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		Raiders turn to Gradkowski By Greg Lee and Tony Renteria September 23, 2010

	Last week the Raiders won the battle of futility, beating the St. Louis Rams at home 16-14. The Raiders’ Head Coach Tom Cable was perhaps the games’ Most Valuable Asset, making the surprising call to pull starter Jason Campbell after a rough first half and turning to perennial back-up Bruce Gradkowski. Cable’s quick trigger finger may have as much to do with having watched Gradkowski mature over the past two years as much as it did Campbell’s struggles. Pulling the switch was without question a brave move for Cable, after the Raiders had traded to acquire Campbell in the off-season, despite already having Gradkowski on the roster. However, in a game and a quarter, Campbell failed to impress as the Raiders primary signal caller. Only managing three points in the first half against the woeful St.Louis defense no doubt had a lot to do with Cable’s decision. Gradkowski came in and led the Raiders to 13 points in the second half, in an offense that has been surprisingly buoyed by the emergence of RB Darren McFadden. The Raiders have the third ranked rushing game, early in the season, with McFadden carrying a big load (240 rushing yards on the season) and may be in for a bigger role as the Cardinals have had their share of troubles stopping the rush this season. The Cardinals, like the Raiders come into the game 1-1 and also cut ties with their own former #1 Draft Pick QB (Matt Leinert) this off-season. Perhaps more damaging to the Cardinals’ offense was the retirement of the venerable Kurt Warner and the departure of Anquan Boldin. Former Browns’ QB Derek Anderson has stepped into the QB role, but like the Raider’s Campbell hasn’t been a showstopper. Much to the dismay of Cardinals’ fans, if the QB can’t get the ball into the air, their best weapon, WR Larry Fitzgerald is silenced. In two games Fitzgerald only has 10 receptions for 126 yards and a TD. Meanwhile, last season the Cards made the most out of their RB tandem of Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower, but Wells has been sidelined with an injury. Hightower has carried the load with 169 yards and two TDs. Taking a trip through the NFC West may just be what the doctor ordered for the Silver and Black. Having already beaten up on the pitiful Rams, if the Raiders can put up a win on the road against the shakey Cardinals, they can notch their first back-to-back wins in almost two years.