Listen to this recipe for a series of bad seasons:

Constant changes in the coaching staff, high draft picks on offensive players that are college standouts but aren’t smart enough to play in the NFL, throw cash at skill position players that don’t fit your scheme, and NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, never stop believing that the same formula that won Superbowls in the 70’s & early 80’s will continue winning Superbowls 30 years later.

Al Davis is a cancer upon the Oakland organization. He passed his prime in 1983, and has gotten lucky to have a handful of decent squads since. But you just keep believing in Skeletor as the once and future savior of your favorite football team and let me know how it works out for ya.

The Broncos didn’t fade because they’re passive and confused. They faded because their offense became predictable under the weight of adjusting to a new system. No one is claiming the Broncos are Super Bowl favorites, we know they’re not perfect. But we also live in the present — and the present is that the Broncos are steadily making improvements while the Raiders flounder at the bottom of the tank. Again.

JL, it worked for the Patriots, and the Broncos have a lot of speedy young DB’s to complement their veterans. Watch as they dominate the AFC’s so-so offenses in 2010.

The Chargers will still pass for tons of TD’s but their run game has completely disappeared. They’re a one-dimensional offense and have done less than nothing to improve their rushing game.