“Different and improved….”

   It has been 10 years since the Oakland Raiders and New England Patriots met in frigid Foxboro Stadium for an AFC Divisional Playoff game which has become to be known at the “Tuck Rule Game.”  Images of that snowy night still haunt many a Raider fan, including myself.  Although you may not need to relive the gory details, in the play, Raiders’ CB Charles Woodson got to and sacked Patriots’  QB Tom Brady, which in turn, seemed to caused a fumble that was recovered by Raiders’  LB Greg Biekert. Officials reviewed the play, and determined that Brady’s arm was moving forward, thus making it an incomplete pass. As a result, the original call was overturned, and the ball was given back to the Patriots, who then moved the ball into field goal range. With under a minute remaining in regulation, New England’s Adam Vinatieri kicked a 45-yard field goal to tie the game at 13, sending the game into a nail-biting overtime.. In overtime, Vinatieri kicked a 23-yard field goal to win the game for the Patriots, 16 to 13, crushing Oakland’s Super Bowl dreams that year.  As you know, New England went on to beat the St Louis Rams 20-17 in SB 36.. That was probably the lst time the Raiders and Patriots have met in a meaningful game until now.

This Sunday, Tom Brady, his hair, and the rest of the New England Patriots return to Oakland to face a much improved Oakland Raiders who are coming off a huge victory over the New York Jets and are looking to go 3-1.  A win Sunday against New England would quite possibly validate the coaching change from Tom Cable to Hue Jackson and also most certainly show the rest of the NFL that the Raiders are for real this year.  Said Coach Jackson earlier this week, “It’s a group that one, expects to win, It’s a group that works to win. It’s a group that is becoming something and they’re working at it each and every day. I think they can see the vision, that they have an opportunity, regardless of who we play, where we play to win.”

“But I hope the rest of the league can see this is a different and improved football team.”

“Different and improved..” Those are words that have been spoken many times since the Raiders last winning season of 2002, but without much backing.  Even though it is only week 4 of the 2011 season, a victory Sunday against the Patriots would indeed go a long way into finally giving the saying “different and improved” some real meaning.  Already a “big” game for both teams, Sundays match-up between Oakland and New England  could go a long way into looking into the crystal ball for the rest of the 2011 season. 

“Different and improved.”  We shall see how much different and how improved our beloved Oakland Raiders really are Sunday..

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Four Downs: Bills are NFL’s most improved team

A few items on my mind this week after emerging from the film room, starting with the team that gets my vote as the NFL’s most improved.

1. The most improved team in the league right now is the Bills. The Bills are 2-4 over the last six weeks, and three of those losses were in overtime. They also should have easily won in Pittsburgh last week. I see improvement in all areas for the Bills, especially along the offensive line. More specifically, at left guard and left tackle. Demetrius Bell and Andy Levitre are a very, very talented left side we’re going to hear about for a long time. They’re a big reason why Ryan Fitzpatrick is flourishing. They have great technique, don’t get beat and are very physical. They took on the Steelers’ toe to toe and not only didn’t flinch, but outplayed the guys across from them.

2. Very quietly, the Dolphins have become a top 10 defense. They shut down Darren McFadden last week, and I think they’ll do the same to Peyton Hillis this week. Mike Nolan jettisoned OLBs Jason Taylor and Joey Porter when he put this 3-4 defense in, and I’m interested to watch the young and talented Cameron Wake and Koa Misi going forward. Wake can rush with both speed and power. It’s a credit to him that he’s an everydown player at his size, and a credit to his conditioning he’s able to play hard every play. Last week he took Raiders OT Langston Walker, who outweighs him by more than 100 pounds, and lifted him off his feet. That’s tough to do in this league. Misi is very strong and stout against the run. Wake and Misi have 14 sacks between them, and I’m willing to bet they reach 20 before the season is over. That’s what you’re looking for in a 3-4 defense.

3. I don’t know how Finnegan wasn’t penalized for the three plays leading up to the one that prompted the fight with Johnson. Finnegan was taking his right hand and jacking Johnson right in the chin, and I don’t know how it was allowed to go on. If I were Johnson, I would be thinking the whole thing was ridiculous. If it were me, and they weren’t going to call a penalty, I would want to do something about it. I’m all for the league not suspending Johnson, and if they don’t suspend him, they can’t suspend Finnegan. I’m OK with the fines because Johnson has a perfect track record on and off the field, and it was totally out of character. If I were Johnson, I would have done the same thing.

4. I know people in San Diego are wondering if the Chargers will go on their annual late-season run, and I think they will. As much as Philip Rivers is in the MVP discussion for the way he’s playing, I think you have to look at what Ron Rivera is doing with the defense. During their four-game winning streak, teams have converted only 28 percent of third downs, which is last in the league. Last week the Chargers held Peyton Manning to 3-of-12 passing on third down with three of his four interceptions. Watching the Chargers on third downs, they challenge every receiver on the field by jamming and re-routing them off the line. It worked well against Reggie Wayne, and it’s just the start of what they do. The Chargers are coached this way, and I think it’s the way you have to play defense in the NFL right now. Look for more of the same from the Chargers going forward, and I believe their game against the Chiefs in Week 14 will decide the AFC West.

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