Raiders face Cleveland in first road test; Glued to the Tube Games for Week 3

OAKLAND — The Raiders tour of the AFC North continues, this time on the road in Cleveland taking on taking on the Browns Sunday at FirstEnergy Stadium with a 10:00 a.m. PT kickoff. Oakland (1-1) is coming off a gritty, 37-33 victory over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2 at O.co Coliseum. Cleveland (1-1) defeated the visiting Tennessee Titans, 28-14 last week in the Browns’ home opener.

Second-year starting quarterback Derek Carr performed like a 10-year veteran against Baltimore, completing 30-of-46 passes for a career-high 351 and three touchdowns (one interception) to go along with a 100.9 passer rating for the game. With Oakland trailing by three with 2:10 remaining in the fourth quarter, Carr marched the Raiders 80 yards in 12 plays, culminating in a 12-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Seth Roberts with :26 seconds remaining.

Carr found 10 different receivers, but it was the work of the starting wide receiver duo of rookie Amari Cooper and veteran Michael Crabtree. Cooper and Crabtree combined for 16 catches for 220 yards and two touchdowns. Cooper scored on his first career touchdown, a 68-yard score in the first quarter on Oakland’s first drive of the game.

The Silver & Black rank 13th overall in total offense this season behind Carr’s four touchdowns, two interceptions, 64 percent completion percentage and 95 quarterback rating

Oakland’s 32nd ranked defense has given up 33 points in both games this season, and will need to bring the score down a bit if Oakland expects to win on the road for the first time since Nov. 17, 2013 against the Houston Texans in a 28-23 victory in Week 11.

Offensively for Cleveland, Josh McCown, not Johnny Manziel, will be under center for the Browns Sunday against the Raiders. McCown was cleared from the league’s concussion protocol after sustaining the injury against the Jets back in Cleveland’s Week 1 loss in New York.

Manziel had a game against Tennessee, completing 8-of-15 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns in only his third career start, leading the Browns to their first win of the season.

Browns’ wide receiver Travis Benjamin has been read-hot to start the season and appears to be the Browns’ deep threat. Benjamin just has six catches on the season, but three of them have gone for touchdowns (second behind New England tight end Rob Gronkowski’s four touchdowns), and is fourth in the NFL with 204 receiving yards.

Benjamin is also a dangerous return man on special teams, as evidence of 78-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter against Tennessee.

Cleveland’s defense is littered with talent, with linebackers Karlos Dansby and Paul Kruger, cornerback Joe Haden, and safety Donte Whitner.

Cleveland has won two of the last three meetings against Oakland, including last year’s 23-13 victory in Cleveland last season in Week 8.

Glued to the Tube: The Four Must See Games for Week 3 by #TheFootballJunkie

Atlanta at Dallas – 10:00 a.m. PT, FOX

Two undefeated teams, but no Romo, Bryant, makes this a tough game for Dallas (2-0), especially with Brandon Weeden starting. But Dallas has one of the top defensive units in the league so things could be tricky for Falcons’ (2-0) starting quarterback Matt Ryan and wide receiver Julio Jones.

If Dallas can contain Jones (tied for NFL-high 22 catches, and second in receiving yards with 276) and get adequate play from Weeden, Dallas has a shot to remain undefeated.

Atlanta 21 Dallas 24

San Francisco at Arizona – 1:05 p.m. PT, FOX

San Francisco (1-1) is coming off a thumping in Pittsburgh and catch a Cardinals team that is 14-3 at home with Carson Palmer under center. Arizona (2-0) has a bevy of wide receivers headlined by future Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald, and San Francisco was torched by Steelers’ wide receiver Antonio Bryant for nine catches for 195 yards and a touchdown.

If San Francisco is going to have a chance to go into first place in the NFC West with a victory over the Cardinals, it will hinge on better play from cornerbacks Tremaine Brock and Kenneth Acker, who gave up some deep passes against the Steelers.

It’ll be a close one between the two, but it’s hard not to pick the Cardinals, who still like to blitz the quarterback and 49ers starting quarterback Colin Kaepernick is just an average passer against the blitz, completing just 50 percent of his passes according to ESPN Stats.

San Francisco 24 Arizona 29

Chicago at Seattle – 1:25 p.m. PT, FOX

Two winless teams, but this is the week that Seattle (0-2) breaks through with a victory. With the return of strong safety Kam Chancellor to Seattle’s defense and this being Seattle’s first home game, the Seahawks are going to roll over a Bears (0-2) team that may be without starting quarterback Jay Cutler, who is dealing with a hamstring injury.

If Cutler doesn’t play, look for backup Jimmy Clausen to start in his place.

Chicago 12 Seattle 24

Buffalo at Miami – 1:25 p.m. PT, CBS

In a match up of two teams that are playing second fiddle to the New England Patriots (2-0) and the New York Jets (2-0) in the AFC East, Buffalo (1-1) and Miami (1-1) both know how important this game is to both teams early in the season.

Ryan Tannehill for Miami and Tyrod Taylor for Buffalo are two quarterbacks worth watching, but this game will be all about the defenses.

Buffalo 16 Miami 13

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