"Teams learn to put losses quickly behind them, but thanks to the bye week, it's now been 10 days since the Raiders last played, since quarterbacks Kyle Boller and Carson Palmer threw six interceptions in a 28-0 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

While Boller the backup has been chained back to the bench, Palmer - who also threw three passes to the Chiefs - has new life.

He stayed behind during the bye week to work with receivers and learn more than the 15 plays he knew when he came off the bench last time out. Then, Palmer brought in an old friend to help out with his first start this Sunday as a Raider - Oakland signed T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Palmer's third-down go-to receiver in Cincinnati, on Tuesday.

While coach Hue Jackson said he didn't talk to Palmer about bringing in Houshmandzadeh, all that means is that Palmer can lip-synch and make hand signals with the best of them."