OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) – The Oakland Raiders are counting on their third-string quarterback to help them turn things around after their worst start in 39 years.

The New York Jets learned last Sunday they can’t count on their kicker to get them on track in the poorest start of coach Herman Edwards’ tenure.

How far these franchises have fallen since their last emotional encounter.

The Raiders and Jets are both 2-6 and in disarray, meeting Sunday in drastically different circumstances than their playoff showdown here just 10 months ago. Or from many of their recent matchups.

“Maybe it’s the Red Cross game this week,” Raiders left guard Frank Middleton said. “The Jets is what we need right now. We’ve won five of six (against them). Maybe we can get one more and get started.”

The Jets have traveled to Oakland six times in five years, including for the Raiders’ 30-10 playoff win that propelled Oakland into the AFC championship game last season. New York last beat the Raiders in 2001 to clinch a playoff berth in the season finale, and otherwise has had hard luck.

This time, it’s anybody’s game.

Rick Mirer, once a bust for the Jets, will start for the Raiders, whose top two QBs – 2002 MVP Rich Gannon and backup Marques Tuiasosopo – are sidelined with injuries. Tuiasosopo was placed on injured reserve Wednesday with a torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee. He was hurt while making his first NFL start last week at Detroit in place of Gannon, who has a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder and isn’t expected back for at least another week.

Oakland is off to its worst start since beginning the 1964 season 1-6-1.

“They’re a team in turmoil, just like us,” Jets center Kevin Mawae said.

For the Jets, kicker Doug Brien blew it in a 31-28 loss to the Giants last Sunday. He wasn’t ready for the snap and botched a 51-yard field goal in overtime. Four of New York’s six losses have been by less than a touchdown.

“Any time you’re 2-6, it’s strange,” Jets safety Sam Garnes said. “We both played in the playoffs against each other, now we’re both trying to get a win. That’s the No. 1 thing.”

New York got more bad news this week. Veteran receiver Wayne Chrebet sustained a concussion against the Giants and won’t play. He was hurt in the third quarter when Omar Stoutmire delivered a blow to the back of his head, causing Chrebet to briefly lose consciousness.

“We’re tired of losing, we’re sick of this,” Jets quarterback Chad Pennington said.

Pennington certainly is hoping for a better outing in Oakland. After playing nearly perfectly for more than a month last season, he had one of the worst games of his career in the playoff loss.

He lost a fumble in the first quarter, and fumbled again in the fourth. He was picked off in the third period and threw another early in the fourth. With two interceptions, he matched his total from his 10 previous games. Pennington also was sacked four times.

Now, he’s getting back in sync after breaking his wrist in the preseason. Pennington passed for 281 yards and four touchdowns in his first game back last week. Jets coach Herman Edwards believes that bad game against the Raiders made Pennington tougher.

“It’s an experience you never let go, because you try to use it as a tool for getting better,” Pennington said. “It’s an experience that’s bitter and you definitely don’t like to thrive on it, but at the same time you try to learn from the mistakes you made and move on from there.”

Middleton and New York defensive tackle Josh Evans have traded their share of barbs in this rivalry, and it could happen again Sunday. But Evans will be doing his hollering from the sidelines.

Evans was reinstated by the NFL after missing the first nine weeks while suspended for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. Edwards said he won’t play.

“It’s hot out there,” Middleton said. “I don’t think Josh wants to be any part of it. We’re desperate, and a lot of things can happen when you’re desperate.”

Perhaps the most important talking this week was between Raiders coach Bill Callahan and disgruntled four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Charles Woodson, who twice in five days criticized the second-year coach.

Woodson called Callahan stubborn and said he had lost control of his team and that the Raiders were falling apart. He last went off after Oakland’s 23-13 loss at Detroit on Sunday.

On Monday, Callahan called the comments “inappropriate and inaccurate” and said he would deal with the situation when he was ready. Callahan initiated the meeting.

That could help the Raiders, who seem divided in their loyalty to Callahan, promoted when Jon Gruden took off for Tampa Bay after the 2001 season.

“Losing brings out a lot of things nobody wants to hear and nobody wants to see,” said center Barret Robbins, who is appreciative of Callahan for giving him a second chance after he disappeared before the Super Bowl and dealt with a series of personal problems in the offseason.

“In spite of those comments, we’re a team. We’ve got to move on and get better.”

AP-ES-11-06-03 1507EST