Look who's atop the AFC West.
No, not the two-time Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos. Not the defending
division champion Seattle Seahawks. Not even the turned-over-a-new-Ryan Leaf
San Diego Chargers.
|  | | Andre Rison (80) pulls away from Jeff Burris (20) for a 34-yard gain in Oakland's 38-31 win over Indy. |
In the words of ESPN wordsmith Chris Berman, it's the OAK-LAND RAID-ERS who
are the dominant story of the West through two weeks.
And they've done it with flair and dramatics, absolutely rising from ashes
to stun the Super Bowl-favorite Colts last week after falling behind 21-0 in Indianapolis.
Suddenly, with the Raiders at 2-0 entering Sunday's division showdown with
their hated rival, the Broncos, in Oakland, there are rumblings about
the Raiders making the postseason for the first time since 1993.
The star-crossed franchise has not been in a playoff game since its move
back to Oakland in 1995, and the Bay Area -- not to mention Raiders' owner Al
Davis -- is starved for results.
Meanwhile, with many of the locals stirring over the fast start, Raiders emotion-on-his-sleeve coach Jon Gruden has been resolute this week in trying
to keep the world in perspective.
"Whether it's a big, dramatic win or a difficult loss, we can't let it
linger," Gruden said. "We've got 14 games to go."
Most compelling about this Raiders' start is this: It has not been the
powerful young leg of controversial first-round draft pick Sebastian Janikowski that
has carried Oakland thus far.
Janikowski, whom many expected was the ingredient that will put the Raiders
over the top, has gotten off to a modest 2-for-4 start on field goals, and his kickoffs have been OK. He's essentially been a non-factor in the
quick start.
It's been more about the leadership of quarterback Rich Gannon, who's 35-of-57 (61.4 percent)
for 383 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions and an 87.1 efficiency rating. Gannon has rushed for three touchdowns and 54 yards, too.
It's also been about the twin-headed running back duo of Tyrone Wheatley (33
carries, 96 yards, two touchdowns) and Napolean Kaufman (12 for 66 yards).
They're a strong one-two punch and key re-signings by the Raiders during the
1999 season.
Now what's in front of the Raiders is this: Beating the Broncos for the
first time under Gruden, who's lost to them four times in a row. In the last
10 meetings between the two teams, Denver had won nine times.
"It's been an elusive game for us," Gruden said. "There were two very
tight ones last year (a 16-13 Raiders loss in Oakland and a 27-21 loss in
overtime at Denver). They're 4-0 against us, that's all I know. They just
have found ways to beat us."
One thing the Raiders seemed to bring back from Indianapolis was a chip on their shoulder about, what they've perceived, as a lack of
respect for their team.
"I feel strongly about respect in the NFL," Gruden said. "If you want
respect, you've got to sometimes travel across the country and play in a
domed stadium at 10 o'clock in the morning Pacific time to get it. (Sunday's
win) didn't necessarily put us on the map or give us the respect that we
ultimately want, but it certainly is a start, coming from behind, finding a
way to beat a good team on the road."
Should the Raiders take care of business against the Broncos and stop the
Denver streak against them, they'd be 3-0 and have made a significant
step toward the postseason.
In the 90's, of the 51 teams that have gotten off to a 3-0 start, 42 of them
made the playoffs. That would mean the Raiders have an 82.4 percent chance to
make the playoffs with a win over the Broncos.
"I'd like to think we can ride that wave and take that win and ride it for
all it's worth," Raiders right tackle Lincoln Kennedy said. "But we'll see.
I've never been 2-0 since I've been here, so I'm not ready to get too carried
away."
|
“ |
If
you want respect, you've got to sometimes travel
across the country and play in a domed stadium at
10 o'clock in the morning Pacific time to get it.
(Sunday's win) didn't necessarily put us on the
map or give us the respect that we ultimately
want, but it certainly is a start. ” |
|
|
— Jon Gruden, Raiders head coach |
The last time the Raiders started 2-0 was in 1995, and they ended up losing
their final six games and finished 8-8.
Making Sunday's Raiders-Broncos matchup even more fun is the fact that
there's terrific acrimony between the two owners.
Raiders owner Al Davis has accused Broncos owner Pat Bowlen of violating
the NFL's salary cap with deferred compensation to Terrell Davis and John
Elway the same way Carmen Policy has been accused of doing with the 49ers' Steve Young and Brent Jones. Bowlen simply refers to Davis as jealous because his Raiders can never beat the
Broncos.
Broncos defensive tackle Keith Traylor said he's expecting a volatile
reception in Oakland.
"It's been a pretty intense rivalry, and knowing the incident that happened
here a year ago in Denver it's going to be a little bit wilder," Traylor
said, referring to Denver fans throwing snowballs at Raiders players leaving
the field. "I saw the highlights of guys getting hit with snowballs. I can
only imagine what we're getting ready to go into. Believe me, they'll
remember that. They'll hype it up all week."
Really though, for the Raiders, getting to 3-0 for the first time since 1990
and making a playoff run is more important than anything.
"If we're going to get over the hump, we have to beat Denver, at least
once," Raiders defensive tackle Darrell Russell said.
"It's definitely time to put up or shut up as far as this team goes,"
Raiders fullback Jon Ritchie said. "We have great chemistry, something
that's very rare. If any year we have a great shot at beating Denver, this is
the year."
Jets' post-Keyshawn era has been well-received
While Keyshawn Johnson is in Tampa Bay with six receptions for 96 yards a
touchdown, his former Jets teammates have been basking in receiving success.
Wayne Chrebet, whom Johnson has made a recreational activity of dissing, had nine catches for 129 yards and two touchdowns this season, including the dramatic
game-winner on Monday Night Football earlier this week. Undoubtedly, Johnson was watching that game with great interest, perhaps
crowing to himself with the Jets down 19-7 in the fourth quarter with
seemingly no chance before shocking the Patriots 20-19.
| |  | |
| Chrebet |
"They say all the things about him, but one thing about Wayne Chrebet is he
has better concentration than maybe anybody in the league," said Patriots cornerback Ty Law, a good friend of Johnson's. "He doesn't have the speed of Terry Glenn or Marvin Harrison or Randy Moss, but he has something else those
guys don't possess ... the ball just sticks to him.
"My hat's off to him. Since the day he got here, it's been that way. He's
like the little train that could. He's just one of those guys you'd like to
have on your team."
Before catching the game-winner, Chrebet caught a touchdown pass that cut the New England
lead to 19-14. On the play, the ball went through the hands of New England
cornerback Antonio Langham and hit Chrebet's helmet before Chrebet hauled it
in.
"Langham had a great opportunity to make the interception and it slipped
right through his hands ? and here goes Wayne Chrebet with his
concentration," Law said.
Chrebet's fellow starter at receiver, Dedric Ward, has had two 100-yard
receiving games in the first two weeks after having one in his previous 45
games as a pro. Ward has nine catches for 204 yards, a 22.7-yard average.
Cincinnati's "painful" opener
We hate to come off as knee-jerk, particularly after only one game, but when
is enough enough in Cincinnati?
The Bengals are already 0-1, having lost to the expansion Browns, and they're
likely on a familiar path to a high draft pick in 2001.
Bengals president Mike Brown, who described Sunday's loss as "painful,"
declined to talk about possible coaching or player personnel.
"I don't get into the discussion of coaches' tenure with the team," Brown
said. "Once you answer any question on that issue, it's non-ending. I will
just tell you I have nothing to say about it."
Sooner or later, it's going to become an issue Brown cannot avoid --
particularly with the Bengals sporting their new $453 million, taxpayer-funded
stadium. The lopsided 24-7 loss was the Bengals' third consecutive opening-day loss
and it lowered coach Bruce Coslet's career record in Cincinnati to 21-37.
The Bengals are 7-26 since the start of the 1998 season.
If that pattern continues -- and with 0-3 clear on the horizon with
Jacksonville and Baltimore the next two opponents, it likely will -- Brown will
need to fire Coslet and then himself.
Banks' emotional rescue
| |  | |
| Banks |
Baltimore quarterback Tony Banks was so exhilarated after leading the Ravens
to their 39-36 win over Jacksonville last week he had tears in his eyes.
"I've never been in a game like this," Banks said after throwing the
game-winning, 29-yard touchdown pass to Shannon Sharpe with 41 seconds
remaining.
"I've won games on scores at the end, but never in this fashion --
by stinking it up in the first half, and then throwing five touchdown passes.
You can't ask for anything more. I feel like [St. Louis quarterback] Kurt
Warner."
Mark Cannizzaro of the New York Post writes an AFC notebook for ESPN.com every Thursday.
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