Here’s a summary of the best and the worst for the Oakland Raiders (4-4) so far in the 2010 season:

MVP (Offense)

Darren McFadden, RB

Explosive, dynamic and a workhorse – Raider fans never thought they would hear those words describing McFadden. He has been an All-Pro performer with 688-yards rushing (5.5 yds/att) and 4 scores on the ground. He’s also added 20 receptions for 217 yards and 2 touchdowns. He missed two games due to injury and is still on pace for pro-bowl type marks.

Honorable Mention:

Zach Miller, TE

Continues to be Mr. Steady with 34-catches for 461-yards and 4 touchdowns.

MVP (Defense)

Richard Seymour, DT

The veteran provides loads of leadership on a defense with a lot of youth. He’s dominated during games and looks at home next to Tommy Kelly. His 4.5 sacks rank him second on the club.

Honorable Mention:

Nnamdi Asomugha, CB

Plain and simple…the best cornerback in the NFL. If he misses any significant time after yesterday’s injury, Oakland will surely see how much they need him locking down wide receivers in their secondary.

LVP – Least Valuable Player (Offense)

Chaz Schilens, WR

Slow recoveries are part of his profile at the start of every season. Tom Cable said his progress is “just slow,” and at this point, there is no definitive timetable for his return.

Honorable Mention:

Mario Henderson, LT

Replaced in the starting line up by rookie Jared Veldheer. Henderson wont’ see any action this season unless someone gets injured in the trenches.

MVP (Special Teams)

John Fassel, Coach

In his third year as the unit coach, Fassel is doing his best job with a nice mix of veterans (Rock Cartwright & Sam Williams) and youngsters (Mike Mitchell & Stevie Brown). His game planning versus San Diego proved to be a integral part of that victory.

Earning their Paycheck in 2010…

Tommy Kelly, DT

The enigmatic tackle has been in on 30-tackles and has posted 3.5 sacks. He’s been far more active in the middle of the defense and more talkative after games in 2010.

Best Coach

Hue Jackson, offensive coordinator

In 2009, Oakland combined for 17 touchdowns. They have surpassed that mark already in 2010 and Jackson is a major reason for the production on offense. The play calling has been superb in recent weeks.

Best Rookie

Jared Veldheer, LT

He’s in the starting line-up, was flip-flopped in and out of the formation early on and has been part of a line that has amassed chunks yardage. Impressive for a rookie that was considered a project.

Honorable Mention:

Jacoby Ford, KR/WR

The diminutive speedster has been used on reverses and spot duty as a wide receiver. He has a tendency to initiate contact at the end of his rushes and has been fearless since being inserted as a returner. Ford has a lot of spunk and his fumble recovery versus the Chargers was a unsung play.

Underrated Player(s) of 2010

Matt Shaughnessy, DE & Marcel Reece, FB

Shaughnessy leads the team with 5-sacks and has been outstanding in run support. Reece has been a surprise at FB – mainly out of the backfield as a pass catcher.

Honorable Mention:

Trevor Scott, DE/LB

Wherever he plays, Oakland gets solid performances.

Overrated Player of 2010

Michael Huff, S

Was named AFC defensive player of the week midway through the first half of the campaign and leads the team with 42-solo tackles. Yet, he can be very inconsistent.

Mr. Spark Plug

Mike Mitchell, SS

He’s fiery, fierce and highly energetic. When Mitchell blitzes, he gets to his target. And when he gets there, he generally delivers big hits.

The Scoring Machine of 2010…

Sebastian Janikowski, PK

He leads the NFL in scoring (78), field goals made (19), third in extra points made (21) and is tops with 24 touchbacks.

Mr. Tough Guy

Louis Murphy, WR

Played through injuries until a chest contusion sidelined him this weekend.

Best Acquisition (trade or signing)

Kamerion Wimbley, LB

Has 5.0 sacks (tied for team lead), a vital cog to the defense who was brought in for a 3^rd round pick.

We should see more…

• Important games later in the season: Oakland has not had a .500 record this deep into the campaign since 2002 – the year they faced Tampa bay in the Super Bowl. With Kansas City next week and match-ups at Pittsburgh and versus Indianapolis, Oakland has a tough road ahead to stay in the playoff chase. Wouldn’t it be exciting if that last game of the season versus the Chiefs were for all the marbles?
• Rookies and youngsters playing vital roles: Lamarr Houston, Stevie Brown and Desmond Bryant all have key roles and have had their moments. Rolando McClain should continue to get better at middle linebacker.

Can he stay healthy…?

Bruce Gradkowski, QB

He’s the starter per Tom Cable, but he’s useless when injured as evidenced by his performance versus the Chargers. Fans like his toughness, but if he can’t slide or learn to avoid major hits, Gradkowski will never be a reliable starter.

We should see less of…

• QB revolving door: Gradkowski is an igniter, but Jason Campbell has done his job very well the last two weeks – two Raider wins. Someone has to finally take this job and lock it down.
• Blackouts: Fans have a reason to come back…

We miss you…

George Blanda and Jack Tatum

We don’t miss you…

JaMarcus Russell

Best Moments…

• Raiders blocking back-to-back punts vs. the Chargers and building an early lead against their rivals. Eventually, the crowd was treated to a last second defensive stand that featured a Tyvon Branch 64-yard fumble return for a score.
• All 59-points during Oakland’s annihilation of the Broncos.
• Oakland finally tallying a consecutive victory, totaling 567 rushing yards, 1,053 total yards, 92 points, forcing 4 turnovers while giving up none, holding Denver and Seattle to 3-of-27 3^rd down conversions and tallying 12 sacks the last two weeks.

Worst Moments…

• Sebastian Janikowski missing a 32-yard field goal in Arizona as time expired during the Raiders 24-23 loss versus the Cardinals.
• Failing to win back-to-back games at San Francisco, and losing to the winless 49ers, 17-9.
• Allowing 205-rushing yards to the Titans in the season opener.

Best Win…

Raiders 59 – Broncos 14: On the road, this performance was epic.

Worst Loss…

49ers 17 – Raiders 9: Pathetic effort against a team in worse shape.

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

OAKLAND RAIDERS

On Offense:

Michael Bush will get more involved this weekend after Tom Cable got his feet wet on the road with 3-carries for 13-yards. The thumb passed the first test against Arizona, and now the Raiders can use both of their young rushers as they expected in the summer. Darren McFadden has taken advantage of Bush’s absence, becoming a productive every-down rusher with 345-rushing yards (4.7 per carry) in his first three contests.

Louis Murphy, who leads the Raiders with 15-receptions for 238 receiving yards, was back on the practice field on Thursday, but they are concerns about his injured clavicle. With Chaz Schilens still out and not looking to back anytime soon, the Raiders needs a healthy Murphy. Murphy and Darrius Heyward-Bey have combined for 25-of-the-28 catches made by wide receivers this season.

Robert Gallery (hamstring) is expected to be inactive again.

What to Expect:

The Texans rank second in the NFL versus the run, allowing a measly 54.3 yards per game. Oakland would like to keep McFadden rolling and merge Bush into the attack as well to give them a powerful ground game. With Gallery likely out and the Texans playing sold run defense (teams are attacking their weak secondary), the Raiders may  try to spread the ball around and use McFadden more as a wide receiver, especially if Murphy is not in tip-top form. Houston on the other hand allows a NFL worst 368.7 passing yards per game. So Bruce Gradkowski may have to pass and connect often if Oakland wants to put up points. With shaky tackle play and Mario Williams (4-sacks) on the other side, this could be a long day on offense for Oakland.

On Defense:

Nnamdi Asomugha shut down Larry Fitzgerald last week. But now, he faces another top target in Andre Johnson. Even though the Miami product has a bum ankle, he is expected to play and face the top cornerback in the league. “He’s a great player, arguably the best cornerback in the game,’’ Johnson said. “He doesn’t really have many balls thrown his way. It’s not shocking to see that.’’

Oakland’s pass defense ranks 2^nd in the NFL (127.7 yards allowed per game). Their run defense is not as tight, allowing a hefty 133.0 yards per game (24^th in the NFL).

They will need big efforts from Richard Seymour at the line of scrimmage and John Henderson, who was inactive last weekend against the Cardinals.

One of their tackles realize the importance of staying stout and staying consistent, especially when they face a rusher like Arian Foster and a high powered attack like Houston.

“We’ve got to play more attention to detail, a little more focus on every snap,” Tommy Kelly said. “We’re really good, stop, stop, stop – then they pop one. That’s frustrating.”

What to Expect:

How many times the Raiders blitz and how they try to contain Foster will be the key. Oakland cannot expose their secondary against Matt Schaub, who can pick apart any defense, so getting a four-man rush is imperative for John Marshall’s group. If they can’t get to Schaub with four-down linemen, then Oakland’s defense will be un-balanced and allow big yardage on Sunday. Foster likes to cut back and find creases in Houston’s zone-blocking system. This is a contest in which the Raider defensive tackles must stuff their gaps and the linebackers must stay disciplined.

HOUSTON TEXANS

Steve Slaton stuffed by the Raiders defense

On Offense:

Foster leads the NFL with 406-rushing yards and was named the AFC’s offensive player of the month.

Houston feels confident they can continue to roll with their hot-rusher, but can they protect their passer and get that aspect of the club going against a tough Raider secondary?

Schaub has been sacked 11-times this season – seconds most in the NFL. “We’ve got 11 sacks, way too damn many,” Texans coach Gary Kubiak said, per the Associated Press. “I don’t care whose fault it is — mine, Matt’s, the O-line. We’ve got to fix it. We’ve got way too many.”

And if Johnson does not go, they have to find ways to get the football to Kevin Walter, Jacoby Jones and Owen Daniels.

“This team poses matchup problems for us,” Kubiak stated. “I think they’re third in defense in the league right now. They’ve got a great corner so obviously they can cause us problems.”

What to Expect:

A heavy workload for Foster will be in order. Oakland can be susceptible to the run and if Johnson can’t go, they will need a balanced attack against a front-four that has a few pass rushing threats.

On Defense:

Mario Williams could give Mario Henderson nightmares. The struggling Oakland left tackle, who could lose his job to rookie Jared Veldheer, talked about the versatile defensive end, stating, “Normally guys his size don’t have that much speed and quickness, and that’s the thing that makes him different from almost every guy in the league is the fact that most guys that are tall like him are kind of slow, but he’s extremely quick and has very long arms. He knows how to use all three, size speed and quickness.”

With a run defense that has not been tested, the spotlight is on the Texans secondary and how will they fare against a Raider aerial attack that isn’t that explosive, but has shown signs of life in recent weeks. Kareem Jackson is a player who has to step it up and he knows it.

“I’m going to have to go through adversity sometimes and unfortunately, now is that time for me,” said Houston’s first-round pick from Alabama. “I think I just need to go out this week and have a good weekend and just apply everything in practice to the game. I think I’ll be able to bounce back.”

“This guy has the benefit of playing corner as a rookie,” Asomugha said of the youngster. “He’s going to be able to improve a lot sooner than I was able to.”

What to Expect:

The Texans come into the contest boasting about a solid run defense. So they’ll lean on that and hope to apply a lot of pressure on Gradkowski to help out a struggling secondary. If Williams and the front-seven get to Oakland’s passer consistently, this could be a cakewalk for the Texans.

GAME NOTES

• In Oakland’s last three contest against the Texans, Asomugha has held WR Johnson to five catches for 94-yards and no scores.
• The game will be blacked out locally for the 78^th time in 122 home games since the team moved back to Oakland from Los Angeles in 1995.
• Last season, the Texans torched Oakland 29-6 at Reliant Stadium to start a span in which they won four of five games. In 2008, the Texans had a misstep in Oakland, falling 27-16, ending a four game winning streak.
• Paul Gutierrez of the Sacramento Bee stated on his twitter this week that the grass will be down at the Coliseum and the baseball infield will be gone for the contest.

KEY MATCH-UPS

How will the Raiders attack the Texans D?

Will they go with a heavy dosage of Bush and McFadden, or try to take advantage of a struggling Texans secondary with a spread offense? Bruce Gradkowski needs to be turnover free.

Can Oakland sow down Arian Foster?

If the Raiders can contain him, they can play freely versus the pass and try to get to Schaub.

PREDICTION

Texans 27 – Raiders 16

GAME INFO

Sunday, October 3, 2010 4:05 p.m. ET | Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, California

Road Team: Hosuton Texans (2-1) Home: 1-1  Road: 0-1

Home Team: Oakland Raiders (1-2) Home: 1-0 Road: 0-2

BROADCAST INFORMATION (cited from the official Oakland Raiders web site)

The game will be televised on CBS with Gus Johnson providing play-by-play and former NFL player Steve Tasker handling color analysis.  If sold out per NFL blackout rules, the game will air in the Bay Area on KPIX Channel 5 and in Sacramento on KOVR Channel 13. The game also airs on KHSL in Chico, KION in Monterey and KJEO in Fresno. Greg Papa and Tom Flores will call the game on the Raiders Radio Network. The game will air live on Raiders Radio Network originating on KITS LIVE 105.3 FM and KFRC 1550 AM, with pre and post-game analysis on KFRC.. Papa and Raiders two-time Super Bowl winning head coach Flores will man the booth for the 13th straight year. The radio pregame and postgame shows will feature Raider Legends George Atkinson and David Humm as well as local veteran radio personalities Bruce Magowan and Jason Ross.

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

But Tom Cable put a squash to that this afternoon in his weekly Monday briefing with the media.

“I’ve heard if you have two running backs, like Michael [Bush] and Darren [McFadden], you have a tandem, but if you have two quarterbacks, it’s a controversy. There isn’t going to be a controversy. I’ll make a good decision, the right decision, and we’ll go from there.’’

McFadden is the second leading rusher in the NFL with 240-yards. He’s also added 8-catches for 63-yards and a score. But when Michael Bush gets back, both will share the duties, making the Raiders one of the strongest clubs in the league at running back. Those two players can coexist.

As for the two at quarterback – that’s a different scenario.

Bruce Gradkowski entered the game in relief of Jason Campbell and won over the crowd at the Coliseum. He may have solidified his stance in the locker room as well, and ultimately, with the coaching staff.

And if it is the coaching staff solely making the decision on who starts, then Gradkowski will likely have the edge. The only question remains is; Will Al Davis step aside and let Cable, Hue Jackson and co. select who is best to run the club?

When asked if he has the final say on this, Cable stated, “Well, I think it has to be. When you sit in the chair that I do, you have to be able to go out and coach your team and make your decisions and do those things. If you don’t, I think you put yourself in a bind.’’

OL SHUFFLE

Cable insisted that rookie Jared Veldheer and Mario Henderson will continue to rotate at left tackle. “I want to do this for what’s right in that, I think we sit back and look at the film now and you see we’ve got two guys that are pretty even there and we’re able to keep them both fresh and roll ‘em in there and see if we can get one to kind of rise if you will,’’ Cable commented.

This will continue to be detrimental to the line. Veldheer is a rookie with much to learn. He was bulldozed by a safety on a blitz because he played too high with no leverage, was infracted by the referees a few times and looked every bit like a project. Problem is, Henderson has not been any better.

Oakland would like the veteran to affirm himself as a starter. But his shaky play has open the door for the younger player, who the Raiders may eventually envision at that position.

If Gradkowski is the starter, the woes there could be alleviated since he’s such a quick decision maker, mobile and not a traditional, deep in the pocket passer like Campbell is.

JLH WITH SWAG

Johnnie Lee Higgins played well returning punts. He struck early with a field position turning return in the 1^st quarter and had no blips during yesterday’s contest.

“I got my swag back and it’s on,’’ Higgins said. “Once I got past the first wave, everything opened up. I was so amped. It was the opener, planes flying over, everything just got me amped.’’

OTHER NOTES

Luke Lawton’s contract has been terminated. The league reinstated the fullback after the conclusion of his four-game ban for violating the NFL’s policy on performing enhancing drugs.

With Marcel Reece playing well, Oakland had no visions of keeping Lawton around, especially with Manase Tonga on the practice squad.

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

Mario Henderson talks bowling. Henderson, as well as the Raiders, went bowling last night and he shared a hilarious moment with reporters…

Big John Henderson chats with us about him coming to California and what it’s like to be on this defense…

Bruce Gradkowski talks about his injury recovery, the cohesiveness ad trust of the quarterbacks and more…

OFFENSIVE LINE

Mario Henderson’s season at left tackle was mediocre at best. The 25-year old did not solidify himself completely at that spot and with the Raiders possibly targeting a tackle with their 8^th overall selection on Thursday, it’s foreseeable that Henderson could be moved to right tackle. Unless Oakland believes he can only get better there and they pick a tackle in the draft to move to a more dire side of the line – right tackle.

Cornell Green moved on and as it stands, Erik Pears and Khalif Barnes are the main candidates to start on the right edge. Langston Walker, who reached an agreement with the Silver & Black earlier in the month, was utilized at guard and tackle in 2009 and could be a wild card in the mix. The Raiders want to run the football more consistently with Hue Jackson at the helm, so Darren McFadden and Michael Bush need a consistent run-blocking line.

And as I see it, a new offensive philosophy; the return of a more power run game is in order for the Raiders.

Robert Gallery is entrenched at left guard, but if the Raiders do line up and try to bulldoze opponents, what does that mean for Cooper Carlisle (RG), who is not adept at such a style?

Chris Morris struggled at center and Samson Satele, who fared better, is not looked at as a reliable alternative.

OUTLOOK:

The Raiders would love to see Russell Okung (Oklahoma State) fall onto their lap. But if he does slip, the tackle won’t get past Kansas City. Trent Williams (Oklahoma) would be their next target and a very solid choice to finally stabilize an offensive line that needs to be upgraded – Oakland has an eye for Williams. For months Bruce Campbell (Maryland) has been linked to the Raiders due to the workouts he presented during his assessments. But I don’t believe the Raiders will reach in the first round for a consecutive draft for a player that can be had later in the round or when they select again in the 2^nd. Center is a position that really needs upgrade and there has been talk about selecting one.

DEFENSIVE LINE

Richard Seymour, Matt Shaughnessy, Desmond Bryant and Tommy Kelly are virtual locks to be in the line’s rotation in 2010. A lot of burden will place on Shaughnessy’s shoulders after a solid rookie campaign and the departure of pass rushing veteran Greg Ellis. And maybe too much, as Oakland should seriously look into adding a pass rusher during the draft.

The rush defense has been chronically bad for many years now. But the Raiders have generally neglected chances at adding support to the interior of their line, most notably, passing up the chance of taking Glenn Dorsey in 2008 in favor of Darren McFadden.

OUTLOOK:

Where will Oakland generate pass rush other than Seymour? Does the composition of this line give you any hope that they will finally be a respectable rush-defending group?

Oakland has to address the line in varying ways and add talent to a unit that will depend on Seymour to be dominant. Jason Pierre-Paul (South Florida) is an intriguing prospect, but Jared Odrick (Penn St.), Carlos Dunlap (Florida) or Terrence Cody (Alabama) could be viable options with their 2^nd round selection.

We all know what has been Russell’s demise so far in his career. But after being bypassed for Bruce Gradkowski and Charlie Frye, the young passer made the best of the opportunity presented to him on Sunday. And teammates were enthused to see a positive outcome for the besieged number one overall pick.

“I don’t think words can explain,” starting LT Mario Henderson stated. “He’s the No. 1 overall draft pick. He’s been hearing it from Day 1. For him to come in and do what he did today was amazing. One thing we did was step up behind him. We didn’t abandon him . . . the thing he showed us today is he was ready for the chance, he came back out strong and helped us when we needed it.”

Russell has been booed at home and the performance Gradkowski put forth in his stint had some wondering whether or not the former LSU star had any future in Oakland.

“I always say everybody is going to have their opinion. As long as my teammates have faith, and I have faith in those guys,” Russell said. `There’s always going to be tough times. It’s how you come up from behind and fight those tough times off.”

His 4^th down completion to Tony Stewart does not wash away a resume full of missed opportunities. The game winning score to Chaz Schilens does not change the consensus thought that he is still way too immature to lead this organization. And unless he changes his work habits and strives to make himself a better passer and director, we’ll continue seeing the same poor play that made all his fans turn on him.

Russell is not out of the woods yet, and Raider Nation needs to see more out of him before they can depend on him – and rightly so. “The man has been freaking dragged through the mud and people have been taking shots at him and the man has just been standing tall. He has a lot of growing up to do but when it came time he stepped up and did the job,” Stewart said.

That performance may have done one thing for Russell; it probably extended the leash Al Davis may have been tightening on him and gave the owner a sense of belief that his selection was the right one. Even though it was only a short appearance in a game in which Oakland was lights out on the ground and stout defensively, but Russell was at quarterback and made the throw to win the game.

And that may be enough to give Davis more ammo if he wants to keep this passer around or in the starting line-up in the foreseeable future.

BUSH-WHACKING – RUN DMC

“A game like this reminds me of last year,” Michael Bush commented last night. “In Tampa, the guys went down last year and I stepped in, same thing as today. Fargas went down a little bit and we needed someone else to pick up the slack. that is why you need a stable of backs like we have.”

Bush reminiscent of his 177 yard outing versus the Buccaneers almost a year ago, torched the Broncos for 133 yards, tallying his second 100 + yard performance of the season – the only two the Raiders have had in 2009.

Darren McFadden had a key fumble that led to the Denver go ahead score and Bush dropped a make able 3^rd down reception, but the duo really spearheaded an offense that was in need of a breakout rushing performance.

Justin Fargas was unable to play due to a knee ‘tweak’, but Oakland’s depth at running back finally paid off with their young ball carriers performing as many expected when they were first acquired.

BACK-TO-BACK…

The Raiders have been notoriously bad after wins since Cable took over. This season, they have stumbled versus the Broncos, Jets, Cowboys and Redskins after victories – and all of those losses had their lackluster and embarrassing moments. Next up is Cleveland, who are on a two game winning streak  and are coming off a 41-point effort against the Chiefs and a Jerome Harrison record breaking 286-yard outing, shattering Jim Brown’s single game club record.

OTHER NOTES

Erik Pears was stellar yesterday when Oakland used him as added bulk to their offensive line. Langston Walker also manhandled Denver linemen.

Cable stated after the game: “We’ll have to sort through the bodies on the way home and decide. Charlie was playing really well before he got knocked out. If he’s ready to go he’ll play. If not, we’ll go with JaMarcus but it’s too early to tell.” If Frye has any signs of concussions symptoms this week, Oakland cannot allow him on the field. The NFL will re-evaluate how teams handle concussions this off-season and it is of utmost importance that Frye’s health is the priority. That means JaMarcus Russell could see action against the Browns, as J.P Losman may not be ready enough due to his unfamiliarity with the playbook. And if Losman were to be pegged over Russell after this week, it would speak volumes on how the coaching staff feels about their pricey quarterback.

OAKLAND RAIDERS

On Offense:

It’s time to rev up the running game if you are the Raiders. Currently, they rank 28^th in the league in rushing, a surprise considering that was the lone aspect of this club that any prognosticator expected to be productive prior to the season beginning being the only position on the roster with considerable depth. For the next few weeks they will be without Darren McFadden (meniscus), so Justin Fargas and Michael Bush will carry the load. But it must start from the trenches, and since their game versus San Diego, the Raiders have lost any toughness and chemistry on the offensive line.

“It can go two ways,” starting left tackle Mario Henderson said this week, looking ahead to the Giants. “We can go out there and embarrass ourselves or go out there and make a name for ourselves. It’s a good opportunity for us.”

Chris Morris, who may start at left guard state, “That’s how we will measure ourselves, going up against the best. If we can put up a good game like we plan on doing it will be good for us.”

What to Expect:

The Giants defensive line can bring the heat. And their rush defense is stout. With Oakland re-shuffling their line and trying to find a way to get back a respectable ground game, it spells trouble for Tom Cable’s bunch. JaMarcus Russell will face intense pressure and there won’t be many run lanes for Fargas and Bush. New York’s defense is a prideful bunch and with their offensive leader possibly sidelined, they will make sure Oakland’s offense continues their woes, as they’ve averaged 7.3 points per game in their last three contests.

On Defense:

Oakland’s front-seven must be primed to face a tough ground game. Tommy Kelly, Gerard Warren, Richard Seymour and Greg Ellis must hold their ground and improve on the 146.3 yards allowed rushing per game so far in 2009.

“You don’t get to see 270-pound backs running that fast, but I mean he’s human so if you hit him around his beak a couple of times, he’ll slow down,’’ Tommy Kelly stated about Brandon Jacobs.

What to Expect:

The Raiders will stack the line of scrimmage in trying to slow down the Giants running backs. But they cannot allow their receivers to exploit the secondary in man-to-man coverage, as Chris Johnson has given up big yardage opposite Nnamdi Asomugha and the Giants receivers are having a solid start to 2009. If they can slow down the duo at running back for the Giants, they must attack whoever is at quarterback with their four down linemen and get there with consistency to have any shot at staying close late.

On Special Teams:

The play of the coverage units has fallen dramatically since last season; and the team returned the same components to a steady group in 2008. Oakland ranks 29th in punt returns, 32nd in kick coverage and 31st in kick returns.

Justin Miller was cut again this week, replaced by running back Gary Russell due to the injury to McFadden. Russell may see time returning kickoffs, as the combination of Louis Rankin, Jonathan Holland and Miller has been non-threats to opponents.

NEW YORK GIANTS

On Offense:

Much of the talk this week surrounded the health of starting quarterback Eli Manning. On Thursday, head coach Tom Coughlin did not predict whether or not his starter would play on Sunday after sustaining a heel injury last week, while back-up David Carr has taken snaps with the first team leading up to the game.

“I am sure he wants to play really bad, probably as bad as I want to play,” Carr said of Manning. “It’s the same for every competitor, every guy who wants to be on the field. Everybody gets hurt. We’re down a lot of guys now and I think everyone on the side wants to be out there to help the team.”

What to Expect:

Whether Manning plays or not, it won’t change what the Giants want to accomplish on Sunday. Their personality on offense is based on a tough ground game, and this may be the game to get back to being a dominant rushing unit. The Giants are averaging 145.5 yards per game rushing, but Jacobs is averaging almost 2 yards less per carry from his stats a year ago. Jacobs (288 yards rushing) and Ahmad Bradshaw (265 yards rushing) could combine for 200 yards rushing this weekend.

On Defense:

The Giants rank 19^th in rush defense (117.3), 1^st in pass defense (115.0) and 6^th in points allowed per contest (16.0)

All those numbers don’t bode well for a Raiders offense that cannot move the chains consistently or put points on the boards. Russell is struggling and is the worst starting quarterback in the league statistically, and he’s facing a team that can bring pressure with their down linemen and has covered well so far in 2009.

Linemen Justin Tuck (2.5 sacks) and Osi Umenyiora (2.0 sacks) are a quarterbacks worst nightmare, and either can line up anywhere along the formation.

What to Expect:

Antonio Pierce is the leader on defense, and his ability to dissect what offenses are trying to do and help his teammates get in the right position are invaluable traits. Oakland does not run an elaborate offensive scheme, so the Giants can just line up and play physical football. That is not in Oakland’s personality, so it will be tough for the Raiders to match New York’s intensity or style of play.

GAME NOTES

• The Giants are coming off a three-game road trip and will play in front of their home crowd for the first time since week-one. They have not begun a season 5-0 since 1990.
• Michael Bush will start at running back. He stated this week, “You want to be that man.”
• Chaz Schilens did not practice and will most likely miss another week of action. Nick Miller will be inactive and won’t be ready for at least another two-weeks. Zach Miller missed practice on Thursday, but is expected to play. Hiram Eugene finished practice and is on schedule to be activated this week.

KEY MATCH-UPS

Steve Smith vs. Nnamdi Asomugha/Chris Johnson

Smith is leading the NFL in receptions (34), yards (411) and touchdowns (4). The 24-year old is establishing himself as New York’s ‘go to guy’ and if he goes up against the best cornerback in football, it could be the best match-up of the entire weekend anywhere. Against Johnson, Smith could wiggle his way for big gains as he is a precise route runner.

RT Kareem McKenzie, RG Chris Snee, C Shaun O’hara, LG Rich Seubert and LT David Diehl vs. The Raiders front seven

That Giants’ offensive line may be the best in the league. Add FB Madison Hedgecock to that load and Oakland’s defense may be facing the toughest bunch they’ll see all year.

Can JaMarcus Russell play mistake free and make a big play or two…or three?

If by some chance Oakland is close in the 4^th quarter, they will need their QB to play over his head. They will need big plays out of him to stay close and pull an upset.

PREDICTION

Giants 29 – Raiders 3

TV & RADIO

The game will be televised on CBS with Greg Gumbel providing play-by-play and former NFL player and Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Dierdorf handling color analysis. The game will air locally on KPIX Channel 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, October 11, 2009, 1 p.m. ET | Giants Stadium, NJ

Home Team: New York Giants (4-0) Home: 1-0 Road: 3-0

Road Team: Oakland Raiders (1-3) Home: 0-2 Road: 1-1

Point Spread: Raiders are 14.5 underdogs

Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

The Silver & Black has lost three of the four meetings in the short history of this series.

OAKLAND RAIDERS

On Offense:

The Raiders have anticipated Schilens’ arrival for some weeks now. But it appears now that the receiver will miss another game as he recovers from the broken bone in his left foot that he sustained during the pre-season. JaMarcus Russell’s favorite receiver practiced and went through drills, but his designated as ‘doubtful’ by Tom Cable.

Oakland needs as much talent around Russell right now, as he is currently slumping with a league worst 39.8 passer rating. And one former Raider has pinpointed some of the issues in Oakland with his recent comments.

“When you put him on the field in a one-on-one workout session [Russell] make every throw for you,” said Jeff Garcia who was signed by the Raiders this off-season and spent a lot of the summer in the same practice field working along side the former first overall pick before he was released. “But when it comes down to making things happen in the heat of the battle and rallying the troops around you and making a case for the team, that’s where maybe things aren’t where they need to be.”

He also commented on other issues regarding the club, stating: “It was to a point where I felt like guys who walked through those doors that just were there to collect a check and not really interested in putting everything that they had within themselves on to the football field. And that was the frustrating thing for me to see.”

“There were a lot of good young guys in that locker room who really want to do whatever it takes to win, but unfortunately it’s not everybody,” Garcia continued. “In order to compete at this level in this game, everybody needs to be on board.”

What to Expect:

The Texans are made to order for the Raiders. Oakland needs to get back to running the football and establishing Darren McFadden, Michael Bush and Justin Fargas as the spearheads to this offense. Russell needs the help and a powerful running game to help him get out of his funk. The Texans are allowing a league worst 205 yards rushing per game. If Oakland cannot run against them, this game could get ugly.

On Defense:

The rush defense has completely collapsed since their impressive first half outing in week-one versus the Chargers. Oakland is allowing 155 yards on the ground per game and now faces a team with a very capable rusher who will try to breakout after a slow start to his season.

In the last two-contests, the Texans have racked up 420 and 397 total yards respectively and they’ll try to take advantage of the Raiders woes versus the run. Cable realizes how important it is to stuff their ground game early, stating, “We’re similar that way. So you want to get started fast. I think it probably bodes well for whichever team can get going soonest.”

What to Expect:

Pressure must be applied to the Texans offense – no excuses. The Raiders need to get to Matt Schaub and force some mistakes. So far, the Texans’ passer has only 2 interceptions and been sacked a league low 2 times. If Greg Ellis, Richard Seymour and the rest of the front-four cannot get to Schaub, he’ll carve up the Raiders’ secondary. Oakland will probably allow Steve Slaton to get his yardage, but if Schaub gets going himself, this Houston team will put up 30-points or more.

On Special Teams:

Justin Miller is back on the team. And deservingly, after Louis Rankin and Jonathan Holland were non-threats on kickoffs. The former New York Jet energized the return teams last season upon his arrival, but this summer was released in favor of other return men. “Sometimes it’s really not about you as a person,” he stated of his release. “It’s kind of what fits for the team at that point of time. You just take it in stride and be ready for the next opportunity.”

HOUSTON TEXANS

On Offense:

Schaub is enjoying a solid start to his season, recording the 4^th best passer rating in the league (101.9), the 8^th most passing yards in the NFL (823) and a solid touchdown to interception ratio, (7TD only 2 INT).

But what he would like is for 2^nd year pro Steve Slaton to get going. Houston is only averaging 70 yards a game on the ground, with Slaton rushing for 127 yards on 38 carries. Seventy-six of those yards came last week, and at this point, the Texans may be catching the Raiders at the right moment in trying to jolt their ground game.

One of the league’s best players – Andre Johnson – has started his season well. The 28-year old target has 18 catches for 270 yards and 2 scores.

What to Expect:

Many are pointing to this game as an important one for head coach Gary Kubiak. The team was expected to take a step up this season and a loss at home to the Raiders could really put the target on his back. So expect this offense to open up the playbook, attack all levels of the Raider defense and come out firing. If Slaton is churning out yardage, then Schaub will be efficient. If they cannot run the ball, Oakland will stick around and make things interesting.

On Defense:

Kubiak has talked about his unhappiness regarding the pass rush. He would like to see his front-four get to the opposing passer more often, and more importantly, he wants to see the Texans front-seven improve upon the league’s worst 205 rushing yards allowed per game.

Oakland can run it. And the Texans know it.

More importantly though, they would like continue Russell’s woes by getting to him when he drops back and covering his inexperienced targets.

Bernard Pollard was signed recently and he could see his first action against the Raiders. “We’re just not consistent [in the secondary],” coach Gary Kubiak mentioned. “We’re searching for some answers. We’re playing a lot of people back there. We’re going to continue to do that. We’re going to give some more guys some opportunities.”

What to Expect:

It’s time for Mario Williams to have a coming out party. He was shut-down by Mario Henderson last season and if the Texans want to continue to derail Russell’s season, they will need to rattle him with pressure and not allow break downs in the secondary, as the Raiders have had problems getting anything going consistent via the passing attack.

GAME NOTES

• Robert Gallery is out (fibula) as well as WR Nick Miller (shin). Hiram Eugene is questionable with his calf injury.
• The league fined Richard Seymour $7,500 for pulling Ryan Clady’s hair last Sunday.

KEY MATCH-UPS

Mario vs. Mario

LT Mario Henderson will need to have a second straight solid game versus DE Mario Williams if Oakland wants an upset victory on the road. “It was a good game for me to see where I was at,” Henderson said of his performance last season against Williams, “and it was a good feeling, too, to know that I can play.”

Which run defense plays toughest?

Both defenses are struggling against the run. Which one will play with more intensity, which one will play physical and which one will ultimately slow the other’s attack?

PREDICTION

Texans 31 – Raiders 17

TV & RADIO

The game will be televised on CBS with Gus Johnson providing play-by-play and former NFL player Steve Tasker handling color analysis. The game will air locally on KPIX Channel 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 official Raiders web site)

GAME INFO

Sunday, October 4, 2009, 1 p.m. ET | Reliant Stadium, TX

Home Team: Houston Texans (1-2) Home: 0-2 Road: 1-0

Road Team: Oakland Raiders (1-2) Home: 0-2 Road: 1-0

Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist