Raiders set to finish the 2018 season in KC on Sunday against the Chiefs

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Photo credit: raiders.com

By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
SRS Contributor

The Oakland Raiders will finish up the 2018 regular season on the road this Sunday where they will take on their most bitter AFC West rival, the Kansas City Chiefs. This Week 17 matchup will be the 117th meeting between the two clubs, with the Chiefs holding a 62-52-2 advantage over the Silver and Black and are currently riding a two-game winning streak in the series.

Kickoff is set for 1:25 p.m. PT from Arrowhead Stadium on CBS. Sunday’s contest will mark the fifth-straight season that the Raiders and Chiefs will conclude the regular season.

The Silver and Black finished out their 2018 home schedule in convincing fashion with a 27-14 win over another AFC West rival in the Denver Broncos on ESPN’s Monday Night Football in Week 16. With the idea that Monday night’s game could be the final home game ever for the Raiders in Oakland stuck in everyone’s mind, Raider Nation was treated to a much needed victory on Christmas Eve by its football team.

Raiders quarterback Derek Carr extended his club-record streak of passes without an interception to 325, a mark that currently leads the NFL. His last interception came all the way back in Week 5 against the Chargers.

Carr completed 19-of-26 passes for just 167 yards against the Broncos, and is just 136 yards shy from his first career 4,000-yard passing season. For the season, Carr has thrown for 3,864 yards with 19 touchdowns to just eight interceptions.

Running back Doug Martin, an Oakland native, had his biggest game of the season in front of his hometown crowd carrying the ball 21 times for 107 yards and one touchdown. After Martin’s 24-yard run down the Raiders’ sideline that gave the Raiders a 14-0 lead, Martin threw up an “O” to the Oakland crowd.

Wide receiver/kick returner Dwayne Harris provided the biggest play of the game, returning a punt 99 yards for the game’s first score in the first quarter. Harris’ punt return tied for the second-longest in NFL history with Patrick Peterson’s 99-yarder back in 2011. Robert Bailey has the NFL’s longest punt return, a 103-yarder set in 1994 per the Elias Sports Bureau.

Per NFL Next Gen Stats, Harris ran 157.5 yards on his touchdown return, the longest distance covered by any ball carrier in the last three season. The play earned Harris AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for the second time in 2018.

Defensively, the Raiders put the clamps on the Broncos in the first-half, forcing Denver to punt five times in six possessions. The Broncos missed a 58-yard field goal right before halftime, allowing the Raiders to carry a 17-0 lead into the locker room.

Per the Elias Sports Bureau, the 17-first-half points were the most by the Raiders since scoring 21 points in the first-half against the New York Jets in Week 2 of the 2017 season.

Broncos quarterback Case Keenum did throw two touchdowns to rookie wide receivers DaeSean Hamilton and Courtland Sutton, but also two interceptions to safeties Marcus Gilchrist and Erik Harris.

Both interceptions came in the fourth quarter that sealed the victory for Oakland, who improved to 4-11 on the season. In their last six games, the Raiders are 3-3.

Oakland surrendered just 202 yards on 23-of-37 passes, marking the 10th-straight game that the Raiders have held opposing quarterbacks to less than 300 yards passing. The last quarterback to throw for over 300 yards against the Silver and Black was Philip Rivers (339) for the Chargers in Week 5.

After starting the season 11-2, the Chiefs (11-4) have dropped back-to-back games in recent weeks.

Last week, the Chiefs traveled to Seattle and left with a 38-31 loss to the Seahawks on NBC’s Sunday Night Football from always noisy CenturyLink Field.

With a win over the Raiders Sunday, Kansas City will win the AFC West title for the second-straight season (their third division crown in four seasons), and home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.

In the first meeting of the year in Week 13, the Chiefs narrowly escaped the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum with a 40-33 victory in what turned out to be an offensive explosion for both teams. Defense was an afterthought, with both offenses combining for 911 yards of total offense and scoring nine touchdowns.

Chiefs starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw four touchdowns and no interceptions in the contest with 295 yards passing. Mahomes, who completed 23-of-38 passes, connected with tight end Travis Kelce for 12 receptions for 168 yards and two touchdowns.

Not to be outdone, the duo of Raiders quarterback Derek Carr and tight end Jared Cook were spectacular on that Sunday afternoon in the Black Hole too, with Carr completing 29-of-38 passes for 285 yards and three touchdowns.

Cook hauled in seven of Carr’s passes for 100 yards and one touchdown in the game.

Barracuda ground the Eagles 3-1

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Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

By Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Once the San Jose Barracuda were able to get their legs underneath them in the second period, they took full advantage, scoring three unanswered goals in a 3-1 victory over the Colorado Eagles on Thursday afternoon at SAP Center.

Colorado (15-10-3-1) drew first blood just past the halfway mark of the first period. Micheal Joly pick pocketed the puck off of Calvan Fitzgerald. He raced down the right-wing and centered a pass over to Dominic Toninato who buried the puck off the crossbar past Cuda goaltender Josef Korenar (12-1-1) for his fourth goal of the season at the 10:57 mark. It was the first ever goal by Colorado on San Jose ice.

San Jose (18-5-1-3) put pressure on Eagles goaltender Pavel Francouz (13-6-2) late in the period when Truchon-Viel had a point-blank chance that he shot wide with under three minutes left. Then, while on the power play, captain John McCarthy’s attempt was stoned away by Francouz off a nice give and go with Francis Perron. San Jose outshot Colorado 9-8 in the opening frame.

Nick DeSimone had a breakaway chance early in the second period seconds after he stepped out of the penalty box, but the puck slid off his stick on his shooting attempt on Francouz.

Perron evened the game at 1-1 on the power play for San Jose. His wrist shot had some english on it that was too much for Francouz to handle at the 9:16 mark. Perron leads the Cuda in overall goals with 13 and power play goals with six. He is on a three-game goal streak.

San Jose received their first lead of the game half way through the middle frame.  Maxim Letunov picked up the puck in the neutral zone and moved in to the Eagles zone away from the defense. He found a wide-open Kyle Wood, who snapped home a perfectly timed wrist shot past Francouz on the short side for his second goal of the season at the 11:26 mark.

The Cuda managed only five shots in the second period, but two of them were in the back of the net. The Eagles had even less shots with just three.

Letunov gave the Cuda an insurance goal to take a 3-1 lead on the power play half way through the third period. Letunov’s attempted pass to Alex True was broken up, but he quickly pounced back on the puck and snapped it past Francouz for his sixth goal of the season at the 11:27 mark. Letunov was finally rewarded for all his hard work as that was his first goal in his last 17 games. Wood and Jeremy Roy received assists.

Korenar made 14 saves on 15 shots to earn his 12th victory and sixth in a row. Francouz made 29 saves on 32 shots in suffering the defeat. He is now currently 2-1 against San Jose.

GAME NOTES: San Jose was 2/5 on the power play. Colorado was 0/2. San Jose is second in the AHL on the penalty kill with a percentage of 86.8%.

Colorado is now 9-2-2 over their last 12 games. San Jose is now 2-0 against the Eagles at SAP Center and have earned at least a point in all four games this season.

The victory clinched the best record for the first half for San Jose and means head coach Roy Sommer will be the head coach of the Pacific Division at the AHL All-Star Game, held on January 28th, 2019 in Springfield, Mass. This will be the third time for Sommer coaching in an All-Star Game.

The announced attendance was 2,525.

UP NEXT: The Barracuda host the San Diego Gulls on Sunday, Dec. 30 at 5:00 pm at SAP Center.

San Jose State podcast with Ana Kieu: Football coaching staff shakeup; Men’s basketball drops two road games

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Photo credit: youtube.com and @SJSUMBB

On the San Jose State podcast with Ana Kieu:

1. Linebackers coach Bojay Filimoeatu left SJSU to return to his alma mater, Utah State, on the same day of the Spartans’ Early National Signing Day. Filimoeatu was replaced by Scott White.

2. Two State Champion recruits, Adi Anderson and Stan Livingstone Jr., look to turn around SJSU football.

3. Anderson was among the dozens of players who were named to the all-Bay Area News Group football team.

4. After winning two straight home games, the Spartans’ men’s basketball team lost two in a row on the road. Can they turn things around at Saint Mary’s this Saturday?

Ana Kieu does the San Jose State podcasts each week for SportsRadioService.com

Oakland Raiders podcast with Tony Renteria: Raiders’ last game of 2019 as team goes all out to win in finale

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sportingnews.com photo: Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Pat Mahomes looks to toss one for a gain, the Chiefs host the Oakland Raiders this Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium for the Raiders final game of 2018

On the Raiders podcast with Tony Renteria:

#1 The Raiders (4-11) had a great game in their final home game of the 2019 season, a 27-14 win over the Denver Broncos (6-9) on Sunday.

#2 Raiders quarterback Derek Carr went 19-26 for 167 yards to stay ahead of the Broncos.

#3 On receiving, the Raiders hit their targets enough to score more, the top three receivers for Oakland last Sunday: Dwayne Harris, who returned a 99-yard punt, Jordy Nelson seven receptions for 75 yards and no touchdowns, Jalen Richard four receptions for 40 yards and no touchdowns, and Jalen Cook two receptions for 20 yards and no scores.

#4 The Raiders’ Doug Martin lead the Raiders rushers with 21 carries for 107 yards, one touchdown and averaging five yards per carry.

#5 Raiders and Chiefs (11-4) close out the regular season Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium Sunday. We ask Tony how this one will turn out.

Tony Renteria did the Raiders podcasts for http://www.sportsradioservice.com during the 2018 season

Stanford Cardinal and Sun Bowl podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Pitt and Stanford arrive in preparation of Monday’s game

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elpasotimes.com: Players of the Pitt Panthers and Stanford Cardinal arrived at El Paso Airport on Wednesday in preparation for the Sun Bowl scheduled for New Year’s Eve.

On the Stanford Cardinal and Sun Bowl podcast with Jerry Feitelberg:

#1 Both the Pitt Panthers (7-6) and Stanford Cardinal (8-4) arrived in El Paso on Wednesday in preparation for the Sun Bowl. It’s the first time both teams have met since 1932.

#2 Wearing a Sombrero, Stanford head coach David Shaw dances during the Sun Bowl’s pregame festivities coach. Shaw danced while a mariachi band played. It’s been something of a tradition with coaches arriving to the Sun Bowl.

#3 KJ Costello quarterback for the Cardinal will get his chance to throw in the Sun Bowl, Costello during the 2018 season threw 263 for 396 for 3534 yards and 29 touchdowns.

#4 Stanford running back Bryce Love carried 166 times for 739 yards and six touchdowns. Love has chosen not to play in the Sun Bowl because he’s preparing to join the 2019 NFL Draft.

#5 Jerry sets the stage at the Sun Bowl and who he picks to win this Bowl game.

Jerry does the Stanford Cardinal podcast each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com Dec-27-2018

San Jose Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa Walsh: Sharks host Ducks in hopes to snap three-game losing streak on Thursday

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nbcsports.com file photo: The San Jose Sharks host the Anaheim Ducks Thursday night at SAP Center

On the Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa:

#1 The Sharks, before getting into this current three-game skid, had won five games straight. What’s the reason for the change?

#2 The Sharks have to be one of the most frustrated teams in the NHL right now. They’ve lost three straight going into tonight’s game in San Jose and are expected to be one the toughest postseason teams in the NHL.

#3 How bad is it that all three of those consecutive losses came from playing on home ice?

#4 Their loses have come on close games by one goal and last game on Sunday was no exception. They lost to the Arizona Coyotes by a goal 4-3.

#5 Mary Lisa tells us who she likes in this match tonight between Anaheim and San Jose. The puck drops at 7:30 pm at SAP Center.

Mary Lisa has the Sharks podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Stanford Cardinal podcast with Joey Friedman: USF Dons were just too much for Stanford in last game; Cardinal get ready for Long Beach State

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photo from gostanford.com: Stanford’s Daejon Davis and the Cardinal hope to come off a frustrating loss to the USF Dons from last Saturday as they host Long Beach State at Maples Pavilion this Saturday Dec 29

The Dons (12-1) were led by Charles Minlend with 19 points, and Frankie Ferrari with 17. Jimbo Lull, USF’s 7-foot junior, hit double figures in rebounds for the first time in his career with 15; he also scored 11 points. Matt McCarthy added 10 points for the Dons.

It was the Cardinal’s first game at USF in 23 years, the first game on the USF campus since 1987, and the 68th meeting between the schools. Stanford leads the series 46-22.

Joey Friedman does the Stanford Cardinal basketball podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cheez-It! More Like Can’t Believe It: Cal drops mistake-marred, 10-7 decision in overtime to TCU

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By Morris Phillips

College football games aren’t normally this complicated.

But to introduce some historical perspective, college football bowl games have been known to get tricky, with the meeting of Horned Frogs and Bears at Chase Field in Phoenix on Wednesday clearly fitting that bill.

No football game should have more in-game storylines than points scored, but this one did, a 10-7 season-ending, overtime loss for the Cal Bears to TCU in which there were nine interceptions for the teams combined.

Three of the four quarterbacks to see action threw multiple picks (and looked bad in doing so), Cal’s Jaylinn Hawkins intercepted three balls, TCU used two place kickers to ultimately yield one made field goal, and Cal’s Steven Coutts punted nine times.

Also, Patrick Laird, the Bears’ indispensable running back carried the ball seven times then spent the remainder of the game on the sideline injured.

For starting TCU quarterback Grayson Muehlstein, who had four of his balls picked, missed on 13 of his 17 pass attempts and was briefly benched only to end the game as a decoy limited by injury, things couldn’t have deteriorated any faster. But Muhlstein was a winner when Jonathan Song connected on a 27-yard field goal in the first overtime to end it.

“Turned the ball over way too many times, but we managed to just hang in there and just keep fighting,” Muhlstein said afterwards.

The Bears played great defense as always led by prolific tacklers Evan Weaver and Jordan Kunaszyk, but simply made too many mistakes on offense. The Bears would finish with a meager 160 yards passing, but that came loaded down with 17 incompletions and five interceptions.  The fifth, thrown in overtime by seldom-used, fifth year senior Chase Forrest was returned 84 yards by TCU’s Juwaun Johnson, as big a play as possible in overtime without ending the game immediately.

“We just made too many mistakes during the game to win against a quality opponent like that,” said Cal coach Justin Wilcox.

And somehow, after Johnson’s mega-return didn’t end up as a game-winning touchdown thanks to 330-pound Jake Curhan running nearly 100 yards to push Johnson out of bounds, the Horned Frogs would need to run 10 more plays to set up Song’s game-winning field goal.

Ten plays. How’s that?

Well, first off nimble-footed TCU sports information director Mark Cohen stepped on to the field and promptly fell on his face, his sideline celebration 50 yards behind Johnson’s big return drew a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

“Have you guys ever known that, in 150 years of football that the SID gets a penalty?” TCU coach Gary Patterson asked.

Eight plays later–all runs for five yards or less, except one (eight yard gain)–the Horned Frogs felt they had drawn close enough to attempt a game-winning field goal.

But an attempt by which kicker?

Song converted TCU’s extra-point after Sewo Olonilua’s one-yard touchdown run tied the game in the third quarter. But with TCU in position to kick a game-winning field goal at the end of regulation, and after a Cal timeout, Patterson pulled Song for backup Cole Bunce.

Bunce then missed a 44-yard attempt as time expired.

In overtime, and again after a Cal timeout. Patterson stuck with Song and he converted from 27 yards.

Olonilua was named the game’s MVP after he rushed for 194 yards including the game-tying touchdown from two yards that was initially ruled down at the one-yard line.

Chase Garbers led Cal to a first quarter score culminating with his four-yard run. But despite completing 12 of 19 passes, Garbers was benched at halftime after throwing three interceptions.

The Bears would go the final three quarters and overtime without scoring another point.

Kings’ comeback effort falls short in 127-118 loss to the Clippers

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Photo credit: @SacramentoKings

By: London Marq

On Wednesday the Kings were facing the other team in L.A. It was battle of California teams at the Staples Center as the Clippers hosted the up and coming Sacramento team.

The Clippers opened the game on a mission with a 12-3 run, carving through the young Sacramento team like swiss cheese. Tobias Harris had it going early, from deep. He would end the game with 17 points and 6 rebounds. Sacramento played with good energy staying true to their run-and-gun mentality, but a lack of effort defensively kept them behind the gun.

Montrezl Harrell had a dominant game playing a feisty brand of basketball along the baseline. His effort led to second chance points and smoothing defense around the rim on both sides of the floor. Harrell completed the game one rebound short of a double-double, 27 points and 9 boards. The Clippers controlled the game in the first half and would go into the locker rooms with a big lead, 71-48.

The Kings would have their day in the second half, however. De’Aaron Fox, the Kings young stud point guard would start to find his rhythm find his shot from beyond the arch and slashing through the lane. Fox finished with 19 points leading all Kings for the night. The Kings would surge in the third quarter and get the lead back to 10 with three and half minutes left in the period. Lou Williams would punch the Kings right back as he started dropping threes all over the Kings’ defense. He finished 4-of-5 from deep, with 24 points.

The Kings, as they often have this season tried to get the last quarter run in effect and just as they have so far, they were successful. Late in the fourth, the Kings would rattle off a 24-1 run against the Clippers starting when the game score was 118-91. They would battle to get the game to within 3, but a clutch play by Harrell, kept the Kings at bay and the Clippers walk away with the home win.

Final: Clippers defeated the Kings 127-118.

Up Next: The Kings return home to host the Lakers on Thursday at 7:00 pm.

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Cuda coming off a two-game split with Tucson, but still the best in the AHL

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Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

On the Barracuda podcast with Marko:

#1 The Barracuda are coming off a two-game split against the Tucson Roadrunners in games from last Friday and Saturday. The Roadrunners got a 4-3 win against the Barracuda on Saturday.

#2 The Roadrunners Jordan Gross scored the game-winning goal with two minutes left at 18:06 in the third period. The Roadrunners were on a mission on Saturday as they weren’t going to cough up that game.

#3 Jeffery Truchon-Viel scored the Barracuda’s first goal of the game–an example why the Barracuda don’t waste too much time to get on the scoreboard first.

#4 Talk about the play when Keaton Middleton, who had the puck only to lose it to the Roadrunners’ Trevor Cheek, a crucial goal for the Roadrunners at 3:20 in the second period.

#5 The Barracuda host the Colorado Eagles on Thursday. The Cuda had trouble with the Eagles earlier this season, can the Cuda get past the Eagles on Thursday?

Marko does the SJ Barracuda podcast each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com