MIAMI - It was a simple question.
"If we win the next three does that mean anything?"
That's what Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha wanted to know after Sunday's 17-15 loss to the Miami Dolphins.
The Raiders next three games are divisional contests. But it looks as if the Raiders talk of still being in contention to win the division is pointless these days.
But you have to forgive Asomugha for asking. He's just trying to find a glimmer of hope in this lost season.
And he thought he had it until he was told Denver won its game to improve to 6-4.
San Diego is 4-6 and in second place.
The Raiders are 2-8 and in third.
Had the Raiders beat the Dolphins and managed to win their next three games, they would have been 6-7. And if Denver had lost three straight, they would be tied with the Raiders.
And I could win the lottery.
Interim head coach Tom Cable dangled the "we can still win the division" carrot when the Raiders were two games out of first for a couple of weeks, even he hasn't mentioned the division lately.
At some point, everyone has to accept reality.
*Once again, only one wide receiver had a catch in a game. The last two games that receiver had been Javon Walker. Sunday it was Ronald Curry (six catches, 74 yards) that was the only receiver to make a catch.
Zach Miller is still JaMarcus Russell's favorite target. And it looked as if the Raiders finally made a real effort to get the ball to Miller.
"The way they were playing (me) they allowed me to get open," Miller said. "They called a few more plays to go to me so that helped."
Miller still had to block Dolphin linebacker Joey Porter and did fine in one-on-one situations. Porter's sack came when he was blocked by Mario Henderson.
*Johnnie Lee Higgins wins the award for best analogy of the day.
He was asked about the feeling of putting the Raiders ahead with punt return for a score only to watch the Dolphins drive down the field and score.
Higgins compared it to a bad day I the candy shop.
"At the end of the day your stomach is gonna hurt," Higgins said. "That's exactly what it feels like. I did some things, I'm eating all the candy, I've got a sweet tooth. But later on that night, you're going to be crying for momma saying come save me, something's wrong with my stomach. And that's exactly how I feel."
Sunday's loss left a lot of Raiders feeling that way.
*As of Sunday night, it wasn't know if JaMarcus Russell might leave the team part of this week after the passing of his godmother, Teresa Roberts.
This is an area in which being a Raider is good. Owner Al Davis has always been known to be sympathetic to anyone that is part of the Raider family that loses a loved one.
Don't expect any scandal about whether the team would allow Russell to grieve if he were to leave part of this coming week.
--Jason Jones
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