Okland Raiders V Buffalo Bills 5 days out

by Steve

What a difference a year makes. Remember last year? Yes, season over after one week. Even if the Bills lose this week it won't be as bad as this either. Who knew a win, well especially a big time blow out win, would change the mood so dramatically. And now we get to have our home opener, shit is gonna be nuts at the Ralph Sunday.

The Oakland Raiders are getting 3.5 points which seems like a bit of a joke. The Bills just crushed a decent to slightly below average team on the road. The Raiders barely beat one of the worst teams in the league, have to travel out East for a 1pm game and are coming off a short week. C'mon.

True, last Sunday could have been a fluke and the Bills got a couple bounces. (Just think if Pope would have held on to that ball that Jairus Byrd's foot luckily knocked out of his hands or Dexter McCluster didn't fumble on the first play) Plus the defense didn't get a ton of sacks and KC still had over 100 yards rushing and a good yards per attempt. Still, at worst it is going to be a tight game and the Bills will be at least 1-1 with the Patriots in our barn the next week.

Hue Jackson and Jason Campbell do not instill fear in my heart. Yes Darren McFadden is an absolute beast (ran for 150 yards v Denver Monday) and Michael Bush can be effective but that is about it. Jacoby Ford might be a better Clemson running back than Cliff Spiller but that isn't saying much. Campbell threw for 105 yards and averaged 4.8 yards per attempt. Darrius Heyward-Bey was their leading receiver and their fullback was second. It was raining but that didn't stop Kyle Orton from throwing for 300+ yards.

As for Hue, at least he is funny: "I haven't slept, the (postgame) meal was horrible, I've been watching Buffalo, so I don't feel good right now because (the Bills) beat the team that they played really badly," Jackson said Tuesday at his weekly news conference. "Right now I've got some issues and I have to address them. It will take me probably until Sunday to feel good again."

The Raiders are relatively healthy with only what appears to be minor leg issues with Michael Huff and Ford. The other big story was all of the mental lapses by the Raiders and their first year coach. 15 penalties for 131 yards? I'm not sure how that is fixable in five days, especially coming into a hostile old school barn like RWS. And don't even mention "Mile High" as being hostile. They were booing Orton more than the Raiders.

The only props I'll give Al's squad is a nasty nasty front seven. Jason[sic] Seymour, Q Groves and Kelly are savages out there. The Bills o-line looked good Sunday but they are in for a major battle in the trenches 9/18.

On the Bills front, evidently Marcus Easley has a heart ailment and is on IR. Yikes hope your life is alright bro. Ruvel Martin anyone?

All in all this is going to be a major let down game for a west coast team coming to the EST after a rivalry game coming off a tough win. My early prognostication is 2-0 with Tom Brandy rolling into the Ralph in twelve days.