What. A. Game last week.

All of AA’s columnists have done a great job documenting the fantastic things we saw in that game: A.) The Chiefs’ sudden rise from the grave B.) Their utter trouncing of the dirtiest, most classless team in the league and C.) Said team’s laughably inept offensive performance.

Now, while point C in some ways detracts from points A and B, it is what I want to focus on, because it is the most important in the long term.

Although Cassel looked far from impressive in that game and the defense did a lot of the work for the Zombie Chiefs, after doing some research, I’ve become a much bigger fan of Zombie Cassel and his insatiable appetite for comeback brains. So much so, that it has made me feel a lot better about that trade that brought him here, especially because it makes the Carson Palmer trade look like a Jedi Ronin Secret Suicide attack.

Read my lips: the Raiders are doomed. Check out why after the break. (more…)

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!! That was fun, wasn’t it? It’s been a while since we last got to watch a one-sided win where the Chiefs came out on top. Obviously, today is a good day to be a Chiefs fan. I’m going to jump right into the reasons why.

10. Jackie Battle is a legit NFL running back.
In my opinion, the Chiefs could have and should have used Battle more against the Raiders. Dexter is a nice change of pace and Thomas Jones should MAYBE get 5 carries/game in relief, but it was clear Sunday that the Indy game was not a fluke. Battle was by FAR the best looking running back on the field for KC and looks like he will give the Chiefs a solid option at RB the rest of the season.

9. Jon Baldwin got on the field.
So he didn’t do anything amazing, but at least he has taken the first step to being a contributing member of the team. It took Cassel about a month to get on the same page with Breaston. If that same time table holds true for Baldwin, they should be clicking just in time for the Chiefs most difficult stretch of the schedule.

8. Carson Palmer got on the field and the Chiefs ate him alive.
I’m not saying that the Chiefs picking off Palmer three times is a sign that we have the best pass defense in the universe. Clearly Palmer was rusty. This is more about the national exposure that it gives the Chiefs. Everybody who covers the NFL will now be talking about Palmer getting into the game and throwing three interceptions. Flowers’ pick six will play on highlight and talk shows continuously for the next few days. For once this season it will be nice to see KC on the winning side on those replays.

Reasons 1-7 after the break.

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The Zombie Chiefs are coming for the San Diego Chargers.

Last year, the heavens opened and the boys from San Diego were treated to some Monday Night Magic. They lost the game but managed to escape with their lives.

This year, however, there will be no magic. This year, the San Diego Chargers are walking into a Monday Night Nightmare.

It began weeks ago with the emergence of Zombie Cassel. Cassel, the Chiefs QB though dead, returned from the grave not once, but twice in games against the Vikings and Colts to lead his team to crucial second half victories. I warned you that Zombie Cassel was unstoppable. I warned you that if Zombie Cassel was able to stick around that he might start biting some of his teammates in the locker room.

It appears as though it has happened. We are now watching the Zombie Chiefs.

Plenty of tales from the Black Hole, after the jump.

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A lot of people are landing on Arrowhead Addict because they are trying to figure out if Carson Palmer will start today vs. the Chiefs.

The answer, we think, is no.

But he still may play.

Jay Glazer was just speaking on Fox’s pregame show today and he had some interesting quotes from Oakland head coach Hue Jackson.

“Could I have started him this week? Yes, absolutely,” Jackson told Glazer. “Physically he can do it. But I need to protect him from himself, this is a long-term thing. I never once expected to start him right when we got him.” However, he added, “I am planning to dress him and I would like to get him in in certain situations if I’m able to.”

It sounds like the Raiders will start with Boller but they will look for opportunities to get Palmer on the field for some snaps. I would guess we’ll see Palmer if Boller starts playing very poorly or if the Raiders get a big lead. It makes sense. If Boller is losing the Raiders the game with interceptions and poor play, Jackson might bring Palmer in to try to save the day. If the Raiders get a big lead, he might bring in Palmer to get some reps since the game is already in the bag.

There is a chance we could see all three Oakland QB’s today.

The conversation surrounding today’s match up between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Oakland Raiders has centered around whether or not Carson Palmer or Kyle Boller would be taking the snaps at QB. Lost in the shuffle, however, has been former Ohio State QB Terrelle Pryor.

There is a chance that the Raiders could give Terrelle Pryor snaps vs. the Chiefs today.

Pryor was never really known for his passing at Ohio State but there can be no doubt that he is dangerous with the ball in his hands. He is deceptively fast, and if he is left alone in the pocket he can do some serious damage.

Pryor wasn’t even activated on the Oakland roster until this week but he could still could be a problem for the Chiefs D if the Raiders have a few plays designed specifically for him.

What do you think, Addicts? Will the Raiders put Pryor on the field today vs. the Chiefs?

Thankfully, I didn’t have to wear a helmet when I traveled over to Just Blog Baby, FanSided’s excellent Oakland Raiders site. The editor over there, Chris Shellcroft, is extremely entertaining and insightful. His only flaw, of course, is that he is a dirty Faiders fan.

Join me as we go Inside the Enemy Camp with Just Blog Baby.

The Raiders had to place DE Matt Shaughnessy on IR with a shoulder injury this week. I know that he hasn’t played since Week 3 and it didn’t appear as though the Raiders had any trouble generating pressure against the Browns without him. My question is, how are they doing it? Are the lineman just winning the battles up front or are the Raiders generating their pressure with creative blitz schemes?

One of the many Al Davis philosophies has been to generate pressure with your front four. Over the last few years the Raiders have gone about building an athletic and aggressive D-line. Usually the Raiders would blitz about as often as Rex Ryan keeps his mouth shut. However, this is a new era and Hue Jackson is already doing things his way while still leaning on the teachings of Davis. In recent weeks the Raiders have put a lot of that speed to use by mixing in blitz packages that otherwise would not normally be in the playbook. Losing Shaughnessy is a big blow as he was on his way to becoming one of the better pass rushers in the AFC West. Still, with Richard Seymour, Lamarr Houston, Trevor Scott, Kamerion Wimbley and Desmond Bryant the Raiders have versatile talent capable of lining up in different positions on every snap to keep the offense guessing.

The Raiders are 4-2 and have played a pretty balanced schedule. There are some easy wins against the likes of the Broncos but some more impressive wins against the Jets and Texans. The team’s losses came by a nose to the Bills and by a lot to the Patriots.

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It makes sense that things could have changed since earlier this week. The idea of Carson Palmer starting sure seemed like an upgrade over Kyle Boller but after seeing the likely rusty QB practice, the Raiders may have changed their mind.

Then again, I wouldn’t put it past the Raiders to be just messing with everyone so the Chiefs don’t know whom to prepare for. Still, if the Chiefs are smart, they’ve prepared for both QBs anyway. Chances are the game plans aren’t that different as the Chiefs are sure to be focused on stopping Darren McFadden, whoever is calling signals for the Raiders.

The good news is that if Boller is starting, the Raiders might be a little bit less dangerous when throwing the deep ball.

Still, as I said earlier this week, this game will probably be a challenge for the Chiefs no matter who is playing QB.

Let’s just hope they come to play.

From left to right: Double D, Paddy, Big Matt, Merlin, Victor Wishna, Crocker. Center: Scott Pioli

The Oakland Raiders made a very bold move in trading for Carson Palmer. Arrowhead Addict’s senior editor Patrick Allen and senior staff writer’s Double D and Big Matt discuss the move.

1. Paddy: Alright, so the Raiders kind of bet the farm on Carson Palmer. What do you think of the trade?

DD:

It was an stunningly idiotic trade considering that the Raiders may not get to pick in next year’s draft until the 5th round. At the same time, I also have to acknowledge that Palmer, even at 31, is a better QB than Campbell, which, considering that the Raiders offense has been playing pretty well of late, this might make them really scary. Fortunately, this week anyway, we’re catching them at the start of that whole transition, plus I imagine Palmer has quite a bit of rust to shake off. Still, even that may not matter all that much because the Raiders seem to be taking care of business just with their ground game. If the Raiders play well enough to make it to the postseason, then their talent is probably good enough to get them fairly deep into the playoffs and of course, they’ll look like geniuses for making the deal. What do you think about it?

Big Matt:

I know I’m not the first to make this joke, but it really seems like Al Davis left wacky trade instructions behind in his will.  Or does this tell us not everything crazy that happened in Oakland was Davis’s fault?   I mean, he’s gone, and there was still someone there willing to give up a first- and second-round pick when bidding against themselves.

If it ends up being two first-round picks, then presumably Palmer played really well.  Is a good quarterback on a good team worth two first-round picks?  Maybe, maybe not, but at least the waters get murkier at that point and you could make a case for the trade being a success.  If this Palmer ends up being the same guy who can throw 20 picks in a season though, the Raiders will have mortgaged a sizable chunk of their future for nothing, and I’ll have a good laugh.

Paddy:

I think the Raiders had the right idea by going after Palmer, but they gave up way too much. The Raiders are greatly improved and yes, but they are only 12-10 in their last 22 games. If Palmer plays well he could make up for a lot of those holes but will he be able to do it soon enough to lead the Raiders to a Super Bowl? Because that had better be the outcome when you put up potentially two first-round picks for a guy. I just don’t think the Raiders are one player away and I don’t think Palmer is good enough to make the difference. Plus, if he gets hurt or turns out to be totally washed up, the Raiders will be out of ammunition to re-load. Personally, I’d have tried to trade for Kyle Orton. Orton could play just as well as Campbell and maybe get the Raiders to the playoffs, where they will likely lose. Then, the team would have had some playoff experience and they would have also had a crucial first round pick to try to select a player with long-term upside. I think the trade comes back to bite them in the ass.

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The Kansas City Chiefs were already facing a tall task in trying to beat the 4-2 Oakland Raiders on the road Sunday. Now that the Raiders have added QB Carson Palmer and activated QB Terrell Pryor, the Chiefs’ lot just got tougher.

Sure, you could look at this weekend’s game from a lot of different ways. You could say that it is actually the Raiders who are at a disadvantage. After all, they’ve lost their starting QB and the acquisition of Palmer indicates that they have little to no faith in backup Kyle Boller. Pryor hadn’t even practiced with the team until this week so it is likely he could get out and start slinging the ball around. As for Palmer, he hasn’t played since last season. If he does start on Sunday, he is sure to be extremely rusty. No amount of practice drills can prepare a player for the speed of the NFL game, nor the pain of a real NFL hit. Palmer could make a boatload of mistakes and he could get rattled should the Chiefs get to him early.

Yes, you could say this is a trap game for the Raiders but while I’d prefer all I just wrote to be true, I think the Chiefs have a lot to worry about come this Sunday.

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Oakland Raiders offensive coordinator Al Saunders told Bob Fescoe of 610 Sports this morning that Carson Palmer would play this weekend against the Chiefs “if he’s breathing.”

Since my guess is that Palmer still plans on being alive this Sunday when the Chiefs come to Oakland, I’d wager there is a pretty good chance Palmer could play.

Look, this could all be a big smoke screen by the Raiders. Last night at his press conference, Raiders coach Hue Jackson would not indicate whether or not Palmer would start. Obviously the Silver and Black don’t want the Chiefs to have any kind of advantage.

We likely won’t know anything for certain until Sunday but the fact of the matter is that the Raiders gave up a whole hell of a lot to get Palmer, and they can’t afford to lose and fall further behind the Chargers. My guess is that the Raiders would be running a pretty basic passing game on Sunday whether they had Boller or Palmer playing, so why not go with Palmer?

Hue Jackson and Carson Palmer held a press conference for the media to talk about the Oakland/Cinci trade this evening.

Jackson was asked almost imediately if Palmer would start on Sunday. His response?

“You think I’m gonna tell you that? … We’ll see as we continue to move through the week.”

My take? He’s going to play. I have three reasons.

1. Palmer knows Hue Jackson’s offense from their days together at USC.

2. The Raiders have a strong running game they can lean on. Palmer won’t have to do much, and the Raiders can implement some basic routes and screens.

3. Kyle Boller is the alternative.

What do you think, Addicts? Will Palmer start or is Jackson just using Palmer as a smokescreen so Todd Haley and Romeo Crennel have to prepare for both Palmer and Boller?

It’s official. The Oakland Raiders have traded a 2012 first-round draft pick to the Cincinnati Bengals for QB Carson Palmer, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

It is expected that the trade will also include a 2013 first-rounder based on the conditions of Palmer’s play.

Yes, you read all that right. The Raiders have just given up a first-round draft pick, possibly two, for Carson Palmer.

UPDATE: Multiple sources are that the trade is for a 2012 first-round pick and a 2013 second-round pick that can become a first-round pick based on Palmer’s play.

I can’t stop smiling.

Jay Glazer of Fox Sports is reporting via Twitter that the Oakland Raiders are nearing a trade deal with the Cincinnati Bengals that would send QB Carson Palmer to Oakland for a 2012 first-round draft pick and a future conditional pick.

Glazer says the deal is expected to be completed by today’s NFL trade deadline.

Chris Mortenson of ESPN.com is reporting that the conditional pick could become a 2013 first-rounder.

The Raiders are already without their second, third and fourth-round draft picks in 2012. While they are expected to receive some compensatory picks for the loss of players like Nnamdi Asomugha and Zach Miller to free agency, it appears the Raiders are going to try to win and win now.

So when all is said and done, the Raiders could end up losing two first-round picks for Carson Palmer?

This is hilarious. Are we sure Al Davis is really dead?

Yahoo! Sports is reporting that the Oakland Raiders approached the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday night to inquire about trading for QB Carson Palmer.

The Raiders, who moved to 4-2 yesterday with a win over the Cleveland Browns, have reportedly lost starting QB Jason Campbell for the season with a broken collarbone.

Behind Campbell on the depth chart are Kyle Boller and former Ohio State QB Terrell Pryor. This is bad news for the Raiders because Boller just isn’t very good, and Pryor has yet to even practice after serving a five-game suspension.

The Raiders are contending this season and so going after Palmer is a very smart decision. However, Bengals owner Mike Brown has been steadfast that he will not trade Palmer, who had said that he would rather retire than play another season for Cincinnati.

More after the jump.
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Source: pyromaniac.com

ESPN.com is reporting that Bengals QB Carson Palmer plans to request to be traded by the Cincinnati Bengals and will threaten retirement if his demands are not met.

The Kansas City Chiefs appear to have found their man in QB Matt Cassel, at least for 2011, however there are other teams in the division that are unsettled at QB that could be interested in Palmer.

Raiders owner Al Davis appears to be in love with Jason Campbell but he is also known to be a crazy old codger with a weakness for over the hill big name stars and fast receivers who can’t catch. Davis may be saying publicly that he is behind Campbell but if he thinks Carson Palmer is a better QB i wouldn’t be surprised to see him flush Campbell down the toilet and trade away picks to the Bengals for Palmer.

Is it a long shot?

No. Not with Al Davis. As long as Al Davis is running the Raiders, Ronald McDonald playing QB for Oakland isn’t a long shot.

More after the jump.

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