by David Zizmor

ALAMEDA–When we last talked last week we were saying how the Oakland Raiders (0-9) played a couple of good games they performed pretty admirable in Seattle against the Seahawks. They kept the game pretty tight until late in the game. The Raiders were a little too happy with themselves over this game. They kind of took a morale victory away because they took the defending champions all 12 rounds maybe they lost but they looked good doing it.

The were competitive against a really good team, they felt too good about themselves and then Denver comes in and just destroys them 41-17 on November 9th. It was one of those things where the Raiders were full of themselves. The Raiders kind of let up a little bit and Denver is every bit as good as Seattle if not even better at this stage.

Let’s face it Denver was coming off a game they got walloped by the Patriots they wanted to prove something so they took it out on the Raiders. The Raiders shouldn’t be as complacent this week they played the San Diego Chargers (5-4) about a month ago in Oakland and kept it pretty close. This Sunday their in San Diego and the Chargers ended up winning that one and that was the last game the Chargers won and the Chargers suffered three tough loses in the row.

One of those loses includes a humiliating defeat to the Miami Dolphins 37-0 on November 2 and the Chargers are coming off a bye week. Their getting a little bit healthier their getting running back Ryan Matthews back and the Chargers are a team that still has playoff hopes. The Chargers are not going to sit back and lay down this Sunday.

The Chargers already know the Raiders aren’t going to lay down for them and given how they played in the last game against Denver. The Raiders can play them tough the Chargers aren’t going to take them for granted. The Raiders might have their hands full Chargers quarterback Phillip Rivers always throws well against Oakland.

The fact of the matter is because the Raiders already played the Chargers tough their not going to have a close game as they did the last time. Part of the reason why is Tony Sparano the Raiders new head coach in his first game against the Chargers the Raiders were playing hard for him and it was a close finish but a loss 31-28 on October 12th.

The Chargers came in playing pretty well, they were a little bit full of themselves like the Raiders were last week against the Broncos. The Chargers aren’t going to do that now and they had two weeks to prepare for this game never a good sign for the Raiders as the Chargers had last Sunday off.

David Zizmor covers the NFL for http://www.sportsradioservice.com