Oakland Raiders' future takes a hit with 15-0 victory

[Hammock Parties]

Oh yeah, this feels good.

http://www.mercurynews.com/raiders/c...takes-hit-15-0

OAKLAND -- They dominated a former rival, snapped a six-game losing streak and earned the bonus points that come with posting a shutout.
Upon close observation of the scoreboard, the Raiders on Sunday looked fabulous.

They don't look nearly as good, though, once you back away from their 15-0 win over Kansas City and see how it puts a pimple on the face of their next draft pick.

That's good reason for Oakland general manager Reggie McKenzie to have mixed emotions, even if coach Dennis Allen undoubtedly needed this win to at least temporarily calm his nerves.

As much as the Raiders players wanted a win as a reward for all their months of effort, the future of the franchise was threatened in the process.
And in Oakland, in December, the future counts more than anything else. Hope for the playoffs died weeks ago, and the front office is spending the final month of the season analyzing what it has on this roster and making a list of what it must add for 2013 and beyond.

That explains quarterback Terrelle Pryor's three-play cameo appearance in the second quarter, as well as the game-day deactivation of linebacker Rolando McClain, who is coming off a two-game suspension and will not, and should not, return next season.

"The plan," Allen said of Pryor's actual NFL debut, "was to get him in the first series of the second quarter and then kind of let the game play out from there."

Pryor's future might be one of Allen's thoughts, but it's one of McKenzie's priorities. He said during a recent interview that Pryor has to play, if only to be fairly evaluated.

Therein lies the difference between Allen's primary goal and that of McKenzie. One is paid to win now, the other to win indefinitely. One focuses on the close-up, the other has to back away and take a broader view.

McKenzie and his associates also are focused on the upcoming free agent market and the next draft, and this victory could make it considerably less attractive.

Oakland entered the game with the third-worst record in the NFL, behind only Kansas City and Jacksonville, firmly in possession of the No. 3 overall pick. By walking away in triumph, the Raiders joined a gaggle of teams that will hold the rights to pick as low as 11th in the first round.

For a Raiders team with so many needs, that would represent significant drop.

By lifting its record to 4-10, Oakland moves into a tie with the likes of Detroit and Philadelphia and possibly Tennessee, which plays Monday night.

Moreover, being 4-10 brings the Raiders within one game of five 5-9 teams: Arizona, Buffalo, Cleveland, Carolina and San Diego.

In the short view, Oakland is that much closer to 6-10 -- instead of 3-13.

For Allen, that's the only way to view it. He's coaching as if the actual games have meaning because, for him, they do. Though he is not in danger of losing his job -- assuming criminal behavior is not a factor, Reggie has to give the first coach he hires more than one season -- there are vanity points to be had. Records are still being kept.

Asked if it was time for assessments, Allen said it was not.

"We've got two more games left this year, so we're trying to win football games this year," he said. "Obviously, we've already said we want to try to take a look at some of the younger players, which we were able to do a little bit. We'll continue to do that as we go forward throughout the rest of the season.

"But we're trying to win football games."

The players, well aware they are in the midst of auditions, also realize this.
"Getting that goose egg on the board is the best feeling in the world," defensive end Lamarr Houston said.

If you're trying to build a team, however, the shutout is history. McKenzie watched his Raiders, who will go home in two weeks, silence a Chiefs team that also will go home Dec. 31 -- but likely will own the rights to the first overall pick in the 2013 draft.

McKenzie, who leaves the postgame locker room to the coaches and players, was not available late Sunday afternoon. He knows what lies ahead.

Next up are the Panthers, one of the competitors for the third overall pick, followed by the Chargers, who also have their eyes on the 2013 draft.

And to think, it was all so simple for the Raiders on Sunday morning. Lose out and draft no lower than third. The process has been ... um ... complicated.

The result is mixed emotions in the front office, and among a portion of the wounded fan base. For even when these Raiders win, they also lose.

[FlaChief58]

Originally Posted by GoChargers

Man, it's gonna be awesome when the Chargers move up past da Raiduhz in the draft order too.

Except the dolts will win the last 2 games convincing ownership to resign both Smith & Norf to 10 year extensions.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Reighters wants that 6-10 soooo bad

[Bacillus Anthracis]

Originally Posted by Chief Faithful

Raiders won, suckers!

And that's the thing. Usually, sweeping a division rival is something to brag about and gives you good smack material until next season comes around. But not this year. First, the Chiefs are only little less crappy than the Raiders. It's reeruned to say "We suck less than you do." There's no bragging rights for this season.

Second, the loser is actually the winner. If the horrible event of us beating the Chargers comes to pass every glossy eyed Raider fan is going to be bragging about how great of a coach Dennis Allen is because he won two out of three to finish the season. And it'll be just enough to ensure he keeps his job. If we finish 4-12 Reggie McKenzie can still justifiably fire him. But at 5-11, it'll be tougher. 3-13 would have sealed it.

Finally, it's so bad that I have to root for the Chiefs to win out and the Raiders to lose out. I don't think in the history of my f'ing life has that ever happened. And the Jags sure as hell aren't going to help anyone out but themselves. They've got losing down to a science.

[GoChargers]

Originally Posted by Flachief58

Except the dolts will win the last 2 games convincing ownership to resign both Smith & Norf to 10 year extensions.

Ten years? Spanos is WAY too cheap to pay them for that long... maybe 3 years tops.

[FlaChief58]

Originally Posted by GoChargers

Ten years? Spanos is WAY too cheap to pay them for that long... maybe 3 years tops.

Norf will sign for a case of clearasil leaving plenty of cash for them to go all in on Smith

[Ebolapox]

Originally Posted by Pestilence

For the love of God.....someone draft Te'o before the Raiders get a chance.

Rolondo mcclain. they'll **** it up somehow, and we'll be able to trade for Te'o after a few years for a sixth rounder

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by Bacillus Anthracis

And that's the thing. Usually, sweeping a division rival is something to brag about and gives you good smack material until next season comes around. But not this year. First, the Chiefs are only little less crappy than the Raiders. It's reeruned to say "We suck less than you do." There's no bragging rights for this season.

Second, the loser is actually the winner. If the horrible event of us beating the Chargers comes to pass every glossy eyed Raider fan is going to be bragging about how great of a coach Dennis Allen is because he won two out of three to finish the season. And it'll be just enough to ensure he keeps his job. If we finish 4-12 Reggie McKenzie can still justifiably fire him. But at 5-11, it'll be tougher. 3-13 would have sealed it.

Finally, it's so bad that I have to root for the Chiefs to win out and the Raiders to lose out. I don't think in the history of my f'ing life has that ever happened. And the Jags sure as hell aren't going to help anyone out but themselves. They've got losing down to a science.

[Ugly Duck]

West Virginia Quarterback Geno Smith Unable to Comment on Chiefs/Raiders Game

Reported by: Associated Press
Reported: Monday, December 17, 2012 1:43 PM EST
CHARLESTON, W.Va.

West Virginia Quarterback Geno Smith watched the NFL contest between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Oakland Raiders on Sunday with great interest. Most experts agree that the Chiefs, in dire need of a quarterback, would choose the young player number one overall if they get the first pick of the 2013 NFL draft. It has been reported that as Geno watched the broadcast of yesterday's contest, played at the O.co Coliseum in Oakland, he appeared to become "visibly shaken." After the game, a 15-0 shutout of Kansas City, he was asked about the prospect of becoming a Chief. The young quarterback tried to compose himself, but was unable to answer the question and quietly left the room.

[FlaChief58]

He'll be fine once he starts cashing his game checks

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Ugly Duck

West Virginia Quarterback Geno Smith Unable to Comment on Chiefs/Raiders Game

[Ugly Duck]

Originally Posted by Flachief58

He'll be fine once he starts cashing his game checks

I dunno, dude.... looks like he's pretty upset about it....

[Chronic]

History has shown the Chiefs really suck at drafting- might possibly be the worst team in the war room- 5 #1 picks on the D front and they still get run on like sh*t through a goose-.

I feel sorry for any QB that gets drafted by us- He'll be in a wheel chair before he's 27- Last year we supposedly had the best free agency of any team- top 3 defense here we come! lol... er uh no.. what a complete faceplant in the Free Agency dept- And lets be real here for a sec- Eric Berry sucks- honeymoons over for that dude-

Theres so many and I mean many problems on this team that 1 draft aint gonna fix it- especially considering our draft history- We just cant get it right

The new CBA cap on years is 4 years- it'll take 5 to build this team back up, by the time we get almost there players contracts will be up and we'll be at same position 4 years prior- it's a never ending cycle for this joke of a franchise- Whens baseball start?

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Chronic

History has shown the Chiefs really suck at drafting- might possibly be the worst team in the war room- 5 #1 picks on the D front and they still get run on like sh*t through a goose-.

I feel sorry for any QB that gets drafted by us- He'll be in a wheel chair before he's 27- Last year we supposedly had the best free agency of any team- top 3 defense here we come! lol... er uh no.. what a complete faceplant in the Free Agency dept- And lets be real here for a sec- Eric Berry sucks- honeymoons over for that dude-

Theres so many and I mean many problems on this team that 1 draft aint gonna fix it- especially considering our draft history- We just cant get it right

The new CBA cap on years is 4 years- it'll take 5 to build this team back up, by the time we get almost there players contracts will be up and we'll be at same position 4 years prior- it's a never ending cycle for this joke of a franchise- Whens baseball start?

[Ugly Duck]

Originally Posted by Cassel's Reckoning

By walking away in triumph, the Raiders joined a gaggle of teams that will hold the rights to pick as low as 11th in the first round.

Wrong.... all we have to do is lose out & we have the #3 pick. Draft order as of Week 15 per ESPN:

1. Kansas City Chiefs (2-12)

2. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-12)

3. Oakland Raiders (4-10)

4. Philadelphia Eagles (4-10)

5. Detroit Lions (4-10)

6. Arizona Cardinals (5-9)

7. Cleveland Browns (5-9)

8. Tennessee Titans (4-9)

9. San Diego Chargers (5-8)

10. Buffalo Bills (5-9)

[Chronic]

I was unaware that we have the highest payroll in the NFL?

This is frekin awesome! highest payroll and the worst team in the NFL

Really cool stuff..

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/ka...as-city-chiefs