Category: Oakland Raiders

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.

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.

 

 

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).

 

 

Oakland Raiders-Atlanta Falcons preview: Raiders look for first 2-0 start since ’02; host Falcons in Week 2

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
Sports Radio Service Writer

AP file photo: Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) looks for some daylight as he’s pass rushed by the New Orleans Saints Paul Kruger (99) during last Sunday’s game at the Superdome in New Orleans

OAKLAND, Calif — The Raiders opened up the NFL season in dramatic fashion, knocking off the Saints 35-34 in New Orleans last Sunday and have been one of the trendiest sports topics for the week, thanks in large part to the two-point conversion that head coach Jack Del Rio dialed up for quarterback Derek Carr and wide receiver Michael Crabtree.

But the NFL is a week-to-week league and Oakland (1-0) will face another NFC South opponent when they host the Atlanta Falcons (0-1) at Oakland Coliseum Sunday in what should be a sellout for Raider Nation.

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

Carr finished the game 24 of 38 for 319 yards passing and one touchdown, including the two-point conversion to Crabtree with 52 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Carr’s clutch throw to Crabtree  earned Carr the Castrol Edge Clutch Performer of the Week, for Week 1 as announced by the NFL Friday.

“Everyone on this team is so confident in what we can do,” Carr said after practice Wednesday at the team’s training facility in Alameda. “It’s not arrogant, it’s not that we think we’re better than anybody. We respect every team that we play. At the same time, we know the work we’ve put in. We know how to compete.”

Carr drove the Raiders 75 yards in 11 plays, capping off the game-winning drive with a 10-yard touchdown to wide receiver Seth Roberts.

Crabtree finished with seven catches for 87 yards, while his fellow wide receiver Amari Cooper finished with six catches and led the team with 137 yards receiving.

Oakland’s running game was in good hands with starting running back Latavius Murray (14 carries, 59 yards, one touchdown) and rookies DeAndre Washington (five carries and 14 yards), and Jalen Richard (three carries and 84 yards).

Richard’s 75-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter was a huge turning point for Oakland in the game.

Oakland’s defense seemed to be  heading in the right direction in the first quarter, when newly signed outside linebacker Bruce Irvin sacked Saints quarterback Drew Brees forcing a fumble that was recovered by rookie defensive tackle Jihad Ward inside Saints’ territory.

The Raiders converted that turnover into a Sebastian Janikowski 47-yard field goal, but that was the only pressure that Brees felt all day from an absent pass rush that saw star defensive end Khalil Mack facing countless double-teams and chip blocks from tight ends and running backs.

But the secondary took a beating from Drew Brees and Co., giving up a total of 507 yards of offense. Brees completed 28 of 42 passes for 423 yards and four touchdowns.

High-priced free agent cornerback Sean Smith had a day that he wanted to forget, giving up huge plays in the passing game, most notably the 98-yard touchdown pass that speedy wide receiver Brandin Cooks caught that gave New Orleans a 24-10 lead in the third quarter.

Smith was benched in favor of former first-round draft pick D.J. Hayden after giving up the touchdown to Cooks.

Cooks finished the game with six catches for 143 yards and two touchdowns, but fellow wide receiver Willie Sneed gave Oakland fits also, burning the Raiders for 172 yards on nine catches and one touchdown.

Defensive coordinator Ken Norton and the defense are going to face another high passing attack in the Falcons, led by quarterback Matt Ryan and wide receiver Julio Jones and Mohammed Sanu. Atlanta’s passing offense can feast on a Raiders’ secondary if they miss assignments.

Atlanta is traveling to the West Coast after dropping their home opener last week to Tampa Bay, 31-24.

Ryan finished 27 of 39 for 334 yards and two touchdowns, while Sanu finished with five catches for 80 yards and a touchdown, and Jones hauled in four catches for 66 yards and a touchdown.

Jones has been dealing with an ankle injury and has been limited in practice for much of the week, but should be ready to go Sunday.

The six-year wide receiver from Alabama finished in 2015 tied with Pittsburgh wide receiver Antonio Brown for the league lead in receptions (136) and edged Brown for the league lead in receiving yards (1,871 to Brown’s 1,834) is still one of the premier wide receivers in the league even at less than 100%.

“I’ve played through things,” Jones said earlier in the week via CBS Sports. “It’s nothing that’s going to hold me back from going out there and producing or doing what I do.”

Atlanta’s running game has the potential to have a big day against Oakland, after just rushing for 52 yards Sunday against Tampa Bay, 10 by Ryan.

Starting running back Devonta Freeman (11 carries and 20 yards) and fellow running buddy Tevin Coleman (eight carries and 22 yards) are looking for bounce back games after facing a stingy Buccaneers defense that yielded  just three yards per carry to Atlanta.

Atlanta is looking to avoid an 0-2 hole after starting last season 6-1, before derailing to an 8-8 finish and missing the playoffs for the third straight season.

The Falcons defeated Oakland 23-20 in the last meeting between the two teams on Oct. 14, 2012 behind a Matt Bryant 55-yard field goal with one second left in the fourth quarter.

Starting off the season 2-0 for the Raiders would be a confidence booster for a team that hasn’t seen a 2-0 start since 2002, the year the team reached the Super Bowl.

Winning exudes confidence and with Carr, who finished with 3,987 yards passing and 32 touchdowns in 2015 already off to a promising start to 2016, the Raiders may have the makings of a special team.

 

Oakland Raiders podcast with Joe Hawkes Beamon: Irvin and Mack want to notch up the sack total in Atlanta this Sunday

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AP file photo: Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) celebrates with Oakland Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack (52) after the Raiders win over the New Orleans Saints at in New Orleans last Sunday

On the Raiders podcast with Joe, the Raiders linebacker Bruce Irvin who had the only sack for Oakland last Sunday in New Orleans called into question his concerns about how the Raiders are going to deal with the pass rush. Irvin’s concern was also shared by defensive end Khalil Mack who said they needed some help at getting to the quarterback. Mack and Irvin say it’ll be crucial to get to their next opponents quarterback Atlanta Falcons Matt Ryan as the Raiders set out to play in Atlanta this coming Sunday.

The Saints executed using their offensive weapons to stop Irvin and Mack in their own right to protect quarterback Drew Brees. Irvin and Mack got a dose of blocks from rushing by the Saints tight ends, running backs, and even wide receivers. So reflecting on Irvin’s only sack for the Raiders in the very first minute of the game he said the Saints keyed in on him all day and couldn’t even get a hand on Brees after that very first minute.

Joe takes a look at the Raiders every week on the Oakland Raiders podcast each week. Also catch Jeremy Kahn for complete game day coverage of the Raiders at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Del Rio’s gamble gives Raiders win

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By Jeremy Kahn

AP photo: Oakland Raiders wide receiver Michael Crabtree (15) shouts from the mountain tops after scoring a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints Sunday at the Superdome

Jack Del Rio went for it all in the first game of the season, and his gamble succeeded and on the road no less.

Derek Carr found Seth Roberts from 10 yards out with 47 seconds remaining in the game to bring the Oakland Raiders within one, and instead of sending Sebastian Janikowski for tie, Del Rio went for two and the lead. Del Rio’s hunch was right, as Carr found Michael Crabtree in the end zone and the Raiders defeated the New Orleans Saints 35-34 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

The Raiders trailed the Saints by as many as 14 points in the second half and saw Drew Brees shred their defense for 424 yards and four touchdowns.

Brees drove the Saints down the field to give rookie Wil Lutz a chance to win the game from 61 yards out.

Lutz’s chance at giving the Saints a thrilling victory, but his kick went just wide left to give the Raiders a one-point victory.

Jalen Richard made a great impression in his NFL debut, as on his first ever carry in the NFL, Richard took the handoff from Carr and broke thru the defense for a 75-yard touchdown run to bring the Raiders within two. Carr then threw to Amari Cooper for the two-point conversion and the tie.

Following the touchdown and subsequent two-point conversion, Brees found Willie Snead for a 57-yard completion and Snead fumbled the ball; however Michael Thomas recovered the ball and advanced to the Raiders two-yard line. Brees then found Travaris Cadet from two yards out to give the Saints a seven-point lead.

It looked like the Saints were going to escape with a victory, but Craig Robertson was flagged for pass interference on fourth down giving the Raiders new life.

The 424 yards passing by Brees gave him 14 career 400 yard games, tying Peyton Manning for the most in NFL history.

Brees set a team record that stood for nearly 17 years, as he found Brandin Cooks for a 98-yard touchdown pass. The touchdown pass broke a record that stood since October 10, 1999, when Bobby Hebert found Eddie Kennison from 90 yards out.

Carr threw for 319 yards and one touchdown, while the Raiders gained 167 yards rushing against the defense coached by former Raiders head coach Dennis Allen, who was the coach of the Raiders when Carr was drafted out of Fresno State in the 2014 Draft.

Asides from Richard’s 75-yard touchdown run, the Raiders also got touchdown runs from Latavius Murray from six yards out, then Jamize Olawale from two yards out.

Raiders’ Instant Report Card: Carr delivers for Oakland in stunning win over Saints

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
Sports Radio Service Writer

AP photo: New Orleans Saints kicker Will Lutz (3) gets sympathy from holder Thomas Morestead after missing a 61 yard field goal attempt which would have won it for the Saints as the Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Darius Latham (75) and strong safety TJ Carrie (38) celebrate a one point victory on Sunday at the Superdome in New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS, La — The Raiders, who many have picked to be one of the more dominate teams heading into the 2016 season, proved that the hype around the team is real by pulling out a thrilling, 35-34 road win against the Saints in both team’s season opener.

New Orleans’ rookie kicker Will Lutz missed a 61-yard field goal wide left as time expired.

Checkout each unit’s grade from Oakland’s (1-0) big win in New Orleans Sunday below:

Quarterback (A) – Raiders’ quarterback Derek Carr continues to grow as an NFL quarterback, leading Oakland back from a two-touchdown deficit in the second half. Carr completed 24-of-38 passes for 319 yards and one touchdown, a 10-yard dart to slot receiver Seth Roberts with 47 seconds left in the game that pulled Oakland within an point of New Orleans, 34-33.

You’d expect the Raiders to kick the extra point and force overtime, right?

Nope.

Carr looked to the sideline and both he and head coach Jack Del Rio agreed to roll the dice and go for two, which Carr found wide receiver Michael Crabtree for the go-ahead conversion.

At one point, Oakland’s offense stalled going scoreless on six offensive drives.

Running Back (B+) – Latavius Murray scored Oakland’s first touchdown of the season, a 6-yard run that gave Oakland a 10-3 lead in the first quarter. Murray finished the game with 14 carries for 59 yards and one touchdown, but Jalen Richard was the story for me.

Richard, the rookie from Southern Miss. and Louisiana native, only had three carries, but it was the 75-yard run up the middle of the soft Saints’ defense while eluding would-be tacklers in the fourth quarter with Oakland trailing 27-19 was what ignited the Raider comeback.

It was Richard’s first-career touchdown run.

Richard finished with 84 yards and a touchdown, while fellow rookie DeAndre Washington carried the ball five times for 14 yards.

Offensive line (B) – The key for Oakland’s offensive line was to protect their signal-caller and establish the run and stay healthy.

They were 50/50.

Even though Carr wasn’t sacked and Oakland’s ground game racked up 167 yards, the Raiders lost two offensive linemen when Menelik Watson (groin) and Matt McCants (knee) left the game.

Oakland’s offensive line is regarded as one of the best as a group coming into this season because of its depth, was tested Sunday.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends (A-) Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree combined for 225 receiving yards and 13 receptions (on 20 targets).

Cooper (6 catches, 137 yards, 11 targets), had no trouble getting open hauling passes of 34, 43, and 45 yards through a suspect Saints’ secondary.

Crabtree overcame a slow start (1 catch for 8 yards in the first half), to finish with seven catches for 87 yards on eight targets.

Clive Wafford caught three passes for 25 yards on five targets to lead the tight ends.

Defensive line/front seven (C+) – Bruce Irvin’s strip-sack (fumble recovered by rookie defensive tackle Jihad Ward)  on Saints’ quarterback Drew Brees on New Orleans’ first drive of the game was one of the lone bright spots for a unit that hadn’t done a much in the game.

Khalil Mack was relatively unheard of for the game, as he fought through countless chip blocks and double teams.

Linebackers Ben Heeney and Malcolm Smith combined for seven tackles (six assisted).

Secondary (D) – Brees and the Saints passing attack carved up Oakland’s revamped secondary for 423 yards passing and four touchdowns on 28-of-42 passing. Brees tied Peyton Manning for the most 400-yard passing games in NFL with 14.

Oakland’s high-priced cornerback tandem of Sean Smith and David Amerson were abused by New Orleans wide receivers Willie Snead (9 catches, 172 yards, 1 TD, 9 targets), and Brandin Cooks (6 catches, 143 yards, 1 TD, 9 targets).

With Oakland trailing 17-10 midway through the third quarter, Cooks ran right by Smith, who was playing man-to-man, and free safety Reggie Nelson, for a 98-yard touchdown catch that gave New Orleans a 24-10 lead. The scoring play established a new franchise record for the longest score for the Saints, and it was also the longest play in Brees’ career.

After that play, Smith was benched for the remainder of the game and was replaced by former first rounder, D.J. Hayden.

Overall, the defense gave up 507 totals yards to the Saints.

Special Teams (B+) – Kicker Sebastian Janikowski converted both of his field goals (31 and 47-yarders), while punter Marquette King booted four punts (42.0 yard average).

Up next: Oakland returns home to prepare for their own opener when the visiting Atlanta Falcons travel to the Bay Area next Sunday.