You know you're getting old when you can remember the Oakland Raiders as one of pro football's great franchises.
It means you can also remember The Monkees, Nehru jackets and Ann Margaret in “Tommy.”
It doesn't mean you're proud of those things, just that you remember them.
Now the Raiders just fire coaches and lose games and fire some more coaches and lose some more games and every once in a while we get a glimpse of Al Davis looking down on everything like it's somebody else's fault.
Earlier this year, they fired coach Lane Kiffin, who had spent exactly one previous season in the NFL eight years ago. Shockingly, it didn't work out.
But then, nothing seems to work out for the Raiders anymore.
During a rambling, angry news conference this month, Davis proclaimed – again – that the Raiders will be winners again. “We'll be back,” said the man who has led the Raiders since 1960.
I'm not sure, but I think he was wearing a Nehru jacket.
As for Week 10:
CAROLINA at OAKLAND: Don't be the guys who lost to the Raiders. Panthers 29, Raiders 13.
NEW ORLEANS at ATLANTA: This is the first of three straight home games for the Falcons, who should take a moment every day to be grateful they decided to pick Matt Ryan in the draft. The NFC East gets all the love, but the NFC South is growing some teeth. Falcons 28, Saints 21.
BALTIMORE at HOUSTON: In case you've forgotten – or never knew it – Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, who is making a case for rookie of the year – quarterbacked Delaware last December against Appalachian State in the FCS national championship game. He was good, but he was no Armanti Edwards. Texans 26, Ravens 14.
SEATTLE at MINNESOTA: The who cares game of the week. Vikings 33, Seahawks 17.
TENNESSEE at CHICAGO: Despite the fact Rex Grossman will likely be the Bears quarterback, this is where the Titans' unbeaten season ends. They're very good – maybe 13 or 14 wins good – but everybody loses in the NFL. Some more than others.
Bears 24, Titans 17.
JACKSONVILLE at DETROIT: Let's see, if we add all the wins the Lions have this season with all the wins the Michigan Wolverines have this season, we get, hmmm, two. Dude … Jaguars 31, Lions 24.
GREEN BAY at MIAMI: I feel a Fish story coming.
Dolphins 28, Packers 18.
BUFFALO at NEW ENGLAND: How was it that Einstein, I mean Bill Belichick, wound up without a timeout near the end of the Colts game last Sunday? That's what other coaches do, not Coach Sweatshirt. It won't happen again.
Patriots 30, Bills 20.
ST. LOUIS at NEW YORK JETS: Brett Favre can do a lot of things (he can keep throwing picks that get returned for touchdowns), but he can't change the DNA of a franchise. They're still the Jets.
New York 32, Rams 16.
INDIANAPOLIS at PITTSBURGH: Byron Leftwich has returned? What's next, Duran Duran?
Colts 29, Steelers 20.
KANSAS CITY at SAN DIEGO: At least the Chiefs get a nice trip out of it. Chargers 44, Chiefs 21.
NEW YORK GIANTS at PHILADELPHIA: Maybe if the Eagles had Chase Utley and Cole Hamels.
Giants 24, Eagles 17.
SAN FRANCISCO at ARIZONA: Ladies and gentlemen, for your Monday evening entertainment, straight from the locker room where he dropped his pants two weeks ago, you've seen the video clips, you've heard the message (“We need winners!”), put your hands together and welcome, new Niners coach Mike Singletary.
Cardinals 41, 49ers 28.
Last week: 7-7
Season: 76-53
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