. Depending on the type of compensation necessary to acquire him, the Bills will seriously pursue adding Daniels to the roster. Buffalo is also expected to be players if Cardinals WR Anquan Boldin becomes available via trade. Regardless of the likelihood of these acquisitions, pursuing these names is smart - if the chips fall the right way, these players will be more beneficial to Buffalo's potential next season than any other player.

Step Two: Fortify two of four critical needs
When this community put together the team's extensive needs list, four positions received a grade of 'critical' - tight end, center, defensive end and linebacker.

At tight end, obviously the addition of Daniels would kill two birds with one stone. Beyond him, there are only project players (like Arizona's Leonard Pope, as an example) or lumbering vets available on the market. If the Bills miss on Daniels and aren't thrilled with the idea of a veteran project, this need will undoubtedly be addressed in the draft. Luckily for Buffalo, the draft is loaded with quality tight ends this year.

At center, there are several quality veterans that would instantly solidify a solid (on paper) offensive front in Buffalo. Baltimore's Jason Brown is the cream of the crop, and he's closely followed by veterans like Minnesota's Matt Birk (who may re-sign with the Vikings before Friday), Indianapolis' Jeff Saturday and Jacksonville's Brad Meester. Another option would be signing an unheralded reserve, such as Carolina's Geoff Hangartner, to start at center. However, considering the depth of this year's center class in the draft, it's not absolutely imperative that a center be added.

At defensive end, there's little impact to be found in the veteran pool. Kalimba Edwards has played under Dick Jauron before, but isn't exactly a spring chicken at age 29. Bertrand Berry is even older, though he's still considered a solid edge rusher. Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell has already made plain his desire for a speed rusher; if the decision-makers listen, that player will likely be a draft pick.

At linebacker, Buffalo is expected to pursue a veteran to start on the strong side - and it's not expected to be Angelo Crowell. Players such as Channing Crowder, Michael Boley and Morlon Greenwood are most often mentioned, but Indianapolis' Tyjuan Hagler should garner consideration as well. However, bringing in a veteran isn't a done deal, as the team also left the door open on potentially moving middle linebacker Paul Posluszny outside and adding a middle linebacker as well.

Ultimately, the Bills have options at each position, but they should look to address at least two of these areas via free agency. Leaving any more than two unchecked for the draft is extremely risky, as it's unlikely the Bills will be able to fill three or more critical needs with impact players in the draft unless they can find a way to trade down.

Step Three: Find a backup quarterback
Five-year veteran J.P. Losman's Bills career is finally (and mercifully) at an end. With starting quarterback Trent Edwards still developing and still frail, the Bills will look to add a veteran backup. Rex Grossman is likely on his way out of Chicago and has ties to Jauron, but he himself is an injury risk as well. Kyle Boller is believed to be a strong candidate. Other veterans like Jon Kitna (who is expected to be released by Detroit) are possibilities, and younger guys like Ryan Fitzpatrick and possibly Dan Orlovsky will be considered as well. There aren't many appealing options, but names like Boller, Grossman and Kitna have experience and can win games in a pinch. That's all we need out of this position.

Step Four: Add some spot contributors/depth players
These needs aren't critical, but the Bills should look to address them if they can.

Running back: Marshawn Lynch is facing a league suspension, and the Bills are in a tight spot and will likely address the running back position in some capacity. Fred Taylor is visiting the Bills today, but it's unclear how Taylor would fit into a rotation that includes Fred Jackson as well.

Wide Receiver: If the team misses on Houshmandzadeh, it's still highly likely that a receiver will be added simply because of James Hardy's knee injury. Luckily, there are several solid receiving depth options available this year, with Amani Toomer probably the most coveted. Possible releases such as Torry Holt will be intriguing as well, but this player is expected to be a veteran, not a rookie.

Offensive Line: Pending the re-signing of tackle Kirk Chambers, Buffalo's tackle depth is solid. The interior is another story. The team may wait until the draft to address this area, but a veteran like Adrian Jones might be appealing as well.

Defensive tackle: John McCargo can't be relied on as the fourth member of the rotation, so the Bills would be smart to look for an active player that competes well against the run. I've heard Mike Wright's name mentioned so many times it's ridiculous - the Patriot is an underrated name. This might be addressed via the draft as well.

***

Buffalo needs to be as flexible as possible with this plan, because having a rigid attack to free agency often leads to breakdowns and missing out on targets. There are a lot of players available, and there are a lot of under-the-radar talents that would really bolster Buffalo's depth. Ultimately, however, this strategy is the best way to go about adding true impact to the roster. Beyond that, Buffalo's main goal should be paring down its critical needs in such a fashion that they can enter draft preparations with only one or two major need areas. That will make their goal of drafting the best player available much more feasible.

Maximizing defensive playmaking a priority for Buffalo

Brian Galliford — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 17:30:07 -0000

LB Posluszny might be on the move (buffalobills.com)

If the Buffalo Bills fancy the idea of putting a winning product on the field in 2009 (thus preserving their own jobs in many cases), it's painfully obvious that more playmakers are needed in town. Most Bills fans, when they hear the word "playmaker", immediately associate the word with offense. There's no doubt that big names like Anquan Boldin, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and, to a lesser extent, Owen Daniels would have positive impacts for a Bills offense that needs a player of their caliber.

But playmakers aren't limited to one side of the ball. Buffalo lacks defensive playmakers as well, and defensive coordinator Perry Fewell knows it. In a recent interview, Fewell made it plain that he's lobbying hard for the Bills to diversify their pool of defensive talent. Playmakers are needed defensively, too.

Fewell's ideas should be considered
If there's one coach/team politician I'm listening to right now if I'm a member of Ralph Wilson's vaunted "inner circle", it's Fewell. In a league that's more trendy than innovative, teams with difference-making defenses are winning the big games in recent seasons. Just take a look at the last two Super Bowl champs (the Giants in '07, the Steelers of '08) for proof.

In a not-so-far-fetched sense, the Bills have the framework for a consistent, game-changing defense. They have some heady veterans at end, a solid defensive tackle rotation (which might get further depth fortifications), two solid athletes at linebacker, and some enviable depth in the secondary. But as of right now, the vast majority of Buffalo's defenders are more complement than feature. Adding just one or two unique talents to said framework would instantly give Buffalo a playoff-caliber defensive outfit.

Fewell's campaign platform? It's one of simplicity and telling it like it is. From the coordinator's mouth:

"We did not take advantage of that opportunity to get the ball. That’s definitely going to be an emphasis for us. I’ve said often times to my staff in the offseason that we need to add more playmakers to our defense."

Four Steps to Success
There are four simple ways to maximize Buffalo's ability to make plays defensively. Here's how I'd go about it.

Step 1: Find a way to re-sign Jabari Greer.
- My philosophy - and apparently the philosophy of the folks in the organization - is that you can never have enough solid cornerbacks. It's not a foregone conclusion that Greer has priced himself out of Buffalo; the fact that the Bills are aggressively pursuing Greer is indicative of that mindset. Greer may also quickly come to the realization that the money he's ready to seek (reportedly $7-8M per season) likely isn't coming. As one source put it to me, Greer's intangibles won't be valued any higher than they are by the Bills. I'd put the odds that Greer ends up back in Buffalo much higher than most at this point. He's a good player with good ball skills; that's necessary in our defensive scheme, and obviously a trait valued by Fewell.

Step 2: Move Paul Posluszny outside.
I've gone on record claiming myself completely comfortable with Posluszny as our middle linebacker, and nothing has changed. But the key word in this article is "maximizing". Posluszny is a smart player and the type of guy that can quarterback a defense; those are skills that fit the profile of a middle linebacker. But his playing skills are best suited (read: ideal for) the outside, where his aggressive demeanor and abilities in the box will be better exploitable and leave the Bills less vulnerable up the middle. Fewell hinted that such a move is possible, though claimed it's "not Plan A". If such a move were to occur, Posluszny would likely retain his defensive play-calling responsibilities.

Obviously, moving Posluszny would create a hole at inside linebacker. Every day, I get the sense that USC linebacker Rey Maualuga is going to be at or near the top of Buffalo's draft board in April. He's just their type of guy. Call it a gut feeling if you like, but I think the idea of a Posluszny-Maualuga-Kawika Mitchell linebacking corps is highly appealing to Buffalo's coaching staff. All three can make plays.

Step 3: Get an edge rusher.
File this one in the "duh" drawer. Fewell spoke most freely in his interview about adding a "unique" talent to the defensive end rotation. A quote for you:

"He might not have to be a full time starter, but if he can give us (help) in long yardage situations or passing down situations to increase our pass rush, that will work for us. And then we can work him into being an every down player because football right now is so situational. It’s a situational game that sometimes you can pick a situational player."

Trouble is, there isn't an awful lot to get excited about at defensive end via free agency. There are serviceable veteran-types available in Bertrand Berry and Kalimba Edwards (who played for head coach Dick Jauron for two seasons in Detroit), but how much impact can those types of players have? However, there's also a prevailing theory that not only will the draft's top defensive ends not be available when the Bills choose in the first round, they might be difficult to project into our scheme. It's the latter idea that is currently fueling the Maualuga speculation.

Don't be shocked if the Bills sign a veteran edge rusher, then look to supplement that player with a speed guy before the third or fourth round. Of course, don't be shocked if they ignore the veterans and draft a player in the first round, either. But if Fewell has his way, Buffalo will undoubtedly add some speed to their defensive end rotation.

Step 4: Find Whitner's complement.
This step isn't completely necessary, but again - "maximizing" is the key word here. The Bills have two serviceable safeties in Donte Whitner and Bryan Scott, but playmakers they are not. The team even has two serviceable reserve-types in George Wilson and Ko Simpson - but playmakers they are not. (Sensing a theme here?) Buffalo isn't likely to shake up Whitner's role much; he'll still be asked to cover a lot and move around positionally. The Bills would be wise to add a free safety with good ball skills that can play situationally (there's Fewell's favorite word again); Tennessee's Vincent Fuller is a good candidate, but only an example.

***

Clearly, nothing is set in stone aside from the fact that Buffalo can easily and efficiently add one or two difference-makers to their defense over the next couple of months. Doing so would instantly and dramatically increase the team's playoff chances next season - after all, a good defense can get you anywhere in this league (and allow you to, you know, actually compete in games, particularly on the road). There isn't just one good way to go about adding difference makers, but I believe that the plan above is the most likely route that the Bills will take as of today. Feel free to poke holes in the logic or offer your own counter-proposals to improving defensively, but just remember this: playmakers can be defenders, too.

Bills won't aim too high in free agency

Brian Galliford — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 12:00:10 -0000

RB Taylor to visit Bills, Pats (Associated Press)

Entering its most important off-season in recent memory, the Buffalo Bills were expected by many - including yours truly - to aggressively pursue free agents beginning next Friday at midnight, when the NFL's free agent signing period begins. With a weak free agent class growing thinner almost daily, however, rumors are beginning to circulate that the Bills may be ready to scale back spending over the next few weeks.

Considering the current state of economy and the lack of real difference-makers at several positions of need, this development isn't surprising. The team has shown a willingness to spend money freely in the past; this year, however, the team isn't expected to hand out any Derrick Dockery-type deals. Even with tempered expectations, however, the Bills already have several players on their radar, and more are expected to follow.

If you're looking for an early theme to Buffalo's free agency plans, call the theme "leadership". Buffalo is expected to target their offensive needs as best as they can starting next week, but their real goal is to provide a young roster some serious veteran leadership. That theory helps to explain one free agent visit that is reportedly already planned.

Former Jags RB Taylor to visit Buffalo; Edwards to follow?
Recently released by the Jaguars, running back Fred Taylor is being courted heavily by the Bills as well as the New England Patriots. Taylor, an 11-year veteran who has rushed for 11,271 yards in his illustrious career, began his career in 1998 when Dick Jauron was Jacksonville's defensive coordinator. The two men reportedly have a mutual respect for each other, but this is far from courtesy interest on Buffalo's part.

Buffalo is looking for an offensive mentor, as the unit on the whole lacks leadership. Taylor would provide that veteran leadership, and he'd undoubtedly be a positive influence on troubled starter Marshawn Lynch. The problem, however, is finding the ultra-competitive Taylor enough touches in an already-crowded backfield to keep the veteran satisfied. If the Bills can sell Taylor on a significant role in this team's offense, don't be shocked if Taylor eventually inks a deal with Buffalo. Obviously at this point, it's far from certain.

Speaking of veterans with ties to Jauron, recently released Raiders DE Kalimba Edwards spent two seasons under Jauron's tutelage in Detroit in 2004 and 2005. Edwards, a one-dimensional edge rusher throughout most of his career, picked up 11.5 sacks in those two seasons, including a career-best seven in '05. Buffalo is believed to favor adding a veteran pass rusher to their defensive end mix, and Edwards - at least at this point - seems like the most likely option.

Texans TE Daniels leads offensive charge
It was reported on Saturday that the Bills are possibly interested in pursuing Texans restricted free agent tight end Owen Daniels. Actually acquiring Daniels is unlikely at this point, given the fact that Daniels has developed into a Pro Bowl talent on an explosive Texans offense, and any deal involving Daniels will likely require a first-round draft pick as compensation. Still, Daniels is the only viable tight end option through free agency, and early interest in him on Buffalo's part (as well as their interest in Taylor) may indicate an offensive-based strategy to free agency.

It's a common belief (and there's plenty of evidence to back the claim) that offensive players generally have a tougher time adjusting to the NFL game than defensive players as rookies. With critical needs at tight end, center and backup quarterback, the Bills are expected to pursue these needs first and foremost at the expense of defensive needs for this very reason. That's not to say that defensive needs will be ignored, but the common belief is that those needs can be more easily addressed than the offensive needs via the draft. Again, however, these plans aren't set in stone, as one unanticipated setback can re-adjust the entire scheme.

(For the record, there are several free agent quarterbacks with direct ties to Jauron, including Rex Grossman, Jeff Garcia and Joey Harrington. It is not anticipated that these ties will do these players any favors, however.)

Bills want, but likely won't get, CB Greer
ESPN.com's Tim Graham reported yesterday that the Bills and free agent CB Jabari Greer were far apart monetarily in regards to a possible re-signing. The Bills have reportedly offered Greer a 5-year, $20 million deal, but Greer is seeking close to double the annual pay of that type of an offer. It's hard to blame either party here for the lack of a resolution; Buffalo won't overpay for an average cornerback, and Greer deserves to test the market after years of making peanuts here in Buffalo.

However, Greer may not get what he wants on the open market. He'll certainly generate interest, but the longer Greer stays unsigned, the better the chances are of Greer re-upping with the Bills. It is believed that Greer is Buffalo's top priority, and he'll remain there until the ink dries on a new Greer deal in any locale.

UPDATE: Tim Graham over at ESPN is reporting that Buffalo has extended another offer to Greer. From Graham's blog:

Bills chief operating office Russ Brandon and football administration chief Jim Overdorf met here with Greer's agent, Mark Bloom, on Saturday and are expected this week to make another proposal, an NFL source informed me.

Bills/Raiders: Four Key Matchups

Brian Galliford — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 17:53:53 -0000

Buffalo Bills (2-0) vs Oakland Raiders (1-1)
Four key matchups and who wins them

The Buffalo Bills and the Oakland Raiders are set to square off in a Week 3 NFL matchup in just about two days' time. In anticipation of the matchup, SB Nation's Bills and Raiders bloggers - Brian Galliford of Buffalo Rumblings and Saint of Silver and Black Pride, respectively - have gotten together for a little cage match debate surrounding four of the game's key personnel matchups.

Which blogger - and by extension, which community - is right? Take a gander, gather your thoughts, and let's duke it out in a Bills/Raiders blogger cage match.

MATCHUP ONE: Bills PR Roscoe Parrish vs. Raiders punt coverage
Brian Galliford: I'm not worried about the coverage men that the Raiders boast - Parrish can beat anyone one-on-one, especially on punt returns. Shane Lechler, however, provides a formidable challenge because he's got a huge leg. The key to neutralizing Parrish is kicking it high and making him fair catch it; otherwise, you'd better hope the ball goes out of bounds. Lechler has the leg to force Parrish to fair catch the ball on Sunday. Still, it's going to take a solid effort by both Lechler and the coverage unit to contain the NFL's best punt returner. Advantage: Buffalo

Saint: The Raiders' special teams take great pride in having stopped THE BEST punt returner in the NFL - Devin Hester - last season, and I am sure that they have a pretty good game plan for your man Roscoe Parrish. Shane Lechler has, unfortunately, been our MVP for the last 5 years because he can put the ball where he wants it, when he wants to and is probably the best distance punter in the NFL. Look for his kicks to be high in the air and don't expect MUCH from Roscoe "Pico" Parrish this week. You may want to start thinking of other ways to score. Advantage: Oakland

MATCHUP TWO: Raiders RBs Darren McFadden/Michael Bush vs. Bills run defense
Brian Galliford: No offense to Raiders fans, but I'm not scared of this duo. Don't get me wrong - they're both incredibly talented backs, and neither of them has a ton of mileage, so they're going to be formidable for a long time as long as they stay together. But the Bills are returning from a trip to Jacksonville, where they absolutely shut down the duo of Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew. On the road. In blistering heat. I don't think that Oakland's offensive line will be able to open up holes big enough, consistently enough for Oakland's two excellent backs. Still, these guys are going to be a big challenge for our defense. I think we're up to it. Advantage: Buffalo

Saint: Hah, there you go again. The Bills' run D has to be as overrated as they come, at least so far. Last season the Buffalo run D was Raider-esque. Though not quite as swiss cheesy as Oakland's, it was TERRIBLE, and Oakland's run offense was 6th in the NFL without Bush OR McFadden. By the end of Sunday's game you will know what 200+ yards rushing tastes like. This O-Line may not be able to pass protect, but they can run the ball down anyone's throat. Advantage: Oakland

MATCHUP THREE: Bills WR Lee Evans vs. Raiders pass defense
Brian Galliford: I like Oakland's secondary. The back seven is clearly the strength of the Raiders defense, as y'all boast a lot of talented individuals back there. When the Raiders are fortunate enough to match up Nnamdi Asomugha on Evans, you guys will be fine. But Turk Schonert, Buffalo's new offensive coordinator, has done very well finding ways to get Evans matched up against lesser players. Evans is averaging 22.4 yards per reception this year, and most of his catches have come when Schonert has drawn up a favorable matchup. When Asomugha draws a lesser Bills receiver, however, watch out. Advantage: Push

Saint: DeAngelo Hall put the "D" back in his first name last week as he blanketed the Chiefs receivers. I know that it was the Chiefs, but the entire defense dominated and our DBs could have easily had 5-6 picks. Of course we will need to get pressure on the QB or Lee Evans could break loose, but, Nnamdi, Howard, Morrison, Huff, Routt, Hall and Wilson is one heckuva nickel package. I expect these guys to punch Evans in the mouth and then dominate him. IF he does match up with Hall and burn him a couple of times then he will be blanketed by Nnamdi all day. Advantage: Oakland

MATCHUP FOUR: Raiders pass rush vs. Bills offensive line
Brian Galliford: To be honest, I'm not at all impressed with Oakland's defensive line. I like Derrick Burgess, but I think he'll be faced with a bit of the problem that Aaron Schobel faced in Buffalo for the past two years - he doesn't have anyone to help him. Buffalo's offensive line does an outstanding job pass protecting, and the team has two running backs that have been superb picking up the blitz. It helps that Trent Edwards is very adept at getting the ball out quickly. Bold prediction: Oakland doesn't register a sack on Sunday. Advantage: Buffalo

Saint: I am looking for the Raiders to stunt up the middle this week and let the edge rushers, Burgess and Kalimba Edwards, rush the corners. We have seen how well Langston Walker pass protects and I expect at least one false start and a hold and maybe even two sacks allowed just on him alone. I am kidding (a bit) about Langston, and to be honest, I don't know which game plan will show up. If Oakland blitzes (like they did against KC) and mixes up their packages then they will get to Edwards. If they go "vanilla" (like they did against DEN) then Brian may be correct. Advantage: Push

***

OK, Bills and Raiders fans. Respect is the name of the game, but trash talk is a must. Who's right? Who's just a "homer"? Time for you to sound off on these matchups and the game in general.