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OAKLAND, CA - JANUARY 03: Nnamdi Asomugha #21 of the Oakland Raiders in action against the Baltimore Ravens during an NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on January 3, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
Oakland Raiders fans attending Sunday's 1 p.m. home opener against the St. Louis Rams are sure to get creative with the face paint, the gorilla and pirate outfits, and the demon skull paraphernalia.
Oakland Raiders fans not attending the game will have to get creative, too. Once again, the Raiders game is not sold out and will be blacked out on local television, the Oakland Tribune reports.
This will be the eighth consecutive home game blackout for the Oakland Raiders, dating back to early last season. It's the first Raiders home opener to be blacked out since back in 2004.
If you're superstitious, you'll be pleased to know the Raiders won that last blacked-out home opener in 2004, 13-10 over the Buffalo Bills.
And these are the Rams. The Rams who have won only twice on the road going back to 2008. The Rams who last week gave up nearly 300 yards passing to Derek freaking Anderson.
You're favored to win this game, Raiders. Believe it.
The Rams' main/only weapon is running back Stephen Jackson, who piled up over 1,400 yards last season.
Jackson recalls his last visit to the Black Hole. "Last time I played in Oak 2006," Jackson tweeted. "I scored a TD and a old lady (50yrs) throw her beer @ me. I hope she's there this wknd."
I hope she's there this weekend too, Steven Jackson! Trouble is, she won't have much company.
Joe Kukura is a freelance writer who will watch three times consecutively the full Raiders game replay that NFL.com will make available at 9 p.m. PDT Sunday night. Provided that the Raiders win.
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