updated 3:03 p.m. ET Aug. 25, 2006

OAKLAND, Calif. - Kirk Morrison can already see a big difference this season on the Oakland Raiders based on how they’ve played in the preseason.

For some teams, the exhibition season may be more about teaching, evaluating new players and staying healthy. But after three straight losing seasons, winning games is more crucial than usual for the Raiders this season.

“Winning is definitely important because it helps with the attitude. Guys get that itch and always want to feel like winning,” said Morrison, Oakland’s starting middle linebacker. “We don’t want to feel losing. We did enough of that last year. It’s a lot different this year. Last year in the preseason we were 0-3 before winning our last game. That kind of set the tempo early for our season. This year we have the attitude that we want to win.”

The Raiders enter Friday night’s exhibition against the Detroit Lions having won their first three preseason games for the first time since coach Art Shell was a starting tackle on the 1976 team that ended up winning Oakland’s first Super Bowl.

The Raiders beat Philadelphia and Minnesota in the first two preseason games despite struggling offensively. With improved play from the offensive line and efficient passing from Aaron Brooks and Andrew Walter, the Raiders put together a more complete effort in a 23-7 victory over the San Francisco 49ers last Sunday and hope to build off that performance when they face the Lions.

The Raiders have won just 13 games the last three seasons, the worst stretch since Al Davis came aboard in 1963 to coach and eventually own the team.

“Winning is a part of what we do. It’s a part of what we need to do,” Shell said. “It creates good habits. Even though we won the three games, the players understand there’s a lot to be done. There are a lot of mistakes we have to take care of before the regular season.”

The Lions are also trying to create a new culture with a new coach. They beat Denver 20-13 in their first preseason game under Rod Marinelli before losing 20-16 last week to Cleveland.

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Quarterback Jon Kitna played the entire first half for Detroit against Cleveland, going 7-for-12 for 94 yards and one TD. Kitna’s passing was one of the few bright spots as the Lions first-team offense managed just 3 yards rushing on nine attempts against Cleveland’s defensive starters.

“It’s not a step backwards if you evaluate and move forward with it,” Marinelli said. “If we don’t go back and correct some of the mistakes that were made, then it is a step backwards. We hopefully identified some things, some of the fundamental work. We had a great week of fundamentals and hopefully those things are cleaned up and then you move on and put it to use this week.”

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This preseason games takes on added importance for fringe players on the borderline of making the squad. Teams have to cut their rosters to 75 players by Tuesday, meaning this will be the last chance for some players to state their case for sticking around.

John Madsen, an undrafted free agent out of Utah, has impressed the Raiders coaches in camp as he makes the transition from wide receiver to tight end. He has three catches for 58 yards, including two receptions last week.

But with his ability as a blocker still a work in progress, Madsen is hoping for another good

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“It creeps into my mind. It’s hard to get out,” Madsen said. “I just try to not think about the numbers and what they’re going to do and try to control what I can control.”

It’s also the last time many of the starters will get extensive playing time before the beginning of the season. Many teams choose to rest their key starters in the final exhibition game to avoid injuries.

“This game might be a little more important because the starters get more playing time,” Lions defensive end James Hall said. “But other than that, it doesn’t mean any more or any less than any other time we’re out on the field before the season starts for real.

“It’s just an exhibition game.”

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