Projo Pats Blog

OAKLAND -- It's a depressingly grey day in the Bay Area, but here are some stats that will brighten the afternoon for Patriots fans.

While Wes Welker has 96 receptions for 1,002 yards and a touchdown, and Randy Moss has 61 catches for 841 yards and 8 TDs, the Raiders don't have a wideout who has a TOTAL of 200 yards receiving all SEASON.

In their glory days, the Raiders featured a "vertical" passing game, throwing the ball deep downfield often and effectively. Now, even though second-year QB JaMarcus Russell has a strong arm, Oakland has a "horizontal" passing attack.

Tight end Zach Miller is the Raiders' leading receiver, by far, with 45 catches for 614 yards and one TD. Their starting wideouts today, Ashley Lelie and Ronald Curry, have, respectively, just 11 receptions for 197 yards and 2 TDs, and only 17 for 162 and a TD.

So, how do you like the Pats' chances?

-- JIM DONALDSON

---