Can Oakland Finally Make the Playoffs?

by SodaHead Sports Posted 2011/11/14 20:00:00

Related Topics: Sports, Oakland Raiders, Football, NFL, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, Denver Broncos, Quarterback, Super Bowl, National Football League, Rating, Long, Carson Palmer, Coach, V, Death, minnesota vikings, Jamarcus Russell

Read More

169 votes
Read all 57 opinions
Lightning Report View Results and Demographics + View Demographics

Loading Demographics... Click an icon to see demographic results Display unknown and private
	Yes	112 votes	66%
	No	57 votes	34%

It has been a long, hard road for the Oakland Raiders. Historically, the Raiders are one of the NFL's longest-tenured and legendary franchises. Over the last decade or so, they have been legendary -- with how bad they are. From bad breaks like quarterback Rich Gannon's career-ending injuries to drafting the overweight, maligned JaMarcus Russell, events in or beyond the Raiders' control have made fans cringe.

That's all changed this season, thanks to head coach Hue Jackson (no, he's not related to actor Hugh Jackman, though there is a striking resemblance...just kidding). At 5-4 in spite of injuries to key players like quarterback Jason Campbell, the Raiders find themselves atop the competitive AFC West. The team's bitter rivals -- the Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, and Denver Broncos -- are all 4-5.

Losing football pioneer and Raiders owner Al Davis was not easy this season and the team did regress at times following his death. But the Raiders' tenacity and will to win showed, especially on Thursday night, with a big win over the Chargers, who were seen as the favorites to win the AFC West and make a potential Super Bowl run. New Raiders quarterback Carson Palmer did not care what the pundits said, as he threw 14 of 20 for 299 yards and two touchdowns, one interception -- good for 125 QB rating.

Next Sunday, the Raiders look to continue their regained momentum against the Minnesota Vikings.

Add a comment above

kevracer 2011/11/15 03:54:26

Yes

+7
picking up Carson Palmer was a stroke of genius.

Like the 49ers across the Bay, a new coach has done wonders for the Raiders
>> See Replies

More polls by SodaHead Sports

Sean McDonald 2011/12/24 01:04:56

Yes

reply
Kingpin 2011/11/25 20:12:19

Yes

Just win, baby!

reply
Frank 2011/11/24 18:10:55

Yes

+1
Looking at their division they have a good chance. The chiefs suck, Denver has a rookie quarterback, and san Diego is playing terrible. Add to that they picked up Carson Palmer who gets a new lease on life with Oakland. Don't be surprised if they make the playoffs, and with Palmer as quarterback they could go a ways.......

reply
wildcat 2011/11/24 04:21:00

Yes

+1
Looks like it.

reply
someopinion 2011/11/23 15:39:03

Yes

+1
very weak division...so yes they could

reply
KAoTicRAiD3R 2011/11/20 17:18:20

Yes

+1
They look good and Hue Jackson(no he's not related to Bo Jackson) has done a great job a return to glory would be nice...It's a "RAIDER NATION"...

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?...

reply
Markie 2011/11/17 21:59:02

Yes

+1
Chargers suck, I hope the Raiders make it. Al Davis will be watching from heaven or not!

reply
Apache 2011/11/17 16:09:25

Yes

+1
But they can't win the Super Bowl without the likes of Kenny Stabler, Fred Biletnikoff, Ted Hendricks, John Matuzak, and Howie Long.

reply
Apache to Apache 2011/11/17 16:09:48

+1
John Madden wouldn't hurt either.

reply
garyt212 2011/11/16 05:50:39

Yes

+2
They are in the absolute weakest division in the AFC so they should make the playoffs but then one game and out!

reply
The Doctor's Rose♥ 2011/11/15 19:02:15

Yes

+2
I hope so! That's mine and my dad's favorite team. Go Raiders!

reply
CMackley ~POTL~PWCM~JLA 2011/11/15 18:19:15

Yes

+3
The biggest difference I've noticed this year is the players attitudes. They are in it to win it rather than just going through the paces. I attribute this to good coaching.

Jason Campbell's injury may be a blessing in disguise as Carson Palmer is the confident, take charge quarterback the Raiders have needed since Gannon.

reply
Lanikai 2011/11/15 18:09:09

Yes

+2
I sincerely hope so. Hubby loves Oakland and has since he was about 5 years old. He also loves Auburn football and the Atlanta Braves. So, he rarely gets to celebrate and enjoy his teams. Maybe Oakland can manage to pull it off and go to the Super Bowl, that would make hubby very happy;

reply
cameron wright 2011/11/15 17:37:47

No

+1
oakland sucks

reply
CMackle... to cameron... 2011/11/15 18:20:41

+3
Actually you'll find more people across the bay that suck.

reply
RobertRowe to CMackle... 2011/11/15 21:41:14

+2
in castro?

reply
CMackle... to RobertRowe 2011/11/15 21:47:49

+2
True story - I'm with my family and we're lost in the Castro district trying to find a highway on-ramp when we drove past a dry cleaners named K-Y Cleaners. I kid you not. We laughed all the way back to Salinas.

reply
sick'n'... to CMackle... 2011/11/16 02:09:05

+2
HA!

reply
jeremyme1 2011/11/15 17:24:01

Yes

+4
when they get McFadden back they will be outstanding with Carson getting back into football shape. Quality team.

reply
RobertRowe 2011/11/15 16:49:40

Yes

+2
due to what the nfl has turned into(read "the fix is in" by brian tuohy) the raiders will definitely be in the afc title game due to the feel good storyline it will have due to the passing of the team owner a couple months ago. now the bob costas's of the world will say the passing inspired the players to step up and perform. but after you read that book mentioned you'll see that the league pulled alot of strings to push this storyline further than it should go like they did with the patriots after 9-11 and the saints after katrina. the raiders superbowl loss to the bucaneers was due to the raiders not changing any of their play calls and offensive signals so just like the 'spygate' scandal of the patriots tampa bay defense knew what the raiders were going to do almost every play of that superbowl since their head coach used to be the h.c. of the raiders.

reply
MickLite7 2011/11/15 16:46:27

Yes

+4
I think the Carson Palmer pickup was a good move

reply
Steve J~PWCM~JLA 2011/11/15 16:31:26

Yes

+3
They will only get better.

reply
easyedu... to Steve J... 2011/11/16 02:02:46

+2
I certainly hope so. Good Day to you Steve.

reply
Steve J... to easyedu... 2011/11/16 03:31:23

+1
TO YOU too.

Got a new phone. Learning quickly.

reply
jacktown kid 2011/11/15 16:07:32

No

+2
Tough road to get there

reply
brendan 2011/11/15 14:38:49

Yes

+2
if they play well until the playoffs start

reply
Resp 2011/11/15 13:53:51
babaji5150~solo 2011/11/15 12:28:53

No

+2
This whole franchise has a long way to go before they deserve any respect.
Now that Al is pushing up dandelions, they may have a chance
Start with Paying Shanahan what they've owed him for over a decade.

reply
diko space 2011/11/15 08:50:55

Yes

+4
picking up Carson Palmer was a stroke of genius
Nice choice in games

reply
jenny.bryan1 2011/11/15 06:50:21
Fef 2011/11/15 06:47:58

Yes

+4
Thanks for Carson Palmer and Michael Bush. Just win baby!

reply
ohsmith ☮ R P ☮ 2012 ☮ 2011/11/15 05:23:47

No

+1
Never!

reply
david shiel 2011/11/15 03:58:08

Yes

+5
Do er for dear old Al.

reply
kevracer 2011/11/15 03:54:26

Yes

+7
picking up Carson Palmer was a stroke of genius.

Like the 49ers across the Bay, a new coach has done wonders for the Raiders

reply
kenzie 2011/11/15 03:50:42

No

+3
No but the packers will and you know it

reply
Bob, the reasonable one 2011/11/15 03:42:11

Yes

+4
They have a better chance than the Vikings achieving a mediocre season...right now my Vikes suck

reply
Keen Tojones 2011/11/15 03:35:15

Yes

+5
Oakland can do it.

reply
les_gvt 2011/11/15 03:13:43

Yes

+6
Norv Turner in San Diego is doing his best to help

reply
Superpepsiman20 2011/11/15 02:53:00

No

+2
no never

reply
Diane 2011/11/15 02:41:28

Yes

+5
Go Oakland!!!!!!!!!!!!!

reply