NFL Nation reporters detail the biggest storylines -- and what they mean going forward -- for every team coming out of Week 13.AFC East | AFC North| AFC South | AFC West NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC WestAFC EASTBuffalo Bills (6-6)After the Raiders scored 29 unanswered points to drop the Bills to .500, there is little hope for Buffalo to snap its 16-year playoff drought this season. Rex Ryans message to his team after the loss was that they must win all four of their remaining games in order to have a shot. And hes right, but the Bills will need help at this point. -- Mike RodakWeek 14: vs. Pittsburgh, Sunday, 1 p.m. ETMiami Dolphins (7-5)The Dolphins were streaking in October and November, but their intro to December football on Sunday was an ugly, 32-point drubbing by the Ravens. Players believe the loss is a wakeup call that the Dolphins must up the intensity late in the year if they want to make a playoff push. -- James WalkerWeek 14: vs. Arizona, Sunday, 1 p.m. ETNew England Patriots (10-2)Tom Brady became the NFLs all-time leader for victories by a starting QB (201), passing Peyton Manning in Sundays 26-10 win over the Rams, but it wasnt long before he and his teammates were looking ahead to their next challenge: at home against the Ravens on Monday Night Football next week. Its the first time the teams will meet since the divisional round of the playoffs following the 2014 season. Football starts after Thanksgiving here, RB?LeGarrette Blount said. We have to kick it into gear and take the necessary steps to make sure that we continue to play good football. -- Mike ReissWeek 14: vs. Baltimore, Monday, 8:30 p.m. ETNew York Jets (3-8)The Jets, losers of three straight, will be mathematically eliminated if they lose Monday night to the Colts. If that happens, the pressure will intensify for coach Todd Bowles to play Bryce Petty at quarterback. Bowles has been steadfastly committed to Ryan Fitzpatrick, but his case for playing the veteran loses weight if theyre out of it. -- Rich CiminiWeek 14: at San Francisco, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ETAFC NORTHBaltimore Ravens (7-5)The Ravens are a dangerous team if Joe Flacco remains hot. He threw for 381 yards and four touchdowns in a rout of the Dolphins on Sunday, which is huge for a Baltimore team that is already strong on defense and special teams. Flaccos turnaround also comes at the right time. The Ravens play at New England on Monday night as they end the season with three of their last four games on the road. The Patriots have allowed only two quarterbacks to throw for more than 300 yards against them this season (only four teams have fewer). -- Jamison HensleyWeek 14: at New England, Monday, 8:30 p.m. ET?Cincinnati Bengals (4-7-1)The Bengals finally looked like the team that made the playoffs last season in a win over the Eagles, but theyll have to keep winning and get some help to make the postseason for the sixth straight year. They need the Ravens and the Steelers to drop three games each to end the season. Another win against the 0-12 Browns next week could keep the Bengals in the postseason hunt a little while longer. -- Katherine TerrellWeek 14: at Cleveland, Sunday, 1 p.m. ETCleveland Browns (0-12)The Browns will start taking a good look at Robert Griffin III in practice on Monday. Griffin hasnt played since the season opener, but if he shows hes healthy and capable in practice this week, he should get the start on Sunday against the Bengals as the Browns look for their first win of the season. -- Pat McManamonWeek 14:?vs. Cincinnati, Sunday, 1 p.m. ETPittsburgh Steelers (7-5)The Steelers will ride a three-game winning streak and their new game plan into Buffalo on Sunday: ball control and lots of LeVeon Bell. Everyone will be covered in ice packs after the Week 14 matchup in Ralph Wilson. Bell has 80 carries in his past three games, and Buffalo is second in rushing offense. The game will be won up front. And Ben Roethlisberger is OK with that. When the defense is taking away the big play, youve got to be able to quote-unquote dink and dunk, work it down the field, find the open guy, Roethlisberger said. -- Jeremy FowlerWeek 14: at Buffalo, Sunday, 1 p.m. ETAFC SOUTHHouston Texans (6-6)The Texans dropped their third straight game after their 6-3 start to start the season, and are now tied atop the AFC South with the Titans. Quarterback Brock Osweiler played better than he did in the Week 12 loss to the Chargers, but the Texans offense wasnt able to finish drives on Sunday against the Packers. Head coach Bill OBrien called Houstons remaining four games all playoff games, and that starts with next Sundays matchup against the 5-6 Colts. -- Sarah BarshopWeek 14: at Indianapolis, Sunday, 1 p.m. ETIndianapolis Colts (5-6)Win, and be in a three-way tie for first place in the AFC South. Lose, and the obstacles Indianapolis faces in winning the division become that much more challenging. Thats what is at stake for the Colts in their Monday night game at the New York Jets. The Colts will move into a tie in first place with Houston and Tennessee if they beat the Jets. Indianapolis is only 1-4 when it plays on Monday Night Football with quarterback Andrew Luck, who was cleared from the concussion protocol on Saturday. -- Mike WellsWeek 14: vs. Houston, Sunday, 1 p.m. ETJacksonville Jaguars (2-10)The Jaguars rushed for 154 yards, gave up just one sack, held Broncos QB Paxton Lynch to 104 yards passing -- and still lost because they committed three turnovers and two critical penalties that led to points. It was just a typical performance for the Jaguars, who have now lost 10 or more games for six consecutive seasons. There are changes coming, and the question now is whether its just coach Gus Bradley thats fired or if owner Shad Khan is going to make it a clean sweep and fire GM Dave Caldwell, too. -- Mike DiRoccoWeek 14: vs. Minnesota, Sunday, 1 p.m. ETTennessee Titans (6-6)As the Titans come off their bye and focus on the Broncos, they officially hold a share of first place in the AFC South with the same record as Houston after the Texans loss at Green Bay. The Texans won the first matchup and play at the Titans on New Years Day. But Tennessee needs a better record than Houston to win the division. The Texans are in position to have divisional record and common opponent tie-breakers. Still lurking: the 5-6 Colts, who play at the Jets on Monday night. -- Paul KuharskyWeek 14: vs. Denver, Sunday, 1 p.m. ETAFC WESTDenver Broncos (8-4)With a rookie quarterback in Paxton Lynch filling in for the injured Trevor Siemian (foot) on a day when Denvers offense gained just 206 yards and was 1-of-13 on third downs, the Broncos defense came up with a well-timed big day as the group forced three turnovers, including Bradley Robys 51-yard interception return for a touchdown, in a 20-10 victory over the Jaguars. The win keeps the Broncos in a tight AFC playoff race. -- Jeff LegwoldWeek 14: at Tennessee, Sunday, 1 p.m. ETKansas City Chiefs (9-3)The Chiefs unveiled a big-play offense with a season-high seven plays of more than 20 yards. In doing so, they took advantage of what they believed were favorable matchups against the Falcons, but they could be comfortable taking the aggressive approach Thursday night against the Raiders and beyond. Certainly it will be interesting to see how the Chiefs handle things, because quarterback Alex Smith responded with perhaps his best game of the season. -- Adam TeicherWeek 14: vs. Oakland, Thursday, 8:25 p.m. ETOakland Raiders (10-2)The Raiders cleared their latest hurdle with their sixth comeback in the fourth-quarter or overtime this season, courtesy of Sundays 38-24 defeat of the Bills, but an even bigger challenge awaits: in Kansas City, on a short week, against a team that already handled them this season. Thursdays meeting at Arrowhead Stadium will be more than an AFC West showdown between the first-place Raiders and second-place Chiefs; it will be another opportunity for quarterback Derek Carr, who played exclusively out of the shotgun to protect his still-healing right pinkie finger after it was dislocated last week, to burnish his candidacy for MVP consideration, as well as Khalil Mack, who had another strip-sack and fumble recovery, to solidify his standing as a defensive player of the year candidate.? -- Paul GutierrezWeek 14: at Kansas City, Thursday, 8:25 p.m. ETSan Diego Chargers (5-7)San Diegos postseason aspirations are on life support after another disheartening loss, this one a 28-21 setback at the hands of the Buccaneers. The Chargers are now 6-17 in games decided by eight points or less under head coach Mike McCoy. And at 5-7 on the year, the Chargers are now in evaluation mode, including whether the franchise will retain the services of McCoy in 2017. In this business, youve got to make the most of every opportunity you get week in and week out, McCoy said. This is the National Football League. -- Eric D. WilliamsWeek 14: at Carolina, Sunday, 1 p.m. ETNFC EASTDallas Cowboys (11-1)Sunday was a great day for the Cowboys, and they spent it on the couch. With the Redskins loss to the Cardinals, the Cowboys clinched a playoff spot for the second time in three years. With a win against the Giants next week, the Cowboys could clinch the NFC East and inch closer to possibly gaining home-field advantage. Yet perhaps more important than earning the playoff spot, the Cowboys were able to get some rest over the weekend. While Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott dont believe in a rookie wall, getting a few days off can only help. With veterans like Jason Witten, Orlando Scandrick, Doug Free and Sean Lee, the rest will help, as it will with younger veterans battling through injuries, such as Tyron Smith. -- Todd ArcherWeek 14: at New York Giants, Sunday, 8:30 p.m. ETNew York Giants (8-4)The Giants six-game winning streak came to a crashing halt in Pittsburgh. The step up in competition proved too much against the Steelers. They were shut out in the first half and left with Odell Beckham Jr. unhappy with the officiating and Victor Cruz unhappy with his role in the offense after failing to be targeted. Now the Giants have another tough matchup with the Cowboys on the horizon, and a wild-card spot is looking more difficult to attain. -- Jordan RaananWeek 14: vs. Dallas, Sunday, 8:30 p.m. ETPhiladelphia Eagles (5-7)The scrutiny of head coach Doug Pederson figures to intensify over the final four weeks of the season. His team has dropped seven of nine now, and gave its most uninspired performance of the season in a 32-14 loss to the Bengals on Sunday. First year or not, he needs to show that he has command of this team and prevent an all-out free fall. -- Tim McManusWeek 14: vs. Washington, Sunday, 1 p.m. ETWashington Redskins (6-5-1)The Redskins lost their ability to control their playoff fate and now trail Tampa Bay by half a game with four remaining. They do get left tackle Trent Williams back, which is good considering his replacement, Ty Nsekhe, is banged up and left Arizona with a walking boot on his left foot. But the Redskins did not play like a playoff team Sunday against the Cardinals, allowing 10 of 16 third-down conversions. The inability to make key stops is a big reason why Tampa Bay has surpassed them. Theres a reason coach Jay Gruden was so upset with his players after the game. -- John KeimWeek 14: at Philadelphia, Sunday, 1 p.m. ETNFC NORTHChicago Bears (3-9)The Bears probably cost themselves a chance at one of the first two draft picks by defeating San Francisco on Sunday, but it was refreshing to watch the defense play a complete game. Niners quarterback Colin Kaepernick accomplished almost nothing against the Bears -- sacked five times and ultimately benched by head coach Chip Kelly. The Bears got terrific push from their front-seven, specifically Akiem Hicks and rookie Leonard Floyd, who finished the game with two sacks each. For Floyd, the performance had to have been gratifying, since only two weeks ago he left MetLife Stadium in an ambulance. -- Jeff DickersonWeek 14: at Detroit, Sunday, 1 p.m. ETDetroit Lions (8-4)The Lions are legitimate contenders in the NFC. They proved it after finally not having to come from behind in a 28-13 win over New Orleans -- a game in which they played their best combined offense and defense all season. Detroit held Drew Brees to 13 points and picked him off three times. While the Lions still have a tough schedule the rest of the way, including games at the Giants and Dallas, if they can string together wins like Sunday, they might be a real third contender for the NFC title. -- Michael RothsteinWeek 14: vs. Chicago, Sunday, 1 p.m. ETGreen Bay Packers (6-6)Next Sundays game against the Seahawks at Lambeau Field remained relevant because the Packers pulled themselves back to .500 with their 21-13 win over the Texans in the Green Bay snow. Although theyre still two games behind the Lions (8-4) in the NFC North, they at least have some momentum and some hope for the postseason as they enter the final month of the season. After the Seattle game, they close with three straight division games: at Chicago, home against the Vikings and at the Lions. ?-- Rob DemovskyWeek 14: vs. Seattle, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ETMinnesota Vikings (6-6)The Vikings went home last Thursday talking about how they can make the playoffs by winning out, and its looking increasingly like thats what it will take for them to secure a second straight postseason bid. Tampa Bays win on Sunday put another team ahead of the Vikings in the wild-card race, and Minnesota is now tied with Green Bay for second in the NFC North. The Lions win on Sunday means Detroit is two games ahead of the Vikings, and can eliminate the Vikings from NFC North contention with two more wins. -- Ben GoesslingWeek 14: at Jacksonville, Sunday, 1 p.m. ETNFC SOUTHCarolina Panthers (4-8)The big story wasnt so much that quarterback Cam Newton was benched for the opening series for violating a minor team rule. It was that the Panthers benched their last good chance to make a run at the playoffs with their second straight loss on a 10-day road trip in which the goal was to go 2-0. They missed an opportunity to pull within two games of Atlanta (7-5) and Tampa Bay (7-5), assuring the franchises dubious distinction of never having consecutive winning seasons will stay intact. -- David NewtonWeek 14: vs. San Diego, Sunday, 1 p.m. ETAtlanta Falcons (7-5)The Falcons saw three key players hobbled by injuries on Sunday, with wide receiver Julio Jones suffering a lower-leg issue, wide receiver Mohamed Sanu hurting his groin and left tackle Jake Matthews tweaking his knee. Matthews might be the most serious of the three, as he was replaced by Tom Compton. If Matthews misses any amount of time, teams likely will be able to generate more pressure on quarterback Matt Ryan. Both Jones and Sanu said they are good to go, but their status will be worth monitoring this week in preparation for next Sundays game against the Rams. -- Vaughn McClureWeek 14: at Los Angeles, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ETNew Orleans Saints (5-7)The Saints took their inconsistency to a new level Sunday, following up their biggest win of the season (a 49-21 victory over the Rams in Week 12) with a 28-13 loss to the Lions on Sunday, their biggest of the season. This up-and-down nature has plagued the Saints for three years, and its why their playoff chances seem so dismal even though they still trail the Falcons by only two games in the NFC South. We dont like the up and down, Saints QB Drew Brees said. We dont like having that on our resume. Unfortunately, thats the way its been the past few years. ?-- Mike TriplettWeek 14: at Tampa Bay, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ETTampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5)The Bucs overcame a 14-7 deficit in the first half to defeat the Chargers 28-21, improve to 7-5 and move into a first-place tie with the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC South. They lost two receivers in the process in Cecil Shorts (knee) and Adam Humphries (concussion). Tampa Bays depth at the position could be an issue heading into the final stretch of the season. -- Jenna LaineWeek 14: vs. New Orleans, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ETNFC WESTArizona Cardinals (5-6-1)The most important byproduct of Sundays 31-23 win over Washington for the Cardinals was that theyre still in the playoff hunt with four games left. The second-most important byproduct was that they found their deep passing game with a 42-yard touchdown pass from QB Carson Palmer to WR J.J. Nelson. Arizona had been looking for its vertical game all season, and if its truly back, then their notion of winning out that was popular after last weeks loss to Atlanta may not seem like such a stretch. But Arizona is going cross-country to Miami next week, and anyone who knows anything about the Cardinals knows they havent fared well on the East Coast this season. -- Josh WeinfussWeek 14: at Miami, Sunday, 1 p.m. ETLos Angeles Rams (4-8)Sunday was an awkward day for the Rams. It began with news leaking about Jeff Fishers extension, then finished with his team getting thoroughly outplayed on the road against the Patriots. The Rams have lost seven of their past eight games, and the organization clearly wanted to wait until the end of the season to announce Fishers extension. The deal was in place before even the first preseason game, Fisher confirmed in the postgame media conference. But his team is now 4-8, despite winning three of its first four games. If it doesnt turn it around in the last quarter of the season, a change at head coach can still be made. -- Alden GonzalezWeek 14: vs. Atlanta, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ETSan Francisco 49ers (1-11)San Francisco got a familiar result with its 11th straight loss on Sunday, this time to the Bears. The loss also raised a familiar question: Who will play quarterback moving forward? Colin Kaepernick said he was surprised to be pulled in favor of Blaine Gabbert in the fourth quarter, but he also acknowledged he has no say in who starts next week. Head coach Chip Kelly said the move to Gabbert was intended to spark the offense, but didnt offer much of a response when asked whether Kaepernick will start next week against the Jets. -- Nick WagonerWeek 14: vs. New York Jets, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ETSeattle Seahawks (8-3-1)The Seahawks go into their final four games knowing that if theyre going to make a Super Bowl run, theyll have to do so without one of their most important defensive players: safety Earl Thomas. Thomas suffered a lower leg fracture in the second quarter against the Panthers and was carted off the field. Prior to last week when he was sidelined with a hamstring injury, Thomas had never missed a game in his 118-game (regular season and playoffs) NFL career. His range has allowed coach Pete Carroll to consistently play with one deep safety. The Seahawks will now lean on Thomas backup, Steven Terrell, who has started one game in his career. That could mean tweaks to the scheme and a need for the offense to stay hot if the Seahawks want to get back to the Super Bowl for the third time in four years. -- Sheil KapadiaWeek 14: at Green Bay, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET Super Bowl Jerseys 2018 China . After slipping from the summit during the week, the Gunners overcame struggling Crystal Palace 2-0 on Sunday thanks to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlains second-half brace. Wholesale Super Bowl LII Jerseys . Los Angeles star goalie survived those perilous gymnastics with no problem, and he eventually backstopped the Kings to a skid-snapping win. Quick stopped 27 shots in his return from a 24-game injury absence, Jeff Carter scored the tiebreaking goal with 7:55 to play, and the Kings snapped their five-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night. http://www.cheapsuperbowljerseysauthentic.com/ . LOUIS -- Valtteri Filppula assisted on three of Tampa Bays four goals, and the Lightning beat the St. Cheap Super Bowl Jerseys 2018 . NBA officials ruled the court unplayable in the Bucks final exhibition game on Oct. 25 because players were slipping, and the game was cancelled midway through the first period. Cheap Super Bowl 52 Jerseys . "It was nerve-wracking, but we pulled through," said Collaros, who threw four touchdown passes to lead the Toronto Argonauts (8-4) to a 33-27 win over the Calgary Stampeders (9-3) in front of 28,781 fans at McMahon Stadium. This excerpt from?You Negotiate Like A Girl: Reflections on a Career in the National Football League,?by former Raiders CEO Amy Trask with Mike Freeman is printed with the permission of Triumph Books. For more information and to order a copy, please visit www.triumphbooks.com/AmyTrask. It will be available in hardcover on September 15.***IT DIDNT OCCUR TO ME THAT ANYONE OUTSIDE OF THE RAIDERS, the league office, or other clubs knew of my role with the organization.Early in my career, when we were in Philadelphia to play the Eagles, I learned in a surprising and wonderful way that some others did.As I sat with other Raiders staff in the visiting-team section of the press box just before kickoff, I felt a brush against my ear and I heard a voice whisper: Im so excited that youre doing what youre doing, that youre in the league. Its perfect that you are with the Raiders. If I can ever help you, let me know. The person who whispered that then immediately began walking away. As she did, I turned my head and saw that it was Lesley Visser. All I could think was: Holy crap, how in the hell does Lesley Visser know who I am?I remember her words all these years later and I can hear her voice as I write this.Lesley is the woman who first did so many of the things that women in sports media now do. There have been few in sports journalism -- male or female -- who have accomplished or achieved what she has. Lesley is the first woman in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and she is the only woman who has presented the Lombardi Trophy to the Super Bowl winner.When Lesley shared those sensational words with me, I was stunned and overwhelmed.Lesley was tremendous to me throughout my career; she supported me and encouraged me in every conceivable manner. She does that to this day. No matter how many times I have tried to do so, I dont believe that I have adequately conveyed to Lesley the impact on me of her words and her support and encouragement.Many years after I met Lesley, she shared with me that the first time she was credentialed to enter an NFL locker room, her credential included the standard disclosure that women were not allowed in the locker room. That prohibition on her credential was inconsequential to Lesley; she wasted no time considering it; she was not deterred; she was undaunted. Lesley had been given an assignment and she did it magnificently, as she always does.Al had tremendous admiration for Lesley and he spoke to me often about her throughout my career. Not many people impressed Al; Lesley did.Another woman I met early in my career is Andrea Kremer. I met Andrea at one of the first league meetings I attended. It may have been the very first. There was always a rush for the bathroom at breaks in the meeting; everyone made an immediate beeline for them. When I walked into the womens room, there was one other person there. It was Andrea -- an outstanding, accomplished, award-winning, formidable journalist. Andrea was an intimidating presence (she scared the crap out of me, thats for sure) and there she was in the womens room. The restroom was quiet -- it was just the two of us. In an effort to break what I believed to be an awkward silence (it was awkward for me, thats for sure), I said the only thing that came to mind: Well, theres no line in the womens room at these meetings, thats a nice thing. We both laughed at how, for once, the womens restroom was practically empty while there was a long line for the mens room. Even when I resigned, decades later, when there were other women in the league, there still werent enough to cause a line. As for my restroom meeting with Andrea, it was my great fortune. Andrea offered me support and encouragement throughout my career as she does to this day. Andrea sets a tremendous example and is a fierce advocate for women in media, sports, and otherwise.Also early in my career, Georgia Frontiere, Carroll Rosenblooms widow and the owner of the Rams, approached me at a league social function. When she located me, Georgia explained that she had made a point of finding me so that she could tell me that she was excited to see a woman who was not related to ownership with a team and to offer her support. I was stunned that Georgia knew who I was and that she went to such an effort to locate me and to offer her encouragement. I was impressed by her graciousness and generosity.When I reflect upon Georgias graciousness and when I consider the support and encouragement Lesley and Andrea provided me over the course of my career (and that they still provide), I think about the maxim that women have a responsibility to support other women.The fact that these women supported and encouraged me is not lost on me when I share my view that I dont believe that women should support and encourage other women simply because they are women. To do so is not consistent with a gender-blind approach.Over the course of my career, I received support and encouragement from both women and men and I have offered my support and encouragement to both women and men.I support and encourage women when support and encouragement are warranted. I support and encourage men when support and encouragement are warranted. I dont think its fair for me to consider gender when interacting with others if I want others to interact with me without regard to mine.If we want men to treat us without regard to gender, then it strikes me as logical and right that we treat men without regard to gender. After all,gender blind is gender blind.IM NOT SUGGESTING THAT I didnt meet with any resistance during my career. Some of that resistance came from within the organization and some from outside of it.Some very prominent men -- some of whom are in the Hall of Fame, some of whom were or still are associated with the Raiders, and some of whom never were -- attempted for years to get Al to fire me. I know this because Al told me. He would giggle as he told me of the former coach, the former personnel executive, and a number of others who periodically urged him to get rid of me. Yes, Al giggled.Was some of that resistance gender based? I dont know. I never spent any time considering whether or not it was. Over the years, a number of men and women I respect have shared with me that they did and they do believe that such resistance was gender based. Somewhat recently, a few tremendously accomplished, successful women shared with me experiences they had with one of these men in particular, experiences which astonished me and which most certainly suggest gender bias. If this man communicated to these women that they werent welcome in meetings in which their male counterparts were welcome and that they were not qualified to do their jobs because of their gender, then its certainly plausible to think that he may have held the same views about me. So some of this resistance may have been gender-based. But if gender was the cause of such resistance, would I have changed my approach or conducted myself any differently? I am certain that the answer to that question is no.I have been told that I should have expressed an objection or protested any time I perceived a gender-based slight. The best protest is to succeed. My time and energy was best spent focusing on doing my job as best I could.Many people are surprised when I tell them that I never experienced what I believed to be any gender-based resistance from players, whether Raiders or those on other teams. Although others find this surprising, I do not. Players evaluate their teammates and others on performance. Are you blocking your man? Are you covering your receiver? Are you doing your job? Of course I recognize that Raiders players were aware of my working relationship with Al and the confidence he had in me, but that was not the case with all players throughout the league and yet they too accepted me without regard to gender. When I left, I was touched by how many former and current players contacted me -- far more than I would ever have imagined.One incident in which my gender was alluded to stands out, perhaps because I was surprised by the hypocrisy of it. Sometime not too long after DeMaurice Smith was first elected head of the players association, he and a group of union employees visited our facility to meet with our players. DeMaurice wished to speak with Al, but Al was unavailable and he asked me to greet DeMaurice in his stead.As I approached DeMaurice, one of the men in his group stepped between us, in what was an obvious effoort to block me from DeMaurice and to keep me from speaking to him.dddddddddddd. As he inserted himself between us, this union employee asked: Whose secretary are you? Now this was 2009 or 2010. But whether it was 2009 or 2010, it was not 1940 or 1950. Whose secretary are you? I just stared at him.As I stood there stunned, considering how to proceed, Nolan Harrison (also a union employee and a former Raider) spotted me from across the room where he was speaking with a player, rushed over, and wrapped me in a giant hug.I dont know whether Nolan had noticed the interaction just described or whether he rushed over simply because he saw me and wanted to say hello.Nolan introduced me to the group of union employees, including the man who blocked me from introducing myself to DeMaurice. That man stepped aside -- a smidge -- but he didnt say anything, not a word. So lets get this straight: the union -- the very organization that advocates that owners and management should treat its members respectfully and professionally (which they should) -- had on its staff at least one person who concluded that because I am a woman, I must have been someones secretary? What did that tell me about the union leadership at that time? It old me that while advocating for respect for some, they werent affording that to all.As a quick aside, my history with Nolan involved the police and a gun aimed at me. I know that Nolan will not object to me sharing this story, as the only law he may have broken was that he may have been driving a bit over the speed limit, but no speeding ticket was issued. It was September 1994. We had played our season opener on a Monday night, in San Francisco. During the game, one of our players, Napoleon McCallum, suffered a terrible injury. I was told at the time it was life-threatening. I remember Napoleon laying on the field and Ken Norton Jr., who had tackled Napoleon, lying absolutely still under him for what seemed to be an eternity. Our medical staff had advised Ken that it was imperative that he stay absolutely still while they worked to stabilize Napoleons leg so that he could be transported to the hospital. Ken did not move and he did his best to keep Napoleons leg from moving. Ive had a soft spot for Ken Norton Jr. since that day.We lost the game -- badly. Jerry Rice set all sorts of records. It was a long night. We arrived back at the Los Angeles International Airport in the early-morning hours on Tuesday and then went to our facility to get our cars. As I was driving home, I saw police lights in my rearview mirror and immediately experienced that stomach-in-your-mouth feeling that you get when you think you are getting a ticket. I noticed, though, that there was a car between mine and the police car and I quickly realized that it was one of our players. It was Nolan.I immediately pulled to the side of the road just in front of Nolan, jumped from my car, and started running towards the policeman as he was approaching Nolans car. The officer immediately drew his gun, pointed it directly at me, and commanded me to stop where I was and to display my hands, which I did. It certainly wasnt unreasonable for a policeman to be concerned that someone running towards him in that situation might be armed. Even a small woman can have a gun.I stopped dead in my tracks and I began speaking very quickly -- even more quickly than I normally speak. I was blabbering that we had just played -- and lost -- a very emotional football game, that one of our teammates suffered a gruesome injury and was hospitalized in San Francisco. I just kept talking and talking. At one point, I looked at Nolan through the windshield of his car and saw him laughing, but trying not to let me see that he was. The officer holstered his gun. I thought that was a good sign so I approached him -- more slowly this time -- and I talked some more. Nolan just watched and smiled. Nolan didnt get a ticket. I didnt get shot.So it was fitting that Nolan was present when the union representative was barring my path to DeMaurice. Ill note though, that Nolan did not have to face a gun, as I did when I assisted him.ONE SILLY INSTANCE IN WHICH my gender was an issue involved a game of indoor football. Not too long after we relocated to Oakland and moved into our new facility, a group of us were relaxing in the hallway. Someone had a Nerf football and we started tossing it around. We then decided to have an impromptu, indoor football game. I grabbed the ball and said to Jim Otto: Hey Jim, why dont you be the center?Im quite a scout. I chose the Hall of Fame center, whom the Sporting News named as one of the top 100 best players of all time, to be the center in our indoor Nerf football game. Jim centered the ball and as I walked up to take the snap from under center, he started screaming shotgun, shotgun, shotgun in a somewhat high-pitched, shrill tone. Well, that was funny because as those who follow the Raiders know, the Raiders eschewed the shotgun formation, preferring instead to have the quarterback up under center. So, when Jim shouted shotgun, we all knew why he did -- he didnt want me up under center. We all laughed and agreed that this most certainly must have been the first time in the hallowed halls of the Raiders -- literally, the halls -- that someone had called for a shotgun formation.Jim played his first season for the Raiders in 1960, the year before I was born. There were no women involved in football during those years. Over the course of his life and his career, times had changed. Like Willie Brown, Jim and many others were experiencing a paradigm shift. Yet never once during my career did Willie or Jim or other Hall of Fame Raiders from a different era --Ted Hendricks, Gene Upshaw, George Blanda, Art Shell, or Fred Biletnikoff -- seem bothered by my gender. We didnt always agree about business matters. We had different views on a number of issues. Yet these men conducted themselves as if my gender was irrelevant. Jim just didnt want me up under center. He wanted me in shotgun.Again, I recognize that these men, like current players, were aware of my working relationship with Al and the confidence he had in me, but these were older, Hall of Fame players who did not have to concern themselves with the bosss views.NOT EVERY REFERENCE TO MY gender was as inconsequential. I found it both surprising and interesting that when I joined the organization, the strongest resistance I encountered was from the media covering the Raiders at that time. I was also surprised by the intensity of that resistance.I was about 11 years old at the time of the Watergate break-in and I grew up with a tremendous respect for journalists and an appreciation for the importance of the fourth estate. I considered journalism a noble profession, and for a period of time considered becoming a journalist. I think that it is because I held journalists in such high regard that I was as surprised as I was by this resistance.Over the years, when I have shared with female journalists and women in the media that I was surprised by the level of resistance from their male counterparts, they have looked at me as if I were nuts, and they have laughed. These women experienced this resistance on a regular basis. It was their reality. For some women, this still is their reality. I have a better understanding of this now than I did during my years with the Raiders and certainly, a much better understanding than I did when I began my career.One day very early in my career, I walked outside to the practice field to share some news with Al. It was toward the end of practice and as I waited on the sideline for an opening to speak with him, I stood near Gene Upshaw, who was watching practice that day. Gene was one of the best offensive linemen in the history of football, a Hall of Fame player, and a Raider -- a true Raider. He passed away in 2008.A group of writers stood near us and one walked closer and asked Gene in a very loud voice, clearly intended to carry, Whats it like having a girl working for the team?Gene towered over most people at 6-5 and 255 pounds. Standing next to Gene was like standing next to a pillar of granite. He looked as if he were chiseled from stone. His glare could wither people.Gene looked down at this writer and in an even louder, booming voice said: Shes not a girl, shes a Raider. ' ' '