Tradition Tuesday: Your Token Division Preview, the 2008 Oakland Raiders

This is the House of Georges, where we bring you cool features and nifty gadgets. Or, at least someday we plan to do so. On the third day of the Christian(?) calendar, known in some parts as Tuesday, we bring you "Tradition Tuesday," a feature in which we examine the rough focus of this blog, which, for newcomers, is the rivalry between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Denver Broncos clubs de futbol americano. This rivalry was born out of the AFC West where two other clubs -- though we scarcely acknowledge them -- also exist and, on occasion, compete.

Last week we examined the Red and Gold; the week prior it was Orange and Blue. Today -- you guessed it -- Silver and Black.

There're so many places one could start with Al Davis' team, like say, Al Davis. I'll skip him for now, but if that's your bag, baby, check out some cool nicknames Cecil has for him.

But there's also Lane Kiffin, Javon Walker, Jamarcus Russell, the void formerly known as Warren Sapp, Darren McFadden, SeaBass...the list goes on. The purpose of this installment, however, is to prognisticate -- accuracy notwithstanding -- just how the Raiders will fare in this 2008 campaign. Without further ado...

The Oakland Raiders

The season gets off to a positive start for Kiffin's crew and his sophomore campaign. A victory against a bitter rival, the Denver Broncos is sweet, sweet goo. A goo that's only fouled by a loss the following week to their other division rival, the Kansas City Chiefs. Week three looks to be one of the best dogfights the AFC might see all season when Oaktown travels to Buffalo. The Bills and Raiders will slug each other in the face all day, and guess who comes out ahead, just barely? Oakland. Yep. The flipping Raiders are 2-1.

It's back home to the Bay, however, for week four, where Kiffin's kids will host the San Diego Chargers, and lose. Badly. Oakland's 2-2, but optimistic.

They'll take the week off before a road trip to New Orleans, where they find that these Saints can't seem to get it together for any of the AFC West's inhabitants; the Raiders chalk up another victory, and return home to host a Fav-uh-ruh-laden New York Jets team. Now, Old No. 4 has some magic in store for this allegedly "stifling" (Editor's Note: Not really quoting anybody there.) defense, but it's not enough. The Jets are still a really bad team, Brett or no Brett. Look out California: the Raiders are 3-3.

Here's where it gets really interesting: Oakland goes to Baltimore and wins. It's not interesting because the Ravens will be tough to beat, simply because "Oakland" and "4-3" can be used in the same sentence for the first time in ages. The juicy bit though, is the two-game homestand where the Falcons and the Panthers come in. Oakland handles Atlanta, no problem, and they almost knock off Carolina, too. Almost. Shit. Nobody's griping about 5-4, though. Not in the Black Hole.

Then it's off to Miami -- 6-4 -- just before heading to Denver for the annual loss at Mile High, then back home for a contest with the Chiefs. And, much as it pains me to say this, the Raiders improve to 7-5 by knocking off the Chiefs. It's safe to say, though, that the buck stops here. An away game at San Diego: loss. A two-game homestand versus New England and Houston: loss and loss. And they'll close the season with a road game at Tampa Bay, where they get crushed by the Bucs for no reason whatsoever.

Alas, the for-some-scrap-of-a-reason heeded again Raiders finish 7-9, which is an improvement, albeit not a massive one, over last year, and one game better than the Chiefs wind up at season's end, which means one thing: Unless San Diego really really really shits the bed this year, Kansas City will wind up in last place.

And that, my friends, above anything else ever published in this here House, is good, good times.

Oh, and be sure to tune in next week to see if Norv Turner's bed linens need laundering.