10/19 — The weather is sunny and the temps are in the low 60s in the San Francisco Bay area, a delightful day for the Jets to frolic in Oakland for the first time since 2003.

And that game, a 27-24 overtime comeback, marked the end of a remarkable run of seven Jets games against the Raiders at the Coliseum in a five-season span. By the luck of the NFL scheduling draw, the Jets had five consecutive road games at Oakland from 1999-03, and on top of that came the playoff losses here in '01 and '02.

Absence, it's said, makes the heart grow fonder, so it was touching to be welcomed by Raider Nation as the last team buses made their way into the stadium. This slice of fandom was actually well-behaved, choosing to welcome the visitors from the east with shaking fists and thumbs-down gestures.

The stadium is no longer known as McAfee Coliseum or Network Associates Coliseum, even though the red McAfee logo still sits atop the scoreboard. It is known as it had been known for years, as Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, but it was and ever shall be called "the Black Hole."

But one reason the Jets never seemed to feel too intimidated by the stadium denizens is because of the color scheme — the seats for as long as I can remember have been painted an Oakland A's green, which also looks to be pretty much a Jets green. The "Hole" folk are gathered as usual along the front row of the north end zone stands to remind the Jets where they are, but again it seems to be a well-behaved crowd.

The Jets, after donning their Titans navy and gold uniforms for two home victories, are back to wearing their green and white unis. Or should I say white and green? They're in their white jerseys and green pants, a scheme in which they have compiled a 2-4 record during the Mangini regime, most recently in their Game 15 loss at Tennessee last year.

Guests at the game today include Ron Wolf, the longtime Green Bay GM who was spotted schmoozing with Brett Favre on the Jets sideline, and Bob Mischak, the former New York Titans guard from 1960-62 who lives out here in the Bay area. In addition, 100 Oakland greats are in the stadium today, led by the likes of George Blanda, Ken Stabler and Ted "Mad Stork" Hendricks, to honor the memory of Gene Upshaw, the former Raider and NFLPA leader who died recently.

The Jets inactives for today: K Mike Nugent, QB Erik Ainge, WR David Clowney, CB/KR Justin Miller, CB Drew Coleman, LB Marques Murrell and DL Kareem Brown. Brett Ratliff is the third quarterback.

Starting DE Derrick Burgess, who sat out last week's game, is inactive this week as well. The Raiders' other IAs: WR Todd Watkins, S Rashad Baker, T James Marten, C John Wade and TEs John Madsen and Ben Troupe. Marques Tuiasosopo, who you'll remember was with the Jets last season, is Oakland's third QB.

The Raiders announced that Kalimba Edwards will again start for Burgess, and also that Chaz Schilens will start at WR for Ronald Curry.

Jerome Boger is the referee. Boger stepped up to ref status in 2006 and is officiating his fourth Jets game. The Jets won the first game Boger officiated, at Buffalo in Game 3 of 2006, but lost two games last season, vs. Buffalo in Game 8 and in the New England slush in Game 14.