Category: 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.

San Francisco 49ers Podcast with Joe Lami: Big test coming for Garoppolo and Niners as they pay a visit to Jacksonville

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, center, hugs teammate Daniel Kilgore after a 25-23 win over the Tennessee Titans during an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron)

On the 49ers podcast with Joe Lami:

1 Jimny Garoppolo the San Francisco 49ers quarterback who has won three straight those wins coming against the Chicago Bears, Houston Texans, and the Tennessee Titans an impressive start for Garoppolo.

2 Garoppolo has game and against the Titans Garoppolo threw 31-43, 381 yards, one touchdown

3 With the Jags coming in at (10-4) one of the best teams in the AFC. They outscored the 49ers 26.7 to 18.1 in point per game

4 Jacksonville’s run attack is the best in the NFL on the run attack. Joe answers how much pressure will be on the 49ers defense to stop that amazing run

5 On the offense Garoppolo will throw against a top flight team the Jaguars can bring it this will certainly be a test for Garoppolo

San Francisco 49ers beat writer Joe Lami has complete coverage after every 49ers game at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Headlines Sports Podcast with London Marq: Papa John’s in damage control after founder anthem set back; Dick Enberg dies at 82; Tim Lincecum trying to make comeback No.2

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photo by daily.co.uk: CEO and founder of Papa John’s John Schnatter has stepped down as of Thursday over remarks regarding the NFL not doing anything about players who take a knee during the national anthem

On Headline Sports with London:

Papa John’s left not in the way he would have expected. The Papa John’s board sent founder and CEO John Schnatter packing on Thursday night after his earlier statements this season saying about the NFL and it’s handling of the players taking a knee during the national anthem,  “The NFL has hurt us. We are disappointed the NFL and its leadership did not resolve this,” he said

Papa John’s remains the NFL’s biggest shareholder but inspite of all the hard work that Schnatter put in being the face of the company and working hard to market it’s product on national television ads and a huge TV campaign with the NFL CEO Steven Ritchie has been named successor for Schnatter Schnatter said that Ritchie would be a good fit for Papa Johns. Talk is that Schnatter would still be the face of Papa John’s but will not have the same authority as before.

London also discusses the passing of Dick Enberg the former play by play announcer for the San Diego Padres, NBC for football and baseball, the California Angels and MLB Hall of Famer. Plus will Tim Lincecum give it another try. Lincecum according to scouts is ripped, in shape and looks from the delivery and wants a shot at getting back into the Major Leagues. This will be Lincecum’s second try after leaving the San Francisco Giants then getting on with the LA Angels only to get cut at the end of the 2016 season.

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

Oakland Raiders Podcast with Joe Hawkes Beamon: Raiders still mathematically in it but Eagles toughest customer in football

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Oakland Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio speaks at a news conference after an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017. The Cowboys won 20-17. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

On the Raiders podcast with Joe Hawkes Beamon:

The Oakland Raiders took a tough loss to the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday 20-17 in a three point game that was determined by a smirking NFL on field official Gen Steratone. The play better know as the index card was one that will stick in the craw of Raider head coach Jack Del Rio for the rest of the season. The loss for quarterback Derek Carr was also a bad taste in his mouth after loses in Kansas City and at home against the Dallas Cowboys.

The loss all but officially disqualifies the Raiders post season chances they would be eliminated if they lose to the Philadelphia Eagles on Christmas for Monday Night Football. The Eagles who have one of the best potent defenses in the NFL can send Carr running on his heels all day long. The Eagles at 12-2 at home Joe says he’s going with Philadelphia for this Sunday.

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

Raiders return to national stage, play Eagles in Philadelphia Christmas night

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Photo credit: @SuperBowl2018US

By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
SRS Contributor

OAKLAND — Similar with the Dallas Cowboys, the Oakland Raiders gear up for another unfamiliar opponent when they travel east this week to take on the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on ESPN’s Monday Night Football on Christmas night at 5:30 p.m. PT. This is Oakland’s first appearance on MNF this year, while it’s Philadelphia’s second appearance this season.

This is Oakland’s first game in Philadelphia since 2005 and their final trip east this season. The Raiders hold a 6-5 edge over the Eagles in 11 games played all-time.

Last Sunday night, the Raiders (6-7) lost a close game, 20-17, over the visiting Dallas Cowboys in prime-time on NBC’s Sunday Night Football. Oakland’s defense held Dallas (8-6) to just 330 yards of total offense.

Reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack penetrated Dallas’s top-ranked offensive line for two sacks on the night. With 10.5 sacks on the season, Mack is in the top-10 in the NFL in sacks and has posted a sack in five-straight games since Week 11.

Cornerback Sean Smith recorded two interceptions off Cowboys starting quarterback Dak Prescott, matching Oakland’s season total coming into the game. Oakland has just four interceptions this season. Middle linebacker NaVorro Bowman led the defense once again with 11 solo tackles against Dallas.

Offensively, the Raiders continued to struggle scoring points Sunday. Oakland was shut out in the first half for the fourth time this season as the Cowboys took a 10-0 lead into halftime.

Starting quarterback Derek Carr threw for just 171 yards on 21-of-38 passing and two touchdowns, both to starting wide receiver Michael Crabtree. Crabtree finished with seven catches for 39 yards to go along with his two scores. WR Seth Roberts (starting for wide receiver Amari Cooper who missed his second-straight game with a left ankle injury), led Oakland with 52 receiving yards on three catches.

On the ground, Oakland rushed for 122 yards, including 76 yards from starting running back Marshawn Lynch and 47 yards from Carr.

With their playoff chances on life support, the Raiders are facing a must-win game against the team with league’s best record in the Eagles.

Philadelphia (12-2) clinched their first playoff berth since 2013 behind second-year head coach Doug Pederson. Pederson finished 7-9 in his first season at the helm of the Eagles. In last week’s 34-29 victory over the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium, Philadelphia also secured a first-round bye in the NFC playoffs and have the inside track on the No. 1 seed.

The Eagles lead the NFL in scoring per game (31.3), second in rushing yards per game (140.5), and third in total yards per game (386.9). Before suffering a season-ending ACL injury during Philadelphia’s 43-35 victory in Los Angeles over the Rams, second-year quarterback Carson Wentz was having an MVP-type of season throwing for a franchise-record and league-leading 33 touchdowns to just seven interceptions.

In 13 games this season, Wentz threw for 3,296 yards to go along with a 101.9 quarterback rating. In his rookie season, Wentz threw for 3,782 yards with 16 touchdowns and 14 interceptions with a 79.3 quarterback rating.

With Wentz out for the remainder of the year, the Eagles turned to sixth-year pro in backup quarterback Nick Foles. In his start last week against the Giants, Foles threw for 237 yards on 24-of-38 passing and four touchdowns. The last time Foles saw the Raiders, it was in 2013 and he destroyed the Silver and Black.

Foles tied an NFL record with seven touchdown passes in Philadelphia’s 49-20 victory at Oakland on Nov. 3, 2013. Foles threw for 406 yards on 22-of-28 passing for a perfect quarterback rating of 158.3 in the contest.

Oakland’s 23rd ranked passing defense must be on high alert for an Eagles squad that have three receivers who’ve registered 700-plus receiving yards: wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (781), wide receiver Nelson Agholor (722) and tight end Zach Ertz (719). The trio have combined for 25 touchdown catches this season, with Jeffery scoring a team-best nine while Ertz and Agholor each are one behind with eight scores.

Ertz leads the team with 63 receptions.

Eighth-year running back LeGarrette Blount leads the Eagles with 717 rushing yards on 159 carries (4.5 avg) and two touchdowns in is first year with Philadelphia.

Philadelphia has the sixth-ranked defense in the NFL this season. First-year Eagles’ defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz has this unit playing top-notch football this season, forcing turnovers almost automatically. Schwartz’ defense has recorded 17 interceptions this season, good for third in the NFL.  Starting cornerbacks Jalen Mills, Patrick Robinson and starting safety Rodney McLeod are tied for the team lead with three interceptions apiece.

Mills has the team’s lone defensive touchdown scored this season. Defensive end Brandon Graham has a career-best 9.5 sacks this season, tied for eighth in the NFC.

Next Sunday, the Raiders will travel to Los Angeles to take on the Chargers on a short week to close out the 2017 regular season. This will mark Oakland’s first trip to the StubHub Center.

Headline Sports Podcast with Tony Renteria: Raiders bite their lip over commenting on index loss to Dallas; Raiders suck it up get ready for MNF

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Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) fumbles the ball into the end zone in front of Dallas Cowboys strong safety Jeff Heath (38) during the second half of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017. The play was ruled a touchback and the Cowboys got possession. The Cowboys won 20-17. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

Headline Sports Podcast with Tony R:

1 The Oakland Raiders hopes of a playoff spot left the stadium last Sunday as a confirmation of a index card measurement to the Dallas Cowboys 20-17 last Sunday

2 NFL Official Gene Steratore folded an index card which showed it was short but gave the ball to the Cowboys how upsetting was that for Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio

3 Steratore said he didn’t use the card to make the decision but to confirm what he already knew that the ball fell short by an index card and Del Rio in the post game presser whil besides himself did a good job controlling himself “I didn’t see any index card last night. I saw it only on social media,” Del Rio said. “I did not see that process happen. I saw the chain. Like I said, I saw space and I was like, ‘Alright, they just made a big error going for it right there and this is a turning point.’ It’s four (minutes) and change in the game and we’ve got the ball on the 40 going the other way. That was pretty ballsy and it really didn’t work, except they got the fortuitous reaction from the crew.”

4 On the 49ers front quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo threw 31 for 43 for 381 yards for a touchdown in the 49ers razor edge win 25-23 over the Tennessee Titans Sunday

5 The 49ers are out of the playoffs and they face a first place Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4) at Levis Stadium for the 49ers last home game of the season the question is can Garoppolo pull out all the stops and move the offense against one of the NFL’s best defensive teams. Tony tells you all about it in the Headlines Podcasts tonight.

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

 

 

San Francisco 49ers preview: Jaguars’ pass rush provides unique challenge to surging 49ers

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Photo credit: @AroundTheNFL

By Jeremy Harness

Jimmy Garoppolo is now 3-0 as the San Francisco 49ers’ starting quarterback, but this week will present a challenge that the last three teams were unable to bring.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are among the league’s leaders in sacks, making the offensive line’s ability to protect him much more important. In addition, even though they have locked up their first playoff spot in 10 years, the Jaguars have the inside track on winning the AFC South and have a chance of getting a first-round bye.

In short, Jacksonville still has a lot to play for as they head into Week 16, when the two teams will meet at Levi’s Stadium on Christmas Eve.

Another huge challenge for the 49ers is Jacksonville’s running attack, which leads the NFL in rushing yards and appears to have returned to full strength at this point. Running back Leonard Fournette, who has had a wildly-impactful rookie season, practiced on Wednesday after sitting out last week’s game with a quadriceps injury.

As for the weekly injury report, that list has grown once again for the 49ers. Cornerback Greg Mabin was completely held out of practice on Wednesday due to a calf injury, while receiver Marquise Goodwin also missed practice, partially due to a back ailment.

Meanwhile, backup running back Matt Breida (knee) was among the ones limited in practice on Wednesday. Safety Adrian Colbert, whom the 49ers are expecting big things from and has shown flashes of his potential this season, is currently in concussion protocol and also has a thigh injury that limited his participation Wednesday.

One player not listed on the injury report is fullback Kyle Juszczyk, but he was recently named on another list. This week, he was the only 49er on the NFC’s Pro Bowl team, and in fact, he was named a starter.

San Francisco 49ers Podcast with David Zizmor: 49ers inquired about Garoppolo back in November

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) throws against the Tennessee Titans during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron)

On the 49ers podcast with David Zizmor

It was one of those puff piece stories that went unnoticed that just so happen to mention that the 49ers general manager John Lynch was inquiring about a deal with the New England Patriots in a November story that in the off season they wanted to obtain Jimmy Garoppolo at the time. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said no to any deal letting Garoppolo go. The 49ers then asked if they could get Tom Brady and that was a hands down no.

What’s great about that story John Lynch is a logical thinker and he had the courage to ask the question about Brady perhaps the greatest quarterback of all time. The funny thing about it the more you think about it especially now that we’ve seen Garoppolo starting multiple games with the 49ers you realize that Garoppolo is clearly a very good quarterback.

The 49ers take on a tough customer the first place Jacksonville Jaguars Christmas eve Dec 24th at Levis Stadium Joe Lami your 49ers beat writer has the exclusive coverage

David has much more on the 49ers podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com