The oddity that is the Oakland Raiders

When people ask me "What is it like to be a Raider fan?" or "How can you like a team with such a badly run front office?'" I explain to them the how and why I became a Raider fan and then tell them what its like now. Which usually sounds something like this "Its quite simple in fact, I was born in L.A. and hated the Rams. I could best compare being in the Raider Nation to being a citizen of Fantastica (or Fantasia) as the force of Nothing is busy destroying our once proud and wonderful little World. "

This has been by far the worst year to be a citizen of the Nation, as every week seems to have brought on a weirder event. There was the beatdown Javon Walker received in Vegas. the fight between John Herrera and Tim Kawakami , the firing of Kiffin, the Al Davis press conference , and finally the release of DeAngelo Hall,.Quite a strange and tough year indeed, and thats not including all the losses.

The Raiders run of bizarre events have slowed for the mean time, but I think we all know its just a matter of time before they resurface. However the most curious thing is that the Raiders still have a shot at the division crown. Sure the chances are low, but the thought that this team could be in the playoffs is priceless.

At this point your probably saying to yourself "how could a team like this possibly make the playoffs", well let me map out the Raiders long road to the playoffs:

• First of all with the win against Denver and San Diego's loss to Indy it put them a game behind the Chargers. If the Chargers were to lose to Atlanta this weekend and the Raiders beat the Chiefs, the Raiders and Chargers would head into their week 14 match-up with matching records of 4-8. If the Raiders found a way to win that game they would be at 5-8.

• Now the Broncos at 6-5, have games against the New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs. With losses against both clubs (they already gave KC, their lone victory this year) the Broncos would be only one game ahead of the Raiders at 6-7.
  
  
• The Broncos last three weeks include games at the Panthers, home against the Bills, and at the Chargers. While the Raiders have games against the Patriots, Texans, and at Tampa Bay. If somehow the Raiders have a better record then the Broncos through the last 5 games, they could force a tiebreaker or win the division outright.

In a nutshell, all the Raiders need to do is start winning all their games and for the Broncos to fold like a deck of cards. Its possible but not probable. I think its funny that there is even a remote possibility that a 3-8 team could have a shot at the playoffs.

As I stated on Monday I have no idea whats in store for the future, but I would like to add that D-Mac is our bastion of hope and I expect him to be our Moon Child .