Tag: Derek Carr

Oakland Raiders-Tennessee Titans preview: Carr, Raiders needs offense to click against Titans Saturday

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
Sports Radio Service Writer

AP file photo: Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr slings it back to air it out against the Green Bay Packers in week two of the exhibition season at Lambeau Field Thu Aug 18th in Green Bay

OAKLAND, Calif — Derek Carr looked rather pedestrian, completing 9 of 13 for just 38 yards, during Oakland’s 20-12 loss to Green Bay last Thursday night.

Carr and the Raiders’ first-team offense have produced zero touchdowns during the team’s first two preseason games.

In fact, Oakland’s first-team offense have produced just six points in the three quarters that Carr has played so far this preseason. If you’re Raider Nation, you’re not too concerned, but you do want to see Carr engineer the Raiders into the end zone before the end of the preseason.

What’s troubling for me with Oakland’s offense is not the lack of touchdowns, but the chemistry issues in the passing game, particularly with training camp roommates in Carr and Cooper on deep routes.

In Oakland’s first preseason game against the Cardinals in Arizona, Carr and Cooper were disconnected on a deep throw down the Cardinals’ sideline that Cooper caught, but couldn’t keep his feet in bounds.

Then against the Packers, Carr threw an underthrown pass to Cooper that was intercepted by Packers cornerback Damarious Randall in the first quarter.

“I tried to throw it up and give Amari a chance,” Carr said after the game. “This is the time to do it. I am risky, but at this time, a bit more risky.”

I do expect Carr to play comfortable in front of the Raider Nation Saturday, when Oakland (1-1) host Marcus Mariota and the Tennessee Titans in both team’s third preseason game, where generally the starters play the majority of the game.

Kickoff is set for 5:00 p.m. PDT at the Oakland Coliseum, with the game seen nationally on CBS.

Carr led four fourth quarter/overtime game-winning drives, one including a 24-21 victory over the Titans in Week 12 last season after trailing 17-21 late in the fourth quarter.

Carr orchestrated a 9-play, 90-yard drive in 3:20 that ended with a 12-yard touchdown to wide receiver Seth Roberts with 1:21 left in the game.

It was  Roberts’s first career 100-yard receiving game (six catches, 113 yards, and two touchdowns), and the second time in 2015 that Carr and Roberts connected on a game-winning score in the final two minutes.

Coincidentally, Carr found Roberts for a 12-yard touchdown in Oakland’s 37-33 home win over Baltimore in Week 2.

Oakland’s first-team defense can improve, especially against the running game. The Raiders were battered by the strong running game of Packers running back Eddie Lacy, who carried the ball nine times for 45 yards.

Lacy closed out a 14-play, 74-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown plunge in the first quarter. Lacy had a 20-yard run on 2nd and 10 that was key on the Packers’ opening drive, which saw a litany of Raiders missing tackles.

Tennessee (1-1) is coming off a 26-16 loss at home against the NFC Champions, Carolina Panthers, has the promise of being one of the surprising teams this year, especially with Mariota at the helm.

The second-year quarterback completed 9 of 10 passes for 104 yards passing with one interception. Mariota did hook up with wide receiver Harry Douglas for a 23-yard touchdown on his final throw after engineering Tennessee’s first three drives.

Tennessee also has the potential of having one of the league’s better rushing attacks with running backs DeMarco Murray and rookie Derrick Henry.

Murray, who was acquired by the Titans in the offseason after spending a disastrous 2015 season in Philadelphia, looked like he is ready for a bounce back season as evident of his 71-yard touchdown run against the Chargers in San Diego in the team’s first preseason game.

The six-year pro out of Oklahoma has 11 carries for 113 yards and a touchdown through two games this preseason.

Henry, the bruiser out of Alabama who Tennessee drafted in the second round this past May, has 15 carries for 105 yards and a touchdown through two games this preseason.

One player that I’m very interested in watching for the Titans is rookie receiver Tajae Sharpe, who Mariota recently told Around the NFL’s Marc Sessler “he makes it easy,” when catching the ball.

The UMass product leads Tennessee with eight catches for 103 yards this preseason.

 

 

 

 

Raiders head to Kansas City for season finale

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon

OAKLAND — Quarterback Derek Carr and the Raiders look to spoil Kansas City’s chances at the AFC West crown when the Silver and Black travel to the Show Me State Sunday to take on the Chiefs in the season finale for both teams.

Oakland (7-8) can finish with a .500 record for the first time since 2011 with a win in Kansas City, where they have lost their last two trips to Arrowhead.

A .500 record would be great for Oakland, who have won a combined 11 games over the past three seasons.

Oakland is coming off a 23-20 overtime victory over the visiting San Diego Chargers in Week 16 behind Carr’s 204 yards, one touchdown and one interception performance.

It was Oakland’s last home game for the season, and potentially the last Raiders’ game in Oakland as the team is rumored to be heading to Los Angeles for the 2016 season.

The win for Oakland was great in what was safety Charles Woodson’s final home game. The 18-year veteran announced his retirement last week.

”Charles is one of the greatest players to ever put on a uniform,” coach Jack Del Rio said. ”He’s a great Raider. To be able to send him out the right way, to be able to cap off a special evening like this, our last home game of the year … I’m just really proud of the effort.”

Running back Latavius Murray carried the ball 19 times for 79 yards and a touchdown. The third-year running back from Central Florida leads the AFC in rushing with 1,035 yards and has become the bellcow for the Raiders.

Oakland’s defense had trouble generating a solid pass rush on Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers for nearly three quarters, registering just one sack.

After starting the season 1-5, Kansas City (10-5) have been red hot winning their last nine in a row.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, only the 1970 Cincinnati Bengals have ever qualified for the playoffs after starting 1-5, until Kansas City clinched a playoff spot with a 17-13 home win against the Cleveland Browns in Week 16.

The Chiefs are seeking a franchise-record 10th straight victory, but want more.

With a win over their hated rivals from Oakland, coupled with a Chargers’ victory over the Broncos in Denver, Kansas City could win the AFC West title for the first time since 2010.

Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin has been what head coach Andy Reid and Kansas City have hoped and then some in his first season with the team.

Maclin, who was voted to his first Pro Bowl this season, is having a monster season with 84 catches (one shy of his career-high set last season in Philadelphia), 1,034 yards, and seven touchdowns.

Kansas City didn’t have a wide receiver catch a touchdown all of last season. Maclin has caught a touchdown in four of the last five games for the Chiefs, including a pair of touchdowns against Oakland in Kansas City’s 34-20 Week 13 victory at O.co Coliseum.

With Pro Bowl linebackers Justin Houston (hyperextended knee) and Tamba Hali (broken finger) sitting out last week, Kansas City failed to record a sack for the first time since Week 4.

Houston and Hali have combined for 14 of Kansas City’s 41 sacks this season, which are tied for fourth-most in the league this season.

Both players are day-to-day, but could suit up Sunday.

Kansas City have won four of the last five meetings, and forced the Raiders second-year signal caller into throwing three interceptions, returning one for a touchdown.

 

 

Raiders look to slow down Rodgers, Packers

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon

photo credit: sportsworldreport.com Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rogers

OAKLAND — At 6-7, the Raiders have a chance to reach the .500 mark this late in the season for the first time since finishing 8-8 in 2011 but it will be a tall order with quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers visiting O.co Coliseum Sunday for Week 15.

Kickoff is at 1:05 p.m. PDT with rain predicted for the forecast. This the first meeting between the two teams in Oakland since 2003, as each of the previous two match-ups occurred in Green Bay.

After a 1-4 stretch in November when the Packers found themselves behind the then first place Minnesota Vikings in the NFC North, Green Bay (9-4) has won back-to-back games and have overtaken Minnesota, who have dropped back-to-back games in December.

If there is ever a game where fans can see two exceptional quarterbacks that are eerily similar in playing styles, then the battle between Chico’s own Rodgers and Fresno’s own Derek Carr is the game.

Both quarterbacks are tied for fourth in the NFL with 28 touchdown passes, while Carr has the advantage in passing yards (3,313 to 3,175), Rodgers has thrown four less interceptions (five to nine) than Carr.

Seven of Carr’s nine interceptions have come in the fourth quarter. Fourth quarter interceptions have been Carr’s Achilles’ heel this season.

Carr and the Raiders had -12 yards of total offense in the first half, but turned things around in the second half with two touchdown passes to lead Oakland to a shocking 15-12 victory in Denver last Sunday.

Carr completed just 12 of 29 passes for 135 yards. His 41.4 completion rating was his lowest for any game this season.

Oakland held a very good Broncos’ offense to just 34 yards rushing, and have held eight of their last 11 opponents under 100 yards rushing. Dissecting the Raiders’ run defense further, they have yielded an average of 55.7 yards rushing per game in the last three games.

Amari Cooper, Oakland’s talented rookie wide receiver who came into the game with a team leading 920 receiving yards, was held without a catch against Denver’s tough secondary. Cooper might be hitting the rookie wall this late in the season, has been dealing with a foot injury this week.

The real story from Oakland’s victory in Denver was the tremendous play from defensive end Khalil Mack.

After being quiet in the first half, Mack was a house on fire in the second half tormenting Denver’s maligned offensive line by recording five sacks, seven tackles (six solo) and a forced fumble while being named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance. It was Mack’s third straight game with at least two sacks.

Mack, who leads the NFL with 14 sacks, is just two sacks away from Derrick Burgess’ franchise record of 16 sacks he set in 2006,  will have the Packers’ full attention Sunday.

Rodgers and Co. are coming off a 28-7 home victory over the down-trodden Dallas Cowboys in Week 15.

Green Bay’s signal caller completed 22 of 35 passes for 218 yards and two touchdowns against Dallas. The two-time NFL MVP has his lowest completion percentage (61.2) and passer rating (97.5) since becoming the team’s full-time starter in 2008.

Rodgers is hoping that facing Oakland’s 28th ranked pass defense (271.5) will improve those numbers, but Rodgers must be aware that Oakland has gotten to the quarterback as the defense has recorded 19 sacks in the last five games.

Rodgers has been sacked 31 times this season, fourth-most in the NFC.

Sunday will also be the first time that current Raiders’ safety Charles Woodson and Packers’ wide receiver James Jones face their respected former teams.

Woodson, 39, was released by Green Bay in 2013, returned to Oakland and has found the fountain of youth.

The 18-year veteran who helped Green Bay win the Super Bowl in 2010, has played steady this season tied for third in the NFL with five interceptions and ranks first with four forced fumbles.

Jones, who was released by Oakland last year after leading the team with 73 catches and six touchdowns, is tied with tight end Richard Rodgers for the team lead with seven touchdown catches, and second on the team with 660 receiving yards behind fellow wide receiver Randall Cobb’s 737 yards.

Jones’s 18.9 yards per catch leads all NFL wide receivers with 30-plus catches.

 

 

 

 

 

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.

 

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 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.

 

Raiders return home to face tough Vikings team

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon

photo credit ESPN Raiders Aldon Smith puts the sack on Steeler QB Ben Roethlisberger

OAKLAND — Sunday’s match up at O.co Coliseum between the Vikings and Oakland will showcase two of the league’s best young quarterbacks in Minnesota’s Teddy Bridgewater and Oakland’s Derek Carr.

Both quarterbacks were drafted in 2014 to turn around struggling franchises with Minnesota selecting Bridgewater with the 32nd overall pick in the first round, and Oakland drafting Carr with the 36th overall pick in the second round.

Oakland (4-4), who has already surpassed its 2014 win total after finishing 3-13, is in the thick of the AFC playoff race thanks to their second-year signal caller. Carr has thrown 19 touchdowns to just four interceptions, including tossing four touchdowns in each of his past two games.

In Oakland’s 38-35 heartbreaking loss in Pittsburgh last week, Carr completed 24-of-44 passes for 301 yards and four touchdowns and an interception. Carr is on pace for just Oakland’s third 4,000-yard passing season in franchise history. Raiders’ passing attack anchored by the wide receiver duo of Michael Crabtree (47 receptions, 591 yards, 5 TDs), and rookie Amari Cooper (45 receptions, 653 yards, 4 TDs) and both are on pace for 1,000-yard seasons.

Crabtree recorded his second straight game with seven catches and 100-plus receiving yards in the loss against the Steelers. The Silver and Black could have their work cut out for them when putting the in the air as Minnesota sports the NFL’s sixth-ranked passing defense, yielding just 220.6 yards a game.

Running back Latavius Murray practiced Thursday since suffering a concussion in Pittsburgh. Murray is seventh in the league in rushing with 630 yards with three touchdowns on 132 carries.

Bridgewater, who also suffered a concussion of his own in Minnesota’s 21-18 victory in overtime against the visiting St. Louis Rams last Sunday. Bridgewater left the game early in the fourth quarter and was replaced by journeyman quarterback Shaun Hill after taking a vicious hit from Rams’ cornerback Lamarcus Joyner.

On the season, Bridgewater has played steady, throwing six touchdowns and six interceptions, but has steered Minnesota to a 6-2 record tied for first place in the NFC North with the Green Bay Packers in his second season from Louisville.

Minnesota will host Green Bay next week.

But it was running back Adrian Peterson that was the standout performer in the game.

The NFL’s leading rusher finished with 125 yards on the ground, 21 of which came in overtime that would set up kicker Blair Walsh for the game-winning field goal.

The Raiders were torched defensively in Pittsburgh, allowing 597 total yards to the Steelers, with Antonio Brown recording 284 yards receiving on a franchise-record 17 catches. Safety Nate Allen, who has been sidelined with a knee injury since the home opener, is expected to be back and help a struggling secondary that sports future Hall-of-Famer in Charles Woodson.

Woodson leads the NFL with five interceptions in his 18th season.

Minnesota is currently riding a four-game winning streak, in large part to a defense that has yielded just 306.8 yards total per game and holding the opposition to 18 percent (9-for-50) on third down conversions.

Oakland is 5-1 all time at O.co Coliseum against Minnesota, and have won five of their last seven at home dating back to last season.

This will be the second trip to the Bay Area for Minnesota this season. The Vikings lost to the San Francisco 49ers 20-3 in Week 1 at Levi’s Stadium behind a season-low 248 total yards.

Peterson finished with just 31 rushing yards on 10 carries against a 49ers team that historically holds Peterson in check, yielding just 3.0 yards per carry to Peterson, his lowest against any team for his career.

Raiders face tough road test in Pittsburgh for Week 9

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon

Bing photos of Oak Raiders QB Derek Carr

OAKLAND — If last week’s 34-20 victory over the visiting New York Jets was any indication that the Raiders are a team to be reckon with in the AFC, then Sunday’s trip to the Steel City to face the Steelers may forecast the remainder of the season for Oakland.

Raiders’ starting quarterback Derek Carr dismantled a star studded Jets’ defense headlined by cornerback Darrelle Revis, throwing for a career high-tying four touchdowns to go with 333 yards passing.

For the season, Carr has thrown for 15 touchdowns with just three interceptions for an Oakland team that is in the thick of the AFC playoff race.

Sunday’s game in Pittsburgh, kickoff at 10:00 a.m. PT, could have that playoff type atmosphere, something that the second-year signal caller from Fresno St. appears to be ready for. Carr’s play this season in each game is reminiscent of a 10-year veteran who doesn’t let the moment get bigger than it is.

Oakland (4-3) has come a long way this season after starting last season 0-10, thanks in large part to the play of Carr, a talented receiving corps led by rookie wide receiver Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree (both are on pace for 1,000-yard seasons), and a strong defense led by the ageless wonder, safety Charles Woodson.

”It’s fine for some people to play from the underdog role, but I don’t like it,” said Woodson (via CBSSports.com), who played for the Raiders’ last Super Bowl team. ”I don’t like being the underdog. I want to be expected to win games. I want these guys to go out there and be expected to win games. Yeah, it’s a little premature to be thinking that far ahead, playoff-wise, but there’s no reason you can’t think of yourself as a playoff team.”

The 18-year veteran leads the NFL with five interceptions and is the heartbeat of the Silver and Black.

Pittsburgh (4-4) is coming off a tough loss at home last week to fellow AFC North rival, the Cincinnati Bengals 16-10. The Steelers blew a 10-point fourth quarter lead after having the still undefeated Bengals (8-0) on the ropes, and lost All-Pro running back Le’Veon Bell for the season with a torn MCL in his right knee.

Steelers’ starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who made his return to the lineup after missing the previous four games with a left knee injury, looked rusty completing 28 of 45 for 262 yards with one touchdown, but threw three interceptions.

Roethlisberger is 1-4 in his career versus Oakland, but does average 300 yards passing and a quarterback rating of 97.5 against the Raiders.

Oakland’s 31st ranked passing defense (giving up 302.1 yards a game), will have its hands full with wide receiver Antonio Brown (52 catches, 718 yards, 3 TD).

Brown is a wide receiver that just runs right by people and if Oakland gives Roethlisberger time in the pocket to survey the field, he will find his dynamic wide receiver.

Mix in reliable tight end Heath Miller (you know Oakland has had issues covering tight ends this season), and Pittsburgh can move the ball and get first downs at a rapid rate.

“They’re coming in here, it’s going to be very physical,” Roethlisberger said. “Their defensive backs like to do a lot of grabbing, holding, and just being physical in general. It’s a really good test for our receivers and for me to be accurate.”

Carr and Raiders look to validate legitimacy with Jets visiting Oakland Sunday

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon

OAKLAND — As October comes to an end and November begins in the National Football League, the playoff puzzle starts to take shape and the Raiders are hoping to be a major factor this year.

After boat-racing the Chargers 37-29 last Sunday behind an offensive onslaught led by quarterback Derek Carr’s 24 of 31 completions for 289 yards three touchdowns, Oakland (3-3) faces a tough pass defense when the Silver and Black host the New York Jets Sunday at 1:05 p.m. PT.

Rookie wide receiver Amari Cooper has been absolutely dynamite this season and is by far the odds on favorite to win the rookie of the year award.

Cooper torched the Chargers’ shaky pass defense for five catches and 133 yards, including a 52-yard catch and run touchdown that put Oakland ahead 30-6 shortly before halftime.

The former Alabama star leads all rookies with 33 catches for 519 yards and three touchdowns and became the first rookie to have three 100-yard efforts in his first six games since tight end Mike Ditka in 1961. Both Cooper and former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree are on pace to have 1,000-yard receiving seasons, which Oakland hasn’t had since Randy Moss’s 1,005 yards in 2005.

But the Jets (4-2) aren’t the San Diego Chargers and New York’s cornerback tandem of Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie. It can be expected that first-year Jets head coach Todd Bowles will have Revis following Cooper all day to prevent Cooper’s explosive play-making ability.

New York squandered a 20-16 lead at AFC East-leading New England last week with 13 minutes to go, before falling 30-23 to the Patriots. The Jets, who sacked Patriots quarterback Tom Brady three times, comes into the game with seven sacks over their last three games.

Stud defensive tackle Muhammed Wilkerson leads the team with five sacks, while Oakland’s offensive line has protected Carr all season just yielding seven sacks.

Gang Green leads the league in stopping the opposition’s running game, surrendering just 71.5 yards per game. New York held New England to 16 rushing yards, their fourth-lowest total in franchise history.

Oakland has given up 303.8 yards per game this season, but has registered seven interceptions in the last five games after picking off Philip Rivers twice last week.

Raiders safety Charles Woodson, who was named AFC defensive player of the month for October, continues to be a marvel at age 39. It’s the fifth time Woodson has won defensive player of the month after recording three interceptions in three games in October.

Chris Ivory is the Jets’ bellcow, is dealing with a hamstring injury and his status for Sunday remains uncertain. Ivory mustered just 41 yards on 17 carries against New England.

In last season’s 19-14 victory over Oakland at MetLife Stadium last year, Ivory wore down Oakland with 102 rushing yards and a touchdown. Given the hamstring injury to Ivory, Oakland maybe better suited to stopping the Jets’ ground attack as the Silver and Black are third against the run this season allowing just 84.3 yards per game.

If Oakland is able to win this game against the Jets, it will give Oakland the head-to-head advantage in any tiebreaker situations for a playoff spot.

After Sunday’s game, Oakland travels to 4-3 Pittsburgh, in another tough game with possible playoff implications for both.

Raiders take on Chargers in key divisional game in San Diego

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon

OAKLAND — With the bye week in the rear view mirror, it’s time for the Raiders to get back to the business of football. And business begins in San Diego Sunday at 1:05 p.m. PT against the Chargers. Both Oakland (2-3) and San Diego (2-4) are jockeying for position in the AFC West as they’re trying to keep pace with the division-leading and undefeated, Denver Broncos (6-0).

Oakland’s 26th ranked defense will have to contend with Chargers’ quarterback Philip Rivers, who was a passing machine in San Diego’s 27-20 loss in Green Bay in Week 6.

Rivers, who set career highs for completions (43, is also the most completions in a loss in  NFL history), passing attempts (65), and passing yards (503) to go along with two touchdowns, just couldn’t engineer the Chargers to victory against the Packers. Rivers and the Chargers were stopped by Green Bay on fourth-and-goal with 15 seconds to play in the fourth quarter.

In six games, Rivers is the NFL leader in passing yards with 2,116 and touchdown passes with 12. His 70.0 percent completion percentage is just .6  behind league leader Tom Brady (70.6) for quarterbacks with at least 150 passing attempts.

Rivers’s gunslinger mentality can get him into trouble, as his five interceptions can attest, three of which have been returned for touchdowns, a league-high.

San Diego boasts the NFL’s top ranked offense in total yards at 433 yards per game, and passing yards at 349 yards per game, thanks in large part to the return of perennial All-Pro tight end Antonio Gates.

Gates, who missed the first four games of the season due to performance-enhancing drugs, has been on a tear the past two games. The future Hall of Famer (in my honest opinion), has 18 catches for 187 yards and two touchdowns. The Raiders have had a penchant for allowing tight ends to have big games on them.

Gates is the one tight end that the Raiders can’t afford running down field freely on Sunday. In 24 career games against Oakland, Gates has 96 catches for 1,273 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns.

Those are numbers that some guys have in an season.

Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (1,171 passing yards, eight touchdowns, and three interceptions; 93.9 passer rating) and his pair of standout wide receivers in rookie Amari Cooper (28 catches, 386 receiving yards, and two touchdowns) and Michael Crabtree (27 catches, 318 receiving yards, and one touchdown) will face a much improved Chargers defense that ranks seventh against the pass, just yielding 222 yards per game this season.

Carr has been able to stay relatively healthy all season, thanks in large part to a quality offensive line that has taken all 341 snaps together. The second-year signal caller is the 30th-least pressured quarterback (25.9% of his dropbacks) according to Pro Football Focus resulting in just seven sacks surrendered by offensive line coach Mike Tice’s crew.

San Diego has just 11 sacks as a unit this year, ranking 18th in the NFL.