Raiders Are Finally Home, Face Seattle : Pro football: So far, team’s reconstruction appears to be less successful than Coliseum’s.

Shocking upset?

If the Seattle Seahawks were to beat the favored Raiders at the Coliseum this afternoon, that would be an upset. But the biggest upset of all is that the Seahawks and Raiders are at the Coliseum.

No one would have predicted that nearly eight months ago, when the Northridge earthquake left the 71-year-old L.A. Coliseum looking more like the 1,900-year-old Rome Colosseum.

But it’s amazing what a massive reconstruction project and $60 million can do. The Coliseum opened its gates on schedule last week for the USC home opener, the old, gray saucer looking sturdy and bright, the rubble cleared away and the cracks patched. Today, it’s the Raiders’ turn to return home.

They have taken a long and winding road to get back since their last Coliseum appearance, a 42-24 first-round playoff victory over the Denver Broncos early last January.

Since the Raiders were eliminated from the playoffs in subzero weather in Buffalo, they have spent a long off-season listening to rumors that they were headed everywhere from Florida to Maryland to Oakland, have gone to training camp in Oxnard, have played an exhibition game in Barcelona, followed by exhibitions in Dallas, Pittsburgh, Anaheim and Houston, and have gone to San Francisco, where they were humiliated in their season opener last Monday night by the 49ers, 44-14.

“This is the first time we’ve had some home cooking since January,” Coach Art Shell said. “It’s a chance not to have to get on an airplane and fly out of here.”

If only the Raiders looked as good as their refurbished home . . . They, too, underwent an off-season reconstruction project, spending $29 million to patch up the holes and cracks so evident in their lineup last season.

But the Raiders’ grand opening last week was nothing like that of the Coliseum’s. The team’s rebuilding project clearly failed its first inspection.

The running game, 26th in the 28-team NFL last season, didn’t even look that good Monday night. The Raiders had signed fullback Tom Rathman, running back Harvey Williams and guard Kevin Gogan to take some of the pressure off quarterback Jeff Hostetler and give the offense more options. But against San Francisco, the Raiders gained only 34 yards rushing.

Defensive linemen Scott Davis and Jerry Ball and defensive back Albert Lewis were supposed to shore up the defense. But the 44 points scored by the 49ers indicated that this defense still needs help.

If the past is any indicator, however, the Raiders should do better today. They have won their last four games at the Coliseum, playoffs included. They have won their last eight against Seattle, the last Seahawk victory having been in 1989.

And the Raider defensive line has been particularly devastating against Seattle. Before their last meeting, the Raiders had recorded 16 sacks in three previous games against the Seahawks. Nine of those 16 were credited to Anthony Smith, the defensive end who has been elevated to a starting role this season with the retirement of Howie Long and the release of Greg Townsend.

The Raiders got only two sacks against the 49ers Monday, Smith being blanked in that department.

“I’ll be fine this year,” he said. “I’ll be in double digits (in sacks). If you can’t sack the quarterback in this league, you won’t be playing for long.”

Sacks have never been a problem for Smith, who has 36 in the last three seasons, even though he was hampered for the second half of last season by a lingering finger injury.

Smith and his teammates, however, may find it tougher to rack up big numbers against Seattle this season. Once the league’s offensive laughingstock, the Seahawks have become respectable with the development of quarterback Rick Mirer to complement running back Chris Warren.

Two years ago, Seattle scored 140 points, an NFL record for futility in a 16-game season. But last season, with Mirer, the first-round draft choice from Notre Dame at the controls, the Seahawks doubled that total.

And last week, Seattle opened in impressive fashion against an admittedly weak Washington team, beating the Redskins, 28-7. Warren, a 1,000-yard rusher in each of the last two seasons, gained an even 100 yards and scored two touchdowns.

It was Seattle’s first opening-day victory since 1988.

Are the Seahawks ready to make their imprint in the AFC West?

“Ask me again in a few more games,” Coach Tom Flores said. “I think we’re better. How much better we’re going to be, that remains to be seen.”

The Raiders aren’t alone in making an emotional return to the Coliseum. On the other side of the ball, fullback Steve Smith, a Raider for seven years, will be coming back in a Seahawk uniform. The Raiders released him in the off-season because of salary-cap considerations.

“It’s a lot more relaxed atmosphere (in Seattle),” Smith said. “You don’t always feel like you’re in a pressure cooker.”

If the Raiders, considered Super Bowl contenders, don’t turn things around today, they might welcome their next chance to get out of town.

Raider Notes

Defensive lineman Willie Broughton remains sidelined because of an elbow injury, but defensive backs Derrick Hoskins and Lionel Washington are both listed as probable. . . . For the Seahawks, defensive tackle Sam Adams, the club’s top draft choice, is expected to delay his NFL debut for at least another week because of a knee injury. . . . The NFL Experience, the football theme park set up at the 1993 Super Bowl in Pasadena, will be open again this morning in Exposition Park, north of the Coliseum, from 9 to 11:30. Admission is by game ticket only.

RAIDERS

TODAY’S GAME

* Opponent: Seattle Seahawks.

* Site: Coliseum.

* Time: 1 p.m.

* Records: Raiders 0-1, Seahawks 1-0.

* TV: None.

* Radio: KFI (640), KWKW (1330), KMEN (1290).

* Rosters: C8.