Category: NFL

Raiders wrap up the 2019 exhibition season in Seattle on Thursday

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
SRS Contributor

Raider Nation, we have finally come to the end of the 2019 exhibition. The Silver and Black will play their final game of the exhibition season in Seattle Thursday night against the Seahawks. With no starters expected to play on both sides, this game will showcase players fighting for roster spots who want to put on a good showing for the coaches.

Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. PDT from CenturyLink Field.

Oakland is looking to close out the exhibition season undefeated. Last week, the Raiders needed a 33-yard field goal from kicker Daniel Carlson as time expired to edge the Green Bay Packers, 22-21, in a bizarre game that featured an 80-yard field for player safety.

End zones were marked by bright orange pylons at the 10-yard lines and there were no kickoffs. The field was reconfigured because of concerns about the areas where the goal posts for the CFL’s Winnipeg franchise were removed and covered with turf.

The game was actually a home game for the Raiders, who decided to move one of their two home games in the exhibition season to Winnipeg in a move that would save the team $500,000 in rent at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

Oakland is set to move to Las Vegas in 2020.

Quarterback Nathan Peterman, who is in a close battle with Mike Glennon to be the primary backup to starter Derek Carr, threw a pair of touchdowns, including a 17-yard strike to wide receiver De’Mornay Pierson-El in the fourth quarter to cut the Green Bay’s lead to 21-19. Peterman’s 2-point conversion attempt was intercepted.

Peterman, who took over for Glennon after the first quarter, finished 23-of-37 for 210 yards in three quarters. Glennon, who struggled in his appearance against the Packers, completed 4-of-9 passes for just 38 yards.

Seattle picked up their second win of the exhibition season last week, defeating the Chargers, 23-15, in Los Angeles.

Seahawks starting quarterback Russell Wilson looked ready for the regular season to begin, leading Seattle on two touchdown drives before calling it a night. The eight-year veteran completed 6-of-9 passes for 73 yards. Wilson also rushed for 31 yards.

San Francisco 49ers podcast with David Zizmor: Garoppolo ready to make some plays against San Diego on Thursday Night Football

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On the 49ers podcast with David:

#1 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo threw for 188 yards, a touchdown for 14 completions out of 20. It was a game that was called Jimmy G’s on track game after struggling the first few weeks of preseason. Garopplo has looked much better in camp.

#2 The 49ers signed former Arizona Cardinal cornerback Chris Campbell, the 49ers waived offensive lineman Dillion Day, the 49ers will be without Jason Verett, K’Waun Williams, Ahkello Witherspoon, and Richard Sherman for Thursday Night Football against San Diego.

Join David for the 49ers podcast each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

49ers players on the bubble who have one last chance to make mark

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By Jeremy Harness

The 49ers will play one more preseason game before it’s time to go for real, but don’t expect the starters to be anywhere but the sidelines on Thursday.

The preseason finale, which will pit the 49ers against the Los Angeles Chargers, is really all about the guys who will make one last push to make the team’s 53-man roster, as the final cutdown will take place this Saturday.

There are reportedly a few notable names that are on the bubble to make the 49ers’ final roster, including receivers Jordan Matthews, Richie James and Kendrick Bourne as well as linebacker Malcolm Smith.

Matthews struggled in his last few years with the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles, and was signed by the 49ers as a free agent this offseason. Head coach Kyle Shanahan has been open in expressing how impressed he has been with the veteran pass-catcher’s showing in training camp.

He would otherwise be a lock for the 53-man roster, other than the fact that he does not stand out on special teams, as a backup receiver should. However, if he has a great outing on Thursday, there is no reason to believe that he will not be suiting up come Week 1.

Bourne came on during the second half of the season, but he has had a continued issue with the drops, which will be crucial in deciding exactly how many wideouts the 49ers want to keep. Marquise Goodwin, Dante Pettis, physical running back-turned receiver Jalen Hurd, highly-touted rookie Deebo Samuel and Trent Taylor all seem to be locked on to the final 53, so that apparently leaves either one, or maybe two, spots.

Smith has been nonexistent for much of his two years with the 49ers, and a lot of that has to do with assorted injuries, a bug that started in his first training camp with the team, which resulted in a torn pectoral muscle that saw him miss the entire season.

It hasn’t gotten much better for him since, and he was nowhere to be found during his preseason debut last week at Kansas City. The 49ers may keep him around as a locker room influence – he has been to two Super Bowls, including a win over the Denver Broncos that saw him return an interception for a touchdown – but his lack of production may force the team to pull the plug on him.

But this much is certain: There will be a lot of tough decisions to be made in the two days following Thursday’s game.

Headline Sports podcast with Barbara Mason: Giants try to knot up series with Diamondbacks tonight; Gruden happy with quarterbacks in camp; plus more

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On Headline Sports with Barbara Mason:

#1 The Oakland A’s and San Francisco Giants Bay Bridge Series was expected to be a real Battle of the Bay since both teams are vying for a wild card birth. The Giants ended up winning the two-game series with a 10-6 win on Saturday and a 5-4 win on Sunday took a loss on Monday night in San Francisco to Arizona 6-4.

#2 The A’s had a breakdown in their bullpen in each of the two games. Frustration took hold when A’s reliever Ryan Butcher threw high and inside to Giants catcher Stephen Vogt, who hit the dirt. No warnings were drawn. Vogt hit a grand slam home-run off Butcher on Saturday and Vogt said he had his suspicions about Butcher’s pitch since he’s noted to have decent control.

#3 The Oakland Raiders quarterbacks have the confidence of Raiders head coach Jon Gruden. Gruden said starting quarterback Derek Carr, backups Mike Glennon and Nathan Peterman all had good preseasons and the Raiders are expected to come out of the gate strong. The Raiders head to Century Link in Seattle for the final pre season game against the Seahawks on Thursday Night Football.

#4 San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has a great outing in his last preseason game on Saturday night against the Kansas City Chiefs after having a tough preseason. Garoppolo threw for 14-20, 188 yards, and one touchdown. The 49ers host the San Diego Chargers on Thursday Night Football.

#5 Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, who announced his retirement from football over the weekend, said that it was not fun anymore waking up each day to pain, rehab, and more pain. It was repeat and repeat again. He at 29 year old said it’s unlikely he will return to the NFL.

Barbara Mason does Headline Sports each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Fans and players not big fans of the weekend uniforms; When will Brown’s helmet issues get settled?; plus more

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

#1 How bad were the weekend uniforms, some said the home whites looked like they were cricket players or they were selling ice cream in the stands like the concession salespeople. MLB said and made sure each player wore the proper uniform.

#2 The helmet issue of Oakland Raiders’ Antonio Brown has not yet gone away yet. Brown filed a grievance with the Players Union. Brown said the helmet that he used to use in Pittsburgh was a good-fitting helmet that did its job. The league is saying Brown needs to wear the proper helmet to protect himself from concussion and if he collides with another player.

#3 The Raiders picked up a close win in Winnipeg against the Green Bay Packers 22-21 last Thursday. It took a Daniel Carlson field goal with eight seconds left to get the Raiders the win on a rugged short field that’s normally used for Canadian Football.

#4 The A’s will try and shake off the double loss to the Giants from the weekend series and tango with the Kansas City Royals. The A’s really need this series in order to keep pace with Cleveland and Tampa Bay in the AL wild card.

#5 It’s hard to believe that former San Francisco Giant pitcher Juan Marichal is 81 years old. He’s had a storied career, most notably when he got into that ruckus with John Roseboro and the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1965 in a brawl that Marichal hit Roseboro on the head with a bat. Marichal is also noted for his high leg kick and his multiple 20-win games.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez is the radio voice for the Oakland A’s Spanish radio on 1010 KIQI, is the vice president of the Major League Baseball Heritage Museum and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Garoppolo Bounces Back in Win Over Chiefs 27-17

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photo from sfgate.com: San Francisco 49ers quarterback throws behind 49ers offensive guard Mike Person (68) during the first half of Saturday Night Football’s game against the host Kansas City Chiefs in the final pre season game for 2019

by Joe Lami

Jimmy Garoppolo bounced back to expectations in his second appearance of the pre-season on Saturday night. After an abysmal performance on Monday, Jimmy G threw for 188 yards completing 14 of 20 passes and adding a touchdown in his first half dress rehearsal.

Garoppolo opened the Niners scoring with a 20-yard completion to Matt Breida to cap a seven-play, 78-yard drive, in which he went 4-for-4. He completed two more drives that ended with Robbie Gould field goals. After a 0.0 passer rating against the Broncos, Garoppolo greatly improved to a 116.2.

The Niners improved to 3-0 on the pre-season by defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 27-17. Most importantly, their dry run went phenomenal and gives hope that they’ll be ready when the season kicks off.

After showing strong defense all pre-season, the Niners defense got torched by MVP Patrick Mahomes on the opening drive. He found running back Damien Williams for a 62-yard quick touchdown strike. However, the defense was able to rebound by keeping Mahomes out of the end zone the rest of his night. He finished 8-of-10 for 126 yards.

Nick Mullens came in for backup duty; passing 8-of-11 for 84 yards. CJ Beathard didn’t see the field on Saturday night, which could give insight to how Kyle Shanahan is leaning for the backup spot.

Jeff Wilson Jr. is going to make cut down day difficult for the red and gold. He continues to impress, scoring two touchdowns in the second half, making the difference in the win. He finished with 45 yards on 12 carries and the two scores.

Kwon Alexander made his debut finishing with three tackles.

Damontre Moore stole the show with two sacks, five tackles, and four QB hits. Moore may be playing well enough to earn the 49ers a draft pick when they trade him since there’s just no room on the D-line for him on this team.

The Niners wrap up their preseason on Thursday at home versus the Chargers. While we won’t see most of the starters, we’ll get an in-depth look at how the 53-man roster is beginning to form.

San Francisco 49ers podcast with Joe Lami: Can Garoppolo hit his targets on Saturday in Kansas City in preseason finale?

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On the 49ers podcast with Joe:

#1 On Monday Night Football, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo passed for zero yards throwing, one interception, and basically said he hasn’t been there for a year so he’s coming out of the shoot tired and rusty.

#2 Also, it should be mentioned that Garoppolo threw nine passes for zero yards from what Joe saw. Was Garoppolo pressing or was he genuinely rusty from not seeing action over a year?

#3 Do you expect to see Joe Staley and George Kittle out for preseason or on limited time in preseason?

#4 San Francisco 49ers tackle Shon Coleman, who broke his leg in the first preseason game, is out for the rest of the season. How much of an impact will that be on the team?

#5 Saturday the 49ers are in Kansas City. From what you’ve seen, how far are the 49ers ready for regular season play?

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

Oakland Raiders podcast with Joe Hawkes Beamon: Is the Raiders’ comeback against Green Bay in Winnipeg still significant even though it’s preseason?

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On the Raiders podcast with Joe Hawkes:

#1 It may be just preseason, but there is something in the air in the Oakland Raiders dressing room — an excitement, and the anxiousness to get out on the field and do the job. The Raiders, who trailed to the Green Bay Packers up until the last few seconds of Thursday Night Football, came back and got kicker Daniel Carlson in kicking range to boot a game-winning field goal to get the Raiders their third straight preseason victory.

#2 Hard work and determination really goes into a win like the one the Raiders played on Thursday. Even though head coach Jon Gruden is using different rookies, players busting their tails to get a job on the team, and new faces who played their hearts out but were left with no choice but to be cut after a game like this.

#3 Talk about the field, it was a 80-yard field on Winnipeg and the 10-yard line is where the goal line. Did the CFL field kind of ruin the NFL game as the players had to convert their play to fit the field?

#4 There were no kickoffs in the game and the team who won the toss would start at the 25, how much of a difference did this make?

#5 The Raiders started Nathan Peterman, who completed 22 out of 36 passes for 230 yards, and Derek Carr sat out this one. How impressive did Peterman look and what are his chances as being the Raiders backup?

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

Carlson kicks the Raiders to the 22-21 win

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By Jeremy Kahn

Usually, NFL fields are 100 yards long, CFL fields are 110 yards long; however, on this night, the field was just 80 yards.

Daniel Carlson kicked a 33-yard field goal with eight seconds remaining in the game, as the Oakland Raiders defeated the Green Bay Packers at IG Field at Winnipeg, Manitoba.

The two end zones were at the 10-yard line, and noticeable by orange pylons and there were also no kickoffs.

Prior to the game, game officials and representatives from the Raiders and the Packers met to discuss the situation of the field. The goal posts were moved from the location that would have inside the end zone.

Former CAL star Aaron Rodgers once again did not play, as he also sat out the Packers first two games, Packers running back Aaron Jones also did not play for the Packers. In all, the Packers sat 33 players in their third exhibition game of 2019.

Both Derek Carr and Antonio Brown did not play for the Raiders, who are now 3-0 on the exhibition season.

The Packers took a commanding 21-10 lead at the end of the first half, as Tim Boyle threw a 23-yarrd touchdown pass to Trevor Davis. Boyle also threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Jake Kumerow.

Tra Carson ran for a touchdown, as the Packers fell to 1-2 on the exhibition season with one game remaining.

Nathan Peterman threw two touchdowns for the Raiders, including a 17-yard touchdown to DeMornay Pierson-El in the fourth quarter that narrowed the Packers lead down to 21-19; however, the Raiders were unable to convert the two-point conversion, as Petermans pass was intercepted.

Peterman ended up going 23-for-37 for 210 yards on the evening.

Carlson gave the Raiders a 3-0 lead, as he kicked a 42-yard field goal late in the first quarter to put the Raiders on the board.

Boyle then found Davis to give the Packers their first lead of the game, as they connected for a 23-yard touchdown.

Peterman then gave the Raiders the lead again on their next series, as he found Keith Smith for a 15-yard touchdown pass.
Boyle found Kumerow for a 26-yard touchdown pass, and then Carson closed out the scoring for the Packers with just 31 seconds remaining in the first half.

That would be the last points that the Packers would score, as the Raiders defense came up big and the Raiders offense began to click under Peterman.

Carlson cut the Packers lead down to eight on their first series of the second half, as he nailed a 40-yard field goal and then Pierson-El was on the receiving end of a 17-yard touchdown pass with 5:48 remaining in the game.

NOTES: This was the first game in Canada since the 2013 season, when the Buffalo Bills played the last of their eight games at Rogers Centre in Toronto.

The Raiders moved the game, as they saved $500,000 in rent at the Oakland Coliseum, as this is the last season for the Raiders in Oakland before they move to Las Vegas for the 2020 season.

UP NEXT: After returning to California, the Raiders head to Century Link Field in Seattle to face the Seattle Seahawks on August 29 at 7:00 p.m.

Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria: Kings to open preseason in India Oct. 4th; Yanks-A’s series could be a maker-breaker for A’s in wild card; plus more

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On Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria:

#1 The Sacramento Kings will be opening up their first preseason game on October 4th and you will be joining your broadcast colleagues for Kings coverage Jeremiah Salmonson, London Marq, Morris Phillips and Jeremy Harness for complete coverage of Kings basketball.

#2 That October 4th game will be played in Mumbai, India. It will be the Kings’ first preseason game in India and has to be very special for Kings managing partner Vivek Ranadive.

#3 The Oakland A’s have played some very exciting ball. They took three out of four from the Houston Astros and took the first two games from the New York Yankees at the Oakland Coliseum. This has turned out to be a very interesting series.

#4 The Oakland Raiders have won two of their first two preseason games and head coach Jon Gruden said this team will deliver “you can bet on that” The Raiders play preseason week three in Winnipeg against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday Night Football.

#5 The talking head, the critics, and talk show hosts have said the 49ers offense is struggling and they showed signs of that against the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football this week. 49ers starter Jimmy Garoppolo had three on completed passes out of six and zero yards. Was this a matter of Jimmy G just not prepared or just rusty coming off the knee injury?

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