Category: NFL

Watson does in Raiders with late touchdown in 27-24 win

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By Jeremy Kahn

Deshaun Watson showed the Oakland Raiders why he is already one of the top quarterbacks in the National Football League.

Watson threw for 279 yards, including a nine-yard touchdown pass to Darren Fells late in the fourth quarter, helping the Houston Texans to a come-from-behind 27-24 victory over the Raiders at NRG Stadium.

That game-winning touchdown pass gave the Texans their only lead of the game, and sent the Raiders to their second straight loss.

After the Texans next drive stalled, former Raiders cornerback Gareon Conley, who was traded to the Texans earlier this week knocked down a key third down pass to Tyrell Williams.

It was a nice afternoon for Fells, who ended up with 58 yards receiving and two touchdowns, while DeAndre Hopkins caught 11 passes for 109 yards.

In the loss, Derek Carr threw for 285 yards and three touchdowns, as the Raiders could not secure what would have been a huge win on the road before returning to the friendly confines of the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum for the first time since a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on September 15.

Carr gave the Raiders a 21-13 lead in the third quarter, as he found Williams for a 46-yard touchdown pass.

Watson got the Texans within one at 21-20, when he found Fells for a four-yard touchdown pass on the final play of the third quarter.

Daniel Carlson kicked a 44-yard field goal to give the Raiders a 24-20 with a little under 11 minutes remaining in the game.

Unfortunately, the Raiders were unable to hold onto the lead, as Watson found Fells for the eventual game-winning touchdown.

Carr got the Raiders on the board in the first quarter, as he found Watsons former college teammate Hunter Renfrow for a 65-yard touchdown pass.

NOTES: Texans All-Pro defensive lineman J.J. Watt was lost for the season for the Texans, as he tore his pectoral muscle.

Josh Mauro was forced to leave the game in the first quarter with a groin injury and Rodney Hudson left the game in the first half with an ankle injury.

UP NEXT: Finally, the Raiders return to the Coliseum next Sunday when they host the Detroit Lions at 1:05 p.m.

Niners Dominate Panthers 51-13, Improve to 7-0

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photo from sfgate.com: Carolina Panthers quarterback Kyle Allen is sacked by San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019.

By: Joe Lami

SANTA CLARA — For the second time in franchise history, the San Francisco 49ers have started a season 7-0, thanks to a historic 51-13 beat down of the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. It’s the first time since 2003 the Niners put up 50 and just the 12th time in franchise history.

It’s hard to believe that when a team drops a 50-burger, the defense is the first thing that should be mentioned, but that’s the case. No one had a better day than Nick Bosa, who had three sacks and an interception. It marks the first-time in 49ers’ history that a player had accomplished it and the first time since 2017 anyone has done so.

Bosa continues to strengthen his case as a lock for the Defensive Rookie of the Year, but now should be in consideration of Defensive Player of the Year. His teammate, Richard Sherman, agrees, “he’s playing like he’s been in the league for ten years. With what he’s shown so far, he should be in line for the defensive MVP.”

“Since the first day he’s gotten here, he hasn’t changed. No matter how everyone looks at him or how he plays or if he’s hurt or not. He’s always very even-keeled. I think people like that are very impressive. He’s just very confident in himselff. The more he plays, the better he’ll get, as long as he can stay healthy. He’s a special player, definitely hasn’t arrived yet. He has a lot more to go, but he’s been playing extremely well,” added Shanahan.

He was the driving force behind the defense’s incredible performance that included seven combined sacks, nine tackles for loss, nine QB hits, three interceptions, and seven pass break-ups.

Tevin Coleman powered the offense with one receiving and three rushing touchdowns on 118 all-purpose yards. He became the first Niner to score four TDs in a game since Jerry Rice in 1993 and just the third to total four in a single-game.

The offense looked electric on the first drive of the game, where they marched down the field on an 11-play 75-yard drive and wouldn’t look back. Emmanuel Sanders capped off the opening drive with his first touchdown as a member of the 49ers. He finished with three receptions for 19 yards and the touchdown.

“I ran a five-yard out route. The ball was tipped, but it ended up falling right into my hands. It was probably one of the easiest touchdowns I’ve had. It was awesome to get on the opening drive to be a newcomer on this team and be able to open up like that is awesome,” added Sanders.

Sanders’ new addition to the room gives a different perspective of how special this run truly is. “The locker room is just amazing with a great group of players and great personalities. I showed up today, expecting the same results in personality. I’ll never forget going out into the tunnel with these guys. Everybody was laughing and smiling. This is football; this is fun. I’m blessed to be here”.

Deebo Samuel and Raheem Mostert added to the scoring, both with rushing touchdowns.

Jimmy Garoppolo was nearly perfect, throwing 18/22 for 175 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception to Luke Keuchly. He was also sacked three times, including a safety. Following the game, he blamed the pick on a mental error trying to hit George Kittle. Kittle was his primary target, per usual, catching six balls for 86 yards.

Garoppolo continues to spread the ball around incredibly within Shanahan’s offense, as he’s thrown nine touchdowns to nine different receivers on the year.

Christian McCaffrey had the lone touchdown for the Panthers and was one of their only bright spots. He rushed for 117 yards on 14 carries and the score.

Kyle Allen entered the contest undefeated on the season but was quickly outmatched. He was held to just 4.3 yards per attempt, going for 158 yards, completing 19 of 37.

The Niners have to quickly recover and get ready for Thursday, where they will face the 3-4 Cardinals at 5:20 p.m. It won’t be a cakewalk either for San Francisco, as they’ve struggled mightily against Arizona. The Cardinals have owned the series recently, winning the last eight contests and nine of the last ten.

San Francisco 49ers podcast with Joe Lami: Can Garoppolo throw for some scores against Carolina this Sunday?

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On the 49ers podcast with Joe:

#1 The 49ers are coming off another win from last week in Washington in a muddy, rainy game. The Niners got three field goals out of kicker Robbie Gould. Good enough for the 9-0 victory.

#2 In spite of the win, there were some things that quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo would have like to accomplish like throwing a couple touchdowns. Was it the rainy conditions that prevented that or were Washington’s pass rushers not giving him enough time?

#3 Talk about the acquisition of wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, who has 30 catches, 367 yards and two touchdowns. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said “Emmanuel is the man” at wide receiver.

#4 Sanders doesn’t come to Santa Clara without some nuances. While in Denver, he had a fight with a teammate Courtland Sutton in practice. Sanders said Denver was “like living in a world of suck” and finally, Denver general manager John Elway said of Sanders: “Emmanuel had issues and we had issues that’s why it was a good time for us to go in a different directions.”

#5 The 49ers host the Carolina Panthers this Sunday. Can Garoppolo have a better day throwing against the Panthers than he did against Washington in this one coming up?

Joe Lami does the 49ers podcasts each Friday on http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland Raiders podcast with Joe Hawkes Beamon: Conley to face old teammates this Sunday; Can Edebali get to the quarterbacks for Raiders?

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On the podcast with Joe Hawkes:

#1 Former Oakland Raider Gareon Conley will be facing his former team this Sunday as Gareon was dealt to the Houston Texans on Monday. What will it mean for Conley to face his old teammates this Sunday?

#2 Conley represents the third first round draft pick to be dealt by the Raiders in the last 14 months, which included former Raiders Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper. Will Conley be a void much like Mack and Cooper were?

#3 The Raiders filled Conley’s spot with defensive end Kasim Edebali. Edebali (30) has eight sacks and 54 tackles with the New Orleans Saints between 2014-2016. In 2017, he had played the season without a sack and has played for the Broncos, Lions, Rams, Saints and Bengals during that time. Can he keep a roster spot with the Raiders?

#4 Taking a look at last week’s loss to the Green Bay Packers, there was little doubt the Raiders defense were almost nonexistent against Packers quarterback Aaron Rogers who had plenty of time to throw the football last Sunday.

#5 The Raiders complete their long six weeks and five games away from Oakland this Sunday against the Texans in Houston. Taking a look at the trip, how did the Raiders fare considering the grueling trip, which included a stop in London?

Catch the Oakland Raiders podcast each Friday with Joe Hawkes at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Raiders set to finish extended road trip Sunday in Houston

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Photo credit: @Raiders

By Joe Hawkes
SRS Contributor

The Oakland Raiders have finally come to the finish line of their 49-day stretch away from the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum as they prepare for a trip to Houston to take on the 4-3 Texans. This will be the first meeting between the two clubs at NRG Stadium since the 2016 Wild Card game, which the Texans prevailed over the Raiders, 27-14.

The two teams met earlier that season, an international home game in Mexico City for Oakland, in which the Raiders defeated Houston, 27-20, that brought the all-time series to 6-4 in favor of Houston.

Originally slated for a 10:00 a.m. PT start time, the kickoff was flexed to 1:25 p.m. PT by CBS. The Raiders are looking to finish their five-game road trip at 3-2, and win their third-straight road game over the Texans.

Last week, the Raiders (3-3) were hammered by the Green Bay Packers, 42-24 at Lambeau Field in Week 8 following their Bye Week. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers lit up the Raiders defense, throwing for five touchdowns and rushing for another one en route to completing 25-of-31 passes for 429 yards as the Packers defeated the Raiders for the eighth-straight time dating back to 1990.

Green Bay (6-1) has scored 30-plus points in their last five meetings against the Raiders.

Raiders running back Josh Jacobs recorded his second-straight 100-yard rushing game, rushing for 124 yards on 21 carries with 5.9 yards per attempt. With 554 yards rushing through the first six games of his career, Jacobs surpassed Bo Jackson’s mark of 553 yards in 1987 for most in franchise history.

Quarterback Derek Carr completed 22-of-28 passes for 293 yards, two touchdowns, but had two costly turnovers in the red zone for Oakland.

With Oakland trailing 14-10 late in the first half, Carr had Oakland in position to retake the lead. After Carr found tight end Darren Waller on a 48-yard hookup down the middle of the field, the Raiders had first and goal at the Packers’ 3-yard line.

On second down, Carr rushed for the pylon, but Packers linebacker Blake Martinez forced a fumble and the ball went through the back of the end zone for a touchback.

Following Carr’s turnover, Rodgers would connect with wide receiver Jake Kumerow for a 37-yard touchdown that would give Green Bay a 21-10 lead heading into halftime.

With Oakland desperately trying to mount a comeback in the fourth quarter trailing 28-17 following a 7-yard touchdown from Carr to Waller, Packers cornerback Kevin King intercepted Carr with 8:09 left to play in the game that seemingly iced the game for Green Bay.

Following the turnover by Carr, Rodgers would throw register his sixth score of the day, a 74-yard pass to wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who finished with two catches for 133 yards.

Waller recorded his second 100-yard receiving game this season, hauling in seven catches for 126 yards and two touchdowns. Both scores were Waller’s first for the season.

Waller’s 44 catches are the most for a Raiders player through the first six games, breaking Hall of Famer Tim Brown’s 41. Waller also lead the team with 485 yards.

Defensively, rookie defensive end Maxx Crosby registered a sack for the second-straight week. Crosby recorded a sack against the Bears in Week 5 in London.

The Texans are coming off a 23-20 loss to their AFC South rival, the Indianapolis Colts, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Week 7.

Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson is one of the best passers in the league, throwing for 1,952 yards with 13 touchdowns and five interceptions with a 104.1 passer rating. Watson leads the NFL’s ninth-best scoring offense, averaging 26.4 points per game.

Houston wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins will have Oakland’s defense on high alert. Hopkins is currently third in the NFL in catches with 49 to go along with 508 receiving yards and three touchdowns (tied with fellow teammates Will Fuller and tight Darren Fells).

Fuller is second on the team in catches (34) and yards (450).

Defensively for Houston, linebackers Zach Cunningham (53 tackles) and Benardick McKinney (52 tackles) are always around the ball and barely misses tackles.

Fellow linebacker Whitney Mercilus leads the team with 5.5 sacks, while defensive end J.J. Watt is second with 4 sacks.

Following Sunday’s game, the Raiders will return home to begin a three-game stretch where they will face the Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Chargers and Cincinnati Bengals, respectively.

Houston will travel to Jacksonville to take on the Jaguars in Week 9 before heading into their Bye Week.

Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria: Raiders need to hit the playbooks in preparation of the Texans this Sunday; 49ers host the Panthers in hopes to stay undefeated; plus more

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On the Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria:

#1 The Oakland Raiders faced a very ready Green Bay Packers offense on Sunday as Packers quarterback Aaron Rogers threw for five touchdowns as the Raiders defense was no match for the Packers offense in the 42-24.

#2 The San Francisco 49ers may have not have scored a touchdown or set any kind of scoring records last Sunday in Washington, but they got by with three field goals kicked by kicker Robbie Gould that got the 49ers their sixth win to put them at 6-0.

#3 The Sacramento Kings opened up their regular season with a road trip in Phoenix. Is it tougher to open a season on the road or it really doesn’t make a difference?

#4 The Golden State Warriors open up their season tonight at Chase Center in San Francisco as they christen the new building for their first regular season game.

#5 Do you think the Astros get that backs to the wall feeling after dropping Games 1 and 2 at home against the Washington Nationals? The Nats are more than expected nemesis who broke it wide open in game 2 on Wednesday night.

Tony R does Headlines Sports podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Niners hope Sanders will bolster passing attack

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Photo credit: ninerswire.usatoday.com

By Jeremy Harness

When the undefeated 49ers take the field at Levi’s Stadium Sunday against Carolina, there will be a big change. Or maybe two.

The 49ers knew that they needed to upgrade the wide receiver position at some point, and they pulled the trigger on a key move Tuesday, adding veteran wideout Emmanuel Sanders in a trade from the Denver Broncos.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan said that he expects to have Sanders to play Sunday, and that it is very likely that he will play both outside as well as in the slot, along with fellow receivers marquise Goodwin and Dante Pettis.

A key factor in the 49ers making this trade was the fact that the status of injured receivers Trent Taylor (foot) and Jalen Hurd (back), who have been out all season.

They are both on the eligible-for-return injured reserve list, but according to reports, the team has started to lose hope of getting them back on the field in 2019.

On the bright side, the 49ers are getting closer to having a key player back on the offensive side of the ball. Left tackle Joe Staley has been out since Week 2 with a hairline fracture in his fibula, but he practiced on a limited basis, and there is a chance that he will play Sunday.

Tight end George Kittle, receiver Deebo Samuel, running back Raheem Mostert and defensive end Dee Ford were all limited in practice Wednesday, but all are expected to be on the field against Carolina.

For the Panthers, quarterback Cam Newton was held out of practice Wednesday as ne nurses a foot injury, meaning that backup Kyle Allen is likely to be under center when the Carolina offense is on the field Sunday.

Headline Sports podcast with London Marq: 49ers acquire WR Emmanuel Sanders; Astros Assistant GM apologizes for not so ringing Osuna endorsement; plus more

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On Headline Sports podcast with London:

#1 San Francisco 49ers have acquired wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders from the Denver Broncos on Tuesday. Sanders said he enjoyed being a Bronco and had 30 catches for 367 yards, and two touchdowns in seven games.

#2 Houston Astros assistant general manager Brandon Taubman shouted in front of a group of female reporters after game 6 of the NLCS “I’m so f—ing glad we got Osuna” during the Astros clubhouse celebration. Osuna was suspended 75 games by MLB for domestic abuse. Taubman later apologized for the language he used and how he framed it in from of the female members of the press. The story broke on Sports Illustrated and the Astros released a report saying the story was “misleading and completely irresponsible.” There were a number of members of the media who vouched that he story was accurate and who saw Taubman shout in from the reporters.

#3 Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan said that Golden State Warrior Stephen Curry is not a Hall of Famer yet. “He’s a great player” said Jordan. Curry said “Jordan has own version of what it takes to be in the Hall of Fame in his head.”

#4 One of the nicest people to play the game of football was former Oakland Raider wide receiver Willie Brown, who died at the Oakland Raiders offices in Alameda on Tuesday at the age of 78 after a long bout with cancer. Brown played for the Broncos (1963-1966) and Raiders (1967-1978).

#5 The XFL opens with eight teams going into next season. The XFL teams will play five home and away games, a total of ten, that starts February 2 to April 12th. The XFL folded after one season in 2001. There will be no team in the Bay Area representing the XFL. In 2001 the XFL had a San Francisco team that played at Pac Bell Park.

London Marq does Headline Sports each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Barbara Mason: 49ers get just enough done to beat Washington; Raiders will have to turn the page after getting crushed by the Pack; plus more

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On Headline Sports with Barbara:

#1 The San Francisco 49ers kept their perfect record in tact shutting out Washington on Sunday 9-0. It was, messy, muddy, sloppy, and kicker Robby Gould did all the heavy lifting kicking three field goals for all the scoring.

#2 The Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Rogers threw all day on Sunday against the visiting Oakland Raiders resulting in a 42-24 laugher for the Pack. The Packers ran through the Raiders defense like butter as Rogers passed for five touchdowns.

#3 The 2019 World Series is underway tonight at Minute Maid Field in Houston between the Washington Nationals and the Houston Astros. Both teams come into the series with potent pitching staffs, which proved their success in getting to the World Series.

#4 The Cal Bears (4-3) suffered their third loss dropping to 4-3 in a game they were supposed to win against Oregon State (3-4) 21-17 in Berkeley. The Bears couldn’t get any offense going in the first half.

#5 Quarterback problems live at Stanford University as the Cardinal (3-4) are now on their third quarterback. K.J. Costell and David Mills are both out with injuries and third string quarterback Jack West worked under center last Thursday night, but couldn’t get enough yards, rushing or passing done in the 34-16 loss to the UCLA Bruins (2-5).

Listen to Barbara Tuesdays for Headline Sports at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco 49ers podcast with David Zizmor: Kicking makes up for a lack of touchdowns in muddy ball game in Washington

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On the 49ers podcast with David:

#1 49ers kicker Robbie Gould kicked for all of San Francisco’s scoring on Sunday as the 49ers shutout Washington 9-0 win. For quarterback Jimmy Garroppolo, he just couldn’t get any traction on Washington’s muddy field as the 49ers didn’t get any touchdowns in the game.

#2 The 49ers defense once again came through and contributed big in the shutout of Washington.

David Zizmor does the 49ers podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com