That Kiffin outlasted St. Louis' Scott Linehan by a day is a minor miracle. The offseason was rife with speculation that Kiffin wouldn't make it to training camp, much less the final day of September. And Davis reportedly almost made the move after the team's second-half collapse in Buffalo nine days earlier.

Offensive line coach Tom Cable, who joined the team last year, was named interim coach. At 43, Cable is 10 years Kiffin's senior -- and still one of the younger coaches in the league.

Cable inherits a 1-3 team that has been very competitive following its season-opening loss to Denver. The Raiders beat Kansas City the following week and held second-half leads against Buffalo and San Diego the past two weeks.

The team continued to play hard for Kiffin, despite what had been reduced to a soap opera that has been slowly unfolding since January. That's when Kiffin wanted to replace defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, which resulted in Davis asking for Kiffin's resignation. Kiffin declined, sparking a tumultuous offseason that continued into training camp and through September.

Davis pointed out other reasons for Kiffin being "released" of his duties, claiming Kiffin made poor coaching decisions and was against drafting quarterback JaMarcus Russell with the No. 1 overall pick in 2007.

Davis called Kiffin a "professional liar" during Tuesday's press conference that included a slideshow.

"It's the first time I let anyone go based on what I call a flat-out liar," David said.

While the saga between Davis and Kiffin will no doubt continue to play out, Cable takes over what appears to be an improving team. Not only have the Raiders been more competitive this year, but the past two losses have come without the services of running back Justin Fargas and with first-round pick Darren McFadden slowed by a turf toe injury.

Both are expected to be healthy following the bye week, and expect Cable to give his offensive line a chance to control games. The Raiders' average of 155.0 rushing yards per game ranks fifth in the league, and the idea entering the season was to work Fargas, McFadden and Michael Bush as much as possible to ease the burden on Russell in his first year as a starter.

While Oakland ranks a respectable 17th in total defense, allowing 326.0 yards per game, the Raiders have struggled to hold onto leads. The better the team runs the ball and controls the clock, the better rested the defense will become in the fourth quarter.

--Having lost two two-score leads in consecutive weeks, the Raiders get a chance to heal up before visiting the New Orleans Saints on Oct. 12.

A 28-18 loss to the San Diego Chargers at the Coliseum had had the similar feel of a 24-23 loss to the Bills in Buffalo the previous week, and in both games the Raiders were at less than 100 percent physically.

That should change by the time the Raiders go to New Orleans for the first time since 2000.

Expected to return for the Raiders are running back Justin Fargas, who missed the last two-and-a-half games with a groin injury, and starting right guard Cooper Carlisle, who missed the San Diego game with a severe ankle sprain.

Back to full strength, hopefully, will be running back Darren McFadden (turf toe) and cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha (fractured elbow).

McFadden gained 20 yards on seven carries against San Diego and hasn't been himself since sustaining a turf toe injury against Kansas City. In that game, McFadden had 164 yards on 21 carries. He has carried 21 times since the injury and gained 62 yards.

Asomugha played sparingly against the Chargers in some third down situations. Because of the injuries to Fargas and Stanford Routt, who also missed the San Diego game with an ankle injury, McFadden and Asomugha were forced into action when normally they wouldn't be.

Two other players who suited up and had good showings despite injury were defensive tackle Gerard Warren (torn pectoral muscle) and defensive end Derrick Burgess (torn triceps).

Warren played despite missing practice all week and being listed as doubtful.