Category: NFL

49ers End Losing Streak to Seahawks with 26-23 OT Win

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Photo credit: @49ers

By: Joe Lami

SANTA CLARA–A rain-soaked Levi’s Stadium needed overtime on Sunday, as the 49ers beat the Seattle Seahawks 26-23 for their second straight win. It ends the terrible drought and marks the first victory against Seattle since 2013, that bumps their record to 4-10.

It was a tough performance from the red and gold, just two weeks after they were embarrassed by their rival in Seattle 43-16. The revenge tastes sweet, preventing Seattle from clinching a playoff spot at home.

“It means a ton. Not all of us have been here since 2013, but all of us were here two weeks ago. We’re sick about the way we lost two weeks ago. I know I haven’t been here since 2013, but am glad I won’t have to continue to answer questions next year,” said Shanahan.

The Seahawks got on the board early with Doug Baldwin capping their first drive with his first of two touchdowns. However, Sebastian Janikowski missed the PAT in his first ever attempt at Levi’s.

On the ensuing kickoff, Richie James Jr. flashed his speed, returning the kick 97 yards to swing momentum San Francisco’s way. It was San Francisco’s first kick return for a touchdown since 2011.

When the 49ers’ went on offense, Nick Mullens was outstanding again. Throwing 20-for-29 and 275 with one 41-yard TD to Garrett Celek. He finished with a 110.6 rating, his second straight game over 100+. Mullens also set a record of the most passing yards versus a Pete Carroll Seattle squad with 689 on the year.

After his tremendous performance last week, George Kittle was held to three catches for 51 yards despite being targeted eight times. Dante Pettis led the Niners in receiving with 83 yards catching five of six targets as he continues his second-half breakout.

The passing game couldn’t have been set up without the run. Matt Breida carried it 17 times for 50 yards, only to be outdone by Jeff Wilson Jr.’s seven carries for 46 yards.

Seattle continued to lean on their run game with Chris Carson picking up 119 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. Russell Wilson threw 23-for-31 for 237 yards and two touchdowns.

The win couldn’t have been done without Robbie Gould who went four-of-four on field goals, including a 36-yarder to secure the win.

The Niners are now 3-3 under Nick Mullens. The controversy should be over. Mullens has earned the backup gig next year when Garoppolo returns.

With the victory, the 49ers have now slid to the third spot in the 2018 Draft, but that won’t matter to this team breaking a 10-loss stretch to Seattle.

Sloppy Raiders lose to Bengals in Cincinnati, 30-16

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Photo credit: mercurynews.com

By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
SRS Contributor

The Raiders were looking to win back-to-back games for the first time this season but failed to do so, losing to the Bengals 30-16 on Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium.

Oakland (3-11) is now 1-6 on the road this season.

Quarterback Derek Carr completed 21-of-38 passes for 263 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. It was the ninth straight game that Carr didn’t throw an interception in a game. But Carr almost did throw an interception in the first quarter on Oakland’s first possession of the game, but Bengals safety Shawn Williams dropped the ball.

In the game, Carr moved past Rich Gannon for the most consecutive passes without an interception (277) in team history on his 14th pass.

Gannon established the franchise record back in 2001.

But it took the Raiders six possessions to score their first touchdown of the game, a 1-yard pass from Carr to tight end Lee Smith in the second quarter with Oakland already down 17-0. Smith, who is known more for his blocking, has scored a touchdown in three-straight games.

Oakland’s first five possessions of the game went like this: punt, a fumble by Carr, punt, punt, a fumble by running back Jalen Richard inside of their own territory and punt. The Raiders lost both fumbles leading to 10 points for Cincinnati.

Behind a makeshift offensive line that was missing left guard Kelechi Osemele, Cincinnati applied pressure to Carr throughout the game, sacking him five times and hitting him seven times on throws. Star defensive tackle Geno Atkins had three sacks and defensive end Sam Hubbard recorded two sacks and a forced fumble.

Carr, who has eight fumbles on the year, lost a fumble for the sixth time this season, establishing a new career-high.

The Raiders finished with eight penalties for 90 yards.

With the Bengals keying in on Carr’s top target in tight end Jared Cook, Jordy Nelson was Oakland’s leading pass catcher Sunday finishing with six catches for 88 yards. Cook, who is in his 10th season in the league (his second in Oakland), had just two catches for 23 yards after catching seven passes for 116 yards.

Cook came into Sunday’s contest with back-to-back 100-yard receiving games is enjoying his finest season this year, with career-highs in catches (63), yards (848) and touchdowns (six) and could be headed to his first Pro Bowl.

Second-year Running back Joe Mixon had a big day for the Bengals (6-8), scoring two touchdowns in the game and rushing for over 100 yards for the second-straight week. Mixon rushed for 129 yards on 27 carries against the Raiders after rushing for 111 yards on 26 carries in Week 14 against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Before suffering a knee injury in the first half that would sideline him for the rest of the day, third-year wide receiver Tyler Boyd would eclipse 1,000 yards for the first time in his career.

Boyd finished with just four catches for 38 yards and a touchdown, but he became just the first wide receiver not named A.J. Green to record a 1,000-yard season — and not since Chad Johnson in 2009 — to do so, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Green is currently on injured reserve with a foot injury.

Third-year quarterback Jeff Driskel struggled in his third start since taking over for starter Andy Dalton (hand), who is also on injured reserve. Driskel did find Boyd on a 7-yard score for the game’s first score, but finished 14-of-33 for 130 yards and an interception.

Next week, the Raiders return home to take on their AFC West rival, the Denver Broncos on Christmas Eve in what could be the final game ever for the Raiders in Oakland. 

The Raiders don’t have a signed lease to play at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum for 2019.

Denver (6-8) fell to the visiting Cleveland Browns 17-16 at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on Saturday.

Oakland Raiders podcast with Joe Hawkes Beamon: Coliseum says there will be no coming back for Raiders in 2019; Players have nothing but respect for former GM McKenzie

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nbcsports.com file photo: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (left) and Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis (right) have a laugh. The Raiders will be leaving Oakland despite the city of Oakland’s lawsuit suing the Raiders

On the Raiders podcast with Joe:

#1 With the lawsuit by the city of Oakland against the Oakland Raiders, could it mean that the Raiders will need to seek the team’s relocation site in either Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, UNLV in Vegas or Qualcomm in San Diego or will the Raiders and the city settle on the Coliseum?

#2 Oakland Coliseum Authority executive director Scott McKibben said there no will be proposal. “There’s no longer a lease extension in play, lawsuit or no lawsuit” McKibben said.

#3 Taking a look at some of the Raiders’ choices to play in the 2019 season: Oakland Coliseum, Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Sam Boyd Stadium at UNLV, Stanford, Cal, SJSU or San Diego.

#4 Raider players have voiced their respect for former general manager Reggie McKenzie. The players agree that McKenzie had built a team that had the potential to go far in the postseason. This season, much of that team that McKenzie had built had been dismantled.

#5 Will the move of the Raiders in 2019 and the firing of McKenzie impact the team going into Cincinnati for this Sunday’s game?

Joe Hawkes Beamon does the Raiders podcast each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

49ers look to build streak vs. Seahawks on Sunday

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Photo credit: @FoxSportsRadio

By Jeremy Harness

It has been a long and frustrating year for the 49ers, but they are finding a little bit of success toward the end of the year.

The 49ers will hope to build on their 20-14 upset win over the Denver Broncos last week and will play host to the Seattle Seahawks, a team that they have beaten only once in the past six years.

Cornerback Richard Sherman played in Seattle for the first time in an opposing uniform Dec. 2, and it didn’t go very well at all, as the Seahawks rolled to a 43-16 win. Not only did the 49ers lose the game, but there were verbal jabs exchanged in the following weeks between Sherman and some of his former teammates.

When Sherman said that the Seahawks are a “middle of the road” team at this point, defensive lineman Frank Clark took the opportunity to fire back at him, saying that “he’s not in this locker room anymore, so his opinion really doesn’t matter.”

For his part, Sherman responded by saying, “it didn’t bother me at all.”

In the meantime, the 49ers are dealing with some more injury issues. The team placed receiver Pierre Garcon on season-ending injured reserve with a painful knee injury that he has been dealing with for much of this season.

Fellow receivers Dante Pettis and Marquise Goodwin have been limited in practice this week with assorted injuries, while safety Jaquiski Tartt’s shoulder continues to give him problems, as he has not practiced this week after also missing last Sunday’s win over Denver.

For the Seahawks, Clark has an elbow injury that has kept him out of practice this week, while offensive lineman D.J Fluker also has not been able to practice while dealing with a hamstring issue.

Raiders are off to Cincinnati for matchup against Bengals on Sunday

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Photo credit: wsj.com

By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
SRS Contributor

OAKLAND, Calif. — The Raiders are seeking back-to-back wins for the first time this season, as they prepare to head East where they will face the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 15 action. The contest will conclude the Raiders’ regular season schedule against the AFC North, as they are 2-1 against the division in 2018.

Sunday will mark just the first meeting between the two teams since 2015, and Oakland’s first visit to Paul Brown Stadium since 2012. In 28 meetings, the Raiders are 18-10 against the Bengals all-time, with Cincinnati winning the last two encounters.

Kickoff is at 10:00 a.m. PT.

Last week, the Raiders improved to 3-10 on the season, knocking off the Pittsburgh Steelers from the AFC North, 24-21 in come-from-behind fashion in front of a frenzy crowd at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

The Raiders wouldn’t be denied the victory as quarterback Derek Carr engineered an 8-play, 75-yard drive that was punctuated by touchdown pass to tight end Derek Carrier for the eventual game-winner after the Steelers missed a potential game-tying field goal from 39 yards away as time expired.

Carr finished the game with a blistering 122.4 passer rating after completing 25-of-34 passes for 322 yards and two touchdowns. It was Carr’s 16th comeback victory in his career. No other player has more comebacks since 2014, Carr’s rookie season.

After a rocky start to the season in which he threw 10 touchdowns and a eight interceptions through Weeks 1-8, Carr has rebounded tremendously since throwing eight touchdowns and no interceptions since. Carr hasn’t thrown an interception in his last 261 attempts, the second most by a quarterback this season.

Tight end Jared Cook has been the Raiders most trusted playmaker this season.

Against the Steelers, Cook recorded his second-straight 100-yard receiving day, tallying 116 yards on seven catches. It was Cook’s fourth 100-yard receiving game of the season, which is second-most by a tight end this season.

In his second season with Oakland, the nine-year veteran is having his most productive season, with career-highs in catches (61), yards (825), and touchdowns (six). With three games left in the season, Cook has a chance to challenge Todd Christensen’s club record of 1,153 receiving yards by a tight end set in 1986.

Defensively, linebacker Tahir Whitehead recorded his first interception of the season for the Raiders and finished with 10 tackles (six solo). Whitehead now has 103 tackles for the season, giving him his third-straight season of at least 100 tackles.

With season-ending injuries to franchise quarterback Andy Dalton (hand) and superstar wide receiver A.J. Green (foot),  the Bengals (5-8), are a shell of themselves and currently are riding a five-game losing streak.

Cincinnati fell to the Los Angeles Chargers 26-21 at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. in Week 14. Second-year running back Joe Mixon has been one of the lone bright spots for the Bengals this season and his game against the Chargers proved that.

Against the Chargers, Mixon carried the ball 26 times for 111 yards and a touchdown, giving him 866 rushing yards and six touchdowns this season. Barring major injury the rest of the season, Mixon should record his first 1,000-yard rushing season.

Following Sunday’s game, the Raiders will return home to take on their AFC West rival, the Denver Broncos on Christmas Eve in what could be the final home game in Oakland for the Raiders.

The City of Oakland filed a lawsuit against the franchise this week for their move to Las Vegas in 2020. The Raiders don’t have a lease signed to play at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum for 2019.

Sunday’s game against the Raiders will the Bengals’ home-finale, as they will finish up on the road in Week’s 16 and 17 against the Cleveland Browns and Steelers, respectively.

San Francisco 49ers podcast with Joe Lami: 49ers looking to catch some more breaks this Sunday against Seahawks

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msn.com file photo: 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan in file photo from Nov. 1st game versus the Oakland Raiders at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara

On the 49ers podcast with Joe Lami:

#1 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said the clock flub at the end of Sunday’s game had quarterback Nick Mullens not taking a knee, but instead the ball was a turnover to the Denver Broncos. Lucky for San Francisco on the last play of the game, the Broncos wide receiver Tim Patrick lateraled and the ball rolled out of bounds midfield, which helped SF win and run the clock out.

#2 Shanahan who was fined by the NFL $25,000 for yelling an obscenity at an official and drew an unsportsmanship-like conduct back on Dec. 2 in Seattle. Shanahan said he would appeal a play that he felt should have stopped the clock after 49ers linebacker Fred Warner had lost his shoe and Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson threw it off the field Shanahan said the officials should have stopped the clock and that Warner should have been allowed to get his shoe back, but promised he wouldn’t swear at the officials again.

#3 San Francisco’s George Kittle had a career day in the first half last Sunday against the Broncos with 210 yards, seven catches, with a 85-yard touchdown.

#4 Mullens had a good offensive afternoon 22-33 for 332 yards. Mullens finished with a 102.1 passer rating.

#5 The Seattle Seahawks, who streamrolled the 49ers in Seattle on Dec. 2, will be at Levi’s Stadium this Sunday. Joe tells what the 49ers’ chances are this Sunday.

Joe Lami is the San Francisco 49ers beat writer and does the 49ers podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Fantasy Football Doctors–the Playoffs Week 2: The Winning Formula

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FFPlayoffs

Your hosts: Dr. Vasu Vaddiparty & Dr. Charlie O

  • Should you start Aaron Rodgers?
  • Will Mahomes prevail versus the Chargers?
  • Can Phillip Rivers do it again on Thursday night?
  • How about Jared Goff – will he bounce back versus the Eagles?
  • Russell Wilson could have a big week against the 49ers
  • Will Christian McCaffrey carry Carolina again this week?
  • Can the Texans count on Lamar Miller to help get them back on track?
  • Is Elijah McGuire the sleeper of the week?
  • Will Odell Beckham Jr. be able to go this Sunday?
  • Can Edelman, Gordon and Brady do it big again this weekend?

The answers to these questions and many more on this week’s edition of the Fantasy Football Doctors.

Oakland Raiders podcast with Tony Renteria: It’s a soap opera at the Raiders team leaving after this season and GM fired, can they win another game this Sunday?

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Photo credit: @BR_NFL

On the Raiders podcast with Tony:

#1 Did anyone see the firing of Reggie McKenzie coming? Was Tony surprised about the firing?

#2 Who was more to blame for the Raiders 3-10 record this season, McKenzie or head coach Jon Gruden?

#3 Gruden said he doesn’t have any general managers in mind right at the moment.

#4 The city of Oakland is suing the Oakland Raiders for loses of revenue and upkeep at the Coliseum that’s been unpaid. The Raiders owner Mark Davis said if the city sues, then he would play the 2019 season elsewhere.

#5 With the firing of McKenzie and the possible move of the Raiders out of the Coliseum, how distracting is this for the Raiders going into their next game?

Tony does the Raiders podcasts each Thursday at sportsradioservice.com

 

Headline Sports podcast with London Marq: Shakeup at Raiders team being sued, won’t be back in Oakland after this season; GM fired this week

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yahoosports.com: Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis (left) and former general manger Reggie McKenzie in 2012 photo parted company Sunday and the City of Oakland is suing the Raiders for lost revenue caused by the Raiders moving to Vegas

On Headline Sports with London:

#1 Former Oakland Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie was fired on Sunday and not even allowed to finish the season with just three games left. Which scenario would you call this firing an honorable discharge or dishonorable discharge?

#2 When head coach Jon Gruden got on the scene, was that pretty much writing on the wall for McKenzie?

#3 Gruden stated until the last Raiders game in a presser that he and McKenzie got along just fine and there was no problem.

#4 Former Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper is this winter’s top prospect his agent. Scott Boras is still shopping for a team for Harper and apparently the Giants general manager Farhan Zaidi will be talking with Boras during this week’s Winter Meetings. Harper has been touted as a LeBron-like commodity in the free agency sweepstakes.

#5 The A’s second baseman Jed Lowrie is reportedly asking too much in free agency and the A’s might seek free agent DJ LeMahieu. Lowrie is asking for $10 million a year and a multi year deal. LeMahieu could join the A’s for one season at $10 million and the A’s won’t have to worry about a multi-year deal since the $10 million would be coming from his final year of his deal with the Colorado Rockies. Also, the A’s are looking at Troy Tulowitzki–he’s from Sunnyvale and likes that the A’s who are a post season contending team the Jays are paying his remaining $38 million salary and the A’s would pay the extra $600,000 to Tulowitski.

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

San Francisco 49ers podcast with David Zizmor: Kittle’s record setting afternoon sparks team; Mullens has great afternoon with 332 yards passing

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nbcsports.com: The San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) had a record setting day against the Denver Broncos on Sunday Dec 9th at Levis Stadium

On the 49ers podcast with David Zizmor:

#1 The 49ers tight end George Kittle is all the rage. Sunday was a big day for him against the Denver Broncos, breaking his own record all in the first half of work with seven catches, 210 yards, and an 85-yard touchdown reception.

#2 For quarterback Nick Mullens, he had quite an afternoon against Denver last Sunday. Mullens threw for 20 completions in 33 attempts for 332 yards and two touchdowns.

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