Will Super Bowl experience matter on Sunday?

Mark Schlereth

Not at all It won't matter one bit. Everyone's experience is different. You can sit there and tell your teammates, "This is what we gotta do," etc ... But how one guy perceives the situation is different than the way others do. So the onus is on every guy's individual shoulders to carry the burden of playing in the Super Bowl. Some guys are going to respond tremendously. Others will have a difficult time. Some guys are going to find this to be the most intense, fast-paced game in history. Other guys are going to think it's another game. If you have been here before, it may help. But it won't have an effect on your team.

Mark Malone

It's invaluable It depends on which side of the fence you sit on. But ultimately, in a game of this magnitude, experience means more than in any other game. With only one week to prepare, there are so many distractions and so many people pulling at you. Then there's the physical and emotional nature of the game itself. Players need to get to their optimum level emotionally without becoming overly intense. For guys who've been around a while and never won a championship like a Warren Sapp, it can be overwhelming to think about the importance of this game and how you may never get this opportunity again. Experience, in terms of being here and how you approach the game -- both emotionally and physically -- is invaluable. This edge weighs heavily in the Raiders' favor.

Sean Salisbury

Occasionally For any other game I would say no, because once the ball is kicked off, players will play like any other game. But because it's the Super Bowl, experience comes into play. In big games, you can start to feel choked up. When that happens, players start to speed up instead of slow down, so experience would help them there. But these guys are professionals who've overcome pressure-packed playoff games to get here. Experience is a benefit, and it could affect a handful of plays, but it won't make the difference in the game.

Joe Theismann

It can make a difference Yes, experience will be a factor. The game is that big. When trying to prepare for something you've never been through, you have a different attitude than if you've never been there before. Any experience is an advantage -- in football and in life.

Merril Hoge

It can't hurt Knowing something and being through something, you are always better the second time around. So I would consider experience an advantage. But it's not a deciding factor. What makes this week so different is the media hype and extracurricular responsibilities. But once players are removed from the public, in their meeting rooms and on the field, they're the same. It's the same preparation. It's more about the ability to control your thoughts in the downtime -- to focus. A guy who's been here before may have an easier job of doing that than a first-timer.