Posted on 09/08/2005 6:44:42 AM PDT by misterrob
Tonight it starts. Open to comments about tonight's game, predictions, comments, etc.
Also requesting that Freepers boycott the pre-game and half time shows or call advertisers to complain about their supporting drug addicted, over the hill English rockers bashing America or racist rappers who push anti-woman, anti-family and violent messages in their so called music who say that Bush hates black people which is a bold face lie.
This 21 year Raider fan is ready!!!
The started Eli way to early. They should of had him spend the year on the sidelines learning. The giants jumped the gun and blew it.
Go RAIDERS !
DAAAAAAAAAAAAAA BEARS!
Some people can't wait until Christmas morning and open gifts on Christmas Eve.
It also fills the void in the avid, rabid sportsfan by the WNBA season concluding.
It's a big loss, but don't worry... Rodney will keep the D in line.
Yes, Teddy is a big loss but the D is also based on a system. They still have talent on that team plus there's a BAMF called Rodney Harrison roaming the secondary.
LOL!
I'd add BAMMF!
Likely because he sucks. No one said Garcia was any better, either.
GO RAIDERS.
You dirty cheating Patriots. We'll never forget the SNOW-JOB we got up in Foxborough in 2002 (NFL Films had it on NFL TV last night.) Never. The Patriots will always be one of my most hated sports teams from now until the end of time.
I feel sorry for you.
As I've said, We'll See.
Will you be watching the game with your pal Jim Beam?
I certainly will. I assume you and Jack Daniels will be watching as well.
NFL Preview - Oakland (0-0) at New England (0-0)
By Tony Moss, NFL Editor
Contra Costa Times.com
September 5, 2005
(Sports Network) - The two-time defending Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots will help kick off the 2005 NFL season on Thursday night, but the mystique surrounding the franchise could be overshadowed by that of one electrifying player.
Perennial Pro Bowl wide receiver Randy Moss will make his debut in an Oakland Raiders uniform on Thursday, as the Silver and Black look to turn the page on a disappointing chapter in team history in favor of a new, scintillating one. Moss was traded to Oakland by the Minnesota Vikings this past March, after averaging 82 catches, 1,300 yards, and 13 touchdowns per year in seven seasons with Minnesota. Moss and other offseason additions such as running back LaMont Jordan will be among those charged with turning around a Raider franchise that has won just nine games since its AFC title season of 2002.
The Patriots already reside on the championship perch to which Oakland aspires, but like the Raiders, New England was forced to deal with its share of offseason turnover.
Offensive coordinator Charlie Weis took the helm of the Notre Dame program, while defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel left the Patriots to head up the Cleveland Browns. Head coach Bill Belichick will be calling the offensive plays in 2005, and former defensive backs coach Eric Mangini succeeds Crennel.
Mangini will immediately have to fine-tune a defense that will be without two of its top playmakers from a year ago, namely inside linebackers Tedy Bruschi and Ted Johnson. Bruschi is taking a year off from football following a minor stroke suffered in February, and Johnson retired on the eve of training camp due in part to a series of concussions sustained during a 10-year pro career.
SERIES HISTORY
Oakland holds a 14-12-1 advantage in the all-time regular season series with New England, including a 27-20 home victory when the teams last met, in 2002. The Patriots have lost three straight regular season games with the Raiders, with their last such victory coming at home during the 1987 season.
In addition to the regular season history, the clubs have met three times in the postseason. The Patriots were 16-13 overtime winners in the infamous "tuck rule" AFC Divisional Playoff, following the 2001 season. New England also defeated the then-Los Angeles Raiders in a 1985 AFC Divisional Playoff, and dropped a 1976 AFC Divisional Playoff in Oakland.
Raiders head coach Norv Turner is 1-0 all-time against the Patriots, with that victory coming on the road while Turner was at the helm of the Washington Redskins during the 1996 season. The Patriots' Bill Belichick is 3-1 all-time against the Raiders, including a 2-0 record while with the Cleveland Browns from 1991 through 1995.
RAIDERS OFFENSE VS. PATRIOTS DEFENSE
The man doing the passing to Moss will be quarterback Kerry Collins, who threw for 3,495 yards and 21 touchdowns in his first year with Oakland last season, but who also tossed a league high-tying 20 interceptions. Collins will look not only to Moss but to holdover wideouts Jerry Porter (64 receptions, 9 TD in 2004) and Doug Gabriel (33 receptions, 2 TD), among others. Ronald Curry, who was second on the team with 50 catches and six TDs last season, missed most of training camp while rehabbing from a torn Achilles suffered in December of last season and is not yet ready for a full-time role. Courtney Anderson (13 receptions, 1 TD) should open as the tight end. The offensive line gave up a modest 30 sacks last season, and will be anchored by second-year pros Jake Grove (center) and Robert Gallery (right tackle).
Responsibility for corralling the likes of Moss and Porter will fall to Patriots cornerbacks Asante Samuel (36 tackles, 1 INT) and Randall Gay (34 tackles, 2 INT), the formerly inexperienced duo who performed well in helping New England to last year's Super Bowl title. Safeties Rodney Harrison (138 tackles, 2 INT) and Eugene Wilson (67 tackles, 4 INT) will provide additional pass coverage, and offseason acquisition Duane Starks (58 tackles, 3 INT) and fellow cornerback Tyrone Poole, who missed most of 2004 with a knee injury, will be called upon as well. New England will likely try to place a great deal of pressure on Collins, with outside linebackers Mike Vrabel (5.5 sacks in 2004), Willie McGinest (9.5 sacks), Roosevelt Colvin (5 sacks) and end Richard Seymour (5 sacks) at the heart of that effort.
Oakland finished last in the NFL in rushing a year ago (80.9 yards per game), and brought in former Jet LaMont Jordan (479 rushing yards, 2 TD, 15 receptions with New York in 2004) to solidify that area. Jordan will be starting his first game on Thursday following 62 reserve appearances in four seasons with the Jets. Playing fullback and serving as a backup to Jordan is 11-year veteran Zack Crockett (232 rushing yards, 2 TD, 16 receptions).
There will be a great deal of focus on new Patriots inside linebackers Monty Beisel (51 tackles with the Chiefs) and Chad Brown (37 tackles with the Seahawks) on Thursday night, as the duo try to take over for Bruschi and Johnson while concentrating on stopping Jordan. Beisel and Brown should be set up for a number of tackles by Patriots linemen Seymour (39 tackles), Ty Warren (48 tackles) and Vince Wilfork (42 tackles), who were effective at the forefront of the team's 3-4 defense a year ago. The Patriots were sixth in the league against the run last season.
PATRIOTS OFFENSE VS. RAIDERS DEFENSE
Three-time Pro Bowler Tom Brady (3692 passing yards, 28 TD, 14 INT) will once again be at the controls of the New England offense, and will have at least one new weapon at his disposal. The Patriots traded for former Brown Andre' Davis, who had 93 catches and 13 touchdowns in three years with Cleveland, on Aug. 22. Davis will start the season as a reserve behind holdovers Deion Branch (35 receptions, 4 TD) and David Givens (56 receptions, 3 TD). Tight ends Daniel Graham (30 receptions, 7 TD), Christian Fauria (16 receptions, 2 TD) and Ben Watson will factor into the pass-catching mix as well. The New England line surrendered just 26 sacks last season, and four of five starters return from the 2004 unit.
The Raiders recorded just 25 sacks in 2004, the second-lowest figure in the league, and made some changes in the offseason to help reverse that trend. Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan oversaw a switch from a 3-4 to a 4-3 defense, a move that should help tackle Warren Sapp (a career-low 2.5 sacks last season) be more productive. End Tommy Kelly (4 sacks) was the team's 2004 sack leader, and will rotate with former Eagle Derrick Burgess (2.5 sacks with the Eagles) at the position. Converted ends Tyler Brayton (2.5 sacks) and Grant Irons (1 sack) will be counted on for their pass rushing ability at outside linebacker. In the secondary, Charles Woodson (73 tackles, 1 INT) heads an inexperienced unit that will also feature cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, free safety Stuart Schweigert, and strong safety Derrick Gibson, three players that combined for just 10 starts last season. The Raiders were 30th in the league against the pass in 2004.
The New England running game will again be in the capable hands of Corey Dillon, who established career highs in rushing yards (1635) and rushing touchdowns (12) a season ago. Dillon will be spelled by veteran backup Kevin Faulk (255 rushing yards, 26 receptions, 3 TD) and fullback Patrick Pass (141 rushing yards, 28 receptions) should see a few touches as well.
Oakland was just 22nd in the league against the rush last season, which was an improvement over the 32nd-place finish in 2003 but far from the major development the team was looking for. Middle linebacker Danny Clark (129 tackles), who led the Raiders in stops last season, will have to prove that he can thrive in the new scheme, as will run-stuffing defensive tackle Ted Washington (41 tackles, 3 sacks). Offseason acquisition Ed Jasper (34 tackles with Atlanta) should also be sturdy against the run, and end Bobby Hamilton (57 tackles) will probably appear when the club switches to 3-4 sets in rushing situations.
OVERALL ANALYSIS
The Raiders will make headlines this season for their offensive prowess, but an Oakland defense employing a new scheme and featuring a wealth of spare parts will struggle. Look for the Patriots to exploit the Silver and Black's many defensive holes, and to score at will. On the other side of the ball, Jordan and Moss will help to move the offense, but Collins will probably be good for an untimely mistake or two, errors that will place the Raiders in the loss column.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Patriots 38, Raiders 27
http://146.145.120.3/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=contracosta&page=nfl/scores/live/pv1444.htm
My prediciton, Bengals 11-5 and a playoff apperance.
Who Dey! Who Dey! Who dey think gom beat dem Bengals!!!
I'm 23 and I know it will be a long time before the Browns go to the Super Bowl.
Are ready for racist fascist half time shows, theres West and Strolling Bones, and Green Filth Day all ready spread their hate against Americans.
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