Category: NFL

Carr leads Raiders to victory throws 249 yards for second straight road win 17-10

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By Jeremy Kahn

AP photo: Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr drops back for the throw against the Tennessee Titans in the first half of last Sunday’s game in Nashville

Derek Carr help lead the Oakland Raiders somewhere they last went in their last postseason run in 2002.

Carr threw for 249 yards and a touchdown, as the Raiders defeated the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium 17-10.

With the victory, the Raiders won their first two road games for the first time since Rich Gannon led the Raiders to the postseason in 2002, where they defeated the Titans 41-24 to win the AFC Championship before losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 48-21 in Super Bowl XXXVII.

The much maligned Raiders defense, who gave up over 1,000 yards in their first two games of the season came up huge, as they forced three turnovers.

On the other hand, the Raiders took control of the game in the second quarter, as they scored 10 points in the quarter and out gained the Titans 129-40 to take a 17-3 at the end of the first 30 minutes of the game.

It looked like the Titans were about to tie the game and possibly overtime, as Marcus Mariota found Andre Johnson in the end zone for a touchdown. Luckily for the Raiders, Johnson was called for offensive pass interference on TJ Carrie.

Just two plays later, which happened to be fourth down, it looked like Carrie was going to be called for defensive pass interference on Harry Douglas, but no flag was thrown and the Raiders escaped Nashville with a hard fought seven-point victory.

The Titans got down to the Raiders three-yard line after Mariota found Tajae Sharpe for a 19-yard pass, but Taylor Lewan was called for unnecessary roughness and pushed the Titans back 15 yards.

Sebastian Janikowski set an NFL record for most field goals from 50 yards and beyond, as the 17-year veteran broke a tie with former Detroit Lions kicker Jason Hanson. Janikowski entered the game tied with Hanson with 52 field goals from 50 and beyond.

DeAndre Washington led the Raiders with 57 yards rushing, while Michael Crabtree led the Raiders in receiving, as he caught eight passes for 102 yards.

Seahawks, Wilson hand 49ers second loss 37-18; Wilson makes hay on 49ers defense before leaving with knee injury

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By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Sunday, September 25, 2016

AP photo: Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson speaks at the podium at the post game press conference after the Seahawks defeat the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday at Century Link

Before leaving with a left knee injury, Russell Wilson was busy making life miserable for the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. The veteran quarterback threw for 243 yards and a touchdown, leading the Seahawks to a 37-18 NFC West victory in Seattle.

The loss dropped the 49ers to 1-2, while Seattle improved to 2-1.

Russell’s injury occurred nearly five minutes into the third quarter when he hit the turf awkwardly while being sacked by the 49ers’ Eli Harold, who was flagged for a horse-collar penalty.

After the game, Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll referred to the injury as a “slight sprain,” adding that Wilson would undergo an MRI to verify the diagnosis.

Wilson finished his day 15 of 23 passing, including an 18-yard TD toss to Jimmy Graham. Trevone Boykin, who replaced Wilson, threw the first touchdown pass of his NFL career, a 16-yarder to Doug Baldwin.

Seahawks running back Christine Michael scored his first two NFL touchdowns in the first quarter on runs of 41 and 4 yards. Michael finished the day with 106 yards on 20 carries and a replacement for the injured Thomas Rawls.

Baldwin caught eight passes for a career-high 164 yards. Steven Hauschka also booted three field goals for the Seahawks.

Carlos Hyde had a pair of touchdown runs for the 49ers, who had five first downs after three quarters of play. Blaine Gabbert saw his streak of 12 straight games with a touchdown pass come to an end – he was 14 of 25 for 119 yards and one interception.

It didn’t help the 49ers to lose two key players in the first half – tight end Vance McDonald (hip) and cornerback Jimmy Ward (quadriceps). Neither player returned.

Garrett Celek, McDonald’s backup, took a hit to the back early in the third quarter, but returned a few plays later.

Next week, the 49ers return home for an Oct. 2 date with the Dallas Cowboys.

San Francisco 49ers podcast with Joe Lami: 49ers look to Gabbert to lead them past a struggling Seahawks team

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AP file photo: San Francisco 49ers head coach Chip Kelly discusses the next set of plays with quarterback Blaine Gabbert during last Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers

On the 49ers podcast with Joe, After a tough loss to the Carolina Panthers the 49ers get ready to face the Seattle Seahawks at Century Link Field in Seattle it’s the home of the 11th man and after taking a 9-3 loss the Los Angeles Rams last week the Seahawks are antsy for a few successes from the zone end. Century Link to the Seahawks is like the 11th man one of the nosiest buildings in the NFL.

The Seahawks have been playing a with a weak offense for the last two weeks rated one of the worst offenses in the NFL. Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson has his work cut out for him this Sunday with San Francisco. On the 49ers side of football they’ll depend on quarterback Blaine Gabbert to get the ball club back in the win column after that tough loss in Carolina last week.

 

San Francisco 49ers-Seattle Seahawks preview–Struggling Seahawks Look to Get Back on Track

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By: Joe Lami

AP file photo: Versatile quarterback of the Seattle Seahawks Russell Wilson seen here against the Los Angeles Rams last Sunday Sep 18th, will be throwing against the San Francisco 49ers Sunday at Century Link Field in week three of the NFL season

The (1-1) San Francisco 49ers are coming off one of their worst losses in 15 years after they were destroyed by the Carolina Panthers 47-26 in week two. This after they played a great first half against the NFC Champions, going into the break trailing 17-10, but Cam Newton was too explosive in the second half for the defense to contain.

This week the 49ers look to get back on track against the Slumping Seattle Seahawks. Despite a 1-1 record, the Seahawks have been arguably one of the worst teams in the NFL, scoring just 13 points in their first two games. More surprisingly, Seattle struggled against the same Rams team the San Francisco shut out in week one, with a 9-3 loss.

The biggest problem for Seattle has been the offensive line. After trading their star center last year for Jimmy Graham, the Seahawks line has been one of the worst in the league. Mobile quarterback, Russell Wilson has struggled because of it, throwing for 479 yards in the first two games.

Now San Francisco’s defensive has been phenomenal for six quarters this year. Minus the second half against the Panthers, the 49ers defense has been one of the league’s best. With a defensive line that has been dominating and a secondary that has been blocking up passes, San Francisco has a chance to do something that most would’ve thought to be impossible at the beginning of the season and getting a win in Seattle.

If the defense it up to the task of holding a pissed off Seahawks offense to nothing, San Francisco should be able to do enough to steal a win and stay tied for the top spot in the NFC West.

Oakland Raiders podcast with Joe Hawkes Beamon: Titans Walker is a force the Raiders will have to reckon with this Sunday

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AP file photo: During the second half of the Tennessee Titans and Detroit Lions game the Titans Delanie Walker sprints for a touchdown with the Lions cornerback Nevin Lawson (24) in hot pursuit last Sunday Sep 18th. Walker should match up petty well at tight end against the Raiders this Sunday

On the Raiders podcast with Joe, former 49ers tight end Delanie Walker will be a factor for the Tennessee Titans. Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio says he’s big enough to cause problems for safeties and linebackers. Del Rio said he has a lot of respect for Walker and that it’s hard to put a corner on him.

In the game against the Atlanta Falcons the Raiders allowed the Falcons 180 yards, and ten catches to three tight ends, Jacob Tamme, Austin Hooper, and Levine Toilolo. The Raiders have had trouble covering tight ends going back to last season except when Raider linebacker Neiron Ball was in the line up. Ball is now on the injured reserve list for the rest of this season.

 

 

Sportstalk at Pier Market Podcast at Pier 39 San Francisco Thu Sep 22, 2016

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photo by piermarket.com: Outside seafood market front of Pier Market where you’ll be warmly welcomed by Shawn, Colleen and their staff each day for fresh seafood and chowder at Pier 39’s main level

Cast: Matt Harrington (host), Tony the Tiger Hayes, Amaury Pi Gonzalez, Jeremy Harness, Len Shapiro, and Lee Leonard (producer) podcasting from the beautiful Pier Market at Pier 39 in San Francisco our thanks to our hosts Stephen Barnes general manager, Bob Partrite CEO, Sandra Fletcher president, Jane O’Donnell group sales manager, Colleen Washburn dining room manager, Shawn restaurant manager, server Alex for their fine hospitality.

Pier Market is famous for it’s award winning clam chowder, mesquite grilled dishes and sustainable seafood. Pier Market features indoor and outdoor seating. We had a seat in Pier Market’s back room which during certain parts of the year you can enjoy the sealions and seals just out the window. It was a great vantage point and view to do our radio podcast. We all enjoyed some of Pier Market’s famous dishes, crab cioppino, grilled chicken and shrimp skewers, garlic whole crab, rack of bar b q ribs, and some of Pier Market’s fresh fish dishes.

On the talk show the cast covered all the latest in the National League wild card standings and the San Francisco Giants chances of getting a wild card spot, the Dodgers and how they won the west, the Oakland A’s have some talent that might make them interesting for next season like newly acquired pitchers Jharel Cotton and Raul Alcantaro. Plus discussions on the Cal Bears, Stanford Cardinal, San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders.

 

Carr and the Raiders head to Tennessee for Week 3 tangle

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
Sports Radio Service Writer

AP photo: Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr gets a satisfactory moment last Sunday at the Oakland Coliseum against the Atlanta Falcons only to lose 35-28. Carr and the Raiders are preparing for the Tennessee Titans next Sunday

OAKLAND, Calif — Will the real Oakland Raiders please stand up?

Will the Raiders team that pulled out a dramatic 35-34  come-from-behind victory in New Orleans  in Week 1 show up Sunday in Tennessee against the Titans? Or the one that followed up a great win with a head-scratching 35-28 home loss to the Atlanta Falcons that saw the Raiders (1-1) be brought back down to earth?

I know that is a lot of questions, but seriously, the Oakland Raiders have plenty of questions to answer, most notably the lackluster play of the defense, a unit that has surrendered more than 1,000 yards in two games this season.

During the fourth quarter of Sunday’s loss, head coach Jack Del Rio took over play calling from defensive coordinator Ken Norton. Del Rio mentioned that there will be changes coming and those changes will happen soon, which makes the seat under Norton a little warmer.

Oakland has a chance to flex some muscle against the Titans Sunday, which they hope can re-energize the team with getting a win

The Raiders travel to Music City to take on a Titans (1-1) that has shown promise early in the season, but has only managed to score just 16 points in two games.

Tennessee quarterback Marcus Mariota leads an offense with capable play-makers in tight end Delanie Walker, running backs DeMarco Murray and rookie Derrick Henry, and rookie wide receiver, Tajae Sharpe.

Mariota proved that he has grown up in the NFL in Year 2,  especially in the fourth quarter tossing two touchdowns in the final frame in the Titans’ 16-15 win last week in Detroit.

Mariota showed confidence and poise, leading the Titans on a 13-play, 83-yard drive, that culminated in a 9-yard touchdown pass from Mariota to the veteran wide receiver Andre Johnson with Mariota completed all nine of his passes for 74 yards on the Titans’ game-winning drive.

Walker, the Titans’ skilled tight, must be licking his chops as he should figure into the passing game heavily, as the Raiders allowed Falcon tight ends to record 10 catches and 180 last week.

But as much as Oakland has been torched by the opposition’s passing game this season, the Raiders must contend with a Titans’ running game that gave the team problems during Tennessee’s 27-14 victory over the Raiders in Oakland during the preseason.

Both Murray and Henry combined for 20 carries for 89 yards and two touchdowns, and found huge holes in the Raiders’ defensive front.

Oakland is looking for another win in Nashville, rallying to beat the Titans 24-21 on Nov. 30, 2015 as quarterback Derek Carr found wide receiver Seth Roberts for the game-winning score late in the fourth quarter.

For the season, Carr has thrown for 618 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions, while second-year wide receiver Amari Cooper leads Oakland with 208 yards receiving.

 

 

San Francisco 49ers podcast with David Zizmor: Kaepernick death threats has no indication of reaction from events in Tulsa or Charlotte

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AP file photo: San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) and safety Eric Ried (35) take a knee during the national anthem before meeting the Carolina Panthers last Sunday

On the 49ers podcast with David, there is no indication that the death threats that San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has been receiving has any connection to what happened in Tulsa or in Charlotte. The issues that Kaepernick is protesting namely police violence against unarmed citizens or injustice in general these are things that have been considered before Tulsa or Charlotte. The death threats are kind of par for the course.

It’s the United States in 2016 and were a polarized society Democrats and Republicans whenever someone disagrees with you there’s a tendency for people to go overboard and over react whether it’s on social media or it’s through television or radio. You do something like what Kaepernick did  which is protest during the national anthem of a professional football game there are people who are going to feel strongly about that.

Hear the rest of David’s commentary on the SF 49ers podcast and each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland Raiders post game wrap: Ryan throws three touchdowns in Falcons win 35-28

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By Jeremy Kahn

AP photo: Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr at the post game press conference following Sunday’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons at the Oakland Coliseum

OAKLAND-On a day where the Oakland Raiders celebrated their illustrious past by celebrating the induction of the late Ken Stabler’s induction into the Hall of Fame, the current Raiders did not put a Hall of Fame performance.

Matt Ryan threw three touchdowns, including the game-winner that went off the hands of Tevin Coleman and bounced into the waiting hands of Justin Hardy in the fourth quarter, as the Atlanta Falcons held off the Raiders 35-28 at the Coliseum.

“1-1 is a lot better than 0-2 that is for sure especially on the road, I mean that is a good football team, Oakland is a very good football team those guys competed really hard,” said Ryan.

On the Raiders ensuing possession, it looked like they tied it up, as Amari Cooper caught a 51-yard touchdown pass from Derek Carr, but it the officials saw it different.

Cooper went out of bounds, and was the first player to touch the ball afterwards; therefore it was called a penalty for illegal touching, marking the fourth down.

The Raiders decided go for it on fourth down, but Jalen Richard was stopped just short of the first down, thus giving the ball back to the Falcons.

That was the second time that the Raiders went for it and fourth and short, and the first time, it succeeded, when Carr found Michael Crabtree for a two-yard touchdown reception.

Once again, the Raiders defense allowed over 500 yards of offense to their opposition, becoming the first team since the 1967 Falcons to allow it in the first two games of the season, according to Pro Football Reference.

The total of 1,035 yards allowed by the Raiders in their first two games breaks the 1951 New York Yankees for the most in two games, this according to Football Perspective.

“If you want somebody to blame, just blame it on me, if you need somebody to blame, blame the head coach, I’ll take it and we’ll correct it what needs to be corrected and we’ll go forward this is one game that did not go our way,” said Jack Del Rio.

In all, Ryan went 26-for-34 for 396 yards passing with three touchdowns and an interception, as the Falcons improve to 1-1 on the season.

Julio Jones led all Falcons receivers with five catches for 106 yards, and a touchdown, while Devonta Freeman carried the ball 17 times for 93 yards.

Carr completed 34 passes out of 45 attempts for 299 yards and three touchdowns, while both Clive Walford and Latavius Murray led the Raiders with six receptions. Walford, Crabtree and Andre Holmes caught touchdown passes from Carr.

Murray led the Raiders in rushing, he carried the ball eight times for 57 yards and a touchdown on a hot day at the Coliseum.

Raiders Instant Report Card: Raiders fall short in home opener to Falcons

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
Sports Radio Service Writer

AP photo: Oakland Raiders Derek Carr had his successes with three touchdown passes and 299 yards but the Raiders fell short to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday at the Oakland Coliseum

OAKLAND, Calif — Well, I guess a 2-0 start for the first time since Oakland’s Super Bowl season of 2002 was not in the works for the Raiders after all Sunday.

On a day where the Oakland Coliseum was electric as ever with strong optimism from the sold out Raider Nation crowd, the Raiders couldn’t neutralize Matt Ryan and the Falcons, losing 35-28 to Atlanta in Oakland’s home opener in Week 2.

Checkout each unit’s grade following Oakland’s (1-1) home loss to the Falcons (1-1) below:

Quarterback (A) – For the second straight week, Oakland quarterback Derek Carr played a terrific game, completing 34 of 45 passes for 299 yards and three touchdowns (all in the second half), with no interceptions.

With Oakland trailing Atlanta 13-7 in the third quarter, Carr engineered an 8-play, 81-yard drive in 3:43 and delivered a soft pass to a streaking Clive Walford for a 31-yard touchdown up the Raiders’ sideline that gave the Raiders a 14-13 lead.

It was one of Carr’s best throws of the day against a Falcons secondary that played aggressively all day.

After two games into the season, Carr has thrown for 618 yards and four touchdowns and no interceptions.

Running Backs (B) – For the time being, Oakland appears to be taking the “running back by committee” approach this season, given how no running back had more than eight carries on the day.

Starter Latavius Murray led the team with eight carries for 57 yards and a touchdown. Murray’s 1-yard score gave Oakland its first lead of the game, 7-3 early in the second quarter. Murray was also heavily involved in the passing game, finishing tied for the team lead with six catches and 44 yards Sunday.

Rookie running backs DeAndre Washington (six carries for 46 yards), and Jalen Richard (seven carries for 17 yards) continue to give Oakland the change of pace runners the team lacked last season.

Offensive line (B) – With Austin Howard starting in place of  right tackle Menelik Watson (groin), the offensive line surrender their first sack of the season, but kept Carr clean for the majority of the game.

After the offensive line racked up 167 yards on the ground against New Orleans in Week 1, Oakland finished with 155 yards against Atlanta Sunday.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends (B) – Carr looked for his tight ends early in the game to get the offense in rhythm, connecting on his first three passes to reserve tight end Lee Smith (who caught the first of the two), along with Walford.

Walford finished with six catches for 50 yards and a touchdown.

Amari Cooper led Oakland with 71 yards receiving on five catches, but could’ve had more if not for a questionable illegal touch pass call midway into the fourth quarter.

With Oakland trailing Atlanta 28-21 and facing a 3rd and two at their own 49-yard line, it appeared that Cooper was forced out of bounds by Falcons’ cornerback Desmond Trufant, came back on to the field and  took a Carr pass 51 yards for the tying touchdown.

Not the case.

By rule, Oakland loss the down, forcing 4th down which the Raiders didn’t convert after just gaining one yard on a hand off to Richard.

Cooper is still seeking his first touchdown of the season after two games, while fellow starting wide receiver Michael Crabtree (2-yard score) and Andre Holmes (6-yard score) hauled in their first touchdown catches of the season in the fourth quarter with Oakland rallying late.

With four catches on Sunday, Crabtree is tied for the team lead with Cooper with 11 catches. Crabtree totaled just 31 yards against the Falcons.

Rookie wide receiver Johnny Holton caught his first pass in the NFL, a four-yard catch in the second quarter.

Offensively through the first two games for the season, Oakland is leading the league in total yards per game (486.0) and rushing yards (167.0), second in points per game (35.0),and sixth in passing yards per game (319.0).

The offense can score points at will and rack up a chunk of yards, but the defense is having trouble stopping the opposition early, which could hinder Oakland’s chances of being a playoff team this season.

Defensively, Oakland is dead-last in total yards surrendered per game (507.0) and passing yards (419.0), and second-to-last in points (34.0). Surprisingly, Oakland is 10th in rushing yards against per game (88.0).

But the defense got trashed again Sunday, allowing 528 total yards to the Falcons. Oakland has given up 500+ yards of total offense in back-to-back weeks, which is outright unacceptable for any defense to allow that type of production.

Defensive Line (C) – Atlanta’s strong running game took advantage of some holes in Oakland’s defensive front, rushing for 139 yards. Starting running back Devonta Freeman rush for 93 yards on 17 carries for Atlanta.

Backup defensive tackle Stacy McGee recorded Oakland’s lone sack of the game, while defensive end Khalil Mack had another tough Sunday handling double teams and chip blocks from Falcons tight ends and running backs.

Linebackers (B-) – Starting outside linebacker Malcolm Smith, who took over calling the defensive plays for the defense from middle linebacker Ben Heeney after the defense was shredded by New Orleans for 507 total yards last week, finished with five tackles.

Heeney, led all linebackers in tackles with six. You could see that Heeney played looser Sunday without having to call the plays on defense.

Secondary (C+) – The secondary didn’t get blown up for 423 passing yards, four touchdowns (one going for 98 yards) as Saints quarterback Drew Brees piled up in Week 1, but it did allow 396 yards and three touchdowns to another NFC South quarterback in Matt Ryan.

Ryan completed 26 of 34 passes, but did throw an interception to cornerback David Amerson in the end zone after trying to hit his tight end Jacob Tamme on a post route in the third quarter with Oakland up, 14-13.

The nine-year veteran from Boston College shrugged off the interception and found Tamme on the Falcons’ next drive for a 14-yard touchdown that gave Atlanta a 19-14 lead before converting a two-point conversion that made the score 21-14.

Julio Jones, the Falcons’ all-world wide receiver who was battling an ankle injury during the week, caught five balls for 106 yards and a touchdown.

Jones capped off a 10-play, 76-yard drive with a 21-yard score in the second quarter that gave Atlanta a 10-7 lead.

Jones’s 48-yard reception where he beat safety Reggie Nelson (finished with a team-high 10 tackles) over the middle, and his 20-yard catch and run past cornerback Sean Smith in the fourth quarter proved to be the difference-makers for Atlanta closing out the game.

Raider Nation will have to wait until Oct. 9  (Week 5) to see their football team, as the Silver & Black will be on the road for the next two weeks, traveling to Nashville to face the Titans (1-1) and to Baltimore to play the Ravens (1-1).