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24		17

It's taken me a while to write about this game, partly because I've been alarmingly busy at work today -- don't these people know I have important things to do?!! -- and partly because I didn't want to write a post that would blister the paint of a battleship.  Best to take ones time when this is the case.

Anyway, were I to follow my beloved mother's oft-repeated edict about how if you don't have something nice to say don't say anything at all, this post would end right here.  Because, frankly, there is nothing nice to say about how the Raiders played yesterday.

Don't let the final score fool you; this was not a one touchdown game.  Oakland was miserable.  The defense faltered on key plays, and the offense was horrid.  Why was Justin Fargas the feature running back instead of LaMont Jordan?  Why was Dominic Rhodes seldom if ever seen except on kickoff returns?  Little wonder there was litte if any run game.  And, if Josh McCown's skill level matched his heart and competitiveness he would be one of the NFL's elite quarterbacks.  But it doesn't, as the turnovers due to his mistakes exemplified.

The Raiders are at a spot where they might as well throw JaMarcus Russell out there.  For the fourth year in a row this season is a wash.  Start building for the future now, because the present isn't going anywhere except further into the abyss.

The next game is this Sunday at home against Chicago.