One of the biggest sports media debates going on right now as we head into week 6 of the 2006/7 NFL schedule is, will the Oakland Raiders go the whole season without a win and finish 0/16 and will the Chicago Bears reverse that record and go undefeated? Both choices are a distinct possibility and luckily for the Raiders, they don’t play the Bears this year.

The Bears are off to a great start with the defence once more being a formidable force continuing the Monsters of the Midway theme. But what has proven to be one of the most surprising aspects to this NFC North team has been the ability of their offence to move the ball through the air. Last year the air route had not been very successful for them, but this season, Rex (for some reason, I want to call him The Wonder Dog) Grossman has his game together and shows more and more confidence with each start. Grossman who missed 27 games throughout 2004/05 with major leg injuries seems to have put the dismal past behind him as rolls along with the Bears 5 and 0 start. He has found a comfortable receiving link with Bernard Berrian who has been a deep threat for the Bears along with making the tough catches in heavy traffic and this has helped Grossman immensely.

The Raiders however, seem to be in total disarray as Art Shell has been having the season from hell so far. He has had to deal with the disgruntled Jerry Porter, the talented but disenchanted receiver who asked for a trade even before the season began. He has not played a down. Just today Art Shell suspended Porter for four games for conduct unbecoming of a Raider. The team has given Porter and his agent the OK to proceed with trying to find a trade. There is not much doubt that a happy Porter would have certainly made life a lot easier for Shell and the Raiders as their other top receiver Randy Moss, is also frustrated and has hinted recently that he might even be happy with a move also. Raider nation seems to be ready for complete revolt if this thing doesn’t get fixed soon.

The Bears seem to have a sweetheart of a schedule that should make the possibility of a sweep of their games a good one, but there is a stretch of three away games in November against the Giants, Jets and Pats that may prove to be their undoing. If they can stay reasonably injury free however, they may have a shot at Miami’s undefeated record.

Can the Raiders get a win somewhere along the line? There is a saying that even a blind bird can find a worm, so I guess anything is possible, but the way it’s looking right now, they may go into the record book as the NFL’s first team without a win in a season.

JOHN PAUL “SPORTY” SPN CORRESPONDENT

SPORTS PLAYER NETWORK (SPN)

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