Rams-Raiders: The Outcome For Both Teams Could Be Big...

Two teams with losing records face off today in the Edward Jones Dome. The Raiders have a single win this season, which came against a long held arch rival - Kansas City. The Rams - 49ers rivalry is huge, but so is the Raiders - Chiefs. It may explain why Oakland was able to rise above their season long mediocrity, but it also may have saved the jobs of the team's general manager and head coach. Let's face it: The Raiders off season veteran players spending spree hasn't really worked out well.

When you look at Oakland's running backs heading into this season, the depth chart is pretty impressive - on paper. Darren McFadden, Maurice Jones Drew and Marcel Reece is a nice line up, and you'd have thought this team would have "ground n' pounded" its way through their schedule? You'd be wrong if you did, because the Raiders rank dead last running the ball...

The team has some bright spots, but none of their off season free agent acquisition have really shined. Defensive end Justin Tuck's only real contribution this season came when he called a time out while Khalil Mack and Sio Moore danced twenty yards on the wrong side of the line of scrimmage...

Charles Woodson has been good, but not a difference maker. It's the rookies who are giving Raiders fans signs of hope, with Mack and first year quarterback Derek Carr as bright spots during their dismal season.

GM Reggie McKenzie, and lame duck head coach Tony Sprano, are more than likely headed for the unemployment lines if they can't string at least a few more wins together.

For St. Louis, Jeff Fisher has reached a point where his head coaching honeymoon is a distant memory. He and GM Les Snead have done well drafting players, but the hoped for end result - Winning Games - is still on some unseen horizon. I don't dispute that Fisher and Co. have done a good job building a talented roster. Further, I'm firmly in the Fisher camp, and believe he's still the guy to bring the Rams success. While I have some misgivings about a certain coordinator steering the team's offense, my firm belief that changing offensive philosophies carries with it learning curves which can negate the Rams slow - yet evident - forward momentum.

I think changes for Oakland are a given when this season ends. Team owner Mark Davis is a ridiculous creature, with no business being an NFL franchise owner. He's terrible, pure and simple; possessing none of his famous father's expertise and savvy. He'll fire McKenzie, and dust away Sprano to appease fans, and maybe he should. But it's who he'll get to replace them that will have Raiders fans wanting to jump off the Oakland bridge. It will be third tier flavors of the month other teams have passed on, guaranteed...

This game holds a key "wait n' watch" moment for St. Louis owner Stan Kroenke. If the Rams lose to a 1-10 team in the Edward Jones Dome, the possibility of Fisher being on the proverbial hot-seat will become very real. While Snead may be safe due to his rather stellar wheeling and dealing through three NFL years with the team, any high profile head coach moving in may very well want more control over players and GM decisions. NFL GM-s and head coaches are pretty much tied together. Plus, a loss to a woeful Raiders team in front of home field fans would put more pressure on that little situation concerning a possible move, that I really don't want to think about just now...

The bottom line: While players for both teams ramble up and down the field today, there's a huge possible back-story building for both the Rams and Raiders.