Category: NFL

49ers could be in for a long haul vs. Cowboys

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AP Photo File: San Francisco 49ers cornerback Rashard Robinson (33) breaks up a pass intended for Dallas Cowboys receiver Brice Butler (19) during a 2016 NFL week 4 regular season game, Sunday, October 2, 2016, in Santa Clara, Calif. The Cowboys defeated the 49ers, 24-17. (James D. Smith via AP)

By Jeremy Harness

The 49ers have, at the very least, been very competitive this season, and in fact, they have set a new NFL record for consecutive losses by three points or fewer.

Now that they have proven that they can compete, now the young 49ers need to learn how to win.

The team just got younger this past Sunday, as the 49ers scrapped the Brian Hoyer experiment and decided to go with rookie quarterback C.J Beathard, and the young signal-caller got the 49ers back in the game to the point that they had a chance to steal the game in the final minutes.

This week, however, the task for the first win of the year is expected to get even harder against a loaded Dallas Cowboys team that will be looking to get back into the picture in the NFC East.

For about a week, it appeared that the six-game suspension against Cowboys back Ezekiel Elliott in connection with a domestic violence case would be upheld.

Within the past few days, however, Elliott has gotten another reprieve, as an injunction was recently placed to allow Elliott to play in at least one more game, which means that the 49ers will see the star running back lining up against them on Sunday.

The 49ers rested offensive tackle Joe Staley, defensive end Elvis Dumervil as well as receiver Pierre Garcon on Wednesday, while fullback Kyle Juszczyk was held out of practice with his ongoing back issue. Meanwhile, defensive end Aaron Lynch’s calf injury prevented him from practicing at all.

Linebacker Ray-Ray Armstrong suffered a shoulder injury in last Sunday’s loss at Washington but was able to practice in a limited capacity, as was fellow backer Reuben Foster, who is still recovering from a high ankle sprain he suffered in the first game of the season.

Both are expected to play this Sunday, but they had a bit of a scare on their hands earlier this week. Both men were out in downtown San Francisco late Monday night, and in the process, they barely avoided being held up in an armed robbery.

Neither man was harmed, but both players reportedly apologized to the team for potentially putting the team in a bad position.

Safety Eric Reid appears to be all the way back from his knee injury, as he was a full participant in practice on Wednesday after playing last Sunday.

San Francisco 49ers Podcast with Dave Zizmor: Shanahan pushing the troops hard to get first win of 2017 season

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Photo by Patrick Smith Niners Nation: San Francisco 49rs quarterback CJ Breathard throws against the rush of the Washington defense last Sunday in Washington

On the 49ers podcast with Dave Zizmor:

1 San Francico 49ers quarterback CJ Breathard who was inserted last Sunday in Washington after quarterback Brian Hoyer was taken out of the line out after starting the first six game for the 49ers.

2 Ray Ray Armstrong and Reuben Foster had guns pointed at them after leaving the Love and Propaganda Night Club at 85 Campton Lane in downtown San Francisco. Foster had noticed a white Audi circling the night club and got a sixth sense of trouble brewing and gave his watch and jewelry to his friends that were with them in the night club. Foster and Armstrong requested security escort them out of the club together. Once they exited they were confronted by the gunmen with masks on in the white Audi with gun pulled on them. Foster and Armstrong quickly ran and the gunmen never fired a shot and took off in the white audi.

3 Dave takes a look at this Sunday’s match between the 49ers and Dallas Cowboys an the match up at Levis Stadium from both sides of the ball. No doubt 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan is set to push the Niners to get into the win column for the first time.

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

 

Raiders prepare for short turnaround with KC Chiefs rolling into Oakland for Thursday Night Football

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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (11) runs the football during an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017, in Kansas City, Mo. The Steelers defeated the Chiefs, 19-13. (Ryan Kang via AP)

By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
Sports Radio Service Writer

OAKLAND — If I told fans of the Silver and Black if their beloved Raiders would be sitting at 2-4 after the first six weeks of the season, many of them would want to toss me in a garbage can and roll me down a hill.

Well, the Raiders are 2-4 and their  2017 NFL season is circling the drain in a major way.

With the Kansas City Chiefs (5-1) traveling to the Black Hole this week for the first of two meetings with Oakland this season on Thursday Night Football at 5:25 p.m. PT, the second game is Dec. 10 in Kansas City, this is a true must win game for the Silver and Black if they have any chance of saving their season.

Oakland is coming off a tough 17-16 loss at home to the visiting L.A. Chargers Sunday, their fourth-straight loss following a 2-0 start to the season. It was also the fourth-straight game that the Silver and Black was held under 20 points in a game.

After missing Oakland’s 30-17 loss at home in Week 5 to the Baltimore Ravens with a back injury, starting quarterback Derek Carr returned to action for the Silver and Black against the Chargers in Week 6, completing 21-of-30 passes for 171 yards with a touchdown but threw two interceptions. Carr threw a 23-yard touchdown to wide receiver Michael Crabtree, who led the team with six catches for 52 yards on 10 targets.

Running back Marshawn Lynch recorded 63 of Oakland’s 109 rushing yards on 13 carries. Wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson took a handoff and blazed past the Chargers’ defense for a 47-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

Defensively for Oakland, linebacker Bruce Irvin recorded his second sack of the season to go along with six tackles. Cornerback TJ Carrie led Oakland with eight tackles. Oakland allowed 343 yards of total offense to the Chargers, with most of the damage coming from running back Melvin Gordon.

Gordon was the Chargers’ offense, with a 150 total yards (83 rushing and 67 receiving) on 34 touches (25 rushes and nine catches) and two touchdowns (one rushing and one receiving). Second-year tight end Hunter Henry gave the Raiders fits on Sunday, hauling in five catches for 90 yards.

With the addition of four-time All-Pro linebacker NaVorro Bowman to the defense, the Raiders are hoping that the middle linebacker position will be stabilized for the rest of the year.

Bowman, a seven-year pro out of Penn State, requested his release from the San Francisco 49ers on Friday after losing playing time, signed a one-year deal worth $3 million on Monday.

Kansas City was the last team to lose a game this season after dropping a 19-13 contest to the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers at Arrowhead Stadium in Week 6, giving the Steelers their third straight win over the Chiefs in the last two seasons, counting last year’s meeting in the playoffs.

Strangely, Sunday’s matchup between Pittsburgh and Kansas City was eerily similar to their playoff game in January, an 18-16 Steelers’ win on Kansas City’s home turf.

Chiefs starting quarterback Alex Smith completed just 19-of-34 passes for 246 yards and a touchdown, a 57-yard pass to wide receiver De’Anthony Thomas in the fourth quarter that pulled Kansas City within 12-10 with 6:13 left in the game.

Pittsburgh shut down the NFL’s hottest offense, limiting the Chiefs to 251 yards of total offense and holding the NFL’s top scoring offense per game (32.8) to just 13 points.

Smith leads the league in passer rating (119.2), second in touchdown passes (12) and is third in passing yards (1,637). Kansas City’s signal-caller has yet to throw an interception in 202 passes this season.

The Steelers also held the NFL’s top rusher, rookie running back Kareem Hunt, to just nine carries for 21 yards.

But Pittsburgh sliced up a very good Chiefs defense by racking up 439 yards of total offense. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw for 252 yards on 17-of-25 passes with a touchdown and one interception. Eight of Roethlisberger’s completions went to wide receiver Antonio Brown, who hauled in 155 yards and a 51-yard touchdown catch that put Pittsburgh up 19-10 in the fourth quarter.

Running back Le’Veon Bell found gaping holes in the Chiefs’ run defense, carrying the ball 32 times for 179 yards and a touchdown. Bell also rushed for 170 yards against Kansas City in the playoffs.

The Chiefs have great playmakers in cornerback and Oakland native, Marcus Peters and fellow cornerback Terrance Mitchell. Peters and Mitchell each have two interceptions this season for a Chiefs secondary that have five for the year, pacing 13th in the NFL.

Veteran linebacker Justin Houston leads Kansas City with 5.5 sacks, ranking seventh in the NFL.

Kansas City sits on top of the AFC West, while Oakland is sitting in the basement of the division. With a win for Kansas City, it could be the final nail in the coffin of the Raiders’ season as it will drop the team to 2-5 and put the season on life support.

But, win on Thursday night on primetime, and it could put the team back on course.

Kansas City has won the last five-straight games against Oakland, with the Raiders’ last victory over the Chiefs, coincidentally, on Nov. 20, 2014, which was a game on Thursday Night Football.

The 0-10 Raiders defeated the 7-3 Chiefs 24-20 in a rainy game in Oakland.

Thursday night’s game will conclude Oakland’s three-game homestand, with Oakland’s next game coming in Buffalo on Oct. 29.

 

 

 

 

Oakland Raiders Report: Bowman to the Raiders; Former 49er was popular figure in SF

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Seattle Seahawks strong safety Kam Chancellor, right, and San Francisco 49ers middle linebacker NaVorro Bowman, left, pose for a photo after trading jerseys following an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 12-9. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

By Jeremy Kahn

ALAMEDA–Well, NaVorro Bowman was not out of work for long, and his new team is not far away from his former team, the San Francisco 49ers.

Bowman, who played seven years for the 49ers and was released by the team on Friday after the team was unable to manufacture a trade, he signed a one-year contract with the Oakland Raiders.

The contract signed by Bowman is worth $3 million, and it is a possibility that Bowman could play on Thursday night against the Kansas City, this according to Jack Del Rio.

“He’s a veteran guy. He’s played a lot of good ball over the years,” Del Rio said. “We’re excited to have him. We’re a little green at the linebacker position. To add somebody with the experience that he has, we think it’s a nice addition for us and we’ll get him up to speed and we’ll see how quickly we can get him on the field.”

Bowman comes to the Raiders at a pivotal time, as the team is on a four-game losing streak and is without the services of rookie fifth-round draft Marquel Lee, who is out with an ankle injury.

Novak’s field goal wins it as Chargers edge Raiders 17-16

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Los Angeles Chargers kicker Nick Novak (9) kicks the game winning field goal from the hold of Drew Kaser against the Oakland Raiders during the second half of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017. (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron)

By Jeremy Kahn

OAKLAND-When the Los Angeles Chargers and the Oakland Raiders get together on the football field, you know it is going to be a battle to the end.

Well, this most definitely came down to the end, as Nick Novak kicked a 32-yard field goal with no time remaining in the game and the Chargers defeated the Raiders 17-16 before a crowd of 54,685 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

Novak’s game-winning field goal came after Marquette King pinned the Chargers on their eight-yard line after a 58-yard punt.

On the first play of the drive, Phiilp Rivers found tight end Hunter Henry for a 34-yard pass play out to the Chargers 42-yard line. After a two-yard run by Melvin Gordon, it was the combo of Rivers and Henry once again, as Rivers found the big tight end for a 23-yard pass play out to the Raiders 33-yard line and put the Chargers into field goal range.

Gordon, who was terrific both on the ground and catching the ball, gained seven yards and brought the game to the two-minute warning.

Following the two-minute warning, Gordon became the bell cow, as he carried the ball on four straight possessions all the way down to the Raiders 10-yard line.

After two kneel downs by Rivers, Novak, who missed a 48-yard field goal on the Chargers second series of the game kicked the game-winner and sent them to their second straight win and the reeling Raiders to their fourth straight defeat.

Rivers was terrific on the afternoon, as he 25-for-36 for 268 yards passing and a touchdown to Gordon.

As for Gordon, he carried the ball 25 times for 83 yards and a touchdown, and he also caught nine passes for 67 yards and a touchdown.

“He’s a good running back, but it wasn’t nothing we couldn’t handle. They just got the best of us,” said David Amerson.

After missing just one game with multiple broken bones in his back, Derek Carr returned to the starting lineup for the Raiders.

In his return to the lineup, Carr went 21-for-30 for 171 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.

Carr gave the Raiders an early 7-0 lead, as he found Michael Crabtree for a 23-yard touchdown pass that saw Crabtree hit the pylon as he scored.

“Specifically, on Derek, I thought he did OK. It’s good to have him back, I know that. He missed threw a couple of things, but I thought for the most part he was fairly sharp,” said Jack Del Rio.

Crabtree ended the day with six catches for 52 yards, while Amari Cooper broke out of his slump, as he caught five passes for 28 yards.

Cordarelle Patterson caught one pass for five yards, but it was his 47-yard touchdown run on an end around with 7:51 remaining in the game that gave the Raiders a 16-14 lead; however, rookie Giorgio Tavecchio missed the extra point, as Jon Condo’s snap was high and that missed extra point was huge in the outcome of the game.

Tavecchio gave the Raiders a 10-7 lead at the half, as he nailed a 44-yard field goal as time expired in the first half.

After a scoreless third quarter, the Chargers took their first lead of the game, as Gordon scored on a six-yard pass from Rivers that gave them a 14-10 lead.

That lead lasted all of two minutes and 28 seconds, as Patterson scored on a 47-yard touchdown run that brought Raider Nation to their feet.

Unfortunately, in the end, it was the Novak field goal in the final seconds that doomed the Raiders and sent them to their fourth straight defeat.

NOTES: After a short week, the Raiders return to the Coliseum field on Thursday night, as they take on the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Chargers return to Los Angeles, and will face the Denver Broncos on October 22 at Stubhub Center.

These two teams will meet on December 31 at the Stubhub Center in the regular season finale for both teams.

49ers Lose 26-24 5th Straight by Three or Less; Drop to 0-6

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San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan pauses as he speaks to members of the media following an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

By: Joe Lami

For the first time in the history of the National Football League, a team has lost five straight games by three points or less. The San Francisco 49ers made history for the wrong reason on Sunday with a 26-24 loss to the Washington Redskins.

Make it a combined 13 points now for those five losses, as the 49ers continue to get close but aren’t able to get it done.

It wouldn’t have been close without the emergence of rookie quarterback, C.J. Beathard who came in relief after Brian Hoyer’s ineffective start, as he completed four passes for 34 yards on 11 attempts.

Beathard was forced to play catch-up, as the 49ers were trailing 14-0 before the former Hawkeye came into the game with 6:39 left in the second quarter. He was able to turn things around for the 49ers and it all started right before the end of the half, as he led a drive that finished with a 4th and goal touchdown run from Carlos Hyde to cut the score to 17-7.

Although the rookie wasn’t getting much help from his receivers in his first couple of drives as drops continue to be a major concern for this club, the second half Niners seemed like a brand new team. It clearly showed as they started the third with a 12 play, 42-yard drive ending with a field goal to make it 17-10.

With the new found confidence, the 49ers were better in all aspects of the field and it bled into the defense as well. A big fumble recovery by Jimmy Ward and a return of 43 yards gave the Niners the ball on the one-yard line to set up Hyde’s second score of the game tying it at 17.

Rumored to be coming to the city by the bay next season, quarterback Kirk Cousins finished 25-of-37 for 330 yards, two touchdowns, and one pick. He led Washington to nine points in the final quarter to secure the victory.

Beathard cut the deficit down to two with his first touchdown throw of his career on an insane play in which he was able to escape pressure and chuck it 46 yards to a wide-open Aldrick Robinson.

With a chance to comeback and win it after a 17-point deficit, the 49ers once again fell apart when it mattered most. Penalties once again became the downfall. This time a pick play offensive pass interference penalty called on Pierre Garcon on a 2nd down at the Redskins 40. The horrible call cost the Niners ten yards putting the 49ers out of field goal range while costing them the chance at the win.

Despite the loss, and a record of 0-6, things are looking up still for the Niners and it has a lot to do with Beathard. His final line was 19-of-36 for 245 yards, a touchdown, and an interception (coming on the last play of the game).

The focus now comes to the Cowboys as the red and gold search for their first win, but their new quarterback seeing first-team reps this week will give the faithful hope.

After all, it’s the second time in franchise history the team has started 0-6. The last time was led by Bill Walsh.

Oakland Raiders Podcast with Joe Hawkes Beamon: Carr to start Sunday will be watched carefully by coaches and medical staff/ Game could be move to LA due to poor air quality

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USA Today file photo: Oakland Raiders Jon Feliciano (76) will be starting at right guard on Sunday in place of injured Gabe Jackson

Oakland Raiders Podcast with J Hawkes:

1 The Raiders right guard Gabe Jackson will be sitting out due to a foot injury for this Sunday’s game in Oakland. Raiders offensive coordinator Todd Downing  who said he will be going with Jon Feliciano who will be in Jackson’s place.

2 Downing said that Feliciano has well rounded ability to not only fill in for Jackson but also he can play back up center

3 Feliciano played a key role in helping Oakland’s running game as the Raiders gained 100 yards for the first time in three weeks

4 Raiders quarterback Derek Carr is expected to start on Sunday against the LA Chargers. The Raiders will be monitoring Carr’s health status (injured back) and see if he can throw the whole game.

5 Air quality monitored game could move to LA: NFL spokesman Michael Signora said the league is monitoring the air quality for this Sunday’s upcoming game with the Chargers and Raiders. Signora said that the league is monitoring how bad the smoke from the Napa/Sonoma fire is and according to J Hawkes the air quality in Oakland is just plain bad for breathing.

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

 

 

 

Headline Sports with Tony Renteria: Napa/Sonoma schools won’t see sports programs back maybe for the rest of the year; Raiders Carr back this Sunday ready or not

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Injured Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr waves after an NFL football game between the Raiders and the Baltimore Ravens in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

On the Headline Sports Podcast with Tony:

1 The impact of the Napa/Sonoma fires have closed all schools sports programs as students, homes are either destroyed or evacuated

2 Not just for football but for all school sports while the students try to get their lives together

3 Raiders quarterback Derek Carr has been scratched back into the Raiders line up. Is Carr really healthy or is it because the Raiders  back up quarterback TJ Manuel wasn’t ready. Carr came back faster from the back injury than maybe he even expected.

4 Are the Raiders taking a huge risk starting Carr on Sunday vs. the Chargers?

5 At 0-5 the SF 9ers are still looking for their first win can the get by in Washington this Sunday? Tony says No.

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

 

Categories NFL

San Francisco 49ers @ Washington preview: 49ers must seize opportunities

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San Francisco 49ers Eric Reid (35) takes on Seattle Seahawks Russell Wilson (3) during an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks Sunday, September 17, 2017, in Seattle, WA. The Seahawks won the game 12-9. (Terrell Lloyd via AP Images)

By Jeremy Harness

 SANTA CLARA–At the beginning of the year, the 49ers were not expected to be a very good team this season, and thus far, the year has gone according to plan.

 After yet another heartbreaking loss, the 49ers now have to head across the country to face the 2-2 Washington Redskins, in the same place that the team across the bay, the Oakland Raiders, suffered their first loss of the season and started their downward spiral at this point.

 If there is a positive to take from their 0-5 record at press time, it that the 49ers have been competitive in all but the first game of the season and had a very realistic chance to win each of the last four games.

 They particularly had a chance to win – and probably should have won – each of the past two games. Against both the Cardinals and Colts, which were both on the road, the 49ers had the ball in overtime with a chance to win the game but blew both opportunities and watched as the other team seized the moment that should have belonged to the 49ers.

 The 49ers will once again have to do without a pair of defensive starters. Safety Eric Reid is expected to be out this Sunday with the knee injury he suffered in Seattle in Week 2, while linebacker Reuben Foster, still recovering from the high ankle sprain that he suffered in the first week of the season against Carolina, is also expected to sit Sunday’s game out.

 Foster, however, is showing some serious signs of a near-future return to the lineup, as he practiced in a limited capacity on Wednesday. According to reports, how Foster performs in practice this week will determine if he will take the field Sunday.

 Like Foster, Reid, who was near the center of the kneeling-during-the-anthem controversy a year ago, also took the field in practice on Wednesday, although it was on a limited basis.

 Also listed on the injury report for the 49ers were safety Jimmie Ward (shoulder), who was limited in practice. Emerging tight end George Kittle, who suffered a chest injury last week at Indianapolis, was also limited in practice, as was fullback Kyle Jusczyk with an ailing back, as well as linebacker Ray-Ray Armstrong (shoulder), who had a huge interception against the Colts in overtime and almost had a touchdown had running back Frank Gore not tracked him down near midfield.

 Meanwhile, for the Redskins, cornerback Josh Norman, whose rib injury is expected to keep him out for several weeks, was one of the notable players who did not practice on Wednesday, as was offensive tackle Trent Williams.

 Safety D.J Swearinger was at practice Wednesday, but he was limited.

 

Oakland Raiders host Los Angeles Chargers Sunday in first of two meetings for this season

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Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) greets injured Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr after an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017. The Ravens won 30-17. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
Sports Radio Service Writer

OAKLAND — Looking to get back into the win column and avoid their first four-game losing streak since losing 16-straight regular season games from Nov. 24, 2013 to Nov. 16, 2014, the Raiders welcome one of their AFC West rivals in the Los Angeles Chargers for an important matchup in Week 5.

Oakland (2-3) is currently in the middle of a three-game home stand at the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum, having lost in Week 5 to the Baltimore Ravens 30-17 and host their most bitter rival, the Kansas City Chiefs, on Oct. 19 in prime-time on Thursday Night Football.

Kickoff for Sunday’s game is at 1:25 p.m. PT.

With starting quarterback Derek Carr sidelined for the game with a traverse process fracture in his back, backup quarterback EJ Manuel filled in admirably for Carr completing 13-of-26 passes for 159 yards and a touchdown in his first start for the Silver and Black. Manuel found a comfort level with wide receiver Michael Crabtree in the game, connecting with Crabtree for a 41-yard touchdown strike in the second quarter.

Crabtree finished as the Raiders’ top receiver for the day, collecting six catches for 82 yards to go along with the aforementioned touchdown after missing Oakland’s 16-10 loss Week 3 loss in Denver.

Oakland’s other starting wide receiver Amari Cooper was again a no-show, recording just one catch for eight yards on two targets. The ground game was paced by running back Marshawn Lynch, who rushed for 43 yards on 12 carries and his second touchdown of the year (all at home). Backup running back Jalen Richard contributed to the offense as well, rushing for 37 yards on nine carries.

The Raiders do expect Carr to start Sunday and hope to rejuvenate an offense that ranks in the middle of the league in points per game (21.6), which is good for 16th, but rank 23rd in rushing yards per game (90.6), 26th in passing yards (188.6), and 30th in total yards per game (279.2) through the first five games of the season.

Carr has thrown for 753 yards with seven touchdowns and two interceptions this year.

Last year through five games, Oakland ranked sixth in total offense scoring just a shade under 28 points per game.

Oakland’s offensive line, which was a pillar of strength for the team last year after only giving up 18 sacks in 16 games, have already surrendered 12 sacks this season through five games.

With the Chargers ranking third in the NFL with 17 sacks this season, the offensive line will have their work cut out for them. Defensive end Melvin Ingram leads the Chargers and the AFC in sacks with 7.5, while fellow defensive end Joey Bosa is not far off with 4.5 sacks.

Bosa made an immediate impact in his first pro game last year against the Raiders, sacking Carr twice en route to 10.5 sacks and being named the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year after missing the first four games of the season in a contract dispute.

Second-year outside linebacker Jatavis Brown has become one of the league’s surest tacklers, leading the Chargers with 46 tackles (32 solo) this season. Last year when the Chargers called San Diego home, they finished tied for the league lead with 18 interceptions.

This season, the Chargers have recorded just two picks and have been bludgeoned by opposing teams on the ground. Los Angeles ranks dead-last in stopping the run, allowing 161.2 yards rushing per game.

In Week 2, the Chargers allowed 122 yards to Jay Ajayi, 172 yards to Kareem Hunt in Week 3, and 136 yards to LeGarrette Blount in Week 4.

That should bode well for Oakland, who still has yet to have a running back crack 100 yards rushing in a game this season. Lynch leads the Raiders with 57 carries for 194 yards and two touchdowns, while Richard is second on the team in rushing with 24 carries for 128 yards and a touchdown.

But the second-year Richard leads Oakland with 5.3 yards per carry this season, not the 10-year veteran in Lynch, who is second with 3.4 yards per carry.

Los Angeles (1-4) picked up their first win of the 2017 season, winning 27-22 against the winless New York Giants (0-5) at MetLife Stadium last Sunday. Starting quarterback Philip Rivers completed 21-of-44 passes for 254 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.

Now in his 14th season, Rivers ranks in the top-10 among all starting quarterbacks this year, pacing fifth in passing yards (1,365) and seventh in touchdown passes (9). His 266.8 passing yards per game ranks sixth among passers. Rivers has only thrown five interceptions this season and has been sacked just six times, a testament to the Chargers much improved offensive line.

The Chargers average 19.8 points per game, ranking 19th in the league, but can put up yards offensively, ranking 11th averaging 345.6 yards per game.

Running back Melvin Gordon was unstoppable running the ball and catching the ball against the Giants. Gordon carried the ball 20 times for 105 yards and led the Chargers with a game-high six catches for 58 yards and two touchdowns.

Gordon is tied for fourth in the NFL with five total touchdowns (two rushing, three receiving) this season.

The third-year running back from Wisconsin caught the game-winning touchdown from Rivers with less than a minute to play in the fourth quarter to cement the Chargers’ victory.

Rivers is 14-8 in 22 career games against the Silver and Black, throwing for 37 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. His 37 touchdowns against the Raiders are the most that Rivers has thrown against any team in the NFL in his career.

Former California wide receiver Keenan Allen is the Chargers’ best wide receiver, leading the team with 28 catches for 401 yards and a touchdown.

Oakland has won the last four-straight meetings against the Chargers after sweeping both games in 2015 and 2016.

Los Angeles will host Oakland in Week 17 at the StubHub Center in Carson.