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(SportsNetwork.com) - Just when you start to believe in the Oakland Raiders, they give reason not to. Of course, the reality is that the Raiders 2014 season was a lost cause long before their visit to Kansas City last weekend. But when they got within just four points in the third quarter - after having won two of three games coming in - there was at least some reason for middling optimism. Less than five minutes later, though, those positive thoughts were a distant memory. Three Chiefs touchdowns in a stretch of 4 minutes, 42 seconds - including one after a fumbled snap by quarterback Derek Carr -- started the death spiral toward an eventual 31-13 loss, which plunged the Raiders to 2-12 on the season as they head into a Week 16 home game with the Buffalo Bills. Oakland had 10 penalties in the defeat, and its 103 infractions for the season are eighth in the league. You cant do those kind of things in any football game, Raiders interim coach Tony Sparano said. But you certainly cant do those things when youre on the road and in an environment like that, and kind of feed their ego with false starts and with penalties and then turn it into a game that you have to throw the football as much as we had to throw the ball with that kind of pass rush. Carr completed less than half of his 56 passes against Kansas City, while totaling 222 yards and connecting for a touchdown alongside four sacks. Hes been slightly better at home in his rookie season, including 10 TDs and just three interceptions in his last five games at the O.co Coliseum. The Bills havent won a game in Oakland since 1966 and havent beaten the Raiders franchise on the road since a victory in Los Angeles in 1991. That theme continues for Buffalo overall, as it strives to end a postseason drought - the longest in the league -- that stretches back 15 years to 1999. A 21-13 win over visiting Green Bay last week ensured that the Bills would finish at .500 for the first time since they went 9-7 in 2004. Jumping from respectability to the playoffs, however, will take a little more. Buffalo is last among the nine AFC teams whove registered eight or more wins - thanks to a 4-6 in-conference record and losses to fellow 8-6 teams Kansas City and San Diego. A berth would not only require a win in Oakland, but a follow-up victory at New England, where it is 0 for its last 13 efforts. The defeat of the Packers saw Buffalo snuff the offensive of the most-prolific scoring team in the league and prompt a career-high 25 incompletions, a career-worst 34.3 passer rating and two interceptions from quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The Bills havent allowed a passing TD in six of its last seven games and its pass defense - which yielded 210.1 yards per week - is No. 5 in the league. The Green Bay win came a week after a loss to Denver in which Buffalo gave Peyton Manning a forgettable stat line that included 14 completions, two interceptions, 173 yards and no touchdowns. We have to obviously continue to play like that but once we do that, now the mark is set, cornerback Corey Graham said. Now you got to expect that every week from everybody and thats what we got to do. Weve got to make sure were locked in and ready to go every week. The offense could certainly use the same swagger. The Bills got four field goals, a safety and a punt return touchdown against the Packers, which didnt help the 31st-best ratio of touchdowns (20) to red- zone possessions (49). Quarterback Kyle Orton completed 14-of-27 passes for 158 yards and an interception, alongside three sacks. No wide receiver or tight end caught more than two passes. Weve got to do a better job, Buffalo coach Doug Marrone said. Weve got to protect better, got to run routes better, weve got to get a better rhythm. A boost could arrive in the form of running back C.J. Spiller, who broke his collarbone in Week 7 and hasnt played since. Hes second among all running backs since 2010 with a 5.0-yard average per carry, and is listed as probable against the Raiders. Hes a guy whos made plays in the past, Marrone said. Any time you can bring back someone whos a potential playmaker obviously helps. WHAT TO WATCH FOR Crash the Carr The Bills enter the game with 49 sacks and theyll face an opponent in the Raiders whos not exactly erected fortress-like walls around Carr all year, and allowed four sacks in last weeks loss to Kansas City. Thus, itll be incumbent upon Oaklands Latavius Murray, who had 59 yards against the Chiefs, to be effective enough to draw containment attention from Buffalo ends Mario Williams and Jerry Hughes. Sling it to Sammy A common denominator in Buffalos six losses this season has been the limited production of Sammy Watkins, whos scored just one TD and exceeded 100 yards in one game as well. Raiders cornerback Tarell Brown has surrendered just one TD among the 42 passes completed in his direction in 2014, and help from veteran safety Charles Woodson should keep the game from becoming a Watkins showcase. OVERALL ANALYSIS OK, Coach Marrone, its your move. The Bills have gone from long-term laughingstock to having the dreaded trap game label hung on them. Its incumbent on the second-year boss to make sure his team handles the cross- country trip to meet an inferior foe, on the Sunday prior to a visit to the perennial AFC East powerhouse that could be the final obstacle to a January return. Score one for preparation. Sports Network predicted outcome: Bills 24, Raiders 20 Discount Air Jordan 3 Australia . He learned about pressure and expectations at the 2010 Games in his hometown of Vancouver. His next mission is to build on that experience at his next Olympic appearance in Sochi, where he plans to ride the momentum from the teams strong start to the season. Air Jordan 3 Outlet Australia . That time around, the cage is as much a part of baseballs daily routine as a beer and a hotdog is to a fan in the stands. Coaches, scouts, broadcasters and other media hover, tossing verbal barbs, telling stories and sharing laughs. Occasionally, especially in spring when the atmosphere is relatively laid back, the list of invited guests expands and on this day, Gibbons welcomed two men strongly influential in his life. http://www.cheapairjordan3australia.com/ . Bale has had a successful debut season in Spain, and Ancelotti appears ready to reward him with a starting role on Saturday. Ancelotti says "Gareth had some problems at the beginning (of the season) but when he found good physical condition he scored a lot of goals, he had a good impact on the team. Cheap Air Jordan 3 Wholesale . Yup, he definitely needed this one. Craig homered twice and had three RBIs Wednesday night to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 7-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Craig went 4 for 5 and Yadier Molina added three hits for the Cardinals, who salvaged the final game of a three-game set in hopes of staying within shouting distance of front-running Milwaukee in the NL Central. Air Jordan 3 Retro Australia . Unlike last year when nobody got in, there have been estimates of as many as five getting voted in this time around and as few as one, Greg Maddux.Without question, Toronto FC head coach Ryan Nelsen has better players at his disposal this season. The clubs remarkable off-season saw the addition of proven international players like Jermain Defoe, Michael Bradley, Júlio César and Dwayne De Rosario, as well as seasoned MLS campaigners like Justin Morrow and Jackson. Throw in Brazilian designated player Gilberto and the sense of anticipation felt by TFC supporters is understandable. The big question is this: How will Nelsen utilize the talent at his disposal? Throughout the 2013 season, Nelsen chose to stick with a 1-4-4-2 formation, and if the 2014 pre-season is any indication, it is likely that he will stick with this formation. If that is the case, these are the players that, if everyone is fit and available, I think will take the field for Toronto FC: Goalkeeper - Julio Cesar Some have pointed out that despite TFCs struggles in 2013, Joe Bendik had a reasonably good season and doesnt deserve to be replaced by César. While it may be true that Bendik had a good season last year, it is complete and utter nonsense to suggest that he should be starting ahead of Júlio César, Brazils number one goalkeeper. Despite not playing regularly for Queens Park Rangers in the English Championship this season, César is still streets ahead of Bendik. Right Fullback - Bradley Orr When Richard Eckersley departed for the New York Red Bulls this year (his contract was structured in such a way that his cap hit was prohibitive, meaning Toronto needed to dump his salary), TFC needed to bring in someone to play this position. Nelsen has options - both Mark Bloom and Ryan Richter can play right back - but he is likely to select Englishman Bradley Orr as his first choice. Orr joined TFC on loan from Blackburn Rovers, and at 31, will add experience to the back four. Left Fullback - Justin Morrow With all of the big-name signings that Toronto has made this off-season, the addition of Justin Morrow slipped under the radar. After being drafted by the San Jose Earthquakes in 2010, Morrow struggled to hold down a regular place in the Quakes lineup until 2012, when his consistently strong performances were rewarded with a place in the MLS All-Star game. Not a flashy player by any means, Morrow will be expected to tidy up the left side of Torontos defence - an area that has been a problem for the team since the clubs inception. Central Defender - Steven Caldwell If Toronto is going to achieve success this season, captain Steven Caldwell will need to be ever-present. His leadership is not something that is measured by statistics; it is seen in the day-to-day interactions with his teammates, his work rate on the training ground and in his ability to remain calm under pressure and deliver consistent performances week after week. The Scot not only has to do his job, he also has a big role to play in the development of his young partner, Doneil Henry. With Caldwell in the team, Im confident that both will be taken care of. Central Defender - Doneil Henry Doneil Henry has everything needed to play at the very highest level of the game as a central defender; he is strong, aggressive, good in the air, can tackle and is quick and athletic. His distribution, technical skills and positional awareness are a work in progress, but at just 20 years of age, he has so much potential its scary. An off-season training stint with West Ham of the English Premier League went so well, in fact, that I wouldnt be at all surprised if Henry is destined for overseas at some point in the not-too-distant future. Which makes the cries of some that "TFC needs an upgrade at centreback" completely baffling. No, they dont. They need to let this promising youngster continue his development alongside the experience of Caldwell, and under the watchful eye of Nelsen. Right Midfield - Jackson The Brazilian, acquired in a trade with FC Dallas, will slot in nicely for TFC on the right. He is quick, strong, technically solid - and capable of not only providing scoring chances, but also of converting them. With the defensive experience of Orr behind him, expect Jackson to be comfortable pinning the opposing fullback high up the pitch. This will create space in midfield for the likes of Michael Bradley and Jonathan Osorio, but will also lead to more chances being delivered from wide areas. Left Midfield - Dwayne De Rosario Alvaro Rey could very well be Nelsens first choice at left midfield, but I am of the opinion that he should find a way to get his best players on the field as much as possible. If Nelsen subscribes to this philosophy as well, then De Rosario has to play on the left. It isnt his favourite position - he would much prefer to operate centrally, just behind the front two or off a single striker - but De Rosario has played on the left before for both club annd country.dddddddddddd. Given the strengths of other players in Torontos squad, De Rosario might have to accept a role on the left if he is to be in Nelsens starting lineup. Given his attacking flexibility, De Rosario could also be used as the first substitute off the bench, filling in where needed. If that is the case, Nelsen has an able deputy at left midfield in the Spaniard, Rey. Given the lack of preseason soccer that Gilberto has played, it is also likely that De Rosario will start the season partnering Defoe in attack. If that happens, Rey will play on the left. Central Midfield - Michael Bradley One of two major signings for Toronto in the off-season, it is crucial for the club to have Michael Bradley on the pitch as much as possible. If hes fit, he will be in the starting lineup. For the uninitiated, dont expect Bradley to score double digits from midfield - goal scoring has never been one of his major attributes. What he does bring is composure, tenacity, leadership and excellent passing range - he will anchor the midfield and serve as the fulcrum around which the team operates. If Bradley plays well, TFC will win games because he will limit chances defensively, and get the ball to the teams goal scorers in dangerous positions. "The General", as he was known in Italy, will be bossing the TFC midfield for years to come. Central Midfield - Jonathan Osorio A Toronto native, Osorio had a very good season in his rookie year - five goals and one assist in 28 games - despite the teams struggles. While Nelsen could choose to play De Rosario as an attacking midfielder in this position, doing so would put a greater defensive burden on Bradley. Osorio is a better option here, because he can not only be a creative force, providing scoring chances as well as converting them by arriving late in the box, he is also better equipped to do the defensive work required in central midfield. There are question marks over whether or not Osorio can operate as a true "number 10", but I dont think his role needs to be as such. He is more suited to be a double pivot with Bradley - covering when the American makes forward runs, and vice-versa. Regardless, the partnership between the two central midfielders will be one to watch develop over the course of the season. Striker - Jermain Defoe It was a bloody big deal, wasnt it? Jermain Defoe is going to be a star in Major League Soccer. Young (and healthy) enough to have some very productive years ahead of him, Defoe can do for TFC what Robbie Keane has done for the Los Angeles Galaxy - terrify defenders every time the ball enters the attacking third. Like Keane, it isnt size, strength or even speed that makes Jermain Defoe so dangerous - it is his movement and finishing ability. Watch for him to drop into midfield to link play and bring others into the game, to pull off on the shoulder of the last defender to exploit space, to make blind-side runs across the face of goal and to have a clinical finishing touch when presented with chances to score. Defoe has been a goal-scorer his entire career - and there is nothing to indicate that this pattern will end now that he is plying his trade in a TFC jersey. Striker - Gilberto The first of TFCs major off-season moves, Gilberto is very much the one with the most to prove. He carries neither the track record nor the pedigree of Defoe or Bradley, and as such, is something of an unknown quantity. Yet Nelsen felt strongly enough about him to make him the first of three designated player signings in the off-season - which means that Gilberto will be in the lineup at every opportunity. Worryingly, Gilberto has not played a great deal in preseason. This could see Nelsen prefer to start the season with De Rosario in attack - but that is likely to be short-lived, as the TFC coach will want to get his best players on the field as often as possible. Given the upgrades that Toronto FC has made - in virtually every position - Ryan Nelsen has the flexibility to employ a variety of tactical formations. He could, for example, slide De Rosario to the tip of a diamond midfield four, with Osorio sliding left and Bradley operating as a genuine holding midfielder. He could also push De Rosario forward to employ a 1-4-3-3 formation, with the Canadian prowling up front alongside Gilberto and Defoe. Another option, if Gilberto struggles to get himself fit, is to play a 1-4-2-3-1 formation, with the attacking midfield three of Rey, De Rosario and Jackson supporting Defoe in the lone striker role. For the first time ever, Toronto FC has options. If they are to achieve success this season, it will be because Nelsen has found a way to unlock their obvious potential. If not, then his position will come under scrutiny. Regardless, if you are a fan of Toronto FC, you are looking forward to the 2014 MLS season with anticipation. China NFL Jerseys Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys NFL Jerseys Cheap Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap Basketball Jerseys Online Stitched Hockey Jerseys Wholesale Baseball Jerseys Football Jerseys Outlet College Jerseys For Sale Cheap MLB Jerseys Wholesale Soccer Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys For Sale Wholesale NFL Jerseys ' ' '