Raiders- A Contender in the West?
I believe the AFC West is a one-team race this year and that it would take a monumental disappointment for the Chargers not to win the division. That being said the Chargers are certainly capable of being monumental disappointments. So could the Raiders contend this year. Recent history would certainly laugh in our face at this question. Let’s look at how the Raiders stack up against the other four teams in the division over the past half-decade. The Raiders record over that time in case you forgot is 19-61.
The Chiefs are 43-37 over the same time period. They have an 8-2 record against the Raiders in that span. The average score in those games is 22-19 in favor of the Chiefs. Close games, as they always are between the two oldest rivals in the west. Also low scoring which is indicitive of two terrible offenses for the past few seasons. It looks like a great rivalry, but is it still a rivalry at 8-2? It’s like the Yanks-Red Sox when the scoreboard was 22 titles to none.
The Chargers are 50-30 in the past five years. Their record against Oakland is 9-1. The average score is 28-14. That is about as one sided as any divisional rivalry this side of Indianapolis vs. Houston. The Chargers have won the division 3 of the past 5 seasons and there is no reason to think the Raiders can play on the same field as them this year.
The Broncos are 49-31 since 2003. They have, shock here, dominated the Raiders. Their record stands at 8-2. The average scores in those games are 23-14. Not quite as one sided as San Diego but clearly Denver owns Oakland as well as everybody else in the west. This was by the way while Jake Plummer was QB in Denver. Oakland fans were on every site on the net knocking that signing. It also includes a transition to a young quarterback.
The point is, Oakland is irrelevant until proving otherwise. People like to come on this site and point to the 34-20 win over Denver last year. I say it again, if that is your signature win you should already be able to see how sad that is. Oakland had losing streaks of four and five games last year. They were terrible. Yet, Black Holes think this year will be different. I guess I would have to believe it if I see it. Until then, this is a three team division where every team gets at least one bye to spend scrimmaging with the Raiders and usually an all expense paid trip to Oakland to beat up on the NFL equivalent of the jail bird team from the Longest Yard. You guys don’t matter in the west. Come back when you do.
June 13, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Your right but looka= @ these stats……….
Broncos= 2 superbowls
chiefs =1 superbowl
chargers = 0 superbowls………
Oh yah ,Raiders = 3 superbowls.
C’mon what is really important to you?
Also,Every one knows the that no team has beat the Chargers more than the Raiders have.Something else you should look up is…. What team won the most devision titles in the AFC west? You Raider Haters need to Know all the facts.I wont even expand on you star linebacker on the juice…………Dont be such a hater your team is reaally no better.
June 13, 2008 at 3:37 pm
U don’t own the chargers they beaten u 5 straight times.They own the broncos.
June 13, 2008 at 3:37 pm
i mean 4 straight times my bad.
June 13, 2008 at 4:06 pm
My bad thuglife…should have read more like we own oakland just like everybody else in the west owns oakland. Believe me, I am well aware of our troubles with the chargers. Joe it’s been almost 25 years since you won any of those super bowls. Get over it.
June 14, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Here is what I think of the Raiders contending:
No.
Though this is a year where both the Broncos and the Chiefs could contend as well. Both have had great off-season and could pose a threat toward the Chargers.
June 27, 2008 at 11:23 pm
roflmao donkeys and cooks can contend……. madness its official you have gome mad. LOL the cooks a threat wow. My i have orange flavor please.