I'm thinking everybody's not quite as buzzed this morning as they were a week ago. And we probably contributed to some of it - or at least I did. Then again, count your blessings. You could be a Raiders fan this morning and have to read this, from the San Francisco Chronicle. Or the Oakland Tribune. Or the San Jose Mercury News. Or have to hear this from the network commentators, as reported in the Mercury News. See, you Ravens fans think you're persecuted and that the whole nation is against your team. First of all, you've never had a season like this; not even last season brought the sort of scorn from all over the country the way the Raiders' 0-2 start has gotten everyone's engines running. Second of all, you could take lessons from Raiders fans in paranoia and conspiracy theories. Nobody is as convinced that everybody is against them as Raiders fans are. Take my word for it, from being there. In fact, I fully expect Raiders fans to find this post and unload on me about it.

In other words, all things considered, things are looking pretty rosy around here.

Meanwhile ...

* You could also be a Redskins fan. High comedy on Comcast's postgame show last night, when all four studio hosts took turns piling on Mark Brunell. One took it to another level, asking Comcast's on-site reporter to tack one last question onto her interview with Clinton Portis: did he or any of his teammates think the Skins should change quarterbacks? Portis eluded that one like an onrushing linebacker.

* Brian Billick did set us all up yesterday for today's 3 p.m. press conference at the Castle. He deferred every question about the offense until today. It's showtime.

* Samari Rolle didn't seem the least bit concerned about his sprained right foot after the game; no hesitation in saying he should play this week in Cleveland.

* The three running backs aren't exactly pounding holes in opposing defense lines so far, but two encouraging aspects about them: 1) they aren't even hinting at any tension among them about who gets how many touches, and 2) for two straight games, they've produced a long, late-game run against a worn-down defense, Jamal Lewis last week and Mike Anderson yesterday. If that artificially inflates the final totals, it does so in a good way.

* "Separation Saturday'' actually lived up to its contrived-by-ESPN billing. The only outright dog game was USC-Nebraska. Worth noting: "The U'' is looking more like "the u'' these days ... The ACC suddenly seems wide open, which should slightly encourage the Terps, who are still sewing up the cleats marks Steve Slaton left on their jerseys Thursday ... Imagine what Clemson could be if it had a kicking game ... Louisville hasn't looked this good since Never-Nervous Pervis Ellison played there ... My Heisman ballot today would have Troy Smith and Slaton 1-2, but it's early ... Can't imagine Ty Willingham enjoyed the Michigan-Notre Dame final too much ... Does the replay official at the Oregon-Oklahoma game go on full scholarship now? ... Wait a minute, Slaton just scored again ... The SEC is so much better than every other conference in the country, it's not even funny ... I'd make a crack about how the Raiders or Redskins would do in the Big East, but the Big East looks good all of a sudden.