Chargers, Raiders on MNF

The Chargers will opens its' 2006 NFL schedule on Monday Night in Oakland. It's kind of a curious choice for ESPN and the league. There are some interesting angles: It's a great rivalry. (At least it was before the Raiders turned into the modern day Saints.) It will be quarterback Phillip Rivers first NFL start. (It is kind of the league to not start his career off against a real NFL secondary.)

But why does the league want to start its season, one of its premier games, in front of a half-empty crowd in Oakland? Obviously the league is banking that the optimism for Aaron Brooks and Art Shell's coaching�along with the general Raiders myopia�will be at an all-time high.

In fact, there is even a chance that maybe the Raiders could reach three quarters capacity for this game.

Dare to dream. So maybe it is prudent for the league to play this game early in the season when the front-running Raiders fans have not bailed out on the season as of yet.

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