Category: NFL

San Francisco 49ers Podcast with David Zizmor: Seahawks could pour it on 49ers at tough to play Century Link this Sunday

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Seattle Seahawks’ Russell Wilson runs during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

On the 49ers podcast with David Zizmor:

After the 49ers took a trouncing last Sunday at the hands of the Carolina Panthers 23-3 at Levis Stadium. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan is left to review what wrong on both sides of the ball. The 49ers who now head to Seattle this Sunday could be in for another rough game with the Seahawks. David takes a look at the match up for this Sunday take a listen.

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

Oakland Raiders-New York Jets Preview: Raiders host Jets Sunday in home opener

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AP File Photo: New York Jets quarterback Josh McCown (15) is sacked by Buffalo Bills’ Jordan Poyer (21) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
Sports Radio Service Writer

OAKLAND — Sunday’s 26-16 road win in Nashville (the team’s third straight win at Nissan Stadium in as many seasons), gave Oakland its first win of the year and marked just the first time since the 2001 and 2002 seasons that the Raiders open consecutive seasons with a victory.

Oakland (1-0) won their first game of the season last year, 35-34 over the Saints.

Now, Oakland didn’t follow up that close win in New Orleans with a win in their home opener the very next week, losing to the eventual NFC Champion Atlanta Falcons 35-28.

But this year’s version of the Silver and Black shouldn’t worry about experiencing another letdown this time around, especially with the bottom-feeding New York Jets (0-1) visiting the Black Hole Sunday in Oakland’s home opener at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

Kickoff is at 1:25 p.m. PT.

Offensively, the Raiders and Jets are on different stratospheres. The Raiders hold a 24-19-2 edge over the Jets all-time.

Oakland has the clearer edge at quarterback, engineered by the 26-year-old Derek Carr who continues to mature into one of the league’s top passers.

Against Tennessee on Sunday, Carr out-performed Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota, completing 22-of-32 passes for 262 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions and a 114.3 passer rating in a matchup between two of the NFL’s best young quarterbacks.

Mariota finished 25-of-41 for 256 yards and a 78.9 passer rating to go along with a 10-yard scoring run in the first quarter.

In the last matchup against the Jets in 2015, Carr thrashed New York, throwing for 333 yards and four touchdowns with a blistering 130.9 passer rating in a 34-20 victory in Oakland.

The Jets have played musical chairs at quarterback in recent years, going through Ryan Fitzpatrick and Geno Smith and are now piloted by journeyman Josh McCown, with holdovers Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty still on the roster.

McCown completed 26-of-39 passes for 187 yards and two interceptions in a 21-12 loss at Buffalo on Sunday.  He did engineer an 11-play, 75-yard drive that he capped off with quarterback sneak for a touchdown on fourth down that pulled the Jets within two points late in the third quarter.

In 16 NFL seasons, McCown is 18-43 in 61 career starts, including 3-23 in his last 26 starts.

Carr has a great arsenal of offensive weapons at his disposal, with wide receivers Michael Crabtree and Amari Cooper, and tight end Jared Cook.

Crabtree led Oakland with six catches (on seven targets) for 83 yards, while Cooper (five catches on a team-high 13 targets for 62 yards) scored Oakland’s first touchdown of the season on a 8-yard catch that Cooper fought off a hoard of Tennessee defenders. The Titans gift-wrapped Oakland’s first score of the game after failing to recover an onside-kick on the game’s opening possession that rookie Shalom Luani recovered at the 50-yard line.

Cook, a former Titan, finished with five catches for 56 yards.

Outside of former Seahawks wide receiver Jermaine Kearse, who by all accounts wasn’t the biggest name in the Seahawks’ wide receivers’ meeting room, the Jets have nobody at wide receiver that will scare defenses.

Against Buffalo, Kearse led all Jets receivers with seven catches (on nine targets) for 59 yards.

Second-year wide receiver Robby Anderson is viewed as New York’s best deep threat. Nothing more, nothing less.

Oakland’s ground game is head and shoulders better than New York’s.

Marshawn Lynch looked refreshed in his first game in over a year following his retirement, carrying the football 18 times for 76 yards –10 of those yards coming in the fourth quarter.

Lynch reminded us that he is still “Beast Mode” late in the fourth quarter with one of his signature powerful runs that broke the spirit of the Titans and put the game away for the Raiders.

With Oakland nursing a 23-16 lead and facing a second-and-eight from the Titan 40-yard line, Lynch eluded one defender before charging through the 6-foot-1, 305-pound Jurrell Casey that made a thunderous sound throughout Nissan Stadium and saw Casey fall like a ton of bricks.

That’s what a guy like Lynch brings to the Raiders, a guy who will finish off runs that are just back-breaking for a defense in the fourth quarter when its trying to catch its breath after dealing with Oakland’s aerial attack.

When the Raiders get a lead late in a game, Lynch will become the ultimate closer because teams won’t want to tackle a 5-foot-11, 215-pound speeding rhino that hits like an anvil.

Veteran running backs Bilal Powell and Matt Forte powers New York’s running game, with the duo accounting for all 38 of New York’s rushing yards against the Bills.

Oakland’s defense surrendered 95 yards on the ground to Tennessee.

New York’s defense had leaks all over it Sunday, yielding 408 yards of total offense to the Bills. Buffalo’s starting running back LeSean McCoy gauged the Jets for 110 yards on 22 carries and quarterback Tyrod Taylor completed 16-of-28 passes for 224 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

McCoy added five catches for 49 yards, proving that the Jets don’t handle running backs who can catch the football out of the backfield.

Lynch can definitely catch the football, but running backs Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington are adequate receivers out of the backfield as well and will give New York’s defense fits come Sunday if matched on a linebacker.

The Raiders open as 14-point favorite at home by most odds-makers and with the Jets being a very young and inexperienced team at key positions, Oakland has the chance for a blowout win in front of Raider Nation.

Prediction: Raiders win going away,  34-10, behind a 300-yard and three touchdown performance from Carr sprinkled with 15-20 carries from Lynch for 80-90 yards and a touchdown.

The aforementioned Crabtree could be in for a big game against the Jets.

The last time Crabtree played New York, he was unstoppable hauling in seven catches for 102 yards and a touchdown.

 

 

 

 

Raiders Tavecchio kicks four field goals in 26-16 win

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Oakland Raiders kicker Giorgio Tavecchio watches a field goal against the Tennessee Titans in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)

By Jeremy Kahn

Derek Carr loved being back on the field in a real game for the first time breaking his leg in the home finale for the Oakland Raiders.

Carr, who broke his leg on December 24 against the Indianapolis Colts threw for 262 yards and two touchdowns and the Raiders defeated the Tennessee Titans 26-16 at Nissan Stadium.

It was the third straight for the Raiders over the Titans and their quarterback Marcus Mariota, who is also returning to the field after breaking hours after Carr broke his leg on Christmas Eve.

Amari Cooper caught a touchdown pass from Carr, while Marshawn Lynch, who sat out last season after announcing his retirement from NFL, finished the game by carrying the ball 18 times for 76 yards.

Mariota ran for a touchdown, and threw for 256 yards.

The return of Carr and Lynch were big for the Raiders, but their biggest news came from their left-footed kicker and his name was not Sebastian Janikowski.

Former Cal kicker Giorgio Tavecchio kicked four field goals, including two from more than 50 yards.

Tavecchio, who signed a contract with the team on Friday replaced Janikowski, the team’s all-time leading scorer and 18-year veteran, who is on injured reserve with a bad back.

Tavecchio, who connected on two 52-yard field goals in the contest became the first player in NFL history to kick two field goals from 50 yards or more in his NFL debut.

He also joined Janikowski as the only two players in team history to make multiple 50-yard field goals in a single game.

The Titans attempted an onside kick on the opening kickoff; however, it did not succeed. The Minnesota Vikings were the last team to attempt an onside kick in their season opener in 2009.

49ers Still Have A Very Long Way To Go; Lose 23-3 In Season Opener

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brian Hoyer (2) passes against the Carolina Panthers during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

By: Joe Lami

SANTA CLARA CA–The beginning of the 2017 NFL season didn’t go as planned for the 49ers, as they were completely manhandled by the Carolina Panthers 23-3.

“It was disappointing, whether it was the first, last, or any one I have in the rest of my career, it was disappointing. I don’t think that it mattered that it was the first. Anytime you lose in that way; it’s frustrating and disappointing. I’ll feel it all day today and all night [and I’m sure our players will too], and come back tomorrow and see how we can improve,” head coach, Kyle Shanahan commented on his pro debut.

Sunday’s home opener stayed scoreless for the first 11 minutes of the game until the 49ers lost Reuben Foster to a right ankle injury. The rookie linebacker laid on the turf for an eternity before the cart took him off the field. Foster took all of the 49ers’ momentum with him into the locker room.

After the game, Shanahan reported that all of the x-rays came back negative and that they were holding Foster off the field for precautionary reasons. Foster mentioned, “it’s not that horrible. I’ll be back soon, very, very, very soon”.

On the very first play without Foster, Panthers quarterback, Cam Newton connected with Russell Shepard for a 40-yard touchdown pass giving Carolina the 6-0 lead.

Newton finished the game throwing 14 of 25 for 171, two touchdowns and an interception.

While Foster did step back onto the field, trying to work on his injured ankle, he would not return to the game. Just like Foster, the 49ers mojo also failed to make a comeback, as the Panthers owned San Francisco the rest of the game.

Graham Gano knocked three field goals through for the Panthers from 39 yards, 36 yards, and 20 yards respectively.

Newton threw his second touchdown pass of the day in the third quarter when he connected with Jonathan Stewart on a screen pass to the right side. Stewart did all the work on the nine-yard scoring play.

Stewart split carries with Christian McCaffrey, who made his return to the Bay Area in his NFL debut, with five catches for 38 yards and 13 carries for 47 yards, but he was also stripped of the football once by Rashard Robinson.

After the game, McCaffrey and former roommate at Stanford, Soloman Thomas shared a few words of encouragement while trading jerseys from their professional debuts.

“He’s one of my best friends in the world. He was my roommate and teammate at Stanford and for us to both go in the first round and play against each other in the first game was pretty special,” Thomas added.

There were a few seldom bright spots for the Niners, including a great interception by Jaquiski Tartt grabbing the ball out of the air with one hand while falling to the ground. The pick made up for getting burned on Shepard’s touchdown, in which, he was beaten on the coverage.

Pierre Garcon led the way for the 49ers offensively with six catches for 81 yards but was unable to find his way to paydirt. Brian Hoyer threw 24 of 35 in his San Francisco debut for 193 yards while throwing one interception.

The offensive line was of significant concern heading into Sunday and for a good reason. Sunday’s game showed why, as the internal line struggled, failing to protect Hoyer, who was sacked four times for 27 yards.

The 49ers have the next week to find a way to repair the glaring holes in their game, as they open up their NFC West portion of their schedule in Seattle, who looks to rebound after a dreadful performance in Green Bay.

Sports Headlines with London Marq: Florida teams scrambling to find places to play during Irma; Will LeBron sign with Lakers soon

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noaa.gov photo: Hurricane Irma making it’s way to Florida Keys by Sunday

On Sports Headline with London:

1 How bad will Hurricane Irma impact the Miami Dolphins, Marlins, Tampa Bay Rays and Bucs, Dolphins are already to scheduled to play their games in Los Angeles.

2 The Arizona Diamondbacks have a great streak going with 12 games in a row they’ve scored 78 runs and allowed 25 runs in those 62 games

3 Can the Lakers break through? The Lakers are pursuing Paul George and this all depends on what happens with the Thunder and will LeBron be joining the Lakers? It’s looking like it will happen for after Kyrie Irving left LeBron feels like there’s nothing left in Cleveland.

4 The San Francisco 49ers have shown some signs of improvement but can they get by the Carolina Panthers Sunday. Cam Newton and that offense will be a tough task.

5 The Oakland Raiders face the Tennessee Titans and quarterback Marcus Mariota and this should be a great match up facing Raider quarterback Derek Carr

London Marq does Sports Headlines each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

San Francisco 49ers Podcast Joe Lami: McCaffrey biggest chance to light it up against 49ers; defense could be keying on McCaffrey

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File Photo AP: Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey (22) rushes for yardage in front of Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Telvin Smith (50) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

On the 49ers podcast:

For Stanford alums San Francisco 49ers linebacker Solomon Thomas and Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey this should be fun to watch them to watch the two buddies playing each other but once they hit the field they’ll be competing something fierce. McCaffrey got the MVP last season with Stanford and the Panthers look really good going into this opener this weekend.

The whole thing about McCaffrey is that he’s coming off a first round draft and he’s got great credentials. He’s an explosive player and he pretty much could own the team. He’ll be catching the ball in the back field and playing in the slot and of course he’s a running back so McCaffrey is someone who is all the things that he was at Stanford and he’ll just have to showcase it when he takes the field at Carolina on Sunday.

Joe Lami does the 49ers podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

 

Oakland Raiders Podcast with Joe Hawkes Beamon: Carr and Mariota haven’t spent much time on the field together but they will Sunday in what could be a shootout

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Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) talks with offensive coordinator Todd Downing before an NFL preseason football game against the Seattle Seahawks in Oakland, Calif. Downing has spent the past two years building up a relationship with Carr as his quarterbacks coach. The two play golf, talk current events and most importantly immerse themselves in all aspects of football. With Downing heading into his first game as NFL play-caller following an offseason promotion to coordinator, the hope is the strength of that relationship will pay big dividends on the field. (AP Photo/Ben Margot, File)

On the Raiders Podcast with J Hawkes:

The Oakland Raiders open up the regular season on Sunday in Tennessee. What’s been impressive about the Raiders is how their offense has come together . Their receivers are coming together with Cordarelle Patterson and Michael Crabtree. They’re solid with running backs Marshawn Lynch and Jalen Richard they’ve improved their running game before they get started. They also have an arsenal of wide receivers Amari Cooper and Seth Roberts.

Marcus Mariota will get the start for the Titans and hopes to start his career as successfully as the Oakland Raiders Derek Carr did with the likes of a start that Carr had going 12-3 before getting injured. During that 15 game period Carr threw for 28 touchdowns and six interceptions. Carr is favored to lead the AFC is passing. The Titans will most likely run the ball and Mariota has a lot of confidence in running backs DeMarco Muarry and Derrick Henry. This one Joe predict will be a shootout.

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

 

Sportstalk Podcast @ Il Fornaio downtown Sacramento Thursday September 9, 2017

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photo courtesy of yelp.com: Dinning setting at Il Fornaio downtown Sacramento with fine wine and dinner menu

Cast: Micheael Duca (Host), Jeremy Kahn (Raiders reporter), Morris Phillips (Cal Bears reporter), Charlie O (Sacramento Kings reporter), Jeremy Harness (PGA reporter), and Lee Leonard (producer). Podcasting from the beautiful Il Fornaio Ristorante in the Bolongna room at 400 Capital Mall at fourth in downtown Sacramento. Our thanks to Il Fornaio General Manager Patrick Diegelman, Chef Mitch Davis, Busser Melinda, Server Ashley, and Hostess Samantha.

You can cater your next event here at Il Fornaio in downtown Sacramento offering pick up and delivery catering services. Call 916-446-4100 catering reservations within the next 24 hours. For banquets Il Fornaio offers elegant and semi private dinning space with a wide range of specialized memos and services to match our authentic award winning Italian Cuisine for catering call 916-446-4139.

On the program discussions on the rebuilding in the off season for the San Francisco Giants, manager Bruce Bochy will look to his farm system for prospects and the team will look at who will stay or who they can deal. Even amongst people who will remain nameless within the Giants organization there’s even been talk to move Joe Panik you could always find a second baseman because they’re easy to find why would anyone give you much in return for Panik?

This is someone you want to keep around defense up the middle is important and if your give Brandon Crawford the opportunity to work together for five years they will be a better double play combination than Jose Uribe and Robby Thompson were in the 90s. Panik is a player that reminds you of Thompson a lot. Who could forget that double play that Panik made in the 2014 World Series and Panik made one of the best double plays we’ve ever seen.

There’s much, much more from Il Foranio listen to the podcast below:

Sports Headlines Podcast with Tony Renteria: Goodell weighs in on Bennett case; Kaepernick says police were “disgusting and unjust” to Bennett

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AP File Photo: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell

On the Sports Headlines Podcast with Tony:

‘1 The NFL Season kicks off on Thursday night but their are issues surrounding the NFL  is NFL Commissioner Greg Goodell concerned or the owners. Goodell issued a statement over the Seattle Seahawks defensive lineman Michael Bennett’s police abuse issue.

2 Bennett is also seeking legal representation about his being abused by Las Vegas Police after a boxing match that he attended

3 Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick said that Bennett’s treatment by police is “disgusting and unjust” and Kaepernick said he was standing with Bennett and the people

4 Kaepernick’s girlfriend Nessa Diab tweeted a photo of former Baltimore Raven Ray Lewis hugging Ravens owner Steve Biscotti after a Super Bowl win. The photo was posted with a photo from “Django unchained” showing a “house” slave quarters and his cruel master. The Ravens didn’t appreciate the connotation and reconsidered signing Kaepernick.

5 The Oakland Raiders open their 2017 season in Tennessee after going 0-4 the Raiders in pre season didn’t show all their wares and are ready to see what their team at full strength can do for the new season. Predicted to be a Super Bowl contender Tony goes over the match up between the Raiders and Titans.

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

 

Categories NFL

Raiders visit Tennessee Titans Sunday in key Week 1 matchup that could be playoff preview

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AP File Photo: Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) smiles on the sideline during the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Seattle Seahawks in Oakland, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
Sports Radio Service Writer

OAKLAND — Finally, the NFL regular season is here.

For me, the preseason schedule is nothing more than a dinner salad. It’s just there to help me pass the time until my main course (preferably a grilled salmon with broccoli and red potatoes or homemade spaghetti), is brought to my table.

Bring on the “meal” that is the NFL regular season.

Week 1 has some great matchups that can set the tone for the 2017 season: Kansas City traveling to Foxborough to take on the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots on Thursday night in the league’s kickoff game, Seattle at Lambeau Field to take on the Packers and Dallas hosting the New York Giants on Sunday.

Add the Raiders against the Titans in Nashville to that list of games.

Oakland has been picked by many national publications and experts as a trending opponent to play New England in the AFC Championship Game (the Raiders “host” the Patriots on Nov. 19 in Mexico City), but the true test starts against Tennessee at 1:00 p.m. ET (12:00 p.m. CT/10:00 a.m. PT) at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.

The Raiders are making their second straight trip to Nashville for a regular season game. Oakland defeated the Titans 17-10 in Week 3 last season.

Derek Carr threw for 249 yards with one touchdown and an interception, while the defense forced three turnovers to pace the Silver and Black to victory that day.

Carr posted his second consecutive season with at least 25 touchdowns passes (28) and 3,900 yards (3,937) after throwing 3,987 yards and 32 touchdowns in 2015.

The Raiders raced out to a 10-2 start in 2016 before a 2-2 finish, highlighted by Carr’s season-ending leg injury that doomed Oakland’s chances in the playoffs. Oakland had no chance against the Texans in the AFC wild-card playoff game with rookie Connor Cook under center and lost 27-14 in Houston, there first playoff appearance since 2002 when I was just a freshmen in college.

With additions like running back Marshawn Lynch, tight end Jared Cook and wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson in the offseason through free agency to go along with wide receivers Michael Crabtree, Amari Cooper and Seth Roberts, Oakland has the offensive talent to match any team in the league score-for-score.

The Silver and Black finished with the NFL’s sixth-ranked offense averaging 26 points per game last season so its a virtual guarantee that the offense can score more this season.

Will longtime kicker Sebastian Janikowski still handle the kicking duties for Oakland this season? Janikowski and the team are at crossroads on a contract that the Raiders want to restructure that pays Oakland’s all-time leader in games played (268) $4.05 million this season, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

At 39, Janikowski said he wanted to kick for the Raiders when the team moves to Las Vegas in 2020. The veteran kicker has been dealing with back issues that kept his out of the team’s final two preseason games.

On Monday, the Raiders worked out three kickers: Mike Nugent, Josh Lambo and Marshall Koehn.

With Janikowski still on the roster Tuesday, he’s collected $238,000, representing one-seventeenth of Janikowski’s salary or one game-check. If Janikowski is still on the roster Saturday at 1:00 p.m. PT, the remainder of his contract becomes fully guaranteed.

Defensively?

The strength of the unit will come from defensive end Khalil Mack, the league’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year after recording a team-leading 11.0 of Oakland’s league-low 25 sacks in 2016.

Mack is tougher than sandpaper to block.

Double- and even triple-teams seems to not work on a guy that also registered a pick-6 (interception returned for touchdown) last season. Mack had a stretch where he recorded at least one sack in eight straight weeks.

Linebacker Bruce Irvin finished second on the team with 7.0 sacks, but has double-digit sack talent. Irvin was tied with Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Vic Beasley for the league lead with six forced fumbles in 2016.

Oakland is high on rookie defensive tackle Eddie Vanderdoes, the team’s third-round pick in this year’s draft out of UCLA. Vanderdoes had an impressive training camp and showing in preseason games and has cemented a starting spot on the defensive line.

But Oakland still has a bag of footballs at middle linebacker, with rookie Marquel Lee as a starter and second-year player Tyrell Adams as the backup. Lee was decent against the run in preseason, but still has to improve in pass coverage against running backs out of the backfield and tight ends over the middle of the field.

In the secondary, David Amerson is Oakland’s best cornerback. TJ Carrie is expected to start at the other cornerback spot since high-priced free agent addition Sean Smith can’t cover speedy wide receivers. Smith was working as a hybrid safety/linebacker in training camp covering tight ends with the second-team defense, and lined up as the fourth cornerback when the offense deployed four wide receivers in drills.

The hope is once this year’s first-round draft pick, cornerback Gareon Conley steps onto the field, he’ll surpass the entire group. Conley didn’t play in the preseason and barely took reps with the team during training camp as he dealt with legal issues and litany of nagging injuries.

Second-round draft pick Obi Melifonwu, who the team hoped would contribute at safety, was placed on injured reserve Tuesday after battling a knee injury during training camp.

The earliest that Melifonwu could return would be Week 8.

Some pundits are questioning with players like linebacker Perry Riley Jr., who was signed by Oakland off the street last season and was the team’s starting middle linebacker the rest of the way and cornerback Joe Haden available via trade this season, why didn’t the Raiders, a legitimate Super Bowl contender, upgrade those key spots on a defense that finished ranked 26th in total defense last season?

The overlooking of a strong middle linebacker and a sturdy cornerback may come back to bite the Raiders in key situations this season, as it did last season.

Like Oakland, Tennessee has a hot, young signal-caller that is returning from a leg injury of his own and have the Titans thinking playoffs for the first time since 2008 in quarterback Marcus Mariota.

Mariota had Tennessee on the brink of the playoffs last season at 8-7 before finishing tied at 9-7 with division rival Houston for the AFC South title, but Houston won the division due to a better division record (Houston was 5-1, Tennessee was 2-4) that left the Titans outside of the playoffs.

The former No. 2 overall pick by Tennessee out of Oregon threw for 3,426 yards with 26 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 2016. Mariota, just like Carr, is a mobile quarterback that will use his legs to get out of trouble.

Just like Carr, Mariota suffered his season-ending injury on Christmas Eve while being sacked by the opposing team’s defense.

The Titans’ running game could spell trouble for Oakland, especially with the physical running styles of both DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry. Tennessee boasted the NFL’s third-ranked rushing attack averaging 136.7 yards and Murray was a big reason for that.

The seventh-year running back from Oklahoma finished third in the NFL in 2016 in rushing with 1,287 yards and nine rushing touchdowns in his first season with Tennessee after a forgettable season 2015 season in Philadelphia.

According to ESPN Stats and Information, the Titans called 44-percent of rushing plays (2nd in the NFL) and was fourth in the league averaging 4.6 yards per carry.

Henry, a former Heisman Trophy winner, was selected by the Titans in the second round in the 2017 NFL draft, was second on the Titans with 490 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns in his rookie campaign.

Wide receiver Rishard Matthews gives the Titans a big-play threat downfield that they haven’t had in forever.

Matthews quickly became one of Mariota’s trusted receivers last season in his first season with Tennessee after four seasons in Miami, finishing tied with tight end Delanie Walker for the team lead in catches with 65 to go along with 945 yards and leading the team with nine touchdown catches.

Walker gives Mariota a pass-catching threat that is tough as nails that Raiders safety Karl Joseph will have to keep an eye on come Sunday. After not playing in last season’s contest, Walker could be the difference maker this time around as Oakland has had trouble in recent years covering agile tight ends with linebackers and safeties.

Especially agile tight ends like Walker, who has been targeted by Mariota 159 times over the past two seasons. The 12-year veteran from Central Missouri State racked up 800 yards receiving and seven touchdown catches last season following a career-high season in 2015 when Walker had 94 catches for 1,088 yards and six touchdowns.

Tennessee’s first-round pick, wide receiver Corey Davis who didn’t play in the preseason while dealing with a hamstring injury, is expected to see action on Sunday but its unknown how many plays the 6-foot-3, 205-pound Davis will line up for.

The Titans did sign eight-year veteran wide receiver Eric Decker in the offseason to bolster the wide receiving corps for Tennessee, and has a hidden gem in rookie wide receiver Taywan Taylor in the event Davis doesn’t start.

It might not be the best week to start a Davis on your fantasy team, just some friendly advice.

On defense, Tennessee is quietly won of the better defenses in the league that no one really talks about led by defensive tackle and space-eater, Jurrell Casey, who is the 6-foot-1 and 305-pound clog in the middle of the Titans’ 3-4 defensive scheme ran by legendary defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau.

Casey recorded 44 tackles for 5.0 sacks for a Titans defense that ranked 20th in total defense in 2016, finishing second in the league against the run surrendering just 88.3 yards per game and 30th against the pass yielding 269.2 yards through the air per game.

Tennessee’s pass rush is powered by outside linebackers Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan. Orakpo led the Titans with 10.5 sacks and Morgan was second on the team with 9.0 sacks.

Casey, Orakpo and Morgan combined for 23.5 of the Titans’ 40 sacks in 2016. Tennessee was just one of seven teams to record 40-plus sacks last season.

Inside linebackers Avery Williamson (team-leader in tackles with 104) and Wesley Woodyard (57 tackles) aren’t household names, but are consistent and provide additional support in the running game.

The player that I’m most intrigued to watch Sunday is second-year safety Kevin Byard.

The MTSU product didn’t record an interception during his rookie season after recording 19 interceptions (a career-high six during his junior season), but did finish third on the team with 58 tackles, four passes defensed and a sack in 16 games played. His seven starts were the most for a Titans rookie safety since Michael Griffin’s 10 starts in 2007 according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

At 5-foot-11 and 212 pounds, Byard isn’t the biggest safety, but his instincts and attention to detail is an important element for Tennessee’s defense.

Throw in free agent addition in cornerback Logan Ryan, a Super Bowl champion with New England and the drafting of USC’s speedster and highlight-maker Adoree’ Jackson, the Titans have talent in the secondary to compete with top-end wide receivers.

Sunday’s matchup between the Raiders and Titans could very well be a playoff preview that may not be decided until late in the fourth quarter.

The game’s outcome could be reminiscent of last season’s game when Tennessee had a would be game-tying touchdown from Mariota to wide receiver Andre Johnson that was called back due to an offensive pass interference call before the Raiders took over on downs two plays later.

Prediction: Raiders 27 Titans 23