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Kiffin makes coaching debut for Raiders

Sep 9, 2007 - 10:26 AM 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.