Blame It On The Rain

PROPS and DROPS from the Broncos bungling loss on MNF to the Raiders and the Buffs' OT loss to the Cal Bears:

DROPS: Donks are driving for the go-ahead score early in the 4th quarter when Kyle Orton fumbles/drops/slips the ball and Oakland recovers. The Raiders quickly score off the turnover and for all intents the game is over. On the bumble play, Orton had his TE wide open on the left side after a brillant play fake. If he doesn't score, it sets up the Donks in prime position deep in the red zone. Whoa, hold up, wait a minute!? Maybe Orton overthrows the TE, maybe the Raiders recover and quickly cover the play, maybe he drops it! How can you say that was the game!? And maybe the frisbee dog picks off the pass and runs it halfway down Federal Boulevard... Orton's gaffe was game end.

PROPS: Easiest thing to throw out about the Buffs is one Paul Richardson. Simply put, this guy is the most dynamic offensive player in the Black and Gold this side of 1994. Cal is loaded with team speed and Richardson had a step on them when he caught his two TD passes, but by the time he was at the five yard line he had five steps on them. Now that we (and the entire conference) know that this cat is the stud he is, the opposite receiver (hello Toney Clemons) has to be that much better.

DROPS: It amazes me that the Raiders can play the same tired "renegade" football that involves penalties and more penalties. This isn't 1975 anymore, refs key on that type of foul play. (Although if it was 1975 I'd want one of those Snoopy shaved ice machines that were so popular back then.) However, the personal foul penalty that the Raiders got the Kevin Vickerson to commit at the end of the half basically gave them three points.

DROPS: Sebastin Janikowski's historic kick gave the Raiders a huge shot of momentum heading into the locker room, how oftern can you say that about a kick? On the other hand, the Bronco kicking game was suspect. John Fox should've never had Matt Prater attempt his 56 yard FG in those conditions, which gave the Raiders a short field. And the blocked Bronco kick also tallied a score for the Raiders. All told, the bad kicks cost the Orange 10 points.

PROPS: Jason Campbell looks like he should be sporting a multi-colored knit sweater, posing in front of some smoke and bright neon purple lights and singing late-80's R & B hits.

DROPS: Both the Buff offense and defense get a fail for their act late in their respective series in OT. Offense: 1st and Goal from the four, yes Rodney got you there, but maybe he needs a break at that point and try something on the outside. If the 1st down fails, get Rodney on the perimeter rather than up the gut two calls in a row. 3rd down, Richardson is wide open and Tyler Hansen drastically underthrows him. On defense, you get Cal into a 1st and 30 proposition. At that point they are thinking a few yards to try a tying FG. Bring the house after the QB rather than letting the play and the shoddy tackling that has been in effect all game.

DROPS: If Darren McFadden played versus the Broncos in every game all year, he would break Emmitt Smith's career rushing record by Week 11. The Bronco run defense was dreadful, as the loss of Ty Warren is going to be tougher to overcome than the team has let on. When your hardest hitting and most consistent tacklers are Champ Bailey and Brian Dawkins, there's issues.
PROPS: After years of Buff kicking woes, frosh kicker Will Oliver appears to have his FGs in order. Besides a strange resemblance to former Illinois Guv Rod Blagojevich, the team appears shored up at the position.

DROPS: Hello, Sports Authority? It's the Bronco training staff. Do you have any longer cleats for us to use?

DROPS: There was way too much of chest pumping after the game from segments of the Buff masses. News flash: they lost the game. If Dan Hawkins had lost that game rather than Jon Embree, it would be indicative of what is wrong in Buff land. Twelve penalties, including many mental ones; missed tackles; missed assignments (Hello, Ray Polk); and a myriad of other questions. Yes, they showed tons of fire and heart. Yes, the coaching staff looking animated and pumped up the crowd. In the end, they still lost the game. The old adage about close in horse shoes and hand grenades comes into play (although a hand grenade that is close can be picked up and hurled back in the face of your attacker. Hah! Take that Mr Cliché!)

RELATED: LL Cool J - "How I'm Coming" - ("You can call me R&B homey which stands for rough brother")