Quick Take

Well, that was "hello NFL" moment for the Raiders today...

Think of all of those years when we tried to convince ourselves that this guy or that guy could be a legit star. Think of all of those receivers we've fielded over the past five or ten years, pinning our hopes on them.

Then in struts a truly elite talent like Amari Cooper, who was playing college ball 10 months ago, and it's like, "Oh, that's what a superstar looks like."

It's been so long since we've had one, it's almost alien to watch someone like that turning on the jets in the silver and black. 

Give it up for Mack, too. And Carr. Like I said before the season started, the past two drafts were Reggie's lifeline, and he delivered. 

There's no doubt who the players are that this team revolves around, and they are really young and from the past two drafts.

There's a lot of work to be done. And that game got stupidly close with all of the marshmallow defense in the fourth quarter.   

But it looks like the laughingstock era is finally, mercifully, coming to an end. RAIDD-ERRZ!

Broncos Gameday Thread

Today is the day we are going to learn a lot about this team and what it is made of. Go Raiders!

Bears Gameday Thread

If the Raiders are truly going to exercise their demons, this is exactly the type of game they need to win, specifically because it's a game they are supposed to win. We haven't gotten many such games in recent years, and even those traditionally haven't gone well.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves. The Raiders are giving up 414 yards per game so far this year. That is rock bottom in the NFL. 

Meanwhile, the Bears have lost three straight to...the Packers, Cardinals and Seahawks, three of the most formidable teams in the NFL. In other words, the Bears might not be quite as bad as they look at first glance.

So while the Raiders should win this game, it likely won't be a cakewalk, and the defense had better tighten things up. It will help if Jimmy Clauson is slinging it on Sunday, but we'd better not be looking past this team.

So GO RAIDERS, go forth and build upon the momentum and turn this mini-turnaround into a trend on Sunday.