Here we go with the debut of Three Reasons, a new weekly feature here in Keyboard Quarterbacks.
The Oakland Raiders are 2-2 and in a three-way tie for first place in the four-team AFC West division. However, they are the only team in the division to have scored more points than they've allowed, a rarity in Oakland of late.
Three reasons why the Raiders can win the AFC West this season:
1) Norv Turner
Who else can take a 14-2 team from one season ago, return 20 of 22 starters and turn them into a three-loss team within four games? The San Diego Chargers head coach is that bad at head coaching! He proved it from 1994-2000 with the Redskins and cemeted his inability to head coach with Oakland from 2004-05, in the process amassing a 58-82-1 record coming into this season.
2) Jay Cutler
He's not exactly the second coming of John Elway, at least not yet. Probably not even Ron Elway or Don Elway. But he's just a second-year quarterback with Denver, so this is probably the best season for the Raiders to strike.
3) Herman Edwards
You have to love Herm's motivational abilities and his quirky, kooky, amusing mannerisms. (Hello????)
You have to not love Herm's desire/ability to make sure he always coaches his team with the philosophy that having a chance to win the game late in the fourth quarter is all you can ask for. It's an interesting theory, but sometimes you might want your team, be it the Jets, Chiefs or his next team, to have a game in hand before the start of the fourth quarter. Especially when time management is an issue.
Comments (2)
Pretty sound reasoning, La Monica. Must help to have 2 days to think about this stuff.
It doesn't hurt, Gridder Bob.