Oakland Raiders: Are We There Yet? Obviously, no.

Damali Binta – Oct 24, 2011

No matter how painful it was for you to watch the game on Oct. 23, we know that you still love the Oakland Raiders. Let's look at the bright side and compare their performance with past performances through Week 7.

It was nine years ago when the Oakland Raiders had a win-loss record of 4-2 in Week 7.  Again, in 2011, there are four wins and now three losses.

Let's face it.  Something unusual happened in the Texans game and there may not be a secular explanation for it. Whatever forces that may have helped on that day, are still, in my opinion, available to help the team in the future.

I firmly believe that the Oakland Raiders must do all that they can to deserve that "help." They must be focused and they must be truly committed to excellence. Of course, excellence is defined in many ways, but we are talking about the type of excellence that is rewarded with championships and Super Bowl victories.

In 2002, you may recall that the total of the scores made by the Oakland Raiders through Week 7 was 196, while the opponents had 145 points. The difference in the scores is +51. So, we need to look at more than the fact that both in 2002 and 2011 the Raiders had, for period through Week 6, a 4-2 record that matched the 2002 record during the first seven weeks of the regular season.

Overall, you can say that the Oakland Raiders are somewhat stronger than they have been in the past nine years, so some improvement has been made. This improvement and growth must be sustained. Some of us are getting too old for a ride on a roller coaster. Do you know what I mean?

In my opinion, nobody deserves a cup of strong Irish coffee yet. There is too much work to be done to even consider consumption of something that might lessen the faculties of the coaches or the players. Discipline, acumen, acuteness, and strength of character on the playing field to get the job done are needed. Off the field behavior needs to be constrained, too.

On the other hand, in 2011, the total score made by the Raiders at the end of Week 7 is 160. The opponents total added up to 181. This means that the Oakland Raiders have a difference of -21. Before the game on Oct. 23, the difference was +7.

What happened between the Raiders and the Chiefs upset the positive trend the team was experiencing under Hue Jackson's leadership and coaching.

Did our team get the "big head" as one of my colleagues suspected they would? These guys are young. Those two consecutive wins just might have given them a reason to get "full of themselves."

Jackson repeatedly says that he takes the blame when things go wrong. In my opinion, the blame is on each and every player including the backup players like Kyle Boller. Every player on the payroll ought to be ready at all times to fill in and replace an injured player.

We do not know exactly what Jackson may have told his players after the dismal failure on Oct. 23. Let's hope he got "in their face" and "roughed them up" a little bit, like a tough father has to do his children sometimes to get them back on track.

Now ask the question, "Are we there yet?" and get an answer from some of the fans in the Raider Nation who I know used expletives. Do you get my drift?

Words from Mama Raider