OAKLAND -- Finally, in something of an upset, it might be safe to turn
on the television again. The Raiders are actually worth a peek. On this
particular Sunday, they certainly were worthy of more than a blackout.
They were interesting again, competitive again, successful again. They
provided plenty of theatrics -- including that long-awaited quarterback
swap and subsequent intrigue -- and against the sputtering Cleveland
Browns were downright entertaining, right down to the final second.
You had to see it to believe it.
Oh, sorry. Almost forgot.
The lucky few (51,075) who religiously grilled their burgers, swilled
their beers and lowered their expectations before trudging into McAfee
Coliseum observed another series of bold calls by rookie head coach Lane
Kiffin, watched LaMont Jordan stubbornly churn for 121 yards and saw Rob
Ryan's maligned defense produce two interceptions, and even more
dramatically, converge for a blocked field goal that preserved the
Raiders' first victory since last Oct. 29.
Kiffin was so excited afterward, he seemed to forget where he was. Or
who his boss happens to be. He thanked Denver Broncos coach Mike
Shanahan -- jokingly thanked Mike Shanahan -- for teaching him all about
calling timeouts and freezing the opposing kicker when the outcome hangs
in the balance.
"Oh, yeah," cracked Kiffin afterward, "that one was for Mike."
The next big test for the league's youngest head coach is scheduled for
the next few days. Does he stick with Daunte Culpepper, the obvious
crowd favorite who replaced a hobbled Josh McCown late in the opening
half? Does he go back to McCown, the journeyman whose mobility and game
management he has consistently praised? Does he rely on the assessment
of the club's medical personnel before answering any of these questions?
Or does he roll with these rarest of fun times, using McCown's foot
injury as a wonderfully convenient crutch, and turn over the offense to
the People's Choice?
I say, listen to the voters. Culpepper is eager and available, and
McCown -- the poor guy -- he just can't win. He plays in pain, limps
around on a sore foot, and yet the fans Sunday couldn't wait for someone
to take him out of their misery. When McCown was blindsided on the first
possession of the game, momentarily rescued when his fumble was snatched
by Barry Sims, the booing began slowly, then gained enthusiasm by the
play. The good-natured Texan was booed for overthrowing Mike Williams,
and on the Raiders' ensuing possession, serenaded for every errant pass,
every noticeable mistake, including an inability to escape the sack that
sent him moving gingerly toward the sideline before halftime.
Concerned, Kiffin called a timeout, then turned to Culpepper, who had
begun warming up moments earlier. As the longtime Minnesota Vikings star
trotted onto the field at the 1:40 mark of the first quarter, he was
greeted with rousing, sustained applause. The fans erupted again when he
found Jordan over the middle for five yards and stirred restlessly when
McCown returned to the huddle moments later, only temporarily quieting
the crowd with a strike to Ronald Curry for a 41-yard touchdown.
But that proved to be the best of McCown, and at least on Sunday, the
last of McCown. Culpepper played the entire second half, and except for
a deep throw that found a leaping Jerry Porter on the sideline, was more
balanced than spectacular. Culpepper directed two long scoring drives,
relying heavily on the relentless, increasingly effective Jordan.
"I'm feeling very comfortable in the offense right now," Culpepper said.
"My expectations are, when I'm called upon, to be ready. (But) when you
are playing with guys like that (Jordan) who always give a second
effort, it's going to be hard to beat."
Who gets the next chance? The one in Miami that a television audience
actually will be able to see? Kiffin, as usual, is keeping his secrets.
But you have to believe Culpepper gets the nod. Don't you?
