Silver and Black Report

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On Saturday, two teams who need a victory and loads of help for a post-season berth will meet at Arrowhead Stadium. The Oakland Raiders (7-7) have squandered a divisional lead and are in the midst of a three-game losing streak. The Kansas City Chiefs (6-8) are coming off a victory against the unbeaten defending Super Bowl champs and feel good under interim coach Romeo Crennel. History dictates this could be a solid match-up with a thrilling ending, as many times in the past, both of these rivals have met late in the season with either or both needing a win to make the playoffs.

OAKLAND RAIDERS

On Offense:

Oakland has lost the personality that made them such a tough football team earlier in the season. They used to be a ground-based club, but since Jason Campbell’s injury and Darren McFadden’s absence, they’ve leaned heavily on Carson Palmer and have not been as successful running the football.

Carson Palmer has a career record of 3-5 versus Crennel and is very aware of his coaching prowess. “If there is one thing that I know, it’s that Romeo is a good coordinator. I don’t know what he’s going to come out in. I just know that they’ll be well-prepared and well-coached,” stated Palmer.

Palmer is 158-of-249 for 1,834 yards with 17 touchdowns and 13 interceptions against Crennel defenses.

Kansas must realize that this is not the same Palmer they faced weeks ago. Safety Kendrick Lewis stated: “He has a better feel of how to get his play-makers the ball. You can just see that he’s a different quarterback because he’s comfortable with the playbook and everything that they’ve since setup for him.”

On Defense:

The seat could get hotter for Chuck Bresnahan if the Raiders’ defense collapses again or carries over their horrid play from last Sunday.

A few days later, Bresnahan was still answering questions regarding Calvin Johnson’s performance. “At the end of the day, we failed because, when you allow somebody to have 200-plus yards in receiving yardage and making impact plays like he did, we obviously didn’t do a good enough job on defense,” said Bresnahan.

Oakland must pressure Kyle Orton, who sprayed the ball around to ten different targets and amassed nearly 300-yards passing on Sunday.

No pass rush this week for Oakland will equate to a long afternoon.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

On Offense:

“That was about the most fun as I’ve had on a football field,” Orton stated about their game versus the Packers.

They ran the ball for 139 yards, led by Thomas Jones’ 15 carries. Steve Breaston, Dwayne Bowe and tight end Leonard Pope, led the way last weekend.

What will be imperative for the Chiefs is their play calling and execution when they get inside the 20-yard line. They needed three Ryan Succop field goals to pull off a win last weekend. “We have to try to get touchdowns when we get to the red zone, which will become critical for us in the next couple of weeks here so we have to try to get that done,” Crennel said.

On Defense:

Tamba Hali will go against one of the better left tackles in the AFC. “Tamba comes to work every day,” said Crennel.

The speedy defender has five sacks in his last four games, and in 11 career contests against the Silver & Black, he has tallied 6.5.

Derrick Johnson has played fabulous football in 2011 and a lock to make the Pro Bowl. He also is furious about their recent lack of success at home versus Oakland.

“That just has to stop,” ILB Derrick Johnson said. “A couple times they came in and whipped us. That has to change. We remember last year where they just punked us good.”

GAME NOTES

• “There’s a good chance he could be back out there and give us a little spark and a little lift in another area for our football team,” Hue Jackson said of rookie Denarius Moore and the possibility of seeing him back on special teams on Saturday.
• “He’s carried the ball quite a bit,” Jackson commented on RB Michael Bush. “There was a stretch there where he was averaging 30 attempts a game.” Bush has surpassed career totals in rushing and carries.
• Jacoby Ford, Darren McFadden and John Henderson will likely be out. It doesn’t look good either for Michael Huff, who was inactive versus the Lions and was a no-show in practice.
• Marcel Reece on Oakland’s chances at the post-season: “We’re still playing for the playoffs. We’re playing for each other right now. And that’s what it all comes down to, playing for the next man, that man next to you because that’s what we want… We’re still playing for the playoffs because we still believe we have a chance.”

KEY MATCHUPS

Kyle Orton vs. Carson Palmer

Both passers have the ability to light it up. Palmer was impressive last week, and his only miscue was an overthrow to Moore. Orton was sacked five times last time he met the Raiders, but that was in Denver and he did not have this set of wide receivers.

Special Teams?

Dexter McCluster and Javier Arenas are elusive and dangerous. Oakland’s pair of kickers will be vital, both putting up points in a tight game and shifting field position with their powerful legs.

PREDICTION

Raiders 27 – Chiefs 23

Oakland has been a better road team this season. The Chiefs would love to end their season, but talent will win out, as Oakland will get back to running the football. Kansas City will play a solid game, but the Raiders are more desperate and playing in a hostile environment. That will raise their focus and keep them alive another week.
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ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter is reporting that the Oakland Raiders have reached out to free agent passer David Garrard.

Per the story, “Garrard and his agent, Al Irby, plan to discuss the situation and get back to the Raiders on Monday afternoon, the source said.”

“There’s been a lot of speculation about me that I don’t appreciate,” Garrard said earlier in the month. “I was going to lay low with the media but I feel I have to protect my name. I just want to make it clear that I’m a football player, I want to be with a team and be with an organization that will be as committed to me as I will be to them.”

Oakland’s starter Jason Campbell suffered a broken collarbone in Sunday’s victory versus the Cleveland Browns.

“I’m not going to let this football team blink,” coach Hue Jackson said. “We’ll miss Jason for a little while. I have no idea how long it will take. I don’t know. We’ll see as we go. I know, obviously, he won’t be here next week or anything like that. We’ll continue to press forward and get better.”

At this point, Oakland will have to start getting Kyle Boller ready for their next game, against the Kansas City Chiefs. With a bye week after that, the Raiders will have enough time to get Garrard or any other passer they decide to add, matriculated to the offense.

If they stick with Boller, it gives them ample time to prep him for what the team expects, a second half run for the division and playoff berth.

Kyle Orton, also could be dealt. But his contract could be a deterrent, and whether or not John Elway wants to help their hated rival in a season of resurgence and face Orton at least one time this season, on November 6.

Oakland also has been wiped of draft picks in next year’s draft due to other trades they pulled off in the past.

Jason Campbell's injury has the Raiders scrambling for a passer.

Yahoo! Sports last night reported that Carson Palmer could be a candidate to take over, if Mike Brown decides to deal the disgruntled passer.

Garrard turned down a chance to play with the Miami Dolphins this month.

If Oakland cannot reach a deal with Garrard or swing a move for Palmer or Orton, they are slim picking in the market, and they’ll be better off with Boller as the starter. Trent Edwards, Brodie Croyle, Jake Delhomme, Charlie Frye, J.P Losman and Jim Sorgi are some of the names out there that could potentially fill the depth chart.

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On Sunday, the Oakland Raiders (1-1) will try to take a step towards the top of the AFC West when they face the rival Denver Broncos (2-0). Denver has won six of their last eight meetings, but Oakland leads the regular season series 55-40-2.

OAKLAND RAIDERS

On Offense:

It’s time for the Raiders to re-establish their run game and support JaMarcus Russell with a steady dosage of Darren McFadden and Michael Bush. Oakland’s passing game is erratic, mainly because of the inability of their young passer to accurately hit his targets consistently. Oh, and those targets themselves are not dependable considering their youth.

But the Silver & Black will have to get their offense in rhythm with a new left guard – Erik Pears. The former Bronco has a huge frame – 6-8 308 pounds – and how he will play in replacing the Raiders steadiest lineman could dictate how this offense performs. Cable talked about the similarities Pears has with Robert Gallery, who was a tackle in college and shares the same traits.

“We went through that same thing with Robert,” Cable said. “But I think having those same kind of talks with Erik, he’s a very bright guy and he’s figured it out pretty quick.”

Pears will have to be ready to slug it out and mimic what Gallery did in week-one against the Chargers. “Things are quicker in there. Outside it takes a little more patience,” Cable said. “Inside it just happens right now. It’s like a street fight. You start throwing and you start fighting. Outside you kind of… you’re like in the ring. You move around, you got more room.”

What to Expect:

Oakland will run…a lot. They can’t survive every week with Russell’s maddening stretches. They can’t expect to stay close every week and hope that he can put together one-drive, or make one-play that can alter a game. They’ll eventually be put in holes because of it. So trying to get the ground game going is imperative. Problem is, they showed a lack of muscle against the Chiefs and they are facing a tougher defense this week. Plus, they are missing their best lineman. Justin Fargas will be active; a positive as Cable described, “He runs so violently, he changes tempo. He as a starter kind of sets tempo for you. My opinion is, you need his energy and you need his intensity that he brings to the game.” Oakland will need that. And if they can’t run the ball, Cable better hope his defense can keep it close enough for another frantic finish.

On Defense:

Hiram Eugene did not practice late in the week and most likely won’t play. And after Michael Huff’s start to the season, the former first rounder deserves to be in the starting line-up. His interceptions have been game changing. And with young players expected to be in the back-end of the secondary, his experience should be a plus for John Marshall’s unit.

“He’ll just play more. But we’ll have a plan in terms of backing it up in with Tyvon (Branch) and Mike Mitchell, perhaps John Bowie,” Cable said.

Huff is steady, knows not to get over enthused about his start and is focused to continue his play.

“I try not to get too riled up about the first two games,” Huff stated this week. “I want to go out there and be consistent and prove it week in and week out.”

What to Expect:

Kyle Orton is steady. And the Broncos will not expose him, nor will they ask him to pull any rabbits out of a hat. So Oakland will have to pressure the first-year Bronco into mistakes. Richard Seymour, Trevor Scott, Greg Ellis and the rest of the front-four must get into the backfield and disrupt any timing Denver will try to develop in their passing game. The Broncos are averaging 130.5 rushing yards a game so far. And after giving up 173 yards on the ground to he Chiefs, will the real Raider rush defense please stand-up!

On Special Teams:

Johnnie Lee Higgins looks to be ready to take over the punt return duties after a week off.

“I’m not a person who likes to sit on the sidelines and watch,” Higgins stated. “ In Kansas City, when we came out of the locker room I still had the shakes and everything and was ready to go and I looked down and was like, ‘I ain’t even suited up.’ Just sitting on the sidelines, that’s really not me.”

Cable even stated that Fargas my see some action on special teams, on coverage units throughout the game.

DENVER BRONCOS

On Offense:

All is well so far for Josh McDaniels who had a tough start to his career in Denver with the Jay Cutler trade and the Brandon Marshall drama. “We can only be 2-0 at this point and we’re certainly not pleased with everything that we’ve done on the field, but we’ve played well enough to beat two teams.  In this league, every win is critical so we’re happy where we’re at and we’re getting ready for Oakland right now,” said the first year head-coach.”

Kyle Orton is directing his offense, tallying a steady 506 yards, 2 touchdown passes and no interceptions, completing 36-of-65 passes.

Orton has a nice complement of receivers, especially when Marshall is healthy and primed to play. This week, Marshall may see more action, and after missing last year’s contest in Oakland, the fiery receiver is anticipating his match-up with Nnamdi Asomugha.

“He’s a very smart player, athletically gifted,” Marshall said. “He just fights every play.”

Brandon Stokley leads the team in receiving, but with Marshall primed, Eddie Royal having a brief but successful history against the Raiders and Jabar Gaffney in the mix, Denver will look to spread out the Silver & Black and keep them un-balance on Sunday.

What to Expect:

Correll Buckhalter and Knowshon Moreno have combined for 216 rushing yards this season. There is no doubt that McDaniels will like to test the Raiders’ rush defense and see if they are the stout club that faced the Chargers, or the team that allowed Kansas City to rack up yards. Denver will spread out the Raiders, run the ball from many sets and then try to play action and get the ball to their many targets. They won’t try anything eventful down the field; but moving the Orton out of the pocket, short quick tosses and possession football will be the game plan, as they try to confuse the Raiders with their varying attack.

On Defense:

Elvis Dumervil leads the Broncos with 4-sacks. Oakland will have to contain the defensive end if they want their dormant passing attack to awaken on Sunday.

“I’ve always had tremendous respect for him,” Cable said. “He’s always a handful. He’s a competitor and he brings it every snap … To me, this was not really a breakout game. I think this guy has been a good player for a while.”

After two games, Denver has allowed only one touchdown and 13 points. Opponents are averaging 70 yards a game on the ground (10^th in the NFL) and 204 via the pass (11^th in the NFL).

Add to that, their playmaking so far; as they have recorded three interceptions, tallied seven sacks, forced three fumbles while recovering two.

What to Expect:

Denver wants to clog up the trenches and put the game in the hands of Russell. If they can build an early lead and play from in front, force the Raiders to pass more than they would like, it could lead to the turnovers and big plays the defense has been accustomed to early in this season.

GAME NOTES:

• Orton ranks first in the NFL with a 4^th quarter passer rating of 152.1.
• The Raiders have not won back-to-back games versus Denver since 2002.
• Out for the Raiders due to injury: Gallery (broken fibula), Chaz Schilens (foot), and Nick Miller (shin).

KEY MATCH-UPS

Mario Henderson vs. Elvis Dumervil

The Bronco DE had a career day last week versus Pro-bowl LT Joe Thomas (Browns). This time, he goes against a first-year starter protecting Russell’s back side.

Raiders’ rush defense vs. Broncos’ ground attack

If Oakland cannot stop the run, this game won’t be close. They currently rank 20^th in the NFL after one good showing, and bad outing.

Orton vs. Russell

Both passers have had their moments in the 4^th quarter this season. Orton is the steadier of the two throughout the game and in the final quarter. Russell has made plays when the game is on the line. Will Russell dig the Raiders in a deep hole? Or can he play steady enough to keep them close and make plays at the end again?

PREDICTION

Broncos 26 – Raiders 24

TV & RADIO

The game will be televised on CBS. If sold out per NFL blackout rules, the game will air in the Bay Area on KPIX CBS 5. The game will also air in Sacramento on KOVR Channel 13 as well as on KHSL in Chico, KION in Monterey and KJEO in Fresno. The game will air on Raiders Radio originating on KSFO 560 AM, the Silver and Black’s Flagship for the multi-state Radio Network. Greg Papa and former Raiders player, assistant and head coach Tom Flores will man the booth for the 12th straight year. The radio pregame show and postgame show will feature Raider Legends George Atkinson and David Humm along with KSFO’s Rich Walcoff. (Broadcast information cited from the official Raiders web site)

GAME INFO

Sunday, September 27, 2009, 4:15 p.m. ET  |  Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, CA

Home Team: Oakland Raiders (1-1) Home: 0-1 Road: 1-0

Road Team: Denver Broncos (2-0) Home: 1-0 Road: 1-0

Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist