Category: NFL

That’s Amaury’s Podcast, News, & Commentary: Sharks-Habs battling to get back in win column tonight; NFL Wild Cards; Manny Machado will he stay or will he go; Gruden waits for hiring process at Raiders

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Daniel Dullum is filling for Amaury’s Podcast today:

1 The Sharks are coming off a tough 6-0 in Dallas on Sunday and are looking to get back into the win column. The Montreal Canadiens are currently on a four-game loss streak and host the Sharks in a frosty cold Montreal, but there’s no outdoor game here as they’ll hook up tonight at the Bell Centre for this contest.

2 NFL Wild Card Playoffs start this Saturday. Daniel takes a look at Tennessee @ Kansas City and in game two Atlanta @ LA Rams.

3 For Sunday’s Wild Card games game one Buffalo @ Jacksonville and game two Carolina @ New Orleans.

4 The Cubs looked like the front runner in the Manny Machado sweepstakes, but the latest is Machado is up for grabs and the Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos is not very excited about letting Machado get away. A Machado contract would command around $325 million.

5. Former Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden has said “let’s wait and see” in regards to his getting the job at the Raiders. Gruden can’t very well come out and say “the job is mine” because the Raiders are obligated by NFL policy to abide by the Art Rooney rule and have to interview at least one minority before announcing that Gruden is the new head coach. Sources say a minority assistant coach could be interviewed and if they hire Gruden that assistant coach could be hired on under Gruden as his assistant coach.

Daniel Dullum is filling in for Amaury for today’s podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

49ers string off fifth straight win, close out 2017 with 34-13 blowout over Rams

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San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde, right, celebrates after scoring against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

By: Joe Lami

The Jimmy Garoppolo era in San Francisco continues to amaze as he remains undefeated as a starter after the 49ers beat the Rams 34-13 to close out the 2017 campaign.

Already making the playoffs, the Rams decided to sit stars Todd Gurley and Jared Goff and the Niners used it to their advantage, dominating from the opening kick-off.

Garoppolo finished the day with two touchdowns, and two interceptions and was 20-of-33 for 292 yards. His first touchdown came in the first quarter as he found his favorite target, Marquise Goodwin, from eight yards out.

Goodwin suffered a concussion later in the game and was taken to a local Los Angeles hospital, but is doing a lot better. He only had one other catch for a total of 28 yards.

Garoppolo later found Aldrick Robinson in the fourth quarter to make it 34-6.

Upon speculation of his last game in the red and gold, Carlos Hyde had one of his best games of the season, running for 90 yards and hammering in two touchdowns.

Sean Mannion was clearly no Goff for the Rams, as he struggled most of the way. The Rams secondary passer threw for 169, completing 20 of 34.

Lance Dunbar scored the only Rams touchdown in garbage time with 6:40 remaining.

The 49ers finish their season, having won five straight and six of their last seven. Since Garoppolo became the starter, they have been one of the best teams in the league and have looked unstoppable.

The excitement is finally felt in the Red and Gold faithful, creating one of the most important offseasons in franchise history. With the winning streak, they’ve thrown together, San Francisco has gone from selecting second in the NFL Draft to selecting ninth.

Most shockingly, the 49ers and Raiders finished 2017 with the same record.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Jimmy Garappolo Changed the 49ers’ Trajectory

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, left, hugs Los Angeles Rams quarterback Sean Mannion after their 34-13 win against the Rams during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

San Francisco 49ers ended the season with lots of hope for the future. The main reason is their everyday quarterback, Jimmy Garappolo, who is 26 years of age and has played football at Eastern Illinois University, was drafted by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft.

With the Patriots, he was the back-up for the great Tom Brady, San Mateo’s own, and future member of the NFL Hall of Fame. Garoppolo. experienced what it was to play on a team with one of the all-time greats. Garoppolo would finish the season for the 49ers with a 34-13 win over the Los Angeles Rams, who had won their division. On this last Sunday and last day of the year 2017, Garappolo completed 20 of 33 passes for total of 292 yards and 2 touchdowns.

The final record of the 49ers this season was 6-10. As a starting quarterback, Garappolo won the last 5 games of the season.

Considering that the 49ers have not enjoyed a winning season since 2013, when they finished 12-4, this season that ended Sunday was very positive and hopeful for the team. After the Colin Kaepernick years (2011-16) and after the controversy towards the end of his tenure, the 49ers were making more news because of political reasons than football reasons. 2016 was the last year for Kaepernick with the 49ers as he started 11 games that season, but became a huge distraction, not for what he could not do during the games, but what he did, before the games. Considering that a player in any sport, gets paid for what he does during the game, common sense tells you that the ownership of the 49ers was not thrilled about his antics. After those 11 games, he would join the unemployed.

In 2017, the 49ers had Brian Hoyer as a quarterback for six games, then C.J Beathard for five games, and then on December 3, at Chicago, Garoppolo got his first opportunity to start, and although he was far from perfect, he managed to bring home a winner, a 15-14 victory over the Chicago Bears.

Nobody can predict the future, who would have predicted the last month for the 49ers? Did you see it coming? Did you put back in your car that 49ers flag that you took away at the end of last season? C’mon, let’s be honest.

But seriously, and one thing for sure, the 49ers have found a quarterback than stands up for the National Anthem, and can also stand-up to win games. Regardless how you feel about Kaepernick (whom I respect and has the right to demonstrate for his cause, although I do not agree he should have done it on the field), the 49ers have totally changed their image from a loser to a winner in a span of a few weeks. In football, it has been proven again and again, that you cannot win without a good quarterback.

We all remember the 49ers during their glory years: the Bill Walsh offense, Joe Montana, Steve Young, Jerry Rice, Ronnie Lott, and all those great players and Super Bowls that made this franchise the top professional sports franchise in the San Francisco Bay Area, with five Super Bowl titles. It was a lot of fun covering those winning years at old and decrepit Candlestick Park. I covered those teams for Telemundo and it was always fun, from the tailgate parties to the post game interviews.

Rejoice 49ers fans, for your team, has found a leader on the field!

Happy New Year!

Amaury Pi Gonzalez does News and Commentary and Podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

 

 

 

Raiders part ways with head coach Jack Del Rio after 30-10 thrashing from Chargers

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Oakland Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio reacts during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)

By Jeremy Kahn

Who would have thought when the 2017 season began, the Oakland Raiders would not make a return appearance to the AFC Playoffs, but now they are looking for a new head coach as well.

Jack Del Rio was informed after the game that he was being dismissed as coach of the Raiders by owner Mark Davis.

The firing of Del Rio comes just months after the Hayward native signed a four-year extension with the team.

“Today was kind of a microcosm of our season,” Del Rio said after the Raiders’ 30-10 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. “The opportunities and lack of production really not good enough, really disappointing.”

In his first season with the team in 2015, Del Rio went 7-9, then in 2016, the Raiders returned to the playoffs for the first time since the 2002 season, as they went 12-4; however, this season their record fell to 6-10 and they missed the playoffs for the 14th time in 15 seasons.

“He told me he loved me and appreciated all I did to get this program going in the right direction, but that he felt the need to change,” Del Rio said. “I told him how much I appreciated the opportunity he gave me; very grateful, my childhood team.”

“But it’s a results business. I understand that.”

In his three seasons with the Raiders, Del Rio went 25-23, becoming just one of seven Raiders coaches in team history to have a winning record their tenure ended.

Del Rio joins Al Davis (23-16-3), John Rauch (33-8-1), John Madden (103-32-7) , Tom Flores (83-53), Art Shell (56-52) and Jon Gruden (38-26).

ESPN.com contributed to this report.

Oakland Raiders Podcast with Joe Hawkes Beamon: Raiders would like to end season on a good note in LA

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Oakland Raiders’ Derek Carr, left, hands off to Marshawn Lynch during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Monday, Dec. 25, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

On the Oakland Raiders Podcast with J Hawkes:

1 Oakland Raiders into their last game of the season against the LA Chargers this Sunday at Stub Hub Center in Carson. It’ll be the Raiders first visit to LA since they moved back to Oakland in 1995.

2 The Raiders come in after losing three straight including last week to the Eagles 19-10

3 The Raiders in tough on last week their defense held the Eagles to 14 third down situation out of 15

4 Offensively the Raiders got help from running back Marshawn Lynch who carried 25 times for 95 yards

5 As the Chargers host the Raiders Joe will take a look at how this one stacks up

Joe Hawkes Beamon did the Raiders home and away previews and will handle the NFL Playoff Podcast Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco 49ers-LA Rams preview: Rams to rest starters vs. 49ers

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) passes against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

By Jeremy Harness

SANTA CLARA–The 49ers are riding a wave of optimism and excitement that was not there earlier in the first few months of 2017, and from the way things are going, there’s a good chance that it will keep going into 2018.

San Francisco has won each of its past four games with new quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo under center, including the team’s signature win of the year last Sunday, a 44-33 victory over the playoff-bound Jacksonville Jaguars, which has kicked the excitement for the team’s future prospects into high gear.

They will close out the season in Los Angeles this Sunday against another playoff team in the Rams.

The Rams, who have clinched the NFC West and a first-round home playoff game but cannot earn a first-round bye, will rest most, if not all, of their key players when they take on the 49ers on Sunday.

Among those expected to sit out the game are quarterback Jared Goff, running back Todd Gurley as well as top offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth. Also not expected in the lineup for the Rams is top pass rusher Aaron Donald.

What this means for the 49ers is a chance to make even more headway in the hopes of having a major carryover effect for next season. The 49ers have been depleted by injuries for much of this season, but unlike the earlier part of this year, the team now has a quarterback that many believe will hold the foreseeable future of the offense in his right arm.

For the 49ers, most of those who were limited in practice last week have been full participants this week, including cornerback Greg Mabin, tight end George Kittle and linebacker Reuben Foster. Meanwhile, safety Adrian Colbert was limited with his shoulder injury but is expected to play Sunday, as is receiver Marquise Goodwin (back) and receiver/kick returner Trent Taylor (shoulder).

Jeremy Harness previewed all home and away San Francisco 49ers games each week during the 2018 season at http://www.sportsradioservice.com.

 

Headline Sports Podcast with Tony Renteria: Can Raiders end season on positive note; Will the Rams be the best test for Niners Jimmy G; Pats the favorite in the Super Bowl

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Oakland Raiders’ Derek Carr in action during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Monday, Dec. 25, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

On the Headlines Sports Podcast with Tony:

1 The Oakland Raiders (6-9) play their final game of 2017 in Los Angeles against the Chargers (8-7) in Carson. It’s been a struggle of late for the Raiders can they end the season on a positive note by getting a win past the Chargers

2 The 49ers after losing nine straight and winning four of their last five games collude 2017 against the LA Rams will this be 49er quarterback Jimmy Garopplo’s first big test?

3 New England Patriots (12-3) looks to be the favorite in the NFL in post season do you see them knocking everybody off in the playoffs?

4 The Pittsburgh Steelers (12-3) dominated they finish their season against Cleveland (1-14) Sunday will the Steel Curtain and quarterback Ben Rothlesberger also dominate in post season?

5 Who do you like in the AFC that you see being the AFC Champion

Tony Renteria does the Headline Sports Podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Categories NFL

Raiders close out regular season against Chargers at StubHub Center

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Oakland Raiders’ Amari Cooper (89) catches a pass against Philadelphia Eagles’ Corey Graham (24) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 25, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
SRS Contributor

OAKLAND — The Raiders will wrap up the 2017 regular season on the road against the Chargers at the StubHub Center. Sunday’s game will also conclude the regular season series between these longtime rivals, who first met back in 1960. Los Angeles defeated the Raiders back in Week 6, 17-16, in Oakland. Raiders lead the all-time series 62-51-2.

Oakland (6-9) dropped their third straight game, losing to the now 13-2 Philadelphia Eagles 19-10 before a national televised audience on ESPN’s Monday Night Football. The Raiders’ defense played strong, holding the Eagles to just 216 yards of total offense (138 passing and 78 rushing).

The Silver and Black held the Eagles to just 1-of-14 on third downs. Middle linebacker NaVorro Bowman led the Raiders with seven tackles, while defensive linemen Denico Autry and Jihad Ward each recording a sack; it was Ward’s first career sack.

Safety Reggie Nelson was around the football the entire night, forcing two turnovers against Philadelphia in the second half. Nelson forced a fumble that was recovered by cornerback TJ Carrie, and then registered an interception off Eagles starting quarterback Nick Foles in the fourth quarter. For the game, Nelson finished with six tackles and three pass defensed.

Offensively, Oakland’s running game came alive behind starting running back Marshawn Lynch, who rushed for 95 yards on 25 carries. Starting quarterback Derek Carr threw for 140 yards on 15-of-29 passing with one touchdown and one interception.

After missing the previous two games with an ankle injury, wide receiver Amari Cooper returned to the lineup and finished with three catches for 66 yards and one touchdown. Cooper got great separation from Eagles starting cornerback Jalen Mills running a slant-and-go for a 63-yard score in the first half.

Los Angeles (8-7) enters Week 17 with a shot at making the AFC playoffs. After a slow start to the season, the Chargers have now won five of their last six games after dispatching the New York Jets, 14-7, last Sunday at MetLife Stadium. The Chargers can clinch a playoff berth with a win against the Raiders, coupled with losses by both the Tennessee Titans (8-7) and Buffalo Bills (8-7).

Starting quarterback Philip Rivers threw for 290 yards on 22-of-40 passing with one touchdown against the Jets last week. The 14-year veteran enters the final weekend of the season ranking third in the NFL in passing yards with 4,128 and ninth in touchdown passes with 25 and only 10 interceptions.

Wide receiver Keenan Allen appears to be all the way back from the torn ACL he suffered last season, ranking fourth among wide receivers in the NFL with 1,260 receiving yards to go along with 93 catches–all career-highs for the fifth-year pro. Allen has caught five touchdowns this season.

Running back Melvin Gordon is Los Angeles’s most versatile offensive weapon. Gordon is tied for third in the NFL with 12 touchdowns (eight rushing and four receiving). The third-year pro rushed for 81 yards on 19 carries and one touchdown against the Jets, helping him eclipse 1,000 yards for the first time in his career.

Gordon enters Sunday’s matchup against Oakland rushing for 1,012 yards on 257 carries, to go along with 52 catches for 445 yards this season.

The Chargers have one of the better defenses in the league, ranking fifth in the NFL with 41 sacks. Second-year defensive end Joey Bosa leads the team with 11.5 sacks, while fellow defensive end Melvin Ingram is close behind with 10 sacks. After finishing tied for the NFL lead in interceptions in 2016, Los Angeles is currently tied for third with 17 interceptions this season.

Safety Tre Boston and cornerback Casey Hayward are tied for the team lead with four picks apiece.

Kickoff is set for 1:25 p.m. PT.

San Francisco 49ers Podcast with David Zizmor: After getting past one of the NFL’s best 49ers and Jimmy G host Rams Sunday

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) passes against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

By David Zizmor

SANTA CLARA–There are two things, number one this was going to be a big test for the 49ers when they hosted one of the NFL’s best teams the Jacksonville Jaguars last Sunday. The Jaguars came into the game with hands down one of the best defenses in the league just by all the numbers. The Jags are noted for being particularly stingy against quarterbacks and the Jaguars allowed only 164 passing yards.

Then you have 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo comes out and added 130 yards in the first quarter alone and ended up with 240 yards passing total. The Jaguars have a great defense, they lead the league in sacks their secondary is shedding multiple drives. The Jaguars are a team that have hard hitting fast units on defense. This Jaguars defense was modeled similar to the Seattle defense.

Dave hosts he 49ers podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

The Jimmy Garappolo show continues as 49ers beat Jaguars 44-33 for fourth straight win

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Photo credit: @ESPNStatsInfo

By: Joe Lami

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The 49ers saved the best for last on Faithful Appreciation Day, as they put up their highest point total of the season in a 44-33 victory over the AFC South Champion, Jacksonville Jaguars, at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday.

The Jimmy Garappolo show is thriving in Santa Clara as San Francisco has won four straight games for the first time since the 2013 season–the last one played at Candlestick Park. The Niners have also won five of their last six and might as well be the hottest team in the NFL, especially with a victory against one of the best teams in the league.

The buzz surrounding the 49ers is impressive for a five-win team in December. but is felt all around the locker room and the minute one walks into Levi’s Stadium.

Jacksonville secured the playoff spot right as the game kicked off with the Rams’ 27-23 victory over the Tennessee Titans, but played their starters the entire game, yet it still wasn’t enough.

Sunday marked the first time in NFL history with a final score of 44-33 as it played very similar to a basketball game with both teams going on runs.

San Francisco started hot out of the gate. Garoppolo marched the offense immediately down the field on a 79-yard drive lasting 4:42, capped off by a Garoppolo punch-in touchdown. The Niners would go up 16-0 before the Jags got on the board, thanks to a 27-yard Robbie Gould field goal and a 50-yard pick six from Dontae Johnson.

On the ensuing point after attempt, Gould’s PAT was blocked and returned for a two-point conversion by Aaron Colvin. The special teams’ play was enough to jump-start the Jags’ offense, as they were able to string off 19 straight points to take the 19-16 lead with 10:26 left in the third. However, San Francisco would recapture the lead with 6:46 to go in the third and not look back.

San Francisco’s offense saw contributions by nearly everyone. Garoppolo ran one touchdown in and threw for two. George Kittle and Trent Taylor were the recipients, while Carlos Hyde and Matt Breida also ran in touchdowns.

Brieda finished the day leading the team in rushing yards with 74 over 11 carries, while Hyde carried the ball 21 times for 54 yards.

Pro-Bowl fullback Kyle Juszczyk led the team in receiving yards, as he caught all five targets for 76 yards. Kittle was also perfect, catching all three targets for 42 yards. Garoppolo did an excellent job of spreading the ball around as nine different Niners had at least one reception.

Most impressively, the offensive line stopped one of the best pass rushes from getting to Garoppolo, as “Sacksonville” only sacked Garoppolo once.

San Francisco’s recent performances would be nothing without the work of the defense. The strongest third of the 49ers’ season has been getting overlooked now that they have support from the offense, but once again, they were a vital part in Sunday’s win.

Forcing bad throws from Blake Bortles all day cumulated in three interceptions from Johnson, K’Wuan Williams, and Ankello Witherspoon.

Bortles struggled most of the day, finishing 32-of-50 for 482 yards and two touchdowns. The Niners’ front seven also shut down one of the best rushers in the league, as Leonard Fournette carried the ball 18 times for only 48 yards.

While the 49ers remain one of the hottest teams in the NFL, they hope to close out their season with five straight wins against the Los Angeles Rams next weekend before one of the biggest offseasons in franchise history.