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	<channel>		<title>RUWT? News</title>
		<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com</link>
		<description>RUWT? News for Detroit Lions vs. Oakland Raiders 9/9/2007</description>
		<language>en-us</language>
		<copyright>Copyright 2006-2007 areyouwatchingthis.com</copyright>
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		<pubDate>Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:55:11 GMT</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[Kitna, Lions hold off Raiders' late charge]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By Neil Berman 
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) - In a season-opening battle
between the two worst teams in the NFL last season, Jon Kitna
hit Shaun McDonald with a 32-yard touchdown as the Detroit Lions
turned back a furious rally by the Oakland Raiders to post a
36-21 victory on Sunday.

Former Lion Josh McCown brought the Raiders back from a 17-0
deficit, guiding Oakland to three touchdowns to take a 21-20
edge with 7:49 left on a 7-yard toss to Justin Griffith.

The Raiders (0-1) could not stop the Lions offense, however.

Kitna made a first great step in his promise of a 10-win season.
He went 27-of-36 for 289 yards with three scores and two
interceptions for Detroit (1-0).

While the Raiders' No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell remains
unsigned, second overall pick Calvin Johnson delivered on his
enormous promise in his NFL debut, catching four balls for 70
yards and a touchdowns in the third quarter to help the Lions
take a 17-0 advantage.

"It was everything I expected and more," Johnson said.  "It was
a lot of fun.  I caught the ball and there was a hole, and I
just dove into the end zone."

"He played the way we expected him to play as the No. 1 pick,"
Kitna said.  "He's been working his tail off in practice,
getting comfortable, and boy, he can cover some ground in a
hurry.  He is hard to tackle also."

Detroit's Roy Williams finished with four catches for 20 yards,
including a 13-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter.
McDonald had the biggest day, catching six passes for 90 yards,
including the go-head score late in the fourth quarter.

"They are going to be hard to deal with for teams," Kitna said
about his receivers.  "It is going to be important, as the
quarterback not to get greedy, because there are going to be
passes there and guys open.  It is all about playmakers making
plays."

"Last year we lost 10 games in the last two minutes, the key is
how we finish games," Lions coach Rod Marinelli said.  "I think
we are extremely well-conditioned, and we were really in shape.
I think this win solidifies the things we are trying to do."

Detroit's defense bothered McCown, who was traded along with
Mike Williams to Oakland in the offseason for a fourth-round
pick, holding the Raiders scoreless through the first two
quarters.

McCown completed 30-of-40 passes for 313 yards, and was booed
throughout much of the thir quarter as Raiders fans clamored for
offseason acquisition Daunte Culpepper to enter.

"They (the fans) pay money for their tickets, and they have a
right to do whatever they want to do," McCown said.  "I know I
am going to go out there, and give them everything I have.  I
don't leave anything on the field.  I don't really get to caught
up in it, because I am putting everything I have out there."

"Even though the crowd wanted (Culpepper), Josh is our guy now,
and we were pleased with a number of things he did," Raiders
rookie coach Lane Kiffin said.  "We are going to stay with him
for now."

McCown turned those boos into cheers during a 10-minute stretch
between the third quarter and fourth quarters as the Raiders
took a 21-20 lead.

"We did some good things, we got the lead, but we have got to
finish," McCown said.  "There are some things to be proud about,
namely getting down 17-0 and getting back into the ballgame."

"Very happy with the way we battled back as a team," Kiffin
said.  "Obviously, we need to be more consistent, it was right
there.  We have to find a way to finish better than we did."

Ronald Curry was the biggest bright spot for the Raiders on
offense, hauling in 10 passes for 133 yards, including a 42-yard
reception in the third quarter to set up their first touchdown.
His 4-yard reception capped a six-play, 62-yard drive at the
3:53 mark.

LaMont Jordan had 70 yards on the ground and caught eight passes
for 77 and a score.  Jordan's touchdown run was set up by
Stanford Routt's interception.

Jason Hansen's second 46-yard field goal of the contest extended
the Lions' lead to 20-14.  Detroit's Dewayne White had the
biggest defensive play of the game, intercepting McCown late in
the final period to set up Hansen's 23-yard field goal for a
29-21 lead with 2:00 to play.

Raiders strong-legged kicker Sebastien Janikowski missed three
attempts - of 47, 50, and 57 yards.  His second kick was
partially blocked by Lions tackle Shaun Rogers.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[nfl]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nfl/news/35480-Kitna-Lions-hold-off-Raiders-late-charge</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nfl/news/35480-Kitna-Lions-hold-off-Raiders-late-charge</guid>
				<pubDate>Mon, 10 Sep 2007 02:10:54 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[Kiffin makes coaching debut for Raiders]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[Detroit (3-13) at Oakland (2-14)  Sunday 4:15 pm EDT

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- Lane Kiffin, the NFL's youngest
head coach at 32 years old, makes his debut when the Oakland
Raiders host the Detroit Lions in a battle of two of the
league's least successful teams.

An assistant at Southern California for the past six years and a
former quarterback at Fresno State, Kiffin signed a five-year
contract with the Raiders as Art Shell's successor.  He had been
USC's offensive coordinator for the past two seasons.

Kiffin will try to inject some youthful exuberance into a
once-proud franchise that has fallen on harm times in recent
years.

The Raiders posted a league-worst 2-14 record last season and
are just 15-49 since capturing their last division title in
2002.

Oakland was by far the worst offensive team in the NFL last
year, averaging only 10.5 points per game.  The Raiders scored
just 16 touchdowns - and four of those were by the defense.

With top draft pick JaMarcus Russell still holding out due to a
contract dispute, Daunte Culpepper or Josh McCown will open the
season as the Raiders' starting quarterback.  Kiffin has yet to
announce who will start against the Lions.

Detroit has had even less success than the Raiders, managing an
embarrassing 24-72 record since Matt Millen became the team's
president in 2001.

But despite a 3-13 mark, the Lions were competitive, losing
seven games by seven points or less, and they finally may have a
reason to be optimistic.  Detroit boasts a pair of talented
young receivers in Roy Williams and rookie Calvin Johnson, the
team's first-round draft pick out of Georgia Tech.

The Lions ranked second in passing last year as Jon Kitna
enjoyed a solid season, throwing for more than 4,200 yards.
Where Detroit need major improvement, however,is on the ground.
It was 30th in rushing in 2006, averaging a meager 66.2 yards
per game.

The Lions acquired running back Tatum Bell in a trade for Pro
Bowl cornerback Dre Bly as insurance for Kevin Jones, who is
expected to be sidelined for at least six weeks following foot
surgery.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[nfl]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nfl/news/34818-Kiffin-makes-coaching-debut-for-Raiders</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nfl/news/34818-Kiffin-makes-coaching-debut-for-Raiders</guid>
				<pubDate>Sun, 09 Sep 2007 10:26:07 GMT</pubDate>
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