GerardWarren Posts -- FanHouse

Are the Raiders Still in the AFC West Race?

It's amazing what a blowout win over your arch-rival can do for your morale and outlook on the season. On Sunday, the Raiders marched into Denver and absolutely crushed the division-leading Broncos, in what was perhaps their most complete game of the year. The win improved the Raiders to 3-8 on the season, three games behind Denver in the AFC West.

With five games remaining on the schedule, the Raiders are, technically, still mathematically alive, and that's leading to some surprising optimism around the club.

From David White of the San Francisco Chronicle:

"Things are wide open," Raiders nose tackle Gerard Warren said. "We're not looking ahead, but if we were able to run the table, we might be able to squeak into the playoffs." Don't laugh. Lots of things became fathomable when the Raiders straight-up thumped the Broncos 31-10 Sunday.

Hurray for optimism! Normally, a three game deficit with five games remaining would be almost insurmountable, but in the AFC West this season? Maybe not.

Browns Quietly Putting Together a Solid Offensive Line

For the longest time -- basically 1999 to 2003 -- the Cleveland Browns made some dreadful decisions with their first-round draft picks. Obviously, it all starts with Tim Couch (1999). And then there was Courtney Brown (2000), and Gerard Warren (2001). Who could forget William Green over Clinton Portis (2002), and Jeff Faine (2003).

But with the dark days of Chris Palmer and Butch Davis behind the franchise, things have picked up in recent years. Kellen Winslow, Braylon Edwards, Kamerion Wimbley, and now, Joe Thomas and Brady Quinn. While it's easy to point to Quinn as the team's most important pick -- possibly in this version of the Browns' short history -- it may be the other 2007 first-rounder that ends up having the better career.

Cleveland's offensive line is quietly having a solid season. The unit is on pace to give up 28 sacks, the fewest in 13 years. This group is excelling with a rookie left tackle, and missing two of its best players: tackle Ryan Tucker and center LeCharles Bentley. But that's changing: