Raiders sit back, take control of AFC West

By Anthony Carroll  |   Monday, October 08, 2007  |  Comments( 34 )

Oakland Raiders
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You could say things are beginning to fall into place for the Oakland Raiders.

The only AFC West team with a Week 5 bye, Oakland relaxed on Sunday, while the Broncos, Chargers and Chiefs battled it out with themselves and others. San Diego traveled to Denver in a divisional matchup, while Kansas City met with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Two games later, the Raiders found themselves at the top of their division.

The Chargers, who were 1-3 heading into the weekend, pummeled the Broncos, 41-3. Denver, currently 2-3, has now lost three straight games by a combined score of 102-37. The Mike Shanahan-led squad is all but one second and one timeout away from being winless this season.

Earlier in the day, Kansas City rushed for just 10 yards in a 17-7 home loss to the Jaguars. Running back Larry Johnson carried the ball nine times for 12 yards, while backup Michael Bennett rushed once for minus-2 yards. The ground total was the fewest the Chiefs have registered in 42 years.

The Raiders now top the AFC West at 2-2, with the Chiefs in second, Chargers in third and Broncos in last, thanks to head-to-head factors. However, each of the Raiders' divisional foes is 2-3.

The last time Oakland sat atop its division was the 2002 season, when it finished 11-5 and lost in the Super Bowl. The closest the Raiders have been from the division lead at this point in the season was back in 2004, when they were one game behind the Broncos after four weeks. That was the year quarterback Rich Gannon fell in Week 3 to a season-ending neck injury.

Still, the Raiders are considered a major underdog to finish the season in first place.

San Diego, coming off its 38-point victory, is already pegged as a 10½-point favorite against the Raiders in Week 6.

Despite the odds, Oakland has plenty to be thankful for heading into its road game with the Chargers. Not only for the results from this week, but for the timing of its bye.

The week off has given starting running back LaMont Jordan a much-needed extra seven days of rest. Had the Raiders lined up and played on Sunday, they would have been without their leading rusher, and, thus far, most consistent offensive weapon. Tests to Jordan's back returned negative and it appears No. 34 will be questionable to probable for next week's divisional contest.

Ex-Indianapolis Colts rusher Dominic Rhodes will also return from suspension this weekend. That leaves Oakland with Jordan, Justin Fargas and Rhodes as its primary options, with rookie rusher Michael Bush still a possibility to be activated off the PUP list in Week 7. As a result, the team waived preseason standout Adimchinobe Echemandu on Friday.

Ahead for the Raiders is a full week of preparation for the Chargers, a team they haven't beaten since Sept. 28, 2003.

Until then, though, Oakland will sit atop the AFC West for the first time in five years, thanks to an ideal Sunday afternoon.

Even the 49ers lost.

Anthony Carroll can be contacted at acarroll@realfootball365.com.
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About Anthony Carroll

Anthony Carroll began writing for RealFootball365.com on Sept. 26, 2005, making him one of the longest tenured contributors to the “365” team. As a senior writer, Anthony has taken on the task of delivering original content to the silver and black faithful year round, despite having to deal...
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CommentsComments: 34  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
bigsnow81		03:56 AM
10/08/2007
The Raiders are in first place, F*ck yeah. I'm ready, the Nation is ready, bring on the bolts , and your sorry azz team is next...
No.2
bigsnow81		04:09 AM
10/08/2007
I have to give a shot out to Paul and South Tex Raider. Paul for showing me love cuz I am a true Raidah. I won't hesitate to call...
No.3
SouthTexasRaider		04:38 AM
10/08/2007
great article as always AC, good sch!t. "even the 49ers lost", he writes,...priceless. wow, top of the division is a good spot...
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