Category: NFL

Raiders look to get back into the win column with road test against the Colts

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
SRS Contributor

With the Raiders in the midst of their 49-day stretch away from the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, the Raiders will try to avoid a three-game losing streak as they travel to Indianapolis to take on the Colts in Week 4 action. Sunday’s game will mark the first time since 2013 that Oakland has played in Indianapolis, with the Raiders holding a 4-2 edge as the away team in the all-time series. Overall, Oakland is 8-7 all-time against the Colts in head-to-head locations.

The 16th matchup between the two teams will kickoff at 10:00 a.m. PDT from Lucas Oil Stadium.

Last week, the Raiders (1-2) lost to the Minnesota Vikings (2-1), 34-14, in Week 3 at U.S. Bank Field. Oakland quarterback Derek Carr went 27 for 34 for 242 yards and touchdowns to wide receivers J.J. Nelson and Tyrell Williams, but also threw an interception to Vikings safety Harrison Smith.

Nelson scored on a 29-yard flea-flicker pass midway through the second quarter that pulled the Raiders within two touchdowns, but that was as close as Oakland would get for the game.

With his 25th game with at least 100 passer rating, Carr tied Daryle Lamonica for second-most in franchise history.

Even as the Raiders were getting rolled by the Vikings, tight end Darren Waller had a career day for the Silver and Black catching 13 passes for 134 yards. Both the catches and yards were the most by a tight end this year in any game.

Through 3 games, Waller’s 26 catches ranks second behind Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen’s 29 for most in the NFL; and the most for a Raider through the first three weeks of the season in franchise history.

After dropping their first game of the season, the Colts have won two in a row and enter Sunday’s contest 2-1. Indianapolis took down the Atlanta Falcons, 27-24, in Week 4 at home.

Colts quarterback Jacoby Brissett had a strong performance, completing his first 16 passes of the game before finishing 28 for 37 with 310 yards and two touchdowns.

Indianapolis scored on five of their seven possessions in the game.

Following Sunday’s game, the Raiders will fly to London to take on the Chicago Bears for the NFL’s first game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in Week 5.

The Colts will head to Kansas City to face the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in prime-time on NBC’s Sunday Night Football.

Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria: Gruden expects more aggressive offense this Sunday; A’s hold on for dear life, get walkoff HR from Chapman; plus more

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On Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria:

#1 Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden says he hopes the offense could provide more vertical shots and that the receivers can be more aggressive.

#2 Gruden did say that the offense needed to be more aggressive and that was before the release of Antonio Brown during the first three weeks of the season.

#3 In the first three games of the season, Raider quarterback Derek Carr has thrown 23 passes for 10 yards past the line of scrimmage and has completed 13 pass for 257 yards.

#4 Turning to baseball, at one time, the Oakland A’s had a two-game lead before Wednesday night. The A’s had just a 1/2 game lead and the Tampa Bay Rays keep winning, beating the New York Yankees on Wednesday and the A’s dropped two straight games and almost lost a third in Anaheim on Wednesday night, but thanks to a Matt Chapman home run, they came back with two runs in the ninth to win it 3-2 and hold a 1/2 game lead in the AL wild card.

#5 The PGA Tour Safeway Open starts today at Silverado Resort in Napa. Some of the big names at the event include the Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry, Phil Mickelson and Hideki Maysuyama, a five-time winner.

Tony Renteria does Headline Sports each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Niners look to keep momentum going after bye week

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Photo credit: mercurynews.com

By Jeremy Harness

The 49ers are 3-0 for the first time in 21 years, and following the bye week that they are currently on, they hope to keep that streak going against a dangerous – but beatable – opponent.

The Cleveland Browns, who gave the Los Angeles Rams a battle last Sunday night but fell 20-13 when they failed to convert in the red zone in the final minute, will make their way into Levi’s Stadium for a Monday night game on Oct. 7.

The Browns boast a few formidable weapons on offense and an improved defense under coordinator Gregg Williams, but they have been wildly inconsistent this year. They have sandwiched a big win over the New York Jets with the loss to the Rams and a 43-13 beatdown at the hands of the Tennessee Titans.

Cleveland has game-breaking wideouts in Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham, Jr. as well as a young quarterback in Baker Mayfield, who does not lack confidence in the slightest case.

However, Mayfield has served as a microcosm of the team as a whole, as a lack of consistency has wreaked havoc on an offense that oozes potential. He has completed 57 percent of his throws this year, to go along with three touchdowns but has also been intercepted five times.

He has struggled in his decision-making at times, and coupled with a 49ers’ pass rush that has set the tone for a defense that has been the key to the team’s 3-0 start, this clearly favors San Francisco.

However, the 49ers have an injury issue that they will need to deal with. Starting corner Ahkello Witherspoon has a foot sprain that is expected to keep him for at least one month, so they will need to find a competent replacement for him in the interim.

San Francisco 49ers podcast with David Zizmor: Jimmy G converts his throws and gains some yards

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On the 49ers podcast with David:

#1 The San Francisco 49ers just got by the Pittsburgh Steelers with a 24-20 victory on Sunday. With the win, the 49ers are now 3-0 and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is gaining some of that old swagger back when he first broke in with the 49ers in his first year.

#2 Garoppolo threw for 277 yards and completed 72 percent of his passes. He did suffer two interceptions. Are the interceptions something he should be concerned with since it was a close game and turnovers could hurt a team?

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

Headline Sports podcast Barbara Mason: Raiders simply got ran over by Vikes’ Cook; Jimmy G puts it together even in close games; plus more

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On Headline Sports podcast with Barbara:

#1 The Minnesota Vikings’ Dalvin Cook, who missed the last two seasons with ACL and hamstring issues, was running for the goal posts against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday when he rushed for 110 yards.

#2 Looking at Cook, you would have never guessed he missed any action after missing two seasons, missing 19 of 34 games. Cook said he never lost any confidence and worked his way back to getting into the Vikings lineups.

#3 The San Francisco 49ers just got by the Pittsburgh Steelers with a 24-20 victory on Sunday. With the win, the 49ers are now 3-0 and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is gaining some of that old swagger back when he first broke in with the 49ers in his first year.

#4 Garoppolo threw for 277 yards and completed 72 percent of his passes. He did suffer two interceptions. Are the interceptions something he should be concerned with since it was a close game and turnovers could hurt a team?

#5 Hard to believe the NBA preseason is starting next week with the new opening of the Chase Center in San Francisco. Will the Golden State Warriors have no trouble adapting to the new building’s characteristics?

Join Barbara for Headline Sports each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NFL Sunday: Recipients for Week 3 Game Balls

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By Joe Hawkes
SRS Contributor

With the Chicago Bears visiting the Nation’s capitol to take on Washington to close out Week 3 on ESPN’s Monday Night Football, Sunday’s games had some big-time performances that stood out to me headlined by a rookie quarterback, a dynamic running back, and a vastly improved defense.

Here are my game ball recipients for Week 3:

Offensive game balls – QB: Daniel Jones, New York Giants; RB: Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers

The Giants needed a spark after dropping their first two games of the season.

The decision to bench two-time Super Bowl champion Eli Manning in favor for rookie quarterback Daniel Jones could prove to be the right one that saves the Big Blue’s season.

Jones, the sixth overall pick by the Giants in this year’s NFL draft, threw for 336 and two touchdowns and also ran for two more scores, including the go-ahead score with 1:16 left in the fourth quarter to give New York its much needed first win of the year, 32-31, on the road against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

New York rallied from an 18-point halftime deficit with Jones at the controls of the Giants’ comeback. He scored on a 7-yard run in the second quarter that gave the Giants the lead, then he put New York ahead with another 7-yard run on fourth-and-goal.

As well as he ran the football, it was his arm that Jones really made his mark. Jones would hookup with tight end Evan Engram for a 75-yard TD on New York’s first play of the second half. Then, the former Duke signal-caller would find wide receiver Sterling Shepard for a 7-yard score midway through the fourth quarter.

One word to describe Jones’s demeanor throughout the game: poised.

Jones didn’t let the moment get too big for him in his debut, finishing 23 of 36 passes with no interceptions.

Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey racked up a Week 3 high 153 yards on yards on 24 carries, which aided hugely in Carolina’s 38-20 road victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday without starting quarterback Cam Newton.

Like the Giants earning their first win of the year, the Panthers earned their first win of 2019 behind a strong showing by McCaffrey.

With the Panthers clinging to a 21-20 lead midway in the third quarter, McCaffrey’s 76-yard TD run through the middle of Arizona’s defense kept Carolina in complete control of the game.

Through three games this year, McCaffrey ranks second in rushing behind Minnesota’s Dalvin Cook (375 yards and 4 TDs) with 318 yards and three TDs.

Defensive game ball – The entire San Francisco 49ers defense.

Listen, when your offense committed five turnovers (including three fumbles inside your own 25-yard line), and only allowed six points off those turnovers?

Credit the defense.

San Francisco’s offense gave everything away but the game, committing four turnovers in the first half alone then lost a fumble in the fourth quarter before holding on to a 24-20 win at Levi’s Stadium thanks to its vastly improved defense.

The 49ers spoiled rookie quarterback Mason Rudolph’s first career start in place of the injured Ben Roethlisberger for the winless Steelers (0-3). San Francisco limited Pittsburgh to 3 of 12 on third downs and held the Steelers to just 79 yards rushing.

Sure wide receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster (76-yard TD in the third quarter) and Diontae Johnson (39-yard TD in the fourth quarter) stunned the 49ers, but San Francisco’s defense did force two takeaways (an interception and fumble recovery) leading to 14 points by its much maligned offense, including the go-ahead TD from quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to wide receiver Dante Pettis with 1:15 left in the fourth quarter.

For the first time since 1998, the 49ers (3-0) are undefeated through the first quarter of the season.

Vikings drop Raiders to 1-2; Cook’s carries help Vikes to 34-14 win

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from sfgate.com: Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen, right, sacks Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019, in Minneapolis

By Jeremy Kahn

Once again, the Oakland Raiders ran into a buzz saw and once again they were chewed up by their opponent.

Dalvin Cook carried the ball 16 times for 110 yards and a touchdown, helping the Minnesota Vikings to a convincing 34-14 victory over the Raiders at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Cook, who is in his third season in the NFL is coming off back-to-back seasons where he suffered debilitating injuries in those seasons.

In his rookie season, Cook tore his Anterior Cruciate Ligament and last season, he was hampered by a hamstring injury that derailed his season.

Alexander Mattison scored his first NFL touchdown, as the Vikings rushed for 211 yards as a team. Also, for the second time in two home games, the Vikings did not attempt a pass in the fourth quarter.

Kirk Cousins went 15-for-21 for 174 yards and a score to Adam Thielen on the Vikings initial series of the game.

Thielen also scored on a handoff that gave the Vikings a 28-0 lead in the second quarter, their second 28-0 lead of the season.

Derek Carr went 27-for-34 for 242 and two touchdowns to J.J. Nelson and Tyrell Wililams. Tight end Darren Waller caught 13 passes for 134 yards in the loss.

NOTES: Marquel Lee hurt his ankle in the first quarter and did not return to the game. While Vontaze Burfict missed nearly half the game with an elbow injury, but eventually returned in the third quarter.

UP NEXT: The Raiders will stay on the road, as they will face the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Niners Improve to 3-0 with 24-20 Victory, Despite Five Turnovers

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photo from sfgate.com: Dante Pettis #18 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Levi’s Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Santa Clara, California

By Joe Lami

SANTA CLARA — For the first time since 1998, the San Francisco 49ers have started a season 3-0. In a wild home opener Sunday, the Niners outlasted the Big Ben-less Steelers in a 24-20 win.

Despite turning the ball over five times, including three times in the red zone, the Niners were able to hold off Pittsburgh thanks to a last-minute touchdown throw from Jimmy Garoppolo to Dante Pettis.

It would be Garoppolo’s only TD pass of the game, but it came at the perfect time to overcome the sloppy first half and secure the victory. Garoppolo finished the game 22 of 32 for 277 yards, the touchdown, and two interceptions.

Garoppolo threw picks to TJ Watt and newly acquired Minkah Fitzpatrick in 49ers territory in the first half. The Steelers starting positions were the 33 and 24-yard lines, but San Francisco’s defense showed the bend, don’t break style we’ve seen through the first two weeks to force field goals, holding Pittsburgh to just six points.

Despite going into intermission with a -4 turnover differential, the Niners only trailed 6-3 at halftime, giving the offense new life and confidence.

The Niners came out to score the game’s first touchdown on their opening drive on the second half. Jeff Wilson Jr. ran in his first of two scores from one-yard out, bringing his season total to four since coming off the practice squad.

The Steelers offense was held to 239 total yards, with 76 of them coming on one play in the third quarter. Mason Rudolph, making his first career start, connected with JuJu Smith-Schuster for the Steeler’s first TD of the day. Smith-Schuster beat Ahkello Witherspoon over the top and on a crossing route and carried it the rest of the way to make it 13-10 at the time.

The Niners answered right back on their next drive, going 75 yards in ten plays setting up Wilson Jr.’s second rushing score of the game to re-take the lead 17-10.

The Steelers didn’t go down quietly. After Witherspoon went down with a foot injury in the fourth quarter, Rudolph attacked his replacement Jason Verrett on consecutive plays. Verrett first took a pass interference penalty that cost the Niners 32 yards and then was beat on a 39-yard pass to Diontae Johnson for the rookie’s first career touchdown.

Rudolph played decent in his first start, passing 14 of 27 for 174 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception from K’Waun Williams. The Niners front seven did a great job slowing down the Steelers’ run, holding James Conner to just 43 yards on 13 carries.

The Steelers held the 20-17 late into the fourth quarter when the 49ers were driving. With the ball at the PIT 11-yard line, San Francisco’s turnover bug hit again, and a wonky snap went off the motion man for the Niner’s fifth turnover.

But once again, the defense didn’t let that bother them, buckling down for a huge forced turnover. Just a minute later, Arik Armstead forced James Conner fumble that was recovered by DeForest Buckner. The turnover allowed the 49ers to set up at the Steelers’ 24-yard line, setting up the game-winning score.

San Francisco’s defense has been the revelation in this young season. The newly acquired defensive line is doing precisely what Robert Saleh’s scheme is meant to do. Creating havoc and causing turnovers, the Niners have already matched 2018’s turnover total of seven in just the first three games.

Side Notes:

Justin Skule played excellent, protecting Garoppolo’s blind side in his rookie debut. The Vandy sixth-round product did take three bad penalties late in the third that luckily didn’t cost San Francisco. “Those were costly penalties at pretty bad times. I had a couple of good things, but I am going to learn from it all from the tape and move on,” Skule said.

Skule and company have a couple of weeks before their next action. Heading into the early week four bye, the Niners return to action October 7th on Monday night at home against the Browns.

When asked about heading into a bye with a 3-0 record, everyone had the same generic answer. They aren’t thrilled having a bye week this early and with the potential of having it kill momentum but see the value in getting healthy and more bodies back before the second quarter of the season.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Pats can’t withstand keeping Brown; Pirates overwhelmed by Vazquez coverage; plus more

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@AB84 photo: Former New England Patriot Antonio Brown confers in practice photo with Patriots head coach Bill Belichick

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast:

#1 How surprised were you about the New England Patriots letting wide receiver Antonio Brown go on Friday. It looked like prosecutors were not going to go after him for the rape accusations made by his former trainer Britney Taylor.

#2 Baseball no doubt is in a state shock regarding Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez and his child solicitation charges can the Pirates shake this one off.

#3 Amaury talks about the A’s and how they are ahead of Tampa Bay in the wild card by two games. They’ve had to beat some of baseball’s best like the Houston Astros and the New York Yankees in recent weeks.

#4 The San Francisco Giants open a three-game series in Atlanta and the Braves need a win tonight to get back to back NL Eastern Division titles.

Amaury does the A’s Spanish play-by-play broadcasts on 1010 KIQI San Francisco and does News and Commentary each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland Raiders podcast with Joe Hawkes Beamon: Raiders can see for miles and miles, starting six-game out of town schedule

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On the Raiders podcast with Joe Hawkes:

#1 The Oakland Raiders start the first of six out of town games on Sunday. They’ll be in Minnesota this Sunday followed by trips to Indianapolis, London vs. Chicago, Green Bay, and Houston. Do the Raiders get the sense they got the short end of the stick by the schedule makers?

#2 After what happened against the Kansas City Chiefs last Sunday at home, the Raiders certainly would like to regroup and get at least one win at the Oakland Coliseum, but that’ll be some eight weeks before they get to do that.

#3 For the Raiders last Sunday, they jumped to a 10-0 lead, but in the second quarter, the Raider secondary broke down and the Chiefs scored four touchdowns, which would be enough for the 28-10 win as both teams went scoreless in the second half.

#4 Joe talks about the Raiders acquiring wide receiver Trevor Davis from the Green Bay Packers. Davis played only two games last season suffering from hamstring injuries. Davis has nine catches for 122 yards and has averaged 22.6 yards.

#5 The Raiders open up their road trip against the Minnesota Vikings. The Raiders head coach Jon Gruden said this week that while he’s not happy about the schedule and called it unrealistic, uncommon, and unprecedented. Yet, he’s confident the Raiders can handle the long road swing and overcome adversity.

Joe Hawkes does the Raiders podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com