This is probably not a good matchup for new head coach Tom Cable in his Raiders’ debut.  The Raiders will come out running the football against a Saints’ defense that stuffed Adrian Peterson and the Vikings last week.  Still, the Raiders will likely rotate Justin Fargas, Darren McFadden and Michael Bush to keep all of them fresh.  The Raiders are averaging 155.0 yards rushing per game and 4.8 ypc so they should have some success as the Saints allow 107.0 yards rushing per game and 4.5 ypc.  QB JaMarcus Russell definately has the arm to get the ball deep and the Saints will be without rookie CB Tracy Porter who is out for the season due to surgery to repair a dislocated wrist.  TE Zach Miller is Russell’s favorite target in the passing game but Javon Walker or Ronald Curry could have a good game here to jumpstart their season.

The Saints will try to throw the ball downfield to get the lead early to take the Raiders out of there running game.  Devery Henderson (31.7 avg) and Robert Meachem (33.6 avg) have been getting down the field and the Saints will no doubt be attempting to stretch a Raiders’ defense that is allowing 212.8 yards passing per game.  WR Lance Moore and TE Billy Miller will handle the tough stuff over the middle of the field for Drew Brees (97.7 QB Rating) who is having a outstanding season.  The Raiders’ defense better be ready to deal with Reggie Bush who has 533 combined yards rushing and receiving already this season.

PREDICTION:  NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 30, OAKLAND RAIDERS 20

The Raiders have fired head coach Lane Kiffin.  The Raiders were 1-3 this season as they have scored 78 points this season and they have allowed 101.  Kiffin finishes his career with the Raiders sporting a 5-15 record (25%) in a 1 1/4 as the boss.  The Raiders have promoted offensive line coach Tom Cable to be the new head coach.  Cable has head coaching experience in college but it didn’t go too well.  He was the head coach at Idaho from 2000-03 and he compiled a 11-35 record (23.9%).  Don’t expect Cable to be the head coach of the Raiders when the 2009 season begins.

The Raiders had a good gameplan against the Chargers leading them 15-3 after the first three quarters but then the roof fell in.  JaMarcus Russell looked good when he wasn’t getting sacked (six times) last Sunday as he completed 22 of 37 passes for 277 yards with 1 TD pass and 1 interception.  Michael Bush led the way for the Raiders on both the ground and in the air as he carried the ball 14 times for 48 yards (3.4 ypc) and he also caught 7 passes for 80 yards (11.4 avg).  TE Zach Miller also had a big game catching 5 passes for 95 yards with a TD (63 yarder).  The Raiders finished up with 72 yards rushing on 23 carries (3.1 ypc) and they also completed 22 of 37 passes for 251 yards.

The Raiders didn’t play that bad on defense in this game at least against the pass they didn’t.  Safety Gibril Wilson led the way for the Raiders with 11 tackles.  LB Kirk Morrison (8 tackles) and DT Terdell Sands (5 tackles, 2 sacks) both also had solid games for the Raiders.  The Chargers finished up with 141 yards rushing on 30 carries (4.7 ypc) and they also completed 14 of 25 passes for 154 yards.  The Raiders fell to 1-3 on the season with this loss.