Category: Oakland Raiders

Raiders travel to Denver looking to play spoiler

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon

photo credit: raiders.com Raiders come off practice field at Alameda facility on Thursday

OAKLAND — Sunday’s 34-20 loss to the Kansas City at O.co Coliseum not only dropped the Raiders to 5-7, but pretty much knocked Oakland from the AFC playoff race for the 13th consecutive season.

Raiders’ starting quarterback Derek Carr threw three interceptions in the fourth quarter (one returned for a touchdown by former Raider safety Tyvon Branch) to ice the game. All three interceptions led to 20 points for Kansas City.

Carr became the first Raiders’ quarterback to throw three interceptions in the fourth quarter since 1995, finished Sunday’s game 31-of-48 for 283 yards and two touchdowns.

Oakland heads to Denver Sunday looking to thwart the Broncos’ chances of locking up their fifth consecutive AFC Western division title, play a Broncos team coming off a key 17-3 victory in San Diego, but are banged up on both sides of the ball.

Linebacker Danny Trevathan and tight end Vernon Davis are dealing with concussions, safeties David Bruton Jr. (knee) and Omar Bolden (hamstring), and running back C.J. Anderson is hampered with an ankle injury. Denver was already playing without starting safety T.J. Ward, who might miss his second game due to an ankle injury.

Denver should get back veteran linebacker DeMarcus Ware back after a four-game absence due to a back injury. Denver’s defense No. 1 ranked defense didn’t miss a beat without Ware, collecting 11 sacks during Ware’s absence.

Linebacker Von Miller who will a be a free agent at season’s end, recorded two of Denver’s four sacks against San Diego.

Quarterback Brock Osweiler has won three straight games since taking over the starting role in place of the injured Peyton Manning. Despite just tossing 166 yards, Osweiler has steady the ship for the Broncos, who are currently the second seed in the AFC playoffs at 10-2.

Denver defeated Oakland 16-10 on Oct. 11 thanks in large part to a suffocating defense that forced three turnovers. Cornerback Chris Harris Jr.’s go-ahead 74-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter proved to be the biggest play of the game.

In three career games against Denver, Carr (0-3) has thrown four touchdowns and four interceptions.

Denver has outscored Oakland 121-41 in three straight home wins, will attempt to defeat Oakland for a ninth straight time.

With a win and a loss or tie by Kansas City in San Diego, Denver will win the division. A loss or tie by Kansas City would also give Denver the division.

 

Oakland Raiders podcast with Jeremy Kahn: Raiders could expect a challenge from Broncos Osweiler

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by Jeremy Kahn

photo credit: profootballzap.com of Denver quarterback Brock Osweiler

ALAMEDA–The Raiders (5-7) got a heartbreak loss last week to the Kansas City Chiefs (7-5) in a game that went back and forth but not matter Oakland lost it in the end on their home turf at the Oakland Coliseum. Raiders quarterback Derek Carr just couldn’t put the team in drive and the Chiefs just edged out the Raiders for the team’s seventh loss of 2015.

Now the Raiders get ready to play in Denver against quarterback Brock Osweiler and the Broncos. While Peyton Manning has been taking snaps in practice and has been said to be the number two quarterback it’s very unlikely that the Broncos will use him as he’s recovering from an injury.

Jeremy Kahn covers Raiders football for http://www.sportsradioservice.com click on to listen to his Raiders podcast

Raiders, Crabtree agree to extension

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon

OAKLAND — Michael Crabtree was going to be a sought after free agent at season’s end and the Oakland Raiders didn’t want to see that happen, by locking up Crabtree to a contract extension Wednesday according to an NFL.com report.

The two sides agreed to a four-year deal worth $35 million with roughly $19 million guaranteed. Crabtree signed a one-year, $3.2 million contract this past offseason after spending his first six years in San Francisco.

The deal is expected to be signed soon, according to ESPN’s Adam Kaplan who first broke the story.

Crabtree is on pace to have career highs in catches and touchdowns. The 28-year-old leads The Silver and Black with 66 catches and seven touchdowns, while pacing second behind rookie wide receiver Amari Cooper’s team-leading 920 receiving yards with 760.

Oakland (5-7) who are coming off a 34-20 home loss to division-rival Kansas City in Week 13, travel to Denver to take on the Broncos Sunday.

 

NFL podcast with Tony Renteria: NFL looking at two teams to move to L.A. mostly considering Rams & Chargers

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On the NFL podcast Tony talks about some of the key reasons why the St. Louis Rams are considering moving out of St. Louis, not enough ticket sales, the TV market not as big as L.A., that the game is just too expensive for some to attend, and the Rams want to get back to L.A. and the Southland customers has the money to support the team.

This week the Raiders might get help from the NFL an executive said. The league is open to the idea of building an Oakland Coliseum City that would feature a new stadium for the Raiders, retail shopping, housing, condos, and hotels. Oakland Mayor Libby Schaff said she wanted to consider using public funds for the project but would use property taxes to pay back such a venture.

The NFL made it clear they would not fund the project for the Raiders and the same for the Rams and Chargers in their stadium developments in Carson and Hollywood Park in L.A. Besides talk about the Raiders and a new stadium the Raiders are preparing for their match against the Denver Broncos this Sunday Tony sets that one up for you on the pod cast.

photo credit: AP of Oak Raiders Lee Smith (86) against the KC Chiefs on Sun 12-6-15 at Oakland Coliseum

Tony Renteria does the NFL podcast weekly at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Oakland Raiders post game report: Carr stalls in fourth

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By Jeremy Kahn

photo credit by NBC Sports: Kansas City Chiefs Jeremy Maclin

OAKLAND-With their playoff chances in sight, the Oakland Raiders went two steps backward after their thrilling win over the Tennessee Titans.

Jeremy Maclin scored two touchdowns, and former Raiders Safety Tyvon Branch returned a Carr interception 38 yards to the end zone and the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Raiders 34-20 at the Coliseum.

It was a tough day for Carr, as he threw three interceptions on the afternoon and the Raiders were unable to hold a 20-14 lead in the fourth quarter.

Carr did throw for 283 yards and two touchdowns, but the Raiders lost for the third time in their last four games and saw their record fall to 5-7 on the season.

Alex Smith threw two touchdowns and ran for a score, as the Chiefs raised their record to 7-5 on the season.

Lee Smith caught a touchdown pass from Carr to give the Raiders 20-14 lead, but Sebastian Janikowski missed the extra point, snapping a streak of 225 consecutive makes.

On the ensuing series, the Chiefs were forced to punt and the Raiders began driving down the field; however Carr was hit and fumbled the ball that was picked by Chiefs Linebacker Josh Mauga, who returned the ball 65 yards to the Raiders two-yard line.

Maclin then caught a touchdown pass from Smith, but punter Dustin Colquitt was unable to hold the snap and the game was tied at 20-20.

Carr then ended the Raiders next series, as Oakland native Marcus Peters returned it 58 yards to the Raiders 13-yard line.

Smith gave the Chiefs the lead for good, as he found Maclin for a 13-yard touchdown pass in the end zone.

Charles Woodson, playing in his 250th NFL game recovered a fumble and rambled 38 yards to the Chiefs 36-yard line. Four plays later, Carr found Michael Crabtree for a 25-yard touchdown pass and the Raiders took a seven-point lead into the locker room at the half.

The Raiders took an early 7-0 lead on the first series of the game, as Latavius Murray scored on a two-yard touchdown run.

Smith tied up the game on a three-yard run on the Chiefs first possession of the game following Murray’s touchdown run.

Oakland Raiders podcast with Jeremy Kahn: Raiders will need that defense from last week against these Chiefs this week

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by Jeremy Kahn

photo credit: AP photo of Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack

ALAMEDA–The  Tennessee Titans got on the scoreboard to the lead early in the first half against the Oakland Raiders and the Titans were getting their confidence down but the Raiders came back and closed in on the Titans for the win. The Raiders faced off their last two games against two struggling teams the Detroit Lions who were 2-7 and who beat Oakland and are now 4-7 since.

The other is the that last opponent the Titans who were 2-8 and gave the Raiders a game last week and played up to the level. It was the Titans home field and they badly needed to get back into the win column. The Raiders pulled it off in the rain in Tennessee with some improved defense.

Jeremy Kahn does the Raiders podcast each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com listen below for the latest

 

 

Raiders host Chiefs with playoffs at stake

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon

photo credit: SB Nation of Charcandrick West running back KC Chiefs

OAKLAND — After starting the season 1-5 and looking like a mess, the Kansas City Chiefs are one of the hottest teams in the NFL, having won five in a row giving the Chiefs the first AFC wild-card spot at 6-5.

But the Oakland Raiders (5-6) are also playoff contenders, making Sunday’s match up at O.co Coliseum at 1:05 p.m. PDT in Week 13 that much spicier between these two AFC West rivals separated by just one game.

This is the first meeting between Oakland and Kansas City this season. Both teams see each other again in Week 17.

Kansas City defeated the Buffalo Bills 30-22 last Sunday at rainy Arrowhead Stadium thanks in large part to quarterback Alex Smith.

Smith completed 19-of-30 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns. For the season, Kansas City’s signal caller has tossed 12 touchdowns and three interceptions, but hasn’t thrown an interception in 283 attempts (last interception came in Week 3).

The Chiefs have not turned the ball over during their five-game winning streak, and can become the first team since the 2010 New England Patriots to have no turnovers in six consecutive games.

That Patriots team also won every game during their streak.

Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin caught nine balls for 160 yards, including a 41-yard touchdown catch from Smith in the second quarter.

With running back Charcandrick West (who took over the starting role after Jamaal Charles was lost on Oct. 11 with torn ACL) out with a hamstring injury, backup Spencer Ware shouldered the running load for the Chiefs.

In his first career start, Ware rushed for 114 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.

The Chiefs are dealing with a few injuries outside of the aforementioned West,  with offensive tackle Eric Fisher (neck) and center Mitch Morse (concussion), but the biggest injury could be on their defense.

Linebacker Justin Houston hyper-extended his knee last week and left the game. Houston is Kansas City’s top pass rusher and sets the tone for the defense, given his team-leading 7.5 sacks this season.

If Houston isn’t able to go Sunday, look for the Chiefs to utilize linebacker Dee Ford in Houston’s place.

Oakland went to soggy Nashville and came out with a 24-21 victory over the Titans to snap a three-game losing streak.

Derek Carr continues to establish himself as a premier NFL quarterback with each week in only his second year, completing 24-of-37 passes for 330 yards and three touchdowns. Carr found wide receiver Seth Roberts for the go-ahead 12-yard touchdown with 1:21 left in the fourth quarter.

Roberts finished a career-day with six catches for 113 yards and two touchdowns. Rookie wide receiver Amari Cooper added seven catches for 115 yards.

Carr’s 24 touchdowns has him on pace to pass to challenge Daryle Lamonica’s franchise record of 34 set in 1969, the Raiders’ final season in the AFL. Jeff George’s 29 touchdowns in 1997 is the most by a Raider since the team joined the NFL.

Safe to say that Carr has a strong chance at passing George this season.

Kansas City has won six of the previous seven meetings between the two teams.

Oakland defeated Kansas City 24-20 at O.co Coliseum last season, snapping a 16-game losing streak after opening the season at 0-10.

 

Raiders win a thriller in the rain

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By Jeremy Kahn

photo credit bing images: Oakland Raiders Seth Roberts

Staring another loss in the rain, the Oakland Raiders drove down the field and came up with their most opportune win of the season.

Derek Carr found Seth Roberts in the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown with 1:21 remaining in the game, as the Raiders came back to defeat the Tennessee Titans 24-21 on a rainy day at Nissan Stadium.

The win by the Raiders stopped a three-game losing streak despite the fact that blew a 17-6 lead, and won for just the second time in seven tries in Tennessee.

As for the Titans, the nightmare season continues, as they have lost nine out of their last 10 and are now 2-9 on the season.

Just prior to the Carr to Roberts touchdown pass, the Titans looked like they were going to escape with a huge win after stopping the Raiders on fourth down; however B.W. Webb was called for holding on Amari Cooper that gave the Raiders a second chance on life.

Carr finished the game with 330 yards passing, his sixth 300 yard passing of the season and three touchdowns.

Roberts caught six passes for 113 yards with two touchdowns.

Khalil Mack led the Raiders defense with two sacks, while they held the Titans to just 249 yards on the game.

Catch JJ on his Raiders podcast game Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland Raiders podcast with Jeremy Kahn: This week against the Titans can Raiders cross the 50 and avoid being victim of the safety

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by Jeremy Kahn

photo credit: USA Today Derek Carr drops back from the Detroit defense sun nov 22nd

ALAMEDA–The Oakland Raiders (4-6) opponent from last week the Detroit Lions (4-7) have improved two games in the win column since that game on Sun Nov 22. The Lions won just days after that game on Thanksgiving the 26th defeating the Philadelphia Eagles 45-14 at Ford Field.

The Raiders who have done wonders for their opponents losing records and can do it again as they head to Music City Nashville to face the Tennessee Titans (2-8). The Raiders play another team well below .500 and on the road for the second straight week and the odds makers are having a tough time selecting the team they feel should win Sunday.

Derek Carr the Raiders quarterback had a rough time trying to get the ball across the 50 yard line last week against the Lions and no telling how challenging that task might be after watching Carr struggle several times to get out of their own end zone to pass it into one or five yard line when they meet the Titans. You know your in for a long afternoon when the Detroit defense starts signaling to the officials that they got a safety in the end zone like last week.

Jeremy Kahn is the Oakland Raiders beat writer for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Raiders head to Music City for tussle with Titans

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon

photo credit USA Today Raiders quarterback Derek Carr and wide receiver Amari Cooper

OAKLAND — Suffering a three-game losing streak in the NFL is like losing 10 games in the NBA. It’s hard to come back from it, but its doable.

The Raiders (4-6), are hoping that a trip to Nashville to face the (2-8) Titans Sunday in Week 12 will get the team trending in the right direction after whispers of playoff talk surfaced after their second-straight win (a 34-20 victory over the New York Jets), three weeks ago.

Oakland averaged 35.3 points per game during a three-game stretch from Oct. 25-Nov. 8 and were in the top-five in most offensive categories but after last week’s 18-13 loss at Detroit, Oakland fell back down to earth and were held to a season-low 214 total yards.

Coming into the contest, Detroit allowed an average of 384.2 total yards per game.

Starting quarterback Derek Carr failed to throw a touchdown for the first time since Week 1, which was a surprise. Carr finished 13-of-25 for 169 passing yards.For the season, Carr is currently tied for fourth in the NFL with Giants’ quarterback Eli Manning with 21 touchdown passes and just six interceptions with a 99.4 quarterback rating.

The biggest surprise was that exciting rookie wide receiver Amari Cooper was held by a putrid Lions’ secondary to just one catch on four targets. Cooper has not gone over a 100 yards receiving since Week 7 (a 37-29 win at San Diego). Oakland needs to  find more ways to get Cooper more involved in the offense early.

AFC rushing yards leader Latavius Murray (157 carries, 706 yards and four touchdowns), has been quiet the last two weeks, just managing 75 yards rushing on 25 carries. Murray scored Oakland’s lone touchdown Sunday at Detroit.

After giving up 68 points over the past two games, Oakland’s defense has played well in Detroit but didn’t produce a turnover and allowed the Lions to drive 80 yards in nine plays for the go-ahead touchdown by Detroit starting quarterback Matthew Stafford in the fourth quarter.

Tennessee is coming off a bye week and has won the last three games in the series versus Oakland, but are tied with the worst record in the NFL.

The Titans are 1-2 under interim head coach Mike Mularkey, who took over for the fired Ken Whisenhunt. Mularkey has seen Tennessee drop to last in the AFC with 18.2 points per game and just totaled 23 points in two games.

Titans’ rookie starting quarterback Marcus Mariota was sacked four times in Tennessee’s 19-13 loss at Jacksonville. Mariota scored Tennessee’s lone touchdown, but has not thrown a touchdown since his four-touchdown passing performance in a 34-28 overtime victory over the New Orleans Saints on Nov. 8 at the Mercedes Superdome.