Chiefs ATHAN - Raiders hype is fool's gold - Page 3

Hammock Parties · 11-04-2010, 09:38 PM

Before you doubt him, just remember he predicted victory over the 49ers in Week 3. THIS ONE'S IN THE BAG!

http://www.foxsportskansascity.com/1...94&feedID=5070

It’s Raiders week. You know what that means: the Chiefs are set to play their most hated division rival. It’s a game that could very well settle the AFC West.

It’s far more important to Oakland to win this game than Kansas City. But is it really a rivalry anymore? And are the 2010 Raiders really that good? I say no to both.

I’m sick and tired of hearing how the Raiders are back. All of a sudden they’re a good team? Because of two blowout victories, everyone thinks they're on the verge of making a legitimate run to the top of the AFC West standings. But on Sunday they face the NFL’s biggest surprise: the Kansas City Chiefs.

Experts are clamoring that the Chiefs are headed for a fall after their narrow 13-10 overtime victory at home over Buffalo. And they base that on the fact the Raiders in back-to-back weeks have run up the score on the hapless Denver Broncos at Mile High and the road-troubled Seahawks at the Oakland Coliseum.

So are the Raiders really that good? Let’s hold off on that for a moment.

Two weeks ago the Raiders went to Denver and ran all over the Broncos in a 59-14 victory. Darren McFadden returned the line-up and showed why he was a top draft pick a few years ago. It was his best game as a Raider. But the Broncos defense is terrible. Still, the Raiders took advantage of their poor tackling and made a statement. And for his efforts, McFadden is the AFC West's leading rusher with 668 yards.

This past Sunday, the Raiders took care of Seattle by thumping them 33-3 at home. But when you consider that Seattle left points on the field on three red zone possessions, poor tackling by Seattle, and some fortuitous bounces of the ball, this game should have been much closer. But the Seahawks aren’t that good.

The Chiefs on the other hand have been criticized for playing a weak schedule to date. I guess the likes of San Diego, Indianapolis, Houston, San Francisco and Jacksonville doesn’t carry much weight in some NFL circles.

The Chiefs stand a respectable 3-2 in those five contests. The Raiders on the other hand have played just three of those teams and they are 1-2 against the same competition. They beat the Chargers at home, lost to the Texans at the Coliseum and then lost an ugly game on the road to the 49ers.

They’ve yet to play any teams like the Jaguars or Colts. In fact, in eight games this season the Raiders have completed their season series against the down and out NFC West. They won two and lost two. That’s why they are 4-4 on the season.

The Chiefs have played a more daunting schedule. Yet the path to their own respectability in the eyes of the experts likely will be defined in the next two weeks when they travel to Oakland and Denver.

Make no mistake about it: the Chiefs are the class of the AFC West. The Raiders have talent but they’re not nearly as acclimated for their newfound success as the Chiefs are.

I based that primarily on the difference between the two coaching staffs. Todd Haley is on the path to being named the NFL Coach of the Year. His coordinators Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel have been the driving force behind the Chiefs 5-2 record at this point in the season.

On the flip side, Tom Cable is always one game away from getting fired. Though, I respect the job he’s done working in miserable conditions in Oakland, he’s simply not the type of coach that’s going to lead a team like the Raiders to a division title.

Three weeks ago, Cable inserted Quarterback Jason Campbell into the starting lineup after starter Brad Gradkowski went down with a shoulder injury in the Chargers game. This week Cable said as soon as Gradkowski is 100% healthy, he’ll return as the teams’ starter.

Campbell has led the Raiders to three victories in the last four weeks. Gradkowski on the other hand, has won only a single game as a starter, that came against the St. Louis Rams at home in week two.

Need more reasons why this team is going to falter down the stretch? You play the hot hand and injuries should not sway your decision either way.

In Kansas City, Todd Haley has basically benched former first round draft pick Tyson Jackson. After a knee injury in week one that has kept him off the field and on the sidelines, he was eligible to return for the Texans game.

But he sat on the sidelines that game and didn’t return to the gameday roster until the team played Jacksonville a couple of weeks ago. He wasn’t in the shape Haley wanted him to be in. Even further, rumors suggest his work ethic had dropped significantly from the progress he had made in training camp.

But more importantly defensive ends Shaun Smith and now Jimmy Wilkerson have moved ahead of him on the depth chart. In fact, I could argue very easily that both of them are better football players than Jackson. And with them on the field, the Chiefs are a better defensive team. Still, Haley benching the eighteenth-highest paid player in the NFL and relegate him to back up shows me that he gets it.

That’s what good coaches do. They put their best players in the game at all times. Cable’s flawed outlook will ultimately be his demise in Oakland.

On Sunday, I guess we’ll see if my theories are correct. But buying into the Raiders mystique is very risky for the national NFL experts. The Chiefs are clearly the better team. In fact, they’ve owned the Raiders since 2003. In the last 14 contests, the Chiefs have won 11 of them – including 7 straight in Oakland.

But there are not many NFL prognosticators giving Kansas City much of a chance to win Sunday. They believe the Chiefs, not the Raiders, are going to be the team that falters down the stretch.

And in part, people are basing that sentiment solely on the Chiefs close call against Buffalo. That’s a big mistake. It’s the same mistake people are making about the Raiders rise to sudden contender after back-to-back blowout victories.

Regardless which team you believe is better, it’s safe to say both franchises are playing good football. But at the end of the day, only one team will win on Sunday. And generally, as has been the case in all seven of the Chiefs games this season, the better team has won every week.

The Chiefs are clearly the better team. And that will be proven Sunday afternoon in Oakland.

Micjones · 11-05-2010, 07:20 AM

CP is pretty unforgiving as it comes to the Kansas City media, but even I have to say this piece isn't very good.

No one, not even knowledgeable Raiders fans, would suggest that they have a better coaching staff than the Chiefs. I'm not sure that's a reason to pick against them in this game though. They're playing good football. Not even the possibility that they'll implode down the stretch is a reason to pick against them this week.

I wanted to hear an X's and O's explanation of why the Raiders are overhyped.

Coogs · 11-05-2010, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reerun_KC

Nothing good can happen for the Chiefs when AssClown opens his mouth...

This! I kind of had some hope we might win Sunday, but this is just like the kiss of death!

Hog's Gone Fishin · 11-05-2010, 07:58 AM

If I was there with Athan I'd plug his pie hole with a big bag of jizz every time he opened it.

Jack · 11-05-2010, 08:41 AM

Is this the same fella that predicted a loss with Cassel in the faiders game?

11-04-2010, 09:38 PM
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $920478	ATHAN - Raiders hype is fool's gold Before you doubt him, just remember he predicted victory over the 49ers in Week 3. THIS ONE'S IN THE BAG! http://www.foxsportskansascity.com/1...94&feedID=5070 It’s Raiders week. You know what that means: the Chiefs are set to play their most hated division rival. It’s a game that could very well settle the AFC West. It’s far more important to Oakland to win this game than Kansas City. But is it really a rivalry anymore? And are the 2010 Raiders really that good? I say no to both. I’m sick and tired of hearing how the Raiders are back. All of a sudden they’re a good team? Because of two blowout victories, everyone thinks they're on the verge of making a legitimate run to the top of the AFC West standings. But on Sunday they face the NFL’s biggest surprise: the Kansas City Chiefs. Experts are clamoring that the Chiefs are headed for a fall after their narrow 13-10 overtime victory at home over Buffalo. And they base that on the fact the Raiders in back-to-back weeks have run up the score on the hapless Denver Broncos at Mile High and the road-troubled Seahawks at the Oakland Coliseum. So are the Raiders really that good? Let’s hold off on that for a moment. Two weeks ago the Raiders went to Denver and ran all over the Broncos in a 59-14 victory. Darren McFadden returned the line-up and showed why he was a top draft pick a few years ago. It was his best game as a Raider. But the Broncos defense is terrible. Still, the Raiders took advantage of their poor tackling and made a statement. And for his efforts, McFadden is the AFC West's leading rusher with 668 yards. This past Sunday, the Raiders took care of Seattle by thumping them 33-3 at home. But when you consider that Seattle left points on the field on three red zone possessions, poor tackling by Seattle, and some fortuitous bounces of the ball, this game should have been much closer. But the Seahawks aren’t that good. The Chiefs on the other hand have been criticized for playing a weak schedule to date. I guess the likes of San Diego, Indianapolis, Houston, San Francisco and Jacksonville doesn’t carry much weight in some NFL circles. The Chiefs stand a respectable 3-2 in those five contests. The Raiders on the other hand have played just three of those teams and they are 1-2 against the same competition. They beat the Chargers at home, lost to the Texans at the Coliseum and then lost an ugly game on the road to the 49ers. They’ve yet to play any teams like the Jaguars or Colts. In fact, in eight games this season the Raiders have completed their season series against the down and out NFC West. They won two and lost two. That’s why they are 4-4 on the season. The Chiefs have played a more daunting schedule. Yet the path to their own respectability in the eyes of the experts likely will be defined in the next two weeks when they travel to Oakland and Denver. Make no mistake about it: the Chiefs are the class of the AFC West. The Raiders have talent but they’re not nearly as acclimated for their newfound success as the Chiefs are. I based that primarily on the difference between the two coaching staffs. Todd Haley is on the path to being named the NFL Coach of the Year. His coordinators Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel have been the driving force behind the Chiefs 5-2 record at this point in the season. On the flip side, Tom Cable is always one game away from getting fired. Though, I respect the job he’s done working in miserable conditions in Oakland, he’s simply not the type of coach that’s going to lead a team like the Raiders to a division title. Three weeks ago, Cable inserted Quarterback Jason Campbell into the starting lineup after starter Brad Gradkowski went down with a shoulder injury in the Chargers game. This week Cable said as soon as Gradkowski is 100% healthy, he’ll return as the teams’ starter. Campbell has led the Raiders to three victories in the last four weeks. Gradkowski on the other hand, has won only a single game as a starter, that came against the St. Louis Rams at home in week two. Need more reasons why this team is going to falter down the stretch? You play the hot hand and injuries should not sway your decision either way. In Kansas City, Todd Haley has basically benched former first round draft pick Tyson Jackson. After a knee injury in week one that has kept him off the field and on the sidelines, he was eligible to return for the Texans game. But he sat on the sidelines that game and didn’t return to the gameday roster until the team played Jacksonville a couple of weeks ago. He wasn’t in the shape Haley wanted him to be in. Even further, rumors suggest his work ethic had dropped significantly from the progress he had made in training camp. But more importantly defensive ends Shaun Smith and now Jimmy Wilkerson have moved ahead of him on the depth chart. In fact, I could argue very easily that both of them are better football players than Jackson. And with them on the field, the Chiefs are a better defensive team. Still, Haley benching the eighteenth-highest paid player in the NFL and relegate him to back up shows me that he gets it. That’s what good coaches do. They put their best players in the game at all times. Cable’s flawed outlook will ultimately be his demise in Oakland. On Sunday, I guess we’ll see if my theories are correct. But buying into the Raiders mystique is very risky for the national NFL experts. The Chiefs are clearly the better team. In fact, they’ve owned the Raiders since 2003. In the last 14 contests, the Chiefs have won 11 of them – including 7 straight in Oakland. But there are not many NFL prognosticators giving Kansas City much of a chance to win Sunday. They believe the Chiefs, not the Raiders, are going to be the team that falters down the stretch. And in part, people are basing that sentiment solely on the Chiefs close call against Buffalo. That’s a big mistake. It’s the same mistake people are making about the Raiders rise to sudden contender after back-to-back blowout victories. Regardless which team you believe is better, it’s safe to say both franchises are playing good football. But at the end of the day, only one team will win on Sunday. And generally, as has been the case in all seven of the Chiefs games this season, the better team has won every week. The Chiefs are clearly the better team. And that will be proven Sunday afternoon in Oakland.
Posts: 297,026

11-05-2010, 07:20 AM	#31
Micjones Whose house? Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: KCMO Casino cash: $10005180	CP is pretty unforgiving as it comes to the Kansas City media, but even I have to say this piece isn't very good. No one, not even knowledgeable Raiders fans, would suggest that they have a better coaching staff than the Chiefs. I'm not sure that's a reason to pick against them in this game though. They're playing good football. Not even the possibility that they'll implode down the stretch is a reason to pick against them this week. I wanted to hear an X's and O's explanation of why the Raiders are overhyped. __________________ It's like when I'm right I'm right, when I'm wrong I could been right, so I'm still right cause I coulda been wrong.
Posts: 15,344

11-05-2010, 07:58 AM	#33
Hog's Gone Fishin Fish are scared of me Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $-1499523	If I was there with Athan I'd plug his pie hole with a big bag of jizz every time he opened it.
Posts: 40,646

11-05-2010, 08:41 AM	#34
Jack Starter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Centralia, WA Casino cash: $10005010	Is this the same fella that predicted a loss with Cassel in the faiders game?
Posts: 616