Category: NFL

Raiders travel to Denver looking to bounce back after home loss

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Photo credit: @Raiders

By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
SRS Contributor

OAKLAND — After a very poor showing at home against the Los Angeles Rams, the Raiders travel to Denver to take on the Broncos in an AFC West matchup Sunday at 1:25 p.m. PT. The two teams will meet each other later this year on ESPN’s Monday Night Football on Christmas Eve in Oakland.

Last season, the two teams split their two-game series winning on their home turf.

The Raiders (0-1) fell flat on their faces to the Rams 33-13 in front of a sold out Raider Nation crowd of 53,857 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on ESPN’s Monday Night Football to closeout Week 1. Oakland held a 13-10 lead at halftime in head coach Jon Gruden’s return to the sidelines after a nine-year hiatus, before the wheels fell off for the Silver and Black in the second half as the Rams scored 23 unanswered points to claim the victory.

In the battle of franchise quarterbacks, Rams signal-caller Jared Goff clearly outplayed Derek Carr in front of a nationally televised audience. Both quarterbacks played a handful of snaps in the preseason and there was bound to be some rust in the first game.

For Goff, he completed 18 of 33 passes for 233 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions picking up right where he left off engineering the NFL’s top scoring offense from a season ago. The Rams averaged 29.9 points per game last year.

Oakland’s defense couldn’t generate a consistent pass rush against Goff, only sacking him once in the game by Bruce Irvin.

Neither could they stop last year’s NFL Offensive Player of the Year Todd Gurley. The Rams running back looked in midseason form, carrying the ball 20 times for 108 yards. Gurley also hauled in three passes for 39 yards and a touchdown.

After a hot start to the game where he completed 20 of 24 passes for 199 yards, Carr played pedestrian finishing 29 of 40 for 303 yards and three interceptions. Carr did have good chemistry with tight end Jared Cook, who caught a game-high nine balls or a league-high 180 yards.

Seven of Cook’s catches went for first downs, which tied for the most in Week 1.

Cook’s 45-yard catch-and-run down the middle of the field in the first quarter on the Raiders’ opening drive did set up Oakland’s first touchdown of the season, a 10-yard powerful run by running back Marshawn Lynch that gave the Raiders a 7-0 lead, but those were the only real highlights for the Raiders offensively as Oakland settled for two Mike Nugent field goals.

Wide receiver Amari Cooper, who Gruden said would be a “focal point” to the offense this season, was missing in action as he caught just one pass for nine yards.

Cooper looked out of place on opening night, matched up with cornerback and Oakland native Marcus Peters for most of the night. If you go back and look at the game film, Cooper appeared open down the field on occasions but for some strange reason, Carr couldn’t get him the ball.

Peters would take Carr’s third interception 50 yards for a touchdown that punctuated a night to forget for Carr.

Oakland could find it difficult to get back on track against Denver (1-0), who prevailed over the visiting Seattle Seahawks 27-24 last Sunday at Broncos Stadium at Mile High.

Broncos starting quarterback Case Keenum completed 25 of 39 passes for 329 yards, with three touchdowns and three interceptions in his first game with the team.

Keenum enjoyed a career-year last season in Minnesota, throwing for 3,547 yards with 22 touchdowns to just seven interceptions while leading the Vikings to a 13-3 regular season record, an NFC North title, and appearance in the NFC Championship Game before signing a two-year, $36 million (with $25 million guaranteed) with Denver in the offseason.

Wide receiver Emmauel Sanders led the Broncos with 10 catches for 135 yards and a touchdown (fellow wide out Demaryius Thomas chipped in with six catches for 63 yards and a touchdown), while Denver’s ground game anchored by rookie running backs Royce Freeman and Phillip Lindsay (15 carries for 71 each), found holes to run through in Seattle’s defense. Lindsay also caught a 29-yard touchdown pass from Keenum.

Denver’s defense had a huge day against Seattle forcing three turnovers and sacking Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson six times, three by linebacker Von Miller, who finished with six tackles (one assisted).

Miller also forced two fumbles, one of which where he ripped the ball away from running back Chris Carson for a Broncos takeaway.

Linebacker Todd Davis led Denver with eight tackles.

Following Sunday’s game, both teams head east as the Broncos travel to Baltimore to face the Ravens, while Oakland invades Miami for a matchup with the Dolphins.

San Francisco 49ers podcast with David Zizmor: How much of a let down will this loss be for Garoppolo going into Week 2?

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Photo credit: @BostonDotCom

On the 49ers podcast with David:

#1 The perfect record of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo at seven straight NFL wins and five straight 49ers wins came to an end on Sunday with a 24-16. Talk about the pressure to win for Garoppolo and to keep that win streak going.

#2 Garoppolo was 15-33 for 261 yards, but three interceptions. What was the break down in Garoppolo’s game and how the interceptions play a role in being a monkey wrench in the 49ers’ offensive game?

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

Rams down Raiders 33-13 in season opener

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Photo credit: @Raiders

By Jeremy Kahn

OAKLAND — With a chance to show the whole nation that they were much improved, the Oakland Raiders took a big step back in their season opener.

Jared Goff found Cooper Kupp for an eight-yard touchdown pass as time expired in the third quarter, as the Los Angeles Rams came from a 13-10 halftime deficit to defeat the Raiders 33-13 before a crowd of 53,857 at the Coliseum on Monday night.

Things looked for the Raiders on their initial drive of the game, as Marshawn Lynch barraged his way into the end zone from 10-yards out to give the Raiders an early 7-0 lead.

Todd Gurley tied up the game with under 5:00 remaining in the quarter, as he took a Goff pass and scored from 19 yards out.

Newcomer Mike Nugent gave the Raiders a 10-7 lead, as he kicked a 24-yard field goal on the Raiders first series of the second quarter.

Greg Zuerlein tied up the game with a 20-yard field goal just one series after he missed a 46-yard field goal from where Jed Lowrie usually patrols second base for the Oakland A’s.

Nugent sent the Raiders into the locker room with a hard fought 13-10 lead, as he nailed a 48-yard field goal with just 10 seconds remaining in the first half.

Goff took the Rams down the field, but the Raiders’ defense was able to hold the Rams to a field goal, as Zuerlein kicked a 28-yard field goal on the first series of the third quarter for the Rams.

That third quarter was atrocious for the Raiders, as they gained just 17 yards in the quarter, while the Rams gained 147 yards.

It was the Goff touchdown pass to Kupp in the final seconds of the quarter that gave the Rams the lead for good.

Zuerlein got the Rams their next six points, as he kicked a 55-yard field goal and then a 20-yard field goal that pushed the lead up to 13 with just 3:15 remaining in the game.

Former McClymonds High School star Marcus Peters put the final touches on the game, as he returned a Derek Carr pass 50 yards to the end zone to give the Rams their final margin of victory.

Carr ended up going 29-for-40 for 303 yards passing and three interceptions, including the pick six to Peters that put the game away for the Rams.

Following the Lynch touchdown that got the Raiders on the board, he carried the ball just 10 more times for 31 yards to lead the Raiders rushing game.

With the Rams secondary of Peters and Aqib Talib held the Raiders wide receivers in check, as Amari Cooper caught just one pass for nine yards and Jordy Nelson caught three passes for 23 yards. With the duo of Cooper and Nelson being locked down by the Rams secondary, Carr was able to get the ball to Jared Cook, who caught nine passes for 180 yards, including a 45-yard pass from Carr on the Raiders third play of the game.

Bay Area native Goff, who played his college ball at CAL, went 18-for-33 for 233 yards and two touchdowns.

Gurley showed the entire country why he was named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year, as he carried the ball 20 times for 108 yards, and he also caught three passes for 39 yards and a touchdown.

The Raiders other achilles heel was penalties, as they committed 11 penalties for 155 yards, all but one of the penalties took place in the first half, where the Raiders were penalized 10 times for 145 yards.

NOTES: With the loss, all of the NFL’s new head coaches went a combined 0-7 in the first weekend of the season.

Two of the 10 Raiders penalties in the first half went for a combined 87 yards, as Rashaan Melvin was called for a 37-yard pass interference penalty and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was flagged for a 50-yard pass interference penalty. That was more penalty yard in any game during Jon Gruden’s four years with the Raiders from 1998-2001 and the most in the first half since at least Gruden’s third season of 2000, when the Raiders made it all the way to the AFC Championship Game, where they lost to the Baltimore Ravens 16-3.

Andrew DePaola was forced to leave the game in the first quarter, as he injured his knee and did not return to the game. Tight End Lee Smith came on to become the long snapper, and the Raiders kicked two field goals.

UP NEXT: The Raiders head out on the road for a two-game road trip that begins on Sunday against the Denver Broncos at Broncos Stadium at Mile High, and then the Raiders head to Miami to face the Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium on September 23. Their next home game will be on September 30 against the Cleveland Browns.

49ers Lose to Vikings 24-16; Fail Season Opening Test

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Photo credit: @49ers

By: Joe Lami

Jimmy Garoppolo is no longer undefeated as a starter in the NFL, as the Minnesota Vikings outlasted the Niners 24-16.

Injuries, missed opportunities, bad timing, and turnovers from the 49ers assisted Kirk Cousins in his Viking’s debut. Minnesota’s new quarterback went 20-of-35 for 244 yards and two touchdowns.

He found success with Minnesota’s most dangerous targets, Adam Thielen and Dalvin Cook with each of them bringing down six catches. Thielen finished the day with 201 yards receiving, while Cook had 55 yards catching out of the backfield

Stefon Diggs and Kyle Rudolph each caught a touchdown. ‘

The 49ers are prepared to go into scramble mode thanks to injuries with several key pieces going down, including Marquise Goodwin, Joshua Garnett, and Mike Person.

Person and Garnett both went down with foot injuries, while Garnett’s appeared to be extremely serious needing a cart to assist him off the field from a non-contact play.

Goodwin attempted to return from his quad injury for the entirety of the game, as he was seen jogging and warming up on the sideline numerous times. Fortunately, the injury to Garcon seems to be the least severe of the three.

The Niners also missed opportunities the entire game. Pierre Garcon and George Kittle both had critical drops that would’ve led to touchdowns. Garcon was in the end zone, while Kittle’s was on a deep ball down the left sideline.

The drop ended up costing the Niners immediately, as Garoppolo threw his first of three interceptions. Rookie, Mike Hughes will remember his first interception for a long time, making a great play on the ball and jumping a Kenrick Bourne route for a pick 6 extending Minnesota’s lead to 17-3.

Earlier in the game, the Niners put together an eight-minute drive but once again the red zone offense completely shut down, eventually fumbling the ball on the one and giving the Vikings all of the momentum.

Despite everything that went wrong for the 49ers, they still hung in there until the very end. That is until Garoppolo started throwing interceptions, marking the first time in his career he’s thrown three in the same game. It just also happens to be his first loss as a starter.

San Francisco did have a few bright spots in all of the darkness. Tight end, George Kittle had five catches for 90 yards, though he’ll be remembered in this one for the wide-open drop.

Deforest Buckner appears to be an absolute beast in the pass rush. He was able to get to Cousin’s 2.5 times for sacks while recording 3 tackles for loss and seven total tackles.

Third round draft pick, Fred Warner not only was named a starter, but the linebacker was incredible. Having one of the best games out of any rookie, Warner started hot for the 49ers. In the first 20 minutes of the game, he recorded seven tackles and a forced fumble that Richard Sherman eventually fell on. He finished with 12 combined tackles, a tackle for loss, a pass deflection, and a forced fumble.

Sunday was a great measuring stick for the 49ers. Going up against one of the best defenses in the league and a team that made it to the conference championship game last year proves what this team is all about.

Kyle Shanahan was not kidding when he said that this team can go out and have a legit chance to win any game they play this season. We’ll see if they can finally strike gold at Levi’s next Sunday against the Lions at 1:05 pm PDT.

The Fantasy Football Doctors Podcast for Week 1 of the 2018 NFL Season is here

Published on by Charlie O. MalloneeLeave a comment

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Podcast hosts Dr. Vasu “the Partyman” Vaddiparty & Dr. Charlie O. Mallonee

sit-start

  • What did we learn from the Falcons vs. Eagles game?

  • Who are the hot the Quarterbacks going to be this Sunday?

  • Which QB’s should you keep on your bench?

  • Which Running Backs are going to tear up the turf?

  • Don’t you dare waive Le’Veon Bell!!!!!

  • Keep that back on the bench!

  • Who is going to have softest hands on the field Sunday?

  • Who’s going to suffer from a lack of concentration in the passing game?

DiehardFIN

The answer to these questions and more on this week’s podcast “the Partyman” and Charlie O.

Oakland Raiders podcast with Joe Hawkes Beamon: Raiders on primetime show on Monday Night, but will it be all about Mack?

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Photo credit: @Raiders

On the Oakland Raiders podcast with Joe:

#1 Regular season kicks off on primetime TV in Oakland. The Los Angeles Rams pay a visit to the Oakland Raiders the prelude to this game. Is the anticipation of the deal to send Khalil Mack to Chicago and much discussion expected on national TV?

#2 You try and watch the opener on Monday Night Football, but not only Mack dominates the telecast, but also the discussion. How it might turn on how the Raiders made a mistake on dealing Mack and how the Raiders very well might not make postseason without their superstar player?

#3 Mack amassed 40.5 sacks, but the Raiders still finished 24th in the league in defense. Will the Raiders sink further now without Mack?

#4 What about the fans? Raider Nation isn’t taking this well at all. Has the Raiders’ front office been hit with emails, comments and messages since the deal went down?

#5 Can this team focus and can they get their best player out of their head on Monday Night Football?

Joe Hawkes Beamon writes a weekly preview on Raiders football each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco 49ers podcast with Joe Lami: Will the pressure be on Garoppolo to repeat last season’s performance on opening day Sunday?

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

On the 49ers podcast with Joe:

#1 How much anticipation rides on this Sunday’s game on quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and his getting the 49ers off to a great start on opening day?

#2 Garoppolo won five straight games the last five games of the 2017 season. Knowing what you know going into this season what you saw of him in camp, how ready is Jimmy G to pick up where he left off?

#3 The 49ers suffered a huge setback with the injury of running back Jerrick McKinnon with a torn ACL in on contact practice. How will this injury impact the team?

#4 Other running backs Matt Bredia and Alfred Morris are expected to help carry the ball for SF with McKinnon’s absence.

#5 The Nike decision to run former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick as the face of their ad campaign has been embraced favorably by most of the players. Do you see the NFL taking the next step and allowing Kaepernick back into the league after making the statement regarding acceptance?

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

Raiders to host Rams in regular season opener on Monday Night Football

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Photo credit: @Raiders

By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
SRS Contributor

OAKLAND — Yes, the NFL regular season is finally here. No more of watching unwatchable preseason football and hoping that both teams put on solid efforts.

The Oakland Raiders will begin their 2018 regular season on Monday night when they will welcome the Los Angeles Rams to the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. The game between the two clubs will be the second game of ESPN’s Monday Night Football doubleheader, which kicks off at 7:20 p.m. PT.

The New York Jets travel to the Motor City to take on the Detroit Lions in Game 1. Kickoff for that game is at 4:10 p.m. PT.

The Raiders met the Rams in Week 2 of the preseason in Los Angeles. The Rams won a snore of a game, 19-15, with both teams opting to hold out their starters.

This time around, things will be different as this is the regular season and the games count more than they do in the preseason.

The big story surrounding the Raiders has been the trade of defensive end/outside linebacker Khalil Mack to the Chicago Bears on Sept. 2. Oakland was unable to come to terms on a new longterm contract for the star defender.

The Raiders were hoping that Mack would return to the team and play under the franchise tag of $13.8 million but when it appeared that Mack wasn’t going to show up for any of Oakland’s training camp, head coach Jon Gruden and general manager Reggie McKenzie shipped the 27-year-old former NFL Defensive Player of the Year to the Bears for a boatload of draft picks: first- and sixth-round picks in 2019, and first- and third-round picks in 2020.

Along with Mack, the Bears received second- and fifth-round picks in 2020 as part of the deal.

Oakland will miss Mack no doubt. Mack amassed 40.5 sacks over the past four seasons for the Raiders and the name of the game on defense is to hit the quarterback and Oakland just let their best pass rusher walk out the door.

Last season, the Raiders finished 24th in defense last year despite Mack’s 10.5 sacks. This season, the Raiders will need to improve that ranking if they are to return to the playoffs after a dismal 6-10 season last year following a 12-4 campaign in 2016. That means rookies on the defensive line such as P.J. Hall, Maurice Hurst and Arden Key will be tasked to pick up the slack for Mack.

Quarterback Derek Carr is looking for a bounce back season of his own in 2018.

Last season, Carr’s numbers dipped a bit: throwing for 3,496 yards, with 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions with a 86.4 passer rating after throwing for 3,937 yards with 28 touchdowns and just six interceptions to go along with a career-high 96.7 passer rating in 2016.

With Gruden back in town (after taking over for the fired Jack Del Rio), Carr’s play is expected to take off. Gruden is credited as being an offensive genius when designing plays and Carr’s performance will be critical for the Raiders’ offense that finished  23rd in production in 2017.

The Rams defense finished in 12th in scoring defense (20.6 points per game) and are loaded.

Defensive tackle Aaron Donald, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, leads the Rams into Oakland looking to build off of the team’s first postseason birth since 2004. Los Angeles won the NFC West title after finishing 11-5 last season and are one of the favorites to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl in Atlanta on Feb. 3, 2019.

Los Angeles added defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh to play next to Donald in the offseason, along with cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters via trades to shore up their secondary.

The Rams have one of the best offenses in the league, led by third-year quarterback Jared Goff and running back Todd Gurley.

After a subpar rookie season in 2016 in which he threw for just 1,089 yards with five touchdowns and seven interceptions under former head coach Jeff Fisher, Goff exploded in 2017 under first-year head coach Sean McVay throwing for career-highs in yards (3,804), touchdowns (28) and passer rating (100.5).

Goff threw just seven interceptions during the 2017 campaign.

Gurley had a bounce back season too under McVay after a disappointing 2016 season where Gurley rushed for a career-low 885 yards and six touchdowns. The fourth-year running back rushed for career-highs in yards (1,305) and touchdowns (13). Gurley finished second in the NFL in total rushing, falling just 22 yards short of league-leader in rookie Kareem Hunt of the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Raiders could have their hands full with a Rams offense that finished first in scoring last season, averaging 29.9 points per game.

After Monday night’s game, both teams will begin their divisional schedule Sunday, September 16, with the Raiders traveling to Denver to take on the Broncos, while the Rams will host the Arizona Cardinals at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Games will be scheduled for 1:25 pm and 1:05 pm, respectively.

A written prescription for tonight’s game from the Fantasy Football Doctors

Published on by Charlie O. MalloneeLeave a comment

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By doctors Charlie O. Mallonee, Vasu Vaddiparty and Jordan Chapin

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Atlanta Falcons
QB
If you drafted Matt Ryan, you drafted him as a number one QB. Of course, you are going to start him versus the Eagles tonight. Just don’t have too high of expectations for his production. Most of the predictions have him passing for 230 to 240 yards with up to two TD’s. Expect approximately 20 completions.

RB
Devonta Freeman was a Top 10 pick in most Fantasy Leagues, so he’s starting for you tonight. Again, do not get too excited because the projections for his production are not great. Many have Freeman rushing for under 50 yards. The experts say chances of Freeman scoring a touchdown are minimal.

WR
Yes, you are going to start Julio Jones. If you don’t start him, we are going to make you turn in your Fantasy Football membership card. Again, the projections are not great. The prediction is for 75 yards receiving with an outside chance of catching a touchdown.

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Philadelphia Eagles
QB
If you have Nick Foles as your starting QB tonight, it probably means you picked Carson Wentz hoping he would be ready to go tonight. Well, you are going to have to wait at least until game three for Wentz so Foles is your man until then. He is projected for 240 yards versus the Falcons with two touchdowns.

RB
Jay Ajayi will be the main man carrying the rock for the Eagles. Look for him to run for about 80 yards in the game.

TE
Zach Ertz was a fantasy football assassin in the second half of the season last yerar. If you have him on your roster, he is a must play.

Game Projections
FiveThirtyEight.com gives the Eagles a 65-percent chance of winning tonight’s game. They make Philadelphia the favorite -4.5 points.

The Fantasy Football Doctors Podcast will be available Friday afternoon on sportsradioservice.com

Oakland Raiders podcast with Tony Renteria: Gruden satisfied with backup quarterback Manuel; How Mack deal impacts Raiders for MNF

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Photo credit: @zennie62

On the Raiders podcast with Tony R:

#1 One thing the Raiders got out of camp if anything is their backup quarterback EJ Manuel, who had himself a game last Thursday in the final exhibition game, going 18-22 for 255 yards in Seattle.

#2 Manuel likes his favorite receiver for that game Ken Hatcher, who caught two touchdowns. Hatcher got good footing and moved everywhere last Thursday.

#3 Talk about quaterbacks coach Brian Callahan. He took over for head coach Jon Gruden and was able to balance the run and pass ratio. How big of a help was he for Manuel?

#4 With linebacker Khalil Mack gone, will the Raiders’ linebackers Emmanuel LaMur, Kyle Wiber, Tahir Whitehead, and Nicholas Morrow, be able to fill some big shoes?

#5 The Raiders open up the season on Monday Night Football against the Los Angeles Rams. How much discussion on network TV and even at the Oakland Coliseum will there be about how big a mistake it was for the Raiders not signing and keeping Mack?

Tony does the Raiders podcast each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com