They are old, they are injured, they are unhappy with their coaching staff. But the demise of the Raiders, who played in the Super Bowl 10 months ago, is largely their own fault.
The bad boys of the NFL continue drawing penalties at an alarming rate and at the worst possible times.
Entering today's game, the Raiders have been flagged 101 times for 848 yards, both tops in the NFL. The league average is 75.6 penalties for 627 yards.
"Dumb penalties. I mean, dumb penalties," Raiders coach Bill Callahan said. "It's not acceptable in any type of football, from Pop Warner to high school - anywhere. Not acceptable. And to have the display of penalties that we get. It's annoying. It's annoying to me."
STANDING BY HIS MAN: The most popular guy on the roster is always the backup quarterback and Vikings fans are falling into the trap.
After a horrible day in Oakland two weeks ago, when he turned the ball over five times, quarterback Daunte Culpepper began hearing the boo birds while leading the Vikings to a 24-14 win over Detroit.
The chants of "We want Gus!" as in backup quarterback Gus Frerotte, didn't sit well with coach Mike Tice.
"I don't feel I have to defend my quarterback," Tice said on his television show. "And frankly, I won't."
Even Culpepper was surprised at the turn of the crowd.
"I haven't seen anything like it, ever," Culpepper told reporters.
NOW, EXPLAIN THIS: Defensive players often say that if they can't stop the run, they can't win. Well then some explanation is in order for how the Eagles have managed to pull through.
After giving up 199 yards against the Saints last week, the Eagles have surrendered 985 rushing yards in their past six games, giving up 5.5 yards per carry.
Remarkably, they have won all six.
"It doesn't bother me except for the long runs," defensive coordinator Jim Johnson said. "When we let them have a couple of long plays, it really upsets me. I don't get too involved with the stats. They can be misleading. But I worry about the big plays."
IS IT INEVITABLE?: So, you've been under a rock and are unaware that Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer is on the hot seat? Here comes a tell-tale sign that someone is sharpening the ax: His players are starting to defend him despite the team's 2-9 record.
"Most of the time, the things that Marty tells you and teaches you end up coming true," running back LaDainian Tomlinson told the San Diego Union-Tribune. "He has been around the game a long time, so he understands what's going on. He's a smart man. He understands exactly what the game is about, and that's the difference. It ain't like we have a guy that has never been through it."
Despite being tied for ninth in NFL history with 168 career wins, Schottenheimer has failed to produce a winning season or a playoff appearance in his past four seasons.
"I'm sure you can find reasons on both sides of the fence, but I think he's a great coach," quarterback Doug Flutie said. "When Mike Riley was here, I didn't see anything wrong with the way Mike Riley was handling the team either. A lot of times, they're just the fall guy. I have no problems with Marty being the guy. I think he can get the job done and, yeah, I think it would be a mistake to let him go."
GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY: With Warrick Dunn on injured reserve for the rest of the season, the Falcons likely will hand over the bulk of the ball-carrying duties to running back T.J. Duckett, who started five games in the middle of the season.
During that span, Duckett ran for 316 yards on 71 carries, a 4.5-yard average.
"It's a situation where, any time you have a player get hurt, it's bad," Duckett told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "But the game, you still have to go out and play. I have to go out and make plays."
TALK ABOUT BACK IN THE DAY: Bengals coach Marvin Lewis and Steelers coach Bill Cowher are Pittsburgh area natives who know each other quite well. Lewis and Cowher played against each other in high school. Lewis attended Fort Cherry High and Cowher was at Carlynton High.
INTERESTING COMMENTS: Considering that he represents Jon Gruden, Andy Reid, Mike Holmgren, John Fox and Mike Sherman, along with a handful of college coaches, super-agent Bob LaMonte's take on the difference between coaching in the pros and college is likely an informed one.
"You have no hammer as a pro," LaMonte told the Los Angeles Times. "If a man is making $6-million a year as opposed to being a school kid, it's very difficult with the (salary) cap to sit down that guy.
"If it's a school guy and you're talking books and a place to live, that's a lot easier. In a pro coach, you need someone who's less rah-rah and less a friend to the player and much more of a disciplinarian. And a grinder. ... A grinder is a guy that's putting in his 24/7, and the pro knows he's not doing this for four months a year, but it's his life. If he brings that to the table, he brings the respect, and, in turn, as a disciplinarian he'll be followed."
NFL, ON A ROLL: Cardinals running back Emmitt Smith, expected to play today against the Bears, has 76 100-yard games, one shy of Walter Payton, the most in NFL history. ... Ravens rookie linebacker Terrell Suggs is fifth in the AFC with eight sacks, best among rookies. Suggs also has three forced fumbles, second highest among AFC linebackers. ... The Patriots have won seven in a row, longest current streak in the league. A win today in Indianapolis will give the Patriots their first 10-2 start. ... If Rams receiver Torry Holt has 100 receiving yards today against the Vikings, he ties Jerry Rice with 25 100-yard games through the first five seasons, the fourth most in NFL history.
- Information from other news organizations was used in this report.
