NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was a guest of the Raiders on Sunday.
And no, he wasn't there to save the franchise from owner Al Davis.
Goodell makes it a point to visit teams throughout the season and expressed optimism about the Raiders, who Sunday became the first team in league history with at least 11 losses in six consecutive seasons.
"This franchise has been competitive for decades,"
Goodell said. "I'm sure Mr. Davis and the Raiders are going to turn that around."
Goodell met with Davis to discuss a "variety"
of league issues and characterized the relationship between Davis and the league he's battled in court as "better."
"We're working together on issues,"
Goodell said. "We're trying to do things that will benefit the NFL and the Raiders together in the communities that we both represent."
Goodell said Davis remains a valuable voice in the league as it faces potential labor issues. The collective bargaining agreement expires at the end of the 2010 season.
"He has seen it from a variety of different perspectives, as a coach, as a commissioner, as an owner,"
Goodell said. "He has a very good sense of the game of football and what's necessary to make sure the game stays competitive."
Goodell said it's important to keep the Raiders in Oakland while acknowledging the team's need for a new stadium. The Oakland Coliseum opened in 1966.
"It's clear, and I think everyone accepts it, that something has to get done here with a new stadium at some point,"
Goodell said. "And I've had a chance to talk to some of the leadership here about how we can help in that process."
The declining economy and potential labor issues don't make funding a stadium easy. And there's always the question of whether the Raiders would return to Los Angeles.
Goodell, however, pointed out the Raiders aren't the only NFL team in California in need of upgraded facilities and that putting a team in Los Angeles would have to work for the city and the league.
"If you look at where our stadium situation is, San Diego is trying to address a stadium situation, San Francisco, the Oakland Raiders,"
Goodell said. "So collectively, we have to try to address these matters on a statewide level as well in our local communities."
Franchise milestone - For the second game in a row, Justin Miller returned a kickoff for a touchdown – a 91-yarder in the second quarter.
Miller became the first Raider to return two kickoffs for touchdowns in a season. Terry Kirby (2000 to 2002) is the only other Raider with two kickoff returns for touchdowns.
Another Miller mark – Zach Miller had five catches to give him 50 for the season. He's the first Raiders tight end with 50 catches since Ethan Horton led the Raiders with 53 in 1991.
Et cetera – The Raiders surrendered 49 points, their most allowed at home since they gave up 55 to San Diego on Nov. 22, 1981. It's also the most points the Raiders have allowed since losing 49-11 in Jacksonville on Dec. 23, 2007. The Raiders' 26 points were their most at home this season.
• Johnnie Lee Higgins' first-quarter touchdown catch was the second first-half score by the Raiders in 79 possessions.
• Wide receiver Ashley Lelie (calf) did not finish the game. Zach Miller left the game briefly because of a stinger.
