PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : RAIDERS : Matchup Loses Some of Its Luster

The Raiders’ game against the New York Giants Sunday at the Coliseum matches teams with 0-4 and 1-2 records. Two seasons ago, it could have been the matchup in Super Bowl XXV.

The 1990 Raiders fell a game short of reaching the Super Bowl, which was won by the Giants.

“It doesn’t matter what you did before,” Raider Coach Art Shell said. “It’s what you can do now.”

But although the winless Raiders are searching for answers, New York is coming off a big victory over the Chicago Bears two weeks ago.

After losing their first two games, the Giants beat the Bears with the passing combination of Phil Simms and Stephen Baker.

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In his short career as starting quarterback, Todd Marinovich is without a victory in four starts.

Shell said that Marinovich was sporadic in the Raiders’ loss to Kansas City, but he did see some good things.

“Todd is very excitable out there and very competitive,” Shell said. “Sometimes, he wants to do everything himself and too quickly. But he’s a young guy who is learning.”

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The Raiders are coming off a short work week after their Monday night defeat at Kansas City, and New York is coming off a bye week.

“It always seems to happen like this with us,” Shell said. “They’ve had the opportunity to get healthy and have two weeks to get ready for us.”

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Fans can recycle their old phone books and receive a free Raider poster Sunday.