The count down to the all-important game between the Oakland Raiders and the San Diego Chargers is here.Today is the day that Raider fans will find out if the Silver and Black advance to the postseason and get their first opportunity in the playoffs since 2002.

Denarius Moore
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The ball that will drop this afternoon in Oakland is a lot more important than the one that dropped at midnight last night, and the one that everyone in Raider Nation has been patiently, or rather impatiently, waiting for.

When the Raiders’ late owner, Al Davis, told head coach Hue Jackson, “We will win it in the end,” just before he passed away on October 8, 2011, was it a prophecy for this season, or an eventual outcome farther down the road? Or did it not really mean anything at all?

I have to believe, as Jackson does, that Davis was right about this one. Whether or not it comes true in the 2011 season remains to be seen, but I think that the Raiders’ faith in victory will have an important affect on the ultimate outcome.

Safety Tyvon Branch remarked after the game on Christmas Eve, “I don’t know what it is about us. We just seem to find a way to make it interesting. We overcame a lot. We all stuck together. We all kept believing.”

Oakland has defeated San Diego in their last three battles, if, and when, the Raiders win today it will be a two-year sweep. After their wild and crazy victory against the Kansas City Chiefs in overtime, the team got their momentum and confidence back, and that may have been the missing ingredient during much of the month of December. They’ve got that fire going once again, and the time is now to show everyone what they’ve got.

Quarterback Carson Palmer has got two of his best offensive weapons back on the field in Oakland today, receivers Denarius Moore and Jacoby Ford. Running back Michael Bush may have slowed down a little over the last month, but he could be saving the best for last. How about a repeat performance of his outstanding efforts in San Diego on November 10? Bush had 30 carries for 157 yards and scored a touchdown.

The Chargers don’t have anything to gain by a win in Oakland, except possibly a little respect. Is it worth potentially injuring some of their best players and decreasing their chances for a healthy team next year?

There are so many reasons to believe the Raiders will win today, and a victory in front of the sold-out crowd at O.co Coliseum would be the best way to start out the New Year for everyone in the Raider Nation. After finding out that it was the team’s eighth consecutive sell out this season, Jackson said, ” My hat goes out to our fans for supporting us. What we have to do is give back to them as I’ve always said. And how we give back is by winning.”

That time is now. Just win baby!

K.C. Dermody grew up in the Bay Area of California, and has been an Oakland Raiders fan from the time she could walk. She has continued her loyalty to the team through its many ups and downs over the decades, and has been privileged to meet several of her favorite players, including famed quarterback, Jim Plunkett . Follow her at www.facebook.com/KCDermodyWriter, Twitter @kcdermody, or www.kcdermodywriter.com.

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I like Oakland Raiders’ head coach Hue Jackson. He tells it like it is and doesn’t waste words or pull any punches. He’s a humble guy who used to watch the Raiders play in the Los Angeles Coliseum when he worked there as a security guard in the 1980s.

An NFL football.
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I think he has really built the Raider team into something great since taking the helm and is doing a admirable job at continuing the legacy of long-time owner Al Davis and his “Commitment to Excellence.” In Mr. Davis’ memory, I really do believe the team will make it to the Super Bowl. The on-field play is supported by the Raider Nation, the community of fans (including myself) around the world who support the Silver and Black.

Each Friday after the team practice, Coach Jackson speaks with the media and I think his interview is a great way to determine where the team is one day before the game. In this case the game is the must-win January 1 game against the San Diego Chargers to end the 2011 regular season and hopefully move into the playoffs. Here are some key highlights I took away from Coach Jackson’s Friday press conference on December 30:

Injuries are still an issue

Michael Huff and Jacoby Ford are still recovering but it looks like Coach Jackson will include them in the line-up. He doesn’t think Ford is quite back up to speed, but I think the Raiders need him in there returning kickoffs.

Chemistry is another issue

Not bad chemistry, but lack of it. I agree with the Coach’s assessment that the team just needs more time to really come together. They have great players but the late addition of Carson Palmer just takes some getting used to. I think the Raiders have shown great heart this season and will definitely have a strong 2012 season, regardless of their 2011 finish.

Still not watching the scoreboard

Coach Jackson makes it a policy to not look at the scoreboard during games and even though it’s a must win for the Raiders, he’ll concentrate on executing each play successfully and helping “this football team do everything it can to win.”

Palmer can play under pressure

In a must-win game like the San Diego game, I think it’s essential we have an experienced guy like Palmer in there. Coach Jackson agrees, saying “It’s very important. He’s not going to flinch. That’s what I love about him. We’ve had some things not go his way but one thing I know about him, he’s not sitting over there sulking about it, or worried about it, he’s on to the next play and that’s kind of the way I am.” I agree and think that’s the professional attitude that wins games and wins championships.

Although born and raised with Eagles fans in Philadelphia, Freddy Sherman has always been a citizen of Raider Nation at heart. Since his dad got him a signed George Blanda football as child, to meeting Lyle Alzado in the 1980s, he hasn’t looked back. Follow him on twitter @thefredsherman

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When it comes to naming the greatest Oakland Raiders of all time, wide receiver Fred Biletnikoff is always one of the top five. As a career Raider, he was part of the Raiders’ legendary teams of the 1970s. As a little kid I can remember watching him play, unfortunately many times beating the Philadelphia Eagles. His achievements, sportsmanship and loyalty to the team make him a great example of what it means to be an Oakland Raider. Here are some key facts about great Raider Hall of Famer Fred Biletnikoff:

Surface of an American football ball.
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Stats

Fred Biletnikoff caught 589 passes for 8,974 yards and scored 76 touchdowns.

Records

At the time of his retirement, he led the league with the record of catching 40 or more passes in 10 consecutive seasons. He also had 70 receptions, 1,167 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns in 10 post-season games for another NFL career-record. He was an All-AFL pick in 1969, the final year the league was separate from the NFL. He was an NFL All-Pro in 1972 and All-AFC in 1970, 1972 and 1973. He also played in two AFL All-Star games and four AFC-NFC Pro Bowl games, along with three AFL and five AFC championship games.

Loyalty

Biletnikoff played for the Silver and Black from draft through retirement, clocking in 14 years. To me, it shows the special organization that Raiders’ owner Al Davis created, treating players like a family. Biletnikoff started with Oakland as their number two draft pick in 1965 and retired a Raider in 1978.

1976 season

In what I think was his best season, Biletnikoff caught passes for 558 yards for an average of 12.8 yards each. He scored 7 touchdowns to help the team finish 16-1 and set them up to win their first Super Bowl championship

Super Bowl XI

As the MVP of Super Bowl XI, Biletnikoff helped the Raiders beat the Minnesota Vikings 32-14. He also helped the team to an amazing 16-1 season in 1976, I think one of the Raiders’ greatest seasons ever.

Created his own destiny

Biletnikoff was drafted as a special teams player in 1965 and didn’t even play until the seventh game of the season. He started as a flanker and went on to catch seven passes for 118 yards in that first game, securing his position as a starting wide receiver.

Although born and raised with Eagles fans in Philadelphia, Freddy Sherman has always been a citizen of Raider Nation at heart. Since his dad got him a signed George Blanda football as child, to meeting Lyle Alzado in the 1980s, he hasn’t looked back. Follow him on twitter @thefredsherman

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It’s shaping up to be a great season for the Raider Nation as the Oakland Raiders lead the AFC West and look good to continue the momentum right into Super Bowl XLVI. While I really think the 2011 season may end up being a truly great one for the team, I thought it was a good time to also look back into Raider history at some of the team’s greatest seasons, and here are my picks for the Raiders’ top five greatest seasons:

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1963 – First season with Al Davis as coach

1963 was an incredible season for the Oakland Raiders, then part of the upstart American Football League (AFL), created as its own stand-alone league, separate from the NFL. Al Davis came on-board as a coach for the 1963 season and led the Raiders to a 10-4-0 record. This is considered one of the greatest coaching accomplishments in pro football history as the Raiders went 1-13 the season before, and 2-12 in 1961.

1976 – 13-1 record and Super Bowl XI win

The Super Bowl was played in January 1977, but it was the 1976 season that took the team there. Under the leadership of super-coach John Madden, the team dominated the league, going 13-1, the best record in the NFL. I grew up in Philadelphia and remember when the Raiders beat the Philadelphia Eagles to clinch the Western Division Championship that November.

1980 – Super Bowl XV win

Living in Philly, this season’s ending was really tough as the Raiders beat the Eagles to win Super Bowl XV. John Madden was gone, replaced by Tom Flores, another great Raiders coach, who led the team to a 11-5 record. With that record, the Raiders became the first team in NFL history to have 16 consecutive winning seasons.

1983 – Super Bowl XVIII win

The 1983 season was a great one, the team had moved to Los Angeles, where they were playing in front of a new group of crazed fans. It was a season of controversy with lawsuits surrounding the move to Los Angeles, but they didn’t affect the team’s on-field play. The Raiders rolled into Super Bowl XVIII in Tampa where with the strength of QB Jim Plunkett and RB Marcus Allen, they beat the Washington Redskins 38-9.

1967 – 13-1 season

To me, this was the first year of modern football, with the AFL and NFL merged and playing together in one league. The Raiders powered through the season to finish 13-1, the best record in AFL history. When they played in Super Bowl II they were beaten by the Green Bay Packers 33-14 in a crushing loss.

Although born and raised with Eagles fans in Philadelphia, Freddy Sherman has always been a citizen of Raider Nation at heart. Since his dad got him a signed George Blanda football as child, to meeting Lyle Alzado in the 1980s, he hasn’t looked back. Follow him on twitter @thefredsherman

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Oakland Raiders’ fans get another chance to party and tailgate at Raiderville, the official tailgate party featuring food, fun, Raiderettes cheerleaders and Raiders legends. The event is sponsored by Bud Light, which is the Raiders’ official beer. The first Raiderville event was held in 2009 and I think it’s a fun experience. I’ve been to several and its great to commune with other members of the Raider Nation.

The player tunnel of the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.
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The Raiderville event is a pregame tailgate party held in the parking lot of Oakland Coliseum, also known as O.co Stadium. The party is free and runs from 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. before games. Two huge nine-foot LED screens show early NFL games, and the Bud Light bar also has a gang of flat screen TVs showing every game.

In addition to all the beer, Raiderville includes family fun, including the PIxar Family Zone, which has fun stuff for kids like arts and crafts, slides and trampolines, also a mini race track. Kids can also get their faces painted to really get them into the game.

Fans can dine on exclusive food, only available at the event, not during the game, like black bean chitpotle hamburgers, authentic carne asada tacos and kettle corn. It really is a fun experience and I’ve discovered the tailgating is half the fun of going to an NFL game.

As a Raider fan, I think family events like this are important to offer more than just the great football game itself and I would like to see an expanded party and Raider experience, as some other NFL teams offer. Why not have it open every weekend, even when the Raiders are away?

Amy Trask the Raiders’ Chief Executive, commented on the return of the party: “We are delighted to present Raiderville and we are thrilled to work with Pixar, which will once again provide its wonderful youth and family zone as part of the Raiderville experience.”

I also think the event shows the need for a new stadium complex to replace the outdated facility. The Raiders need more room to create a permanent event space, where they can expand the game-day activities for fans who can’t get into the game. I would also like to see a large Raiders museum showcasing the history of the team.

Although born and raised with Eagles fans in Philadelphia, Freddy Sherman has always been a citizen of Raider Nation at heart. Since his dad got him a signed George Blanda football as child, to meeting Lyle Alzado in the 1980s, he hasn’t looked back. Follow him on twitter @thefredsherman

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