Oakland Raiders: Notes And Observations From Week One
By Kevin Saito
Sep 13, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Cincinnati Bengals receiver A.J. Green (18) is defended by Oakland Raiders cornerback T.J. Carrie (38) in the second quarter at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Let The (Over)Reactions Begin!
No sooner had the final gun sounded than the articles started coming and the talking heads started spewing about how the Raiders are doomed and their season is already over. After just one game.
Despite the fact that Oakland shares its 0-1 record with half of the league, including a number of teams that are sexy playoff picks like the Colts, Vikings, and Seahawks. Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report has even gone so far as to give the Raiders the edge in having the league’s worst record this season.
That’s right, the overreaction train is already rolling along and is picking up steam.
Some perspective would be a good thing. The Raiders looked terrible against the Bengals, there is no question about it. But it’s also the first game of the season. There is still a lot of football yet to be played and the only thing Oakland lost on Sunday – aside from the game, of course – was the chance at a perfect season.
But pointing out the obvious and the logical doesn’t make for good, sexy headlines, does not fill a lot of column space for writers, and does not make for interesting talking points on radio and television. And so, we’re forced to endure a seemingly endless stream of doom and gloom articles, dire predictions, and chants of “same old Raiders.”
Look, the Raiders may wind up having another bad season. They may wind up with the worst record in the league. But then again, they may not. They may take the lessons learned from Sunday’s humbling, use them to grow, evolve, and become a much better team for it.
The point is, it’s impossible to know which way it will go after Just. One. Game.