Category: NFL

Oakland Raiders Podcast with Joe Hawkes Beamon: Raiders need every game to make post season; Chiefs stand in the way of Raiders playoff hopes

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Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch (24) runs the football for a touchdown during an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. The Raiders defeated the Giants, 24-17. (Ryan Kang via AP)

By Joe Hawkes Beamon

ALAMEDA– Raiders coming off back to back to wins it’s big as they get prepared for the Kansas City. The Raiders just so happened to have faced two football clubs in the Denver Broncos and the New York Giants who are having tough seasons and the Raiders caught them at a time when they are struggling. The Chiefs the Raiders next opponent have lost four straight they started the season at 5-0 now the Chiefs are 6-6 angry, desperate and are at home this Sunday to try and get back in the win column.

The Raiders want to keep it going they have won two straight against Denver and NY Giants before that they were on a three game losing streak so there’s so much riding on getting this game for the Raiders. Quarterback Derek Carr will be happy the team is full strength after missing Michael Crabtree for the last two games on a suspension, then Marshawn Lynch had served a one game suspension for contact with an official, and Amari Cooper was out with an injury last week is scheduled to return this Sunday.

Joe has much more on this week’s Raiders podcast at http://www.sporrtsradioservice.com

 

Niners look to build momentum with new QB Jimmy Garoppolo

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San Francisco 49ers Jimmy Garoppolo (10) drops back for a pass during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, December 3, 2017, in Chicago, IL (Terrell Lloyd via AP Images)

By Jeremy Harness

It took quite a long time, but things appear to be looking up for the 49ers as the final month of the season commences.

In his first start with his new team, even though he did not throw a touchdown pass, Jimmy Garoppolo led the 49ers to a final-seconds win over the Chicago Bears. It was only the second win of the year for the 49ers, but it was a special one for kicker Robbie Gould, who spent his entire career with the Bears, and he was the one who kicked the game-winning field goal.

Now the team will try to build on those positive vibes – and they have been few and far in between this year – on the road against the Houston Texans on Sunday.

One thing that is good for the team is this: The 49ers appear to be in pretty good shape in terms of the injury report. Tackle Trent Brown could not practice last week, but he was upgraded to limited on Wednesday with a shoulder that is on the mend, and safety Adrian Colbert also practiced on Wednesday while nursing a thumb injury.

The 49ers’ defense, however, will have a huge challenge on their hands when the Texans are on the field. Opposite star receiver DeAndre Hopkins, Houston is expected to get Will Fuller back to the active roster.

He was limited in practice on Wednesday with a rib injury, but coach Bill O’Brien was reportedly optimistic that Fuller will be able to play against the 49ers.

Fantasy Football Emergency Podcast: NFL Week 14 & the Fantasy Playoffs are on!

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Fantasy-Football (1)

Podcast hosts: Vasu “the Party-Man” Vaddiparty & Charlie O. Mallonee – Fantasy Football Freaks

The Playoffs are underway and money is on the line. We want you to win the championship of your league. We have the last minute advice you need on personnel moves to make to upgrade your roster and dominate your opponents. Come on … let’s win NOW!

Headline Sports Podcast with Tony Renteria: A’s still want out of Coliseum; Downtown Oakland only place for A’s

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File photo: Oakland A’s team president Dave Kaval who led the effort to build a new ball park at Lake Merritt will now have to do a study on one of two locations Howard Terminal at Jack London Square or the Oakland Coliseum

On Headline Sports Podcast with Tony Renteria:

1 Laney College shot down the Oakland A’s new stadium proposal as the college faculty not only picketed against the new ball park but forced the Peralta Board of Trustees who didn’t want  munity with their faculty on their hands to vote and drop any further discussion on a new stadium at Laney College

2 A’s team officials were shocked when they found out the board had voted to stop all discussions on the new stadium. Had the discussions still carried on the faculty were planning on marching on the Chancellor’s office Thursday afternoon.

3 The A’s have two choices left to build a new park the Oakland Coliseum where A’s team president David Kaval said at one time the location was undesirable for corporate sponsors, developers, retail, businesses, also it was a location that most fans won’t want to walk around after a ball game. Jack London Square would be a much better alternative out of the two choices right now. You know it’s bad if Sam’s Hoff Brau year’s back had to move out of the Coliseum area a few years.

4 Does Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf have a huge problem in saving the A’s? The A’s campaign motto last season was “Rooted In Oakland” and it feels like depending on who your talking to that the A’s failed campaign to move to Lake Merritt failed that motto and everyone involved is asking “what next?”

5 Turning to football Tony takes a look at the Oakland Raiders in a must win situation as they play in Kansas City this Sunday. The Raiders are coming off a win against the New York Giants from last Sunday the Chiefs are coming off a six game loss streak so they want to win and win on their own home field.

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

Raiders get set for crucial AFC divisional game with Chiefs in Kansas City

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Photo credit: @RAIDERS

By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
SRS Contributor

OAKLAND — After back-to-back wins at home over the Broncos and the Giants, the Raiders head on the road to take on the Chiefs in Kansas City Sunday in a critical AFC West matchup. The Raiders are looking to complete the season sweep over the Chiefs after dispatching Kansas City, 31-30, in Week 7 at Oakland that halted Kansas City’s 11-game divisional win streak.

Kickoff is at 10:00 a.m. PT from Arrowhead Stadium. With both teams–along with the Los Angeles Chargers–sporting identical 6-6 records, the winner of this game would be in the driver seat of the division with three games to go in the regular season.

For the second straight week, Oakland’s defense held the opposing team to under 300 yards of total offense in limiting the Giants to 265 yards in Week 13. Defensive lineman Denico Autry recorded one of Oakland’s three sacks, his third in the last two games. Defensive end Khalil Mack and linebacker Bruce Irvin each posted a sack off of Giants starting quarterback Geno Smith.

Middle linebacker NaVorro Bowman led the team with eight solo tackles (one assisted).

Running back Marshawn Lynch carried the offensive load for Oakland, running for a 100 yards in a game since October 2015 as a member of the Seattle Seahawks. Lynch rushed for 101 yards on 17 carries, including a 51-yard touchdown run on Oakland’s first drive of the game. It was Lynch’s second-straight 100-yard game for Oakland this season.

Lynch owes the Raiders a big performance against the Chiefs, after getting ejected from the previous game for making contact with an official after coming off the bench to aid in defusing an altercation between Kansas City cornerback Marcus Peters, and the Raiders offensive line.

Lynch and Peters are “cousins” with the two having close ties from growing up in West Oakland.

With Oakland’s wide receiver corps depleted with Michael Crabtree serving a one-game suspension for fighting with Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib, and Amari Cooper out with a concussion/left ankle injury, wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson step up for the Silver and Black leading the team with 79 yards receiving on four receptions. Patterson’s 59-yard catch-and-run in the fourth quarter, helped seal Oakland’s victory over the Giants.

Crabtree is expected to be ready to go against the Chiefs, but Cooper is a different story. Cooper did clear the league’s concussion protocol, the team announced Wednesday, but has yet to practice on the sprained left ankle. If you’re part of Raider Nation, you better take a wait-and-see approach with Cooper.

Raiders starting quarterback Derek Carr completed 22-of-36 passing for 287 yards and a touchdown, a nine-yard toss to wide receiver Johnny Holton in the fourth quarter.

Carr’s biggest performance of 2017 came against the Chiefs in front of a national audience on NBC’s Thursday Night Football, throwing for a ridiculous 417 yards on 29-of-52 passing with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Carr and Cooper were in perfect harmony that night, with Cooper having a career night with 11 receptions (on 15 targets) for 210 yards and two touchdowns. Cooper scored on touchdowns of 38- and 45-yards respectively.

In seven career games against Kansas City, Carr is just 2-5 against the Chiefs, his worst record against one team. Carr is just 3-4 against the Broncos in seven career games, his second-worst record against one team.

But Sunday’s game is essentially a playoff game for Oakland’s signal-caller, who sports a 0-3 record at Arrowhead Stadium. Carr knows that he must play well in order for the Raiders to leave Kansas City with a win.

Speaking before Wednesday’s practice, Carr acknowledge that the Silver and Black have their work cut out for them facing the Chiefs.

“Definitely number one right now, especially this week,” Carr said via the team’s official website. “It’s definitely up there. It’s something that we have not been able to do since I’ve been here. We have to get on that.

“We have a tough task ahead of us because, although their record is the same as ours, we’re both pretty good football teams. We have to go out there and play hard.”

After starting the season 5-0, including an impressive 42-27 win at New England in Week 1, Kansas City’s season has fallen into a tailspin. The Chiefs are just 1-6 in their last seven games and are currently riding a four-game losing streak after falling to the New York Jets, 38-31, at MetLife Stadium in an offensive shootout last Sunday.

Kansas City’s offense racked up 474 yards of total offense against the Jets, with starting quarterback Alex Smith having a huge day throwing and running the football. Smith threw for 366 yards on 19-of-33 passing, with four touchdowns and no interceptions. The former Utah quarterback also had a 70-yard run in the game.

Wide receiver Tyreek Hill erupted for six receptions for 165 yards and two touchdowns, while tight end Travis Kelce finished with four receptions for 94 yards and two touchdowns.

Defensively, Kansas City was shredded by the Jets allowing 488 yards of total offense to Gang Green. Journeyman quarterback Josh McCown threw for 331 yards on 26-of-36 passing and a touchdown. Kansas City’s secondary allowed wide receivers Jermaine Kearse (9 receptions for 157 yards) and Robby Anderson (8 receptions for 107 yards) to run uncovered for most of the game.

The Jets converted 13-of-20 third downs and hogged the time of possession, controlling the clock for 42:49 and didn’t allow the Chiefs to get near McCown. Justin Houston, Kansas City’s most feared pass-rusher, was held to just one tackle for the game.

That won’t cut it for a team who has a rich history of getting to the quarterback with guys named Derrick Thomas, Neil Smith and Tamba Hali just to name a few.

In Kansas City’s biggest game of the season, the team will play without the aforementioned Peters, who was suspended by the team Wednesday for leaving the field while the game was still being played against the Jets. Peters also threw a penalty flag in the stands after a Jet touchdown.

With Peters out against the Raiders, the Chiefs already leaky secondary has gotten weaker and that could be a place where Oakland could attack. Teams are averaging 252.8 passing yards a game against the Chiefs this season. Kansas City ranks 28th in the league against the pass.

Oakland averages 241.2 passing yards per game this season, good for 15th in the league. Overall, the Silver and Black rank 21st in the league averaging 20.8 points per game.

Following Sunday’s game, the Raiders will host the visiting Dallas Cowboys at the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum in Oakland’s final home game of the regular season, while Kansas City hosts the Chargers in another pivotal AFC West matchup in Week 15.

San Francisco 49ers Podcast with David Zizmor: Garoppollo’s 14-14 throwing to receivers a true tale sign of good things to come for 49ers

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San Francisco 49ers Jimmy Garoppolo (10) delivers a pass during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, December 3, 2017, in Chicago, IL (Terrell Lloyd via AP Images)

San Francisco 49ers Podcast with David Zizmor:

Jimmy Garoppolo confidence gave the team confidence that translated to a win for the San Francisco 49ers quarterback and the Niners. The Niners won it 15-14 just a point better than the hosts Chicago Bears in Soldiers Field. Garoppolo was doing so well that he even got them to the end zone five times during the game. The 49ers could have  little more offense and the key is they have to stay on their toes even a they go down field.

The play calling needs to improve down close to the goal line the 49ers just didn’t have quite the strong kind of play there was the running in the middle of the line, the poor passes, there were poorly designed passes but that’s not Garaoppolo’s fault the 49ers are just notch behind the Bears at 2-10 and the Bears are at 9-3.

David does the 49ers each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Marshawn Lynch records first 100-yard rushing game since October 2015 in Raiders’ 24-17 win over NY Giants

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Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch (24) scores a touchdown in front of New York Giants cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie during the first half of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
SRS Contributor

OAKLAND — Don’t look now, but Raiders’ running back Marshawn Lynch has gotten his running legs under him in 2017.

With Oakland playing without starting wide receivers Michael Crabtree (serving a one-game suspension) and Amari Cooper (out with a concussion and ankle injury), Lynch was the focal point for the Raiders Sunday rushing for 101 yards on 17 carries in a 24-17 win over the visiting New York Giants. Lynch’s 51-yard touchdown run up the middle of the Giants’ defense in the first quarter on Oakland’s first drive of the game was a classic “Beast Mode” run that the Silver and Black were expecting when Lynch came out of retirement in the offseason to play for his hometown Raiders.

It was Lynch’s first 100-yard rushing game since October 2015 when he was member of the Seattle Seahawks. The former Seahawk demolished the 49ers, rushing for 122 yards on 27 carries and a touchdown in a 20-3 Seattle victory at San Francisco in Week 5 that season.

In Oakland’s 21-14 victory over the visiting Denver Broncos in Week 12, Lynch had 100 yards total from scrimmage, rushing for 67 yards on 26 carries and a touchdown, while also helping out in the passing game with three receptions for 43 yards.

By virtue of their win over Big Blue, culminating with Kansas City’s 38-31 loss to the Jets at MetLife Stadium in New York and the Chargers’ 19-10 home win over the helpless Browns Sunday, the Raiders find themselves in a three-way tie with the Chiefs and Chargers for first-place in the AFC West at 6-6 with four games to go.

Kansas City remains in first-place by holding a better division record as they are 2-1 inside of the division, while Oakland and Los Angeles are 2-2. Each team plays each other in the final month.

Oakland heads to Arrowhead Stadium next Sunday to face Kansas City with first place on the line in Week 14 and if you’re Raider Nation, you want to see Lynch run the ball more.  For the season, Lynch has 140 carries for 558 yards and six touchdowns in 11 games started this season.

The last time Lynch saw the Chiefs, he was being ejected from the game after racing off the Raiders’ sideline and making contact with an official while trying to defuse an altercation involving Lynch’s cousin, Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters, and the Raiders’ offensive line. Oakland held on for a 31-30 victory over Kansas City in Week 7 at the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum. Lynch finished the game with two carries for nine yards.

Kansas City has lost their last four straight games, and are just 1-4 in their last five games after starting the season 5-2 and holding down the top perch in the AFC West for most of the season.

Raiders’ playoffs still in sight after 24-17 win over Giants at Coliseum

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Oakland Raiders wide receiver Johnny Holton (16) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown against the New York Giants during the second half of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

By Jeremy Kahn

OAKLAND — Entering the game, the Oakland Raiders knew that a win over the New York Giants coupled with a loss by the Kansas City Chiefs would put them in the hunt for the AFC West crown.

Marshawn Lynch carried the ball 17 times for 101 yards, that included a season-long 51-yard touchdown run on the Raiders’ third play from scrimmage and the Raiders hung on to defeat the New York Giants 21-17 before a crowd of 54,994 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

“It was obviously an explosive play. I think it was the longest run of the year for him with us. It was a great job executing the play and him hitting it and taking t to the house. It was awesome for us to get that start,” said Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio.

With the victory, and the Chiefs loss to the New York Jets, the Raiders, the Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers are tied for the lead in the AFC West with four games remaining.

Lynch took the ball on all three plays of the Raiders’ initial drive that culminated with him finding a hole and scampering 51 yards to the end zone to give the Raiders a quick 7-0 lead just 1:31 after getting the ball from the Giants, who went three-and-out on the first drive of the game.

Without the services of the suspended Michael Crabtree and the injured Amari Cooper, who missed the game due to an ankle injury, Derek Carr found other weapons in his arsenal on the afternoon.

Carr ended the afternoon going 22-for-36 with 287 yards passing and a touchdown, as the Raiders stayed in the playoff hunt.

Seth Roberts led the Raiders in catches, as he caught five passes for 46 yards, while Cordarrelle Patterson caught four passes for a team-leading 97 yards.

Johnnie Holton caught three passes for 39 yards, including a 16-yard touchdown pass that gave the Raiders a 24-14 lead midway through the fourth quarter.

“I knew it was a touchdown. I took some steps I feel. I tried to make the defender miss, the ball ended up coming out, but I recovered it to make sure it was a touchdown for sure,” said Holton.

Just prior to the Holton touchdown pass, the Giants cut the Raiders’ lead down to 17-14, as Geno Smith found rookie Evan Engram for a 10-yard touchdown pass.

Engram led the Giants with seven catches for 99 yards and a touchdown. The talented rookie also made a terrific one-handed catch to get the Giants into field goal on what ended up being their final drive of the afternoon.

After there was no scoring in the third quarter, the two teams scored on every possession in the fourth quarter.

DeAndre Washington gave the Raiders a 10-point lead, as he scampered in from nine yards out and then Engram got the Giants within three. Then, Holton essentially put the game with his 16-yard touchdown pass and then Aldrick Rosas closed the scoring with his 52-yard field goal.

In his first game as starter of the Giants, Smith went 21-for-34 for 212 yards passing and a touchdown.

Smith became the first quarterback not named Eli Manning to start a game for the Giants in the last 210 games, the second-longest streak in NFL history behind Brett Favre’s 297 consecutive game streak.

“I thought Geno competed at a high level. There were a couple fumbles, we’ll have to take a look at the tape. The one where he was throwing, trying to pull it back, and it got away from him. The one where the ball got ripped out of his hands there. That nice two-minute drive at the end of the ball game, he did something creative and threw a nice ball for the touchdown. I thought he competed,” said Giants head coach Ben McAdoo.

The Giants went right down the field following the Carr to Holton touchdown pass, and Rosas nailed a 52-yard field goal with 1:38 remaining; however, the Raiders recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock.

Notes: Now the Raiders head back out on the road to Arrowhead Stadium, the home of the Chiefs, next Sunday afternoon. In their previous meeting, the Raiders edged the Chiefs 31-30, as Carr found Crabtree in the end zone with no time remaining and Giorgio Tavecchio nailed the extra point to give the Raiders that improbable victory. The Chiefs are heading home after a 38-31 loss to the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium.

Jimmy Garoppolo is Difference Maker in 49ers’ 15-14 Victory over Bears

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San Francisco 49ers’ quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) looks for an open man against the Chicago Bears in an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017. (Mark Black/Daily Herald via AP)

By: Joe Lami

It came down to the last play of the game, but Jimmy Garoppolo’s debut start for the San Francisco 49ers was victorious as the hapless team defeated the Chicago Bears 15-14 on Sunday afternoon.

“I thought it was a real good first start. He handled the offense well. [He] definitely moved the chains and the ball for us. It’ll be fun to get back and watch the tape and be able to coach him through what he did good and did bad,” said coach Kyle Shanahan.

Robbie Gould’s return to Chicago was perfect, as he nailed five field goals all within 35 yards in the victory.

Although the 49ers didn’t get into the end zone, Garoppolo was the difference as he was able to get San Francisco’s offense moving, throwing the ball down the field and reaching the red zone five times. He finished the day 26-of-37 for 293 yards and one interception, which had a completion stolen out of the hands from Louis Murphy Jr.

This season, San Francisco had five losses all decided by three points or less, but the difference on Sunday was Garoppolo and his ability to move the offense.

The biggest difference Garoppolo made came on third down, as the 49ers’ nearly doubled their efficiency with him on the field, converting 58% of their third downs.

Most impressively, he led the 49ers on their drive, going 86 yards on 14 plays in the last 5:23, setting up Gould’s 24-yard game-winning field goal.

The Bears’ offense was held to only one touchdown and 147 net yards as the 49ers’ defense showed up to play. Chicago’s first touchdown came out of the hands of rookie quarterback, Mitch Trubisky, who finished the day throwing just 102 yards.

Their second score came on special teams when Tarik Cohen returned a 62-yard punt return to the house.

The 49ers’ earn Shanahan’s second career win and up their record to 2-10 as Garoppolo makes this team look a lot better down the stretch of the season with four games to go.

San Francisco 49ers Podcast with Joe Lami: Garoppolo gets ready for Chicago this weekend; Shanahan says he looks ready in practice

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Photo credit: @insidethe49

On the 49ers podcast with Joe Lami:

1 The talk about when the 49ers’ Jimmy Garopollo will get in ends this Sunday in Chicago when Garoppolo gets his first start of the season is highly anticipated.

2 Garoppolo came in the closing moments last Sunday to throw a touchdown after quarterback C.J. Beathard left due to an injury.

3 Garoppolo has been practicing with the team. Head coach Kyle Shanahan says Garoppolo looks game ready since joining the team almost four weeks ago.

4 Garoppolo will throw against the Bears’ defense if he can get enough time in protection. He could do some damage.

5 So it’s Garoppolo and the 49ers in Chicago this Sunday. Joe tells us who he likes in this one.

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