"Carson Palmer jokes that he was doing the old retired man's workout - Stairmaster, curls, bench press and then walk around the gym - this spring, but in actuality he was out on the field, throwing to receivers whenever he had a chance.

He was semi-retired, as he didn't want to return to the Bengals, and in October the desperate Raiders stepped up and gave up two high draft picks to get the 32-year-old quarterback.

And they did it for today.

They did it for today's season finale - if the 8-7 Raiders win and get some help they will make the playoffs for the first time since 2002."