Category: Oakland Raiders

Oakland Raiders podcast with Joe Hawkes Beamon: Raiders up for some challenges on Thursday Night Football can they keep it going?

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APPhoto: Kansas City Chiefs Alex Smith (11) basks in the 22 degree temps of Arrowhead Stadium after a win over the Oakland Raiders on Thursday Night Football

It was a big win for the Raiders to get wins against the Houston Texans on Mon Nov 21 in Mexico City and then against the Carolina Panthers at home on Nov 27 and then defeating Buffalo Bills last Sunday at the Coliseum. It was good offense to come back on the Bill who jumped on them early. The Raiders had to overcome the odds of playing from behind and yet in still they had the confidence to win this tough battle against the Bills.

The Raiders (10-2) have another challenge as they play in Kansas City tonight (Thursday) against the Kansas City Chiefs (9-3) at Arrowhead Stadium listen to what J Hawkes goes over on some of the challenges facing the Raiders and what they’ll come up against for this edition of Thursday Night Football.

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

 

 

Red hot Raiders travel to frigid KC with AFC West at stake on TNF

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AP photo: Oakland Raiders Derek Carr (4) speaks at the post game press conference following their game with the Buffalo Bills last Sunday at the Oakland Coliseum

By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
Sports Radio Service Writer

OAKLAND, Calif — In what is arguably the biggest game for the franchise since their Super Bowl XXXVII loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the end of the 2002 season, the Raiders will be on the national stage once again when they face their bitter rival the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on Thursday Night Football.

Kickoff is set for 7:35 p.m. CT (5:35 p.m. PT) with temperatures predicted to be in the high-teens with a windchill factor that will make it feel like 10 degrees.

Thursday’s game begins a stretch for Oakland that sees them play three of their final four games on the road.

Ever since the Chiefs’ 26-10 victory over the Raiders on the rain-soaked Oakland Coliseum turf on Oct. 16, Oakland (10-2) is riding a season-high six-game winning streak (winning by an average of nine points) and sit one game ahead of Kansas City (9-3) in the ultra-competitive AFC West.

Oakland rallied from a 15-point deficit to dispatch the visiting Buffalo Bills 38-24 just four days ago and now have to travel two time zones on a short week and play in one of the loudest stadiums in pro football.

Quarterback Derek Carr engineered an Oakland offense that scored 29 unanswered points in the second half after trailing 24-9 early in the third quarter. Carr has become the first player in NFL history to throw five game-winning touchdowns in the fourth quarter or overtime in a season, according to the Associated Press.

Carr completed 19-of-35 passes for 260 yards and two touchdowns while taking the majority of the snaps in the shotgun or the pistol in Sunday’s game, despite playing with a fracture pinkie on his throwing finger.

For the season, Carr has thrown for 3,375 yards with 24 touchdowns and five interceptions with a 100.3 quarterback rating.

Let’s not forget, Carr lost his first 10 games of his career before winning his first game against the Chiefs, but the Chiefs continue to be a thorn in Carr’s side.

In his last five starts against Kansas City, Carr is just 1-4 versus the Chiefs completing just 58 percent of his passes,  with six touchdowns, five interceptions and a 72.0 quarterback rating.

Legendary quarterbacks make their names from performing on the biggest stages with all of the money on the table so if Carr is going to be named the league’s MVP, he has to play better against Kansas City and why not do that on Thursday Night Football?

Latavius Murray, who didn’t play in the first meeting, rumbled for 82 of Oakland’s 139 yards against Buffalo. Oakland’s stout offensive line will need to find running lanes against a Chiefs defensive front that surrendered 128 yards to Atlanta in the Chiefs’ 29-28 win on the road in Week 13.

Kansas City is 20-4 in their last 24 regular season games, and have won six of their last seven games this season.

Alex Smith, who is 6-1 all-time against Oakland, was efficient with the football, completing 21-of-25 passes for 270 and a touchdown against the Falcons.

Tight end Travis Kelce recorded his third consecutive 100-yard receiving game Sunday when he hauled in eight catches for 140 Kelce’s 65 catches and 815 yards not only leads all AFC tight ends, but all tight ends in the league.

Kelce could prove to be a difficult cover for a Raiders secondary that will be without rookie safety Karl Joseph (foot) Thursday.

Rookie Tyreek Hill is listed as a wide receiver in most media guides, but when you pull up the film, Hill is a offensive specialist who is a matchup nightmare for most defenses.

With wide receiver Jeremy Maclin battling a groin injury, Hill has become a valuable target and weapon in Kansas City’s passing game. Hill is second to Kelce on the Chiefs with 50 catches for 481 yards, but his five touchdown catches ranks first on the team.

In their last meeting, Oakland had trouble stopping running back Spencer Ware, who carried the ball 24 times for 131 yards and a touchdown. Kansas City has put together a solid running game without starting running back Jamaal Charles this season led by Ware, who leads the Chiefs with 734 rushing yards and three scores.

Ware’s hard-nose running style is tailor made to carry the ball in the frigid conditions that is Kansas City in early December.

Both teams have pass rushers who can make life difficult for the opposing quarterback.

Kansas City outside linebacker Dee Ford and Oakland defensive end Khalil Mack are tied for third in the NFL in sacks with 10 apiece.

Mack, who won the AFC Defensive Player of the Month for November, has recorded seven sacks in his last seven games. No other player has that many sacks during that span.

Chiefs All-Pro safety Eric Berry accounted for eight points (a pick-6 and a pick-2) to seal Kansas City’s win in Berry’s return to his hometown of Atlanta. Two of Berry’s three interception on the season have gone for touchdowns.

Shadowy cornerback Marcus Peters is tied for second in the league with Giants safety Landon Collins with five interceptions. Peters’ eight total takeaways leads the NFL to go along with a Chiefs defense that leads the NFL in total takeaways with 25.

Peters and the rest of the Chiefs secondary will have their hands full with the receiving  tandem of Michael Crabtree (67 catches, 785 yards, 7 TDs) and Amari Cooper (68 catches, 981 yards, 4 TDs).

A win for Oakland gives the Silver and Black a two-game lead in the AFC West with three games to go, but a loss to their arch-rival would not only give Kansas City a season sweep for the second straight year, but the inside track on the division title and No. 1 overall seed in the AFC.

But the biggest question that must be answered before kickoff for yours truly, what to eat to go with the frosty beer (Corona with lime most likely) that I’m sure I will consume?

Carne Asada tacos for the Raiders  win!

 

 

 

 

 

 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Bill King wins the Ford C Frick Award finally!!

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Oakland A’s photo: After Bill King passed in 2005 the Oakland A’s players wore the “Holy Toledo” patch on their uniforms to honor the great announcer

Bill King wins the Ford Frick Award, Finally!

by Amaury Pi Gonzalez

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

OAKLAND–We all know the Bay Area needed some good news, after the terrible Oakland fire. We got the good news this morning. Bill King, the legendary Bay Area Oakland Athletics play by play man, finally was inducted into Cooperstown winning the Ford C. Frick Award for Excellence in Broadcasting. We live in a fast-moving-word, nowadays, with instant messages, Twitter (which allows a 140 letter character limit), and so much more, but anybody that was really into sports in the Bay Area, I do not know how can Bill King could be ignored. He was a broadcasters broadcaster.

The Ford C. Frick Award procedures have changed in recent years, once it was on Facebook for the public to vote, but whatever changes it might have gone through, one thing that it will never change is the quality and professionalism of Bill King. We all know that all these awards become political, and extremely subjective, but we all learned from Mr.King during his years on this earth. Bill King was a treasure. Although not a national broadcaster and in a market not the size of New York or Los Angeles, where people in the media get much less exposure and in many cases less respect, Bill King was always the mark of excellence.

For those of us lucky enough to have known him and listened to him, there was nobody better. And by the way,(in my opinion)should also be in the NBA Basketball Hall of Fame of broadcasters,as he painted a picture as the radio play by play voice for the Golden State Warriors, that “looked” better that same game you were watching on television. How many people in the Bay Area used to turn the television audio down so they could listen to him? More than you think.

Too bad Bill is not around to enjoy this well deserve award in person, but he is in heaven today saying  “Holy Toledo….do I need this?”

Amaury Pi Gonzalez does That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

NFL podcast with Jeremy Kahn: As opposed to critics opinion 49ers show no signs of improvements; Raiders Mack is a machine

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AP file photo: Chicago Bears quarterback Mark Barkley gets tuned up for their game against the Tennessee Titans last Sunday as Barkley and the Bears host the San Francisco 49ers this coming Sunday

On the NFL podcast with Jeremy Kahn filling in this week for Tony Renteria:

San Francisco 49ers (1-10): It was a close attempt at coming back for the 49ers last Sunday in Miami last Sunday. The 49ers made an effort in the end but lost their ninth straight game. 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick was stopped at the goal line twice first when he went to throw in the end zone for Torrey Smith who ran a slant as the ball was thrown slightly behind Smith.

The next attempt Kaepernick ran a keeper but was stopped at the goal line by linebacker Kiko Alsono and lineman Ndomukong Suh. The 49ers have now lost a franchise record ten straight games. Do the 49ers in spite of last week’s loss look better than in recent weeks JJ says no improvement and where? Also expect more of the same when they play the Bears (2-9) at Soldier Field this Sunday.

Oakland Raiders (9-2): How surprising was it to beat Cam Newton and the NFL Champs Carolina Panthers (4-7). Derrek Carr Raiders quarterback went 26-38 with two touchdowns and an interception. Jeremy also talks about Khalil Mack the AFC defensive player of the week. They win big in Mexico City against Houston (6-5) and at the Oakland Coliseum against the Panthers. The Raiders host the Buffalo Bills this weekend at the Oakland Coliseum.

Jeremy Kahn is filling in for Tony Renteria for this week’s edition of the NFL podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Raiders face tough test with Bills coming to Oakland

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AP photo: Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) fires a pass against the Carolina Panthers last Sunday at the Oakland Coliseum

By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
Sports Radio Service Writer

OAKLAND, Calif — Two years ago, the Silver and Black were in shambles at 2-12 when the 8-6 Buffalo Bills came into town looking to earn the franchise’s first trip to the postseason since 1999.

But that was two years ago when quarterback Derek Carr, who was a rookie at the time, displayed early on the talent that many football experts believe will tab Carr as this year’s league MVP that day when he found wide receiver James Jones for the game-winning touchdown in the final seconds giving Oakland a 26-24 victory, eliminating Buffalo from playoff contention.

With both teams tasting the playoffs as the season heads into the final month, Sunday’s matchup at the Oakland Coliseum at 1:05 p.m. will have the feel of a playoff game which should make for a very competitive game.

Carr has the 9-2 Raiders riding a five-game winning streak, and a win Sunday would put Oakland on the doorstep of the franchise’s first playoff appearance since 2002.

Oh yeah, that team reached the Super Bowl that season.

It is still relatively unknown if Carr, who completed 26-of-38 passes for 315, with two touchdowns, and an interception in last week’s 35-32 victory over the visiting Carolina Panthers, will wear a glove in Sunday’s game to protect his dislocated pinkie on his right hand.

During Wednesday’s practice, Carr was seen wearing a glove on his right hand.

Carr took a snap on Oakland’s first drive of the second half and immediately jumped back holding his pinkie. It appeared that Carr pulled from under center too fast, causing the injury.

Carr left the game briefly with the Raiders holding a 24-7 lead, but Carolina would score 18 unanswered points in the third quarter that gave the Panthers a 25-24 lead that left the sellout Raider Nation crowd stunned.

Following a Cam Newton 44-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin, Carr would throw a 12-yard score to tight end Clive Walford in the fourth quarter to go along with a 23-yard field goal by kicker Sebastian Janikowski to put seal the win for Oakland.

On the season, Carr has thrown for 3,115 yards, 22 touchdowns to just five interceptions while leading the league’s fourth-best passing offense.

As much as Oakland’s high-powered offense (27.9 ppg) has to do with most of the team’s success this season, it has been the play of the defense, most notably defensive end Khalil Mack.

Mack, who was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Month for November, has been a force for Oakland after a slow start of the season.

Against Carolina, Mack was one-man wrecking crew, intercepting the reigning league MVP and returning the pass for a 6-yard score right before halftime, then registering a sack, a forced fumble and recovery on Carolina’s final play of the game.

In November, Mack recorded 12 tackles (11 solo), four sacks, six quarterback hits, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two passes defensed, one interception returned for a touchdown all while leading Oakland to a 3-0 record.

But Buffalo (6-5) is a team that can give Oakland problems, especially with running back LeSean McCoy and the league’s top-ranked rushing attack, averaging 157.4 yards on the ground a game.

McCoy rushed for 103 yards on 19 carries and scored two touchdowns, one of which went for a career-long 75 yards in Buffalo’s 28-21 win at home in Week 12 over Jacksonville.

The eight-year pro from Pittsburgh is eighth in the league in rushing with 819 yards to go along with nine touchdowns.

Tyrod Taylor is following up his 2015 breakout season where he threw for a career-high 3,035 yards with 20 touchdowns and just six interceptions with another solid season for Buffalo, throwing for 2,101 yards, 11 touchdowns and four interceptions this season.

Defensively, Buffalo has some great players that Oakland’s stout offensive line will have to contend with on Sunday.

Inside linebackers Zach Brown and Preston Brown have combined for 194 tackles (121 solo), while outside linebacker and ex-Raider Lorenzo Alexander is having a career-year in his 10th year, pacing second behind Denver linebacker Von Miller (12.5) in the NFL in sacks with 10.

Buffalo’s 33 sacks as a team is second only to Denver’s league-leading 35.

The Bills secondary, which gives up just 227.7 yards through the air per game and plagued by injuries, will have their hands full with Oakland’s terrific wide receivers Amari Cooper (66 catches, 922 yards, 3 TDs) and Michael Crabtree (60 catches, 711 yards, 6 TDs) all game long.

 

 

Oakland Raiders podcast with Joe Hawkes Beamon: Mack AFC defensive player of the week; Carr effective in the red zone; Raiders prepare for Buffalo

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AP photo: Oakland Raiders linebacker Khalil Mack tangles with Carolina Panthers Mike Tolbert (left) during their match last Sunday at the Oakland Coliseum

On the Oakland Raiders podcast with J Hawkes:

How surprising was it for the Raiders to beat Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers the NFC Champions not really that surprising as the Raiders now 9-2 are taking everyone by storm. Derek Carr at quarterback for the Raiders had himself a Sunday throwing 26-38 with two touchdowns and an interception. Khalil Mack picked up the AFC defensive player of the week. The Raiders who won big in Mexico City against the Houston Texans and at the Oakland Coliseum against Carolina prepare for this Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills.

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

A thrilling win at the Coliseum 35-32

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AP photo: The Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton misses getting another feather in his cap as the Oakland Raiders get three point win over the Panthers on Sunday at the Oakland Coliseum

By Jeremy Kahn

OAKLAND-What looked like was going to be a cakewalk victory for the Oakland Raiders turned into a downright thriller in the end.

Sebastian Janikowski kicked a game-winning 23-yard field goal with 1:45 remaining in the game, as the Raiders made a great comeback to defeat the Carolina Panthers 35-32 at the Oakland Coliseum.

Derek Carr went 26-for-38 for 315 yards with two touchdowns thrown and also threw an interception.

Carr was also forced to leave the game in the third quarter, as he injured the pinkie on his throwing hand.

He was replaced by Matt McGloin for one series, but then came back onto the field after getting the pinky looked at by the doctors and trainers.

“A lot of pain. I’ll let our doctors and coach get into all that stuff. I was able to come back in and play. Something happened with the snap. To be completely honest, I don’t know. I haven’t seen a replay of it. Something was different than normal,” said Carr. “Rodney (Hudson) and I, we put a lot of hard work into the center-quarterback exchange, so that nothing ever happens. I’ll have to see a replay, but something was different, Something was definitely different,” Carr added.

This was the Raiders fifth straight win, improving to 9-2 on the season and thus assuring themselves of their first winning season since the 2002 season, when they made it all the way to the Super Bowl under Bill Callahan.

The game-winning field goal by Janikowski, his 200th career field goal at the Coliseum, was setup by a 49-yard throw by Carr to Michael Crabtree on third-and-9 from the Raiders 14-yard line.

Following the Janikowski field goal, the Panthers led by reigning league MVP Cam Newton began to drive down the field for a possibly game-tying field goal or a even a possible game-winning touchdown. Greg Olson was unable to hold onto the Newton pass on third down, and then Khalil Mack stripped Newton of the ball on fourth down, thus clinching the win for the Raiders.

Carr got the Raiders on the board in the first quarter, as he found Seth Roberts for a two-yard touchdown pass.

“The reason I talk about them as a group is because they do so many things selflessly. Like a key block. Last week when Coop (Amari Cooper) takes off on that touchdown, that’s Seth there making that key block there. When you see Latavius (Murray) pop on one of those runs, you might see Seth in there making the key blocks,” said Del Rio. It goes beyond having stats on the stat sheet and receptions and yards and touchdowns. Certainly that two-point play was about as big of a play as we had in the game and Seth came huge for us there,” Del Rio added.

On the Panthers ensuing series, Newton tied up the game with his feet, as he scored from three yards out.

After the Panthers tied up the game, the Raiders reeled off 17 unanswered points to go into the locker room at the half with a 24-7 lead.

Latavius Murray gave the Raiders the lead on a four-yard run, then Janikowski extended the lead up to 17-7, as he kicked a 23-yard field goal.

It looked like the Raiders were going to go into halftime with a 10-point, but Newton threw an interception that Mack returned six yards for a touchdown.

“Absolutely. Yeah, he’s got good hand. He can throw it, too. He can do just about anything that he wants, really,” said Del Rio about Mack.

After taking the 24-7 lead, and with Carr in the locker room getting his finger looked at by the medical staff, the Panthers, who recovered the fumble when Carr injured himself took quick advantage.

Jonathan Stewart scored from one yard out to cut the Raiders lead down to 24-13, and on the ensuing extra point, Denico Autry blocked Graham Gano’s extra point attempt.

On their next possession, the Panthers cut the Raiders lead down to five points, as Newton found former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ted Ginn, Jr., over the middle and the former track star split the Raiders defense all the way to the end zone for an 88-yard touchdown reception.

The Raiders were able to keep their five-point lead, as the two-point conversion from Newton to Corey Brown fell incomplete.

Thomas Davis came up with his second turnover of the afternoon on the Raiders next series, as he intercepted a Carr pass that was intended for Cooper and returned it 31 yards to the Raiders 28-yard line.

Just four plays later, the Panthers came all the way to take their first lead of the game, as Stewart scored his second touchdown of the afternoon; however once again the Raiders stopped the Panthers on the two-point conversion, as Newton’s throw to Olsen was incomplete.

After the Raiders went three-and-out, Newton threw his second touchdown pass of the afternoon, as he found Kelvin Benjamin for a 44-yard touchdown catch that saw Benjamin leaped over Sean Smith to make a fantastic catch to give the Panthers a 32-24 lead.

On the Raiders next possession, Carr found Clive Walford for a 12-yard touchdown pass and then Carr found Walford for the huge two-point conversion to tie up the game.

The Panthers were unable to get into scoring range, and were forced to give the Raiders the ball back, which culminated with the Janikowski 23-yard field goal to give the Raiders the victory.

Crabtree led all Raiders receivers with eight catches for 110 yards, while Murray was the lead ground gainer with 19 carries for 45 yards.

Raiders welcome Cam Newton, Panthers to the Coliseum Sunday

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
Sports Radio Service Writer

OAKLAND, Calif — Winners of four straight games for the first time since 2002, the Raiders look to continue their winning ways at home Sunday when the Silver and Black welcome the Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers to the Oakland Coliseum.

Raiders quarterback Derek Carr threw two of his three touchdowns in the final frame to lift Oakland to a 27-20 “home” victory over the Houston Texans (6-4) on ESPN’s Monday Night Football to close out Week 11.

The game was played at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, which last hosted an NFL game in 2005 when the Arizona Cardinals defeated the San Francisco 49ers 31-14 in a game that aired on ESPN’s Monday Night Football too.

Carr is continuing to have an outstanding 2016 season, throwing for 2,800 yards with 20 touchdowns with just four interceptions. The third-year signal caller is one of the best young quarterbacks in the league and is being touted as an MVP candidate.

At 8-2, Oakland is tied with the New England Patriots for the best record in the AFC and holds a one-game lead in the AFC West over the Kansas City Chiefs and the Denver Broncos who are both 7-3.

Denver hosts Kansas City on Sunday night in a highly anticipated matchup on NBC’s Sunday Night Football.

The Raiders appear to be jelling at the right time on both sides of the ball.

Despite losing the time of possession 36:27 to 23:33, allowing 104 rushing yards to running back Lamar Miller, and 22 first downs to Houston, Oakland’s defense made life difficult to the Texans’ offense by forcing two turnovers.

Linebackers Bruce Irvin and Malcolm Smith, along with rookie safety Karl Joseph were all over the field racking up 10 tackles a piece. Smith also intercepted a Brock Osweiler pass in the second quarter.

Carolina (4-6) is having a tough season following the franchise’s second trip to the Super Bowl.

The reigning NFC Champions are dealing with a slew of injuries to key players following a 23-20 victory in Week 11 over division rival New Orleans at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.

Middle linebacker Luke Kuechly (concussion), defensive end Mario Addison (foot), and center Ryan Khalil (shoulder) are all out for Sunday’s game.

Kuechly, a former NFL Defensive Player of the Year winner, leads Carolina in tackles (71) while Addison, the team’s most disruptive pass rusher, leads the Panthers with 6.5 sacks.

Khalil, a two-time All-Pro at center, is Carolina’s best offensive lineman and the main protector for franchise quarterback Cam Newton.

Newton threw for 192 yards and one touchdown as Carolina nearly blew another 17-point lead the way they did in their Week 10 home lost to Kansas City, holding off a Saints team that scored 17 unanswered points in the final frame after trailing 23-3 entering the fourth quarter.

Oakland will have its hands full dealing with a Carolina offense that includes running back Jonathan Stewart, tight end Greg Olsen, and wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin.

Olsen is by far Newton’s favorite weapon and one of the premier tight ends in the league.

Not only does the 10-year tight end from Miami leads all NFL tight ends in receptions (54) and yards (745), but leads the Panthers in those categories while tied with wide receiver Devin Funchess for second on the team with three touchdown grabs behind Benjamin’s four scores.

Kickoff is set for 1:25 p.m. PT.

 

 

 

Oakland Raiders podcast with Joe Hawkes Beamon: Carr on a role how will he do against the Panthers this Sunday?

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Despite the break down in the fourth quarter last Monday to the Houston Texans in Mexico City the Raiders reached deep down and pulled out a 27-20 victory. Raiders quarterback Derek Carr threw two touchdowns in the fourth quarter and helped the Raiders with a seven point win. The game between the Raiders and the Texans was the second NFL regular season game the last on was in 2005 when the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals faced off.

One of the big things was when Carr threw to Jamize Olawale for 75 yards and then Carr found Amari Cooper for a 35 yard touchdown with just four minutes left. The Raiders have won four straight and their playoff bound as they host the Carolina Panthers on Sunday Joe explains who he likes in this game.

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

Another comeback victory for the Raiders 27-20

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By Jeremy Kahn

AP photo: Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) looks for a receiver as the Raiders and Houston Texans battle on Monday Night Football in Mexico City

Despite being down in the fourth quarter, Derek Carr led a monster comeback to give the Oakland Raiders yet another huge step towards respect.

Carr threw two touchdowns in the final quarter, helping the Raiders overcome a deficit and defeat the Houston Texans 27-20 before a crowd of 76,743 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

This was the second ever NFL regular season game in el Districto Federal, following the San Francisco 49ers facing the Arizona Cardinals in October of 2005.

After being held to just 120 yards of total offense thru the first three quarters, the Raiders woke up behind Carr’s arm.

Carr found Jamize Olawale for a 75-yard touchdown pass, and then found Amari Cooper for a game-winning 35 yard touchdown pass with just over four minutes remaining to give the Raiders their fourth straight win and their eighth win of the season.

The Raiders got the ball back after they held the Texans on fourth down, but with some questionable spots.

It looked like the Texans hit the first down after a short run on third down, but the yard marker showed them to be just short. The Texans went for it on fourth down, and once again it looked like they passed the first down marker; however according to the down and distance marker it was just short.

Texans head coach Bill O’Brien challenged the placing of the ball, and after further review, the play stood as called and the Raiders took over on their own 15-yard line.

Carr ended up going 21-for-31 for 295 yards passing and those two touchdowns, as the Raiders have their longest winning streak since 2001.

The lone downfall on the night for Carr was when he threw an interception on the Raiders first series of the third quarter. It broke a streak of 170 consecutive passes by Carr without an interception, and it was the first interception since Marcus Peters of the Kansas City Chiefs picked him off on October 16.

With the victory, coupled with the Chiefs loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday afternoon, the Raiders are now in first place in the AFC West.

Sebastian Janikowski became just the second player in NFL history to score points in Canada, Mexico and the United States, as he kicked three extra points and two field goals.

Latavius Murray led the Raiders in rushing with just 33 yards rushing on 12 carries.