Tag: Derek Carr

At the bye Week, 2-3 Raiders are off to promising start

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon

OAKLAND — With the first five weeks of the season down, Raider Nation should be happy with their team sitting at 2-3 at the bye week.

Oakland has been competitive in every contest from start to finish and it can’t be denied that the team is trending in the right direction. Even after dropping their last two games to Chicago and Denver respectively, the Raiders have definitely been entertaining.

Derek Carr, Oakland’s young signal caller, has complete control of the offense. The second-year pro from Fresno State engineers the 21st ranked offense in the NFL, but his numbers have been outstanding; completing 64 percent of his passes for 1,171 yards, eight touchdowns, and just three interceptions.

Rookie wide receiver Amari Cooper has made the transition from the college ranks to the pros, leading all rookie wide receivers in catches (28), receiving yards (386), touchdowns (two), and receiving yards per game (77.2). The fourth overall pick in this year’s draft out of Alabama has been as good as advertised.

Pair Cooper with the veteran  Michael Crabtree, and Oakland has a pair of wide receivers that give Carr dependable weapons to throw to. Crabtree, who signed a one-year deal in the offseason after spending his first six seasons in San Francisco, is second behind Cooper on the team with 27 catches, 318 yards receiving, and one touchdown.

Oakland needs to get the running game more involved in the offense, that means Latavius Murray needs to step up and take the running game by the horns.

Murray does have 336 yards rushing on 80 carries and two touchdowns this season, but was a virtual no-show in last week’s 16-10 home loss to the Broncos, carrying the ball 13 times for just 39 yards. Carr had 39 attempts against the Broncos’ top-ranked defense.

With the loss of defensive end Justin Tuck for the season with a torn right pectoral muscle, Oakland’s defense took a hit in the pass rush department. Opposing offenses can now key in on defensive end Khalil Mack and possibly double team linebacker Aldon Smith, another ex-49er.

But the real player that compensates for Oakland’s 25th ranked defense is no doubt, safety Charles Woodson. In his 18th, and most certainly final season of his sure-fire Hall of Fame career, Woodson is making an case for early Defensive Player of the Year.

Woodson has recorded four interceptions this season, two coming off the arm of another future Hall of Famer in Denver quarterback Peyton Manning. The former Heisman Trophy winner has been playing with a separated right shoulder for most of the season, has gutted it up each week for the Silver and Black.

Once the bye week is completed, Oakland’s next four opponents in San Diego (2-3), New York Jets (3-1), Pittsburgh (3-2), and Minnesota (2-2), are all formidable competition that will reveal the Raiders’ true team identity for the rest of the season.

Manning and Broncos’ defense will be tough to handle for Carr and the Raiders Sunday

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon

OAKLAND — Robbie Gould’s 49-yard game winning field goal in the closing moments of Oakland’s 22-20 loss in Chicago last week to the previous winless Bears may still taste sour to Raider Nation, but in the NFL you got to have a short-term memory.

The Raiders are 2-2 after the first month of the season and as the calendar has switched from September to October, Oakland’s season will really begin this Sunday when the Silver and Black host one of their bitter rivals, the Denver Broncos (4-0) at 1:25 p.m. PT. Oakland returns home after finishing 1-1 on a two-game road trip through Cleveland and the aforementioned Chicago.

Second-year Raiders’ signal-caller Derek Carr has thrown the ball well this season, completing  77-of-123 passes for 922 yards, seven touchdowns and just two interceptions. Carr leads a Oakland offense that may rank 17th in the league, but Oakland has the 10th best passing attack with the wide receiving duo of Michael Crabtree and rookie sensation Amari Cooper leading the way.

Cooper and Crabtree are in the top-20 among all receivers combining for 47 catches, 603 yards receiving, and three touchdowns. Cooper’s 14.1 yards per catch average ranks in the top-10 among all receivers.

In Oakland’s two losses against Denver last season, Carr completed 48-of-83 passes for 350 yards, with three touchdowns and three interceptions. The Raiders were outscored by Denver 88-31 in both games.

If the Raiders have any chance to hand Denver its first loss of the season, Oakland’s 31st ranked defense is going to have to limit the turnovers and apply some serious heat on the great Peyton Manning. Denver’s revamped offensive line has gotten Manning sacked 10 times through four games this season.

Even in his 18th season and Father Time is tugging on his cape, Manning is still one of the better quarterbacks in the game today. Manning has completed 98-of-154 passes for 968 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions. The five-time league MVP has thrown an interception in every game this season, a career-high for Manning to start the season according to Elias Sports Bureau.

Oakland did have some trouble getting to opposing quarterbacks this season, as it took three games to record the team’s first sack. Khalil Mack has three of the team’s eight sacks this season.

The Raiders’ secondary, a secondary that does feature another future Pro Football Hall of Famer in safety Charles Woodson in his 18th year, is a battered bunch and will have their work cut out for them in covering Broncos’ wide receivers Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas, but keep your eye on tight end Owen Daniels.

Daniels could join a long line of tight ends that have destroyed the middle of Oakland’s defense this season. Tight ends are averaging five catches, 85 yards and a touchdown this season against the Silver and Black.

Carr and the Raiders could be in store for a long day facing the Broncos’ stifling defense, who rank No. 1 overall in against both the run and the pass.The Broncos are yielding 17.2 points per game so far this season.

Denver may have a formidable secondary with Chris Harris Jr. and Aqib Talib anchoring the corners and safety T.J. Ward ready to lay the lumber, the Broncos’ strength on defense has got to be the linebackers, which Denver’s defensive coordinator Wade Phillips knows how to deploy with his exotic blitz schemes.

Von Miller is such a force that he’s nearly unblockable and will be rewarded with a monster contract next offseason. Miller recovered Vikings’ quarterback Teddy Bridgewater’s fumble after Ward’s strip-sack in the final seconds to preserve Denver’s 23-20 victory over Minnesota in Week 4.

DeMarcus Ware continues to be one of the league’s feared pass rushers in his 11th year out of Troy, leading the league with 4.5 sacks. Fellow linebackers Danny Trevathan and Brandon Marshall are quickly becoming household names with solid tackling and strong communication.

Carr, Raiders fall short in Chicago on last second field goal

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon

CHICAGO — Robbie Gould’s 49-yard field goal in the final minute proved to be the difference, propelling the Chicago Bears to their first win of the season with a 22-20 victory over the Oakland Raiders Sunday afternoon at Soldier Field.

Bears’ (1-3) starting quarterback Jay Cutler completed 28-of-43 passes for 281 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in his return to the lineup after missing last week’s game due to a hamstring injury. Cutler’s status was up in the air for most of the week as he was limited in practice.

Oakland (2-2) was hanging on by a thread after taking a 20-19 lead with 2:05 left in the game behind a 41-yard field goal by Sebastian Janikowski. Janikowski’s field goal was set up by free safety Charles Woodson’s interception after Cutler drove Chicago deep into Raiders’ territory. Woodson, the savvy 18-year veteran, undercut a Cutler pass intended for tight end Martellus Bennett at the 6:50 mark.

Woodson’s interception was his sixth in eight career games at Soldier Field.

Woodson appeared to have saved Oakland once again after bailing out the Raiders with a game-clinching interception in last week’s win at Cleveland.

Martellus Bennett became another tight end that continue to hurt the Raiders’ defense this season, finishing with 11 catches (13 targets) for 83 yards and a touchdown.

With injuries decimating the wide receiving corps for Chicago playing with starters Alshon Jeffrey and rookie Kevin White, Cutler was able to get great production from wide receivers Eddie Royal (7 REC., 54 YDS, 1 TD on 10 targets) and Marquess Wilson (6 REC., 80 YDS on nine targets).

Chicago running back Matt Forte, who has been rumored to be on the trading block, finished with 25 carries for 91 rushing yards. Forte also added 48 yards on four catches. The Bears won the time of possession battle, controlling the ball for 33 minutes of the game compared to just 26 minutes for the Silver & Black.

Raiders’ starting quarterback Derek Carr completed 20-of-33 passes for only 196 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Carr was coming off back-to-back 300-plus passing performances.

Carr connected with rookie wide receiver Amari Cooper on a 26-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter that was placed perfectly on Cooper’s hands that needed replay review to confirm the score. Cooper was targeted nine times, catching just four balls for 49 yards receiving.

Fellow wide receiver Michael Crabtree caught five passes for 80 yards on six targets. Crabtree left the game in the second quarter after rolling his ankle, but returned to finish the game.

Latavius Murray, had a day to forget. Murray had a pass bounce of his chest pads that led to an interception in the second quarter, and then lost a fumble on a toss play. Murray, who was replaced by Roy Helu after the fumble, finished with with just 49 yards on 16 carries.

Malcolm Smith paced the Raiders’ defense with nine tackles. Oakland’s defensive unit as a whole registered three sacks and forced two fumbles (both recovered).

The Silver & Black converted two turnovers into 10 points, but it wasn’t enough for Oakland to push their record to 3-1.

After finishing their two-game road trip 1-1, Oakland returns home to host AFC West-leading Denver Broncos Oct. 11.

Raiders look to continue winning ways in Chicago Sunday

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon

OAKLAND — Sitting at 2-1 and riding a two-game winning streak, the Raiders try to keep the winning vibes going as they head to the Windy City to take on the 0-3 Bears Sunday at 10:00 a.m. PT in a Week 4 match up. This will be the first encounter between the two teams since 2011, a 25-20 victory for the Silver & Black. Oakland hasn’t traveled to Chicago since 2003.

The Raiders’ offense was red-hot in last week’s 27-20 road victory over the Cleveland Browns.

Starting quarterback Derek Carr registered a passer rating of 115.9, completing 20-of-32 passes for 314 yards and two touchdowns. For the season, Carr is in the top-10 in the league in passer rating (102.4), touchdown passes (five), and top-15 in passing yards (726).

Rookie wide receiver Amari Cooper recorded his second consecutive 100-yard receiving game, finishing with eight catches and 134 yards. According to ESPN Stats Info, Cooper’s 290 yards receiving are the third most by an NFL rookie through his first three games only behind Louis Lipps’ 337 receiving yards in 1984, and Anquan Boldin’s 378 receiving yards in 2003.

Running back Latavius Murray had a career day, racking up a career-high 139 rushing yards on 26 carries and one touchdown. Murray, the key to Oakland’s running game, was struggling coming into Week 3 versus Cleveland with just 109 rushing yards total.

As much as the offense was a huge factor for three quarters, it was the Raiders’ 32nd ranked defense that really was the difference. Oakland’s defense sacked Cleveland starting quarterback Josh McCown five times, twice by defensive end Khalil Mack. Mack also added a forced fumble.

Entering the game, Oakland didn’t have any sacks and just had two hits (both by linebacker Aldon Smith) on opposing quarterbacks. The former San Francisco 49er linebacker could be in for a big day against the Bears come Sunday.

People can’t forget the performance that Smith put on  as a 49er on Monday Night Football on Nov. 12, 2012 against the Bears, where he registered the most sacks (5.5) in a game on the iconic program according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Smith also added two fumbles. Chicago has a very shaky offensive line and has trouble with pass protection.

Linebacker Malcolm Smith led the team with eight tackles (seven solo), and a sack, but it was Charles Woodson’s interception in the final minute of the game that sealed the win for Oakland. With the interception, Woodson joins former Washington Hall of Fame cornerback Darrell Green to record an interception in 18 straight seasons according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Green played 19 seasons and the way Woodson stays in phenomenal shape (even though he’s playing through a dislocated shoulder), could tie Green for the all-time record next season should Woodson return.

Chicago is downright a dumpster fire right now.

Starting quarterback Jay Cutler (who Bears’ fans don’t want nothing to do with, but his massive contract says otherwise) is out with a hamstring injury and the team is leaning on back up quarterback Jimmy Clausen.

Clausen, the sixth-year pro from Norte Dame, completed just 9-of-17 passes for 63 yards with an interception in Chicago’s 26-0 loss in Seattle last Sunday.

Chicago just traded away defensive end Jared Allen to the Carolina Panthers because Allen wasn’t a fit in new head coach’s John Fox’s 3-4 defense, and linebacker Jon Bostic to the New England Patriots this week.

The Bears’ defense has a whole, has given up an average of 35 points per game, a far cry from the days when Chicago put out tough defenses year-in-and-year out.

The Bears’ wide receivers can’t stay off the training table, and running back Matt Forte’s prime years are being wasted wallowing behind a shaky offensive line that can’t protect the quarterback or open running lanes for the running backs.

With the Bears almost throwing up the white flag on the season with the recent moves and anemic football on the field, this is a game that Oakland should win. It’s a game that Oakland must win to further cement that the winds of change have blown through Oakland and the Raiders aren’t perennial bottom-feeders, especially with arch rival and the AFC West-leading Denver Broncos (3-0) heading into Oakland for a Week 5 showdown on Oct. 11.

Oakland can’t overlook the Bears with Denver on the horizon and must take care of business in Chicago by leaving with a win, or be left scuffling for answers with a loss.

The Raiders have had trouble covering tight ends over the middle of the field by giving up huge plays so far this season, and Bears’ tight end Martellus Bennett is one of the league’s  premier tight ends who can cause difficulties for the Raiders’ linebackers in pass coverage.

Bennett has just 13 catches for 118 yards and one touchdown this season after coming off a career-high 90 catches for 916 yards and six touchdown catches.

Oakland has given up four touchdown catches, while surrendering an average of 84 yards receiving per game to tight ends this season.

Raiders wins 27-20 in Cleveland, improve to 2-1 behind Carr and the defense

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon

CLEVELAND — Raiders starting quarterback Derek Carr completed 20-of-32 passes for 314 yards (his third 300-yard passing day for his career) and two touchdowns as Oakland dominated Cleveland for three quarters, before holding off a late Browns’ rally for a 27-20 victory Sunday in Cleveland. With the win, Oakland (2-1) picked up their first road win since Nov. 17, 2013 in Houston.

It was also Oakland’s first win in the Eastern time zone for the first time since 2009, snapping a 16-game losing streak (11-game road losing streak overall), and helping the Silver & Black establish a winning record for the first time since they were 7-6 late in the 2011 season.

Carr hooked up with wide receivers Andre Holmes and Seth Roberts for both of his touchdowns in the first half. Amari Cooper racked up 134 receiving yards on eight catches for his second career 100-yard receiving game.

Running back Latavius Murray, who was a forgotten man for the first two weeks of the season with just 109 rushing yards in the first two weeks, exploded for 139 rushing yards on 26 carries and a touchdown.

Oakland appeared to be heading to a resounding win, holding a 27-10 lead early in the fourth quarter before Cleveland scored 10 unanswered points following a Cooper fumble in Raiders’ territory that the Browns recovered at the Oakland 44-yard line. Cooper finished with two punt returns for nine yards.

After Oakland went three and out on their next drive, the Raiders got a gift from Cleveland after Travis Benjamin muffed a punt after calling for a fair catch. Oakland couldn’t take advantage of Cleveland’s misfortune and quickly went three-and-out.

Marquette King’s punt pinned the Browns at the Cleveland 2-yard line with 2:26 left to play, but Browns’ quarterback Josh McCown marched the Browns to the Oakland 29-yard line before safety Charles Woodson’s interception on McCown’s deep pass intended for Benjamin.

Oakland’s defense still had problems defending the tight end over the middle of the field, as evident of Cleveland’s tight end Gary Barnridge’s six catches for 106 yards and one touchdown, but did create havoc at times on McCown.

Defensive end Khalil Mack recorded two of Oakland’s four sacks in the game, while linebackers Ray-Ray Armstrong and Malcolm Smith each had a sack. Armstrong holds the distinction of collecting Oakland’s first sack on the season after taking down McCown in the second quarter.

Carr and the Raiders travel to Chicago to face the Bears next Sunday at Soldier Field.

Raiders face Cleveland in first road test; Glued to the Tube Games for Week 3

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OAKLAND — The Raiders tour of the AFC North continues, this time on the road in Cleveland taking on taking on the Browns Sunday at FirstEnergy Stadium with a 10:00 a.m. PT kickoff. Oakland (1-1) is coming off a gritty, 37-33 victory over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2 at O.co Coliseum. Cleveland (1-1) defeated the visiting Tennessee Titans, 28-14 last week in the Browns’ home opener.

Second-year starting quarterback Derek Carr performed like a 10-year veteran against Baltimore, completing 30-of-46 passes for a career-high 351 and three touchdowns (one interception) to go along with a 100.9 passer rating for the game. With Oakland trailing by three with 2:10 remaining in the fourth quarter, Carr marched the Raiders 80 yards in 12 plays, culminating in a 12-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Seth Roberts with :26 seconds remaining.

Carr found 10 different receivers, but it was the work of the starting wide receiver duo of rookie Amari Cooper and veteran Michael Crabtree. Cooper and Crabtree combined for 16 catches for 220 yards and two touchdowns. Cooper scored on his first career touchdown, a 68-yard score in the first quarter on Oakland’s first drive of the game.

The Silver & Black rank 13th overall in total offense this season behind Carr’s four touchdowns, two interceptions, 64 percent completion percentage and 95 quarterback rating

Oakland’s 32nd ranked defense has given up 33 points in both games this season, and will need to bring the score down a bit if Oakland expects to win on the road for the first time since Nov. 17, 2013 against the Houston Texans in a 28-23 victory in Week 11.

Offensively for Cleveland, Josh McCown, not Johnny Manziel, will be under center for the Browns Sunday against the Raiders. McCown was cleared from the league’s concussion protocol after sustaining the injury against the Jets back in Cleveland’s Week 1 loss in New York.

Manziel had a game against Tennessee, completing 8-of-15 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns in only his third career start, leading the Browns to their first win of the season.

Browns’ wide receiver Travis Benjamin has been read-hot to start the season and appears to be the Browns’ deep threat. Benjamin just has six catches on the season, but three of them have gone for touchdowns (second behind New England tight end Rob Gronkowski’s four touchdowns), and is fourth in the NFL with 204 receiving yards.

Benjamin is also a dangerous return man on special teams, as evidence of 78-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter against Tennessee.

Cleveland’s defense is littered with talent, with linebackers Karlos Dansby and Paul Kruger, cornerback Joe Haden, and safety Donte Whitner.

Cleveland has won two of the last three meetings against Oakland, including last year’s 23-13 victory in Cleveland last season in Week 8.

Glued to the Tube: The Four Must See Games for Week 3 by #TheFootballJunkie

Atlanta at Dallas – 10:00 a.m. PT, FOX

Two undefeated teams, but no Romo, Bryant, makes this a tough game for Dallas (2-0), especially with Brandon Weeden starting. But Dallas has one of the top defensive units in the league so things could be tricky for Falcons’ (2-0) starting quarterback Matt Ryan and wide receiver Julio Jones.

If Dallas can contain Jones (tied for NFL-high 22 catches, and second in receiving yards with 276) and get adequate play from Weeden, Dallas has a shot to remain undefeated.

Atlanta 21 Dallas 24

San Francisco at Arizona – 1:05 p.m. PT, FOX

San Francisco (1-1) is coming off a thumping in Pittsburgh and catch a Cardinals team that is 14-3 at home with Carson Palmer under center. Arizona (2-0) has a bevy of wide receivers headlined by future Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald, and San Francisco was torched by Steelers’ wide receiver Antonio Bryant for nine catches for 195 yards and a touchdown.

If San Francisco is going to have a chance to go into first place in the NFC West with a victory over the Cardinals, it will hinge on better play from cornerbacks Tremaine Brock and Kenneth Acker, who gave up some deep passes against the Steelers.

It’ll be a close one between the two, but it’s hard not to pick the Cardinals, who still like to blitz the quarterback and 49ers starting quarterback Colin Kaepernick is just an average passer against the blitz, completing just 50 percent of his passes according to ESPN Stats.

San Francisco 24 Arizona 29

Chicago at Seattle – 1:25 p.m. PT, FOX

Two winless teams, but this is the week that Seattle (0-2) breaks through with a victory. With the return of strong safety Kam Chancellor to Seattle’s defense and this being Seattle’s first home game, the Seahawks are going to roll over a Bears (0-2) team that may be without starting quarterback Jay Cutler, who is dealing with a hamstring injury.

If Cutler doesn’t play, look for backup Jimmy Clausen to start in his place.

Chicago 12 Seattle 24

Buffalo at Miami – 1:25 p.m. PT, CBS

In a match up of two teams that are playing second fiddle to the New England Patriots (2-0) and the New York Jets (2-0) in the AFC East, Buffalo (1-1) and Miami (1-1) both know how important this game is to both teams early in the season.

Ryan Tannehill for Miami and Tyrod Taylor for Buffalo are two quarterbacks worth watching, but this game will be all about the defenses.

Buffalo 16 Miami 13

Three Takeaways from Ravens/Raiders; Glued to the Tube Roundup for Week 2

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon

OAKLAND — You never want to say the second game of the NFL season is a must win, but when you enter Week 2 winless like the Raiders at (0-1), this was a must win game, and Oakland did just that with a epic 37-33 victory over the Baltimore Ravens, who drop to (0-2).

Here are my three takeaways from Oakland’s impressive win Sunday in front of Raider Nation at O.co Coliseum:

  1. Derek Carr grew up today in front of our very eyes. After throwing an interception late in the fourth quarter that led to the Ravens’ go-ahead field goal by Justin Tucker from 31 yards out with 2:10 left, Carr stepped up when it counted the most. The Raiders’ young signal-caller completed 7-of-9 passes for 65 yards passing, culminating in a 12-yard touchdown pass to backup wide receiver Seth Roberts with 26 seconds to go. If it weren’t for a holding penalty by safety Will Hill III that was negated before the touchdown, Carr and the Raiders would’ve lost after squandering a 30-20 lead in the fourth quarter. Carr, who connected with 10 different receivers, completed 30-of-46 passes for 351 yards, three touchdowns (all on 80-yard plus drives) and the lone interception. Carr, along with head coach Jack Del Rio, received game balls.
  2. Michael Crabtree and Amari Cooper balled out. After just catching 10 passes for 84 yards receiving and no touchdowns in their debuts in the Raiders’ 33-13 loss to Cincinnati in Week 1, Crabtree and Cooper took advantage of Baltimore’s cornerbacks, combining for 16 catches for 220 yards receiving and two touchdowns. Cooper hauled in seven catches for 109 yards, including a 68-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter on the Raiders’ opening drive of the game. Crabtree finished with nine catches for 111 yards, and a 29-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
  3. Oakland’s pass defense still has some holes, but made plays when it counted. Defensive coordinator Ken Norton and his guys are still giving up big plays down the middle of the field. Baltimore starting quarterback Joe Flacco threw for 384 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception on 32-of-45 passing. Ravens’ wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. caught 10 passes for 150 yards receiving, wide receiver Kamar Aiken finished with five catches and 89 yards receiving, and tight end Crockett Gillmore had five catches and 88 yards and two touchdowns. Oakland did force two Baltimore turnovers (a fumble), including the game-sealing interception by safety Neiko Thorpe in the fourth quarter.

Who’s next: Cleveland (1-1) at FirstEnergy Stadium, Sunday, 10:00 a.m. PT, CBS

If you started Browns’ wide receiver Travis Benjamin in your fantasy football league today, odds are you had (depending on if you got players starting in the Jets/Colts game on Monday Night Football), a very good day in your match up.

Benjamin scored on the Browns’ second play from scrimmage in the first quarter when starting quarterback Johnny Manziel  connected with the the fourth-year wide receiver from Miami for a 60-yard touchdown. Benjamin was dangerous on special teams too, returning a punt 78 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter.

Benjamin, who finished with three catches for 115 yards receiving (and 29 fantasy points according to ESPN Fantasy Football) in Cleveland’s home opener Sunday, caught a 50-yard touchdown with 2:52 left in the fourth quarter for his second touchdown of the day, giving Cleveland a 28-14 victory over the visiting Tennessee Titans.

In two games this season, Benjamin may just have six catches, but three of them have gone for touchdowns (second behind New England tight end Rob Gronkowski’s four touchdowns), and is fourth in the NFL with 204 receiving yards.

Manziel, who started for the injured Josh McCown, completed 8-of-15 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Manziel is expected to remain the Browns’ backup once McCown is healthy to play. McCown suffered a concussion in Cleveland’s 31-10 Week 1 loss to the Jets in New York.

But after Manziel’s performance where he didn’t throw an interception, how does Browns’ head coach Mike Pettine not start Manziel again in front of the home crowd even if McCown is healthy next week against visiting Oakland?

Cleveland’s defense had a monster day against Tennessee, sacking Titans’ rookie starting quarterback Marcus Mariota 6.5 times, and forcing four fumbles (three by Mariota, and one by running back Terrance West), recovering three fumbles.

Glued to the Tube Roundup for Week 2: The Four Must See Games for Week 2 by #TheFootballJunkie

Another 2-2 record for the #TheFootballJunkie (thanks to wins by the Patriots and Packers, but loses by the Chiefs and Eagles), pushing my overall season record to (4-4).

Manning, Broncos hold court over Chiefs with late charge, win 31-24 Thursday night

Broncos’ starting quarterback Peyton Manning, who was being sent to the glue factory by just about everyone in the media (me not included), reminded naysayers that he is still one of the greatest regular season quarterbacks of all time, throwing for 256 yards passing, three touchdowns and an interception against Kansas City.

Manning, who completed 26-of-45 passes, threw a game-tying 19-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders with 36 seconds left. Manning improved to 7-0 as the starting quarterback for Denver (2-0), who sit atop the AFC West early in the season after their Thursday night victory at Arrowhead Stadium.

But it was cornerback Bradley Roby who had the biggest play of the game, recovering Chiefs’ running back Jamaal Charles’ second fumble of the game and scampering 21 yards for the go-ahead touchdown. Charles rushed for 125 yards on 21 carries and a touchdown, but his two fumbles were costly.

So too were Kansas City (1-1) starting quarterback Alex Smith’s two interceptions. Smith finished 16-of-25 for 191 yards passing, but was mainly ineffective all night after throwing three touchdowns in Kansas City’s 27-20 Week 1 win at Houston.

Denver’s defense as a whole, forced five Chiefs’ turnovers.

Brady’s big day helps Patriots defeat upstart Bills, 40-32

New England (2-0) starting quarterback Tom Brady destroyed the Bills through the air, throwing for 466 yards (his second-most in game for his career), and three touchdowns leading the visiting Patriots past a vaunted Buffalo defense, 40-32, Sunday in an unexpected high scoring affair for first place in the AFC East.

Brady, who completed 38-of-59 passes, tossed two touchdowns to wide receiver Julian Edelman in the first and third quarters, and one to tight end Rob Gronkowski in the second quarter.

Edelman finished with 11 catches for 97 yards, while Gronkowski caught seven passes for 113 yards.

Bills (1-1) starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor held his own versus the reigning Super Bowl Champions, completing 23-of-30 passes for 242 yards, three touchdowns, but also threw three interceptions.

With the win, Brady improves to 24-3 against the Bills in which he threw for the most yards in any game against Buffalo. New England has won 27 of their last 30 games against the Bills.

Cowboys stave off Eagles, 20-10, but lose Romo for 8 weeks with fractured collarbone

The NFC East-leading Dallas Cowboys (2-0) are looking more like a walking M.A.S.H. unit than a team that is in first place.

First, wide receiver Dez Bryant is gone for 10-12 weeks (even though Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett believes that to be a stretch) after having successful foot surgery.

Now starting quarterback Tony Romo will be lost for upwards of 8 weeks after suffering a broken left collarbone in Dallas’ 20-10 victory over the Eagles in Philadelphia Sunday. Romo suffered a similar injury in Week 7 in 2010 and missed the rest of the season.

Backup quarterback Brandon Weeden threw a 42-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Terrance Williams in the fourth quarter to help Dallas overcome a franchise-record 18 penalties for 142 yards.

It was Dallas’ 10th straight road victory.

Former Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray managed just two yards on 13 carries in his first game against his former team. The reigning NFL rushing champion has rushed for just 11 yards on 21 carries (0.5 rushing yards per attempt) in two games with Philadelphia (0-2).

At this point last season, Murray rushed for 285 yards on 51 carries and two touchdowns (5.5 rushing yards per attempt) with Dallas.

Rodgers, Packers get the best of Wilson and Seahawks, 27-17

Packers starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed 25-of-33 passes for 249 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions, helping the Packers enact some revenge on Seattle 27-17 on Sunday Night Football at Lambeau Field.

Rodgers, found tight end Richard Rodgers (no relation) for the go-ahead, five-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. The touchdown capped off a 10-play, 80-yard drive in 6:16. Rodgers also caught a 2-point conversion that gave Green Bay (2-0) a 24-17 lead with 9:28 left in the fourth quarter.

Seattle starting quarterback Russell Wilson finished 19-of-30 passes for two touchdowns, help erase a 13-3 Packers’ lead, but threw an interception to defensive end Jayrone Elliot (who snagged Wilson’s pass with one hand), with 6:50 left in the fourth quarter to essentially ice the game for Green Bay.

At (0-2), Seattle sits in the basement of the NFC West, the division that they’ve won the past two seasons.

Joe Hawkes-Beamon is a columnist for Sports Radio Service. Follow him on Twitter @JLHB510 and Facebook #TheFootballJunkie

Carr, Raiders roll into the Twin Cities

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon

OAKLAND — The Raiders’ 18-3 victory over the St. Louis Rams in both team’s preseason debut last Friday night at O.co Coliseum, showed that Oakland and new head coach Jack Del Rio are definitely heading in the right track.

Oh and did I mention that with the win, Del Rio became the first Raiders’ head coach to win his preseason debut since Lane Kiffin in 2007?

Heading into Minnesota Saturday, Oakland looks to build off the momentum that it garnered in their win against St. Louis.

Outside of Derek Carr’s red zone interception that appeared to be miscommunication between Carr and fourth overall pick Amari Cooper, Oakland played clean football committing just two penalties.

Carr found Cooper early and often completing three passes to Oakland’s project No. 1 wide receiver for 22 yards. Cooper also added a 3-yard run on an end-around.

Carr led Oakland’s first-team on two drive before heading to the sidelines for the night.

“We’re heading the right way,” Carr said after the game. “Is there’s stuff to clean up, just like every game? Yes. But I’d say we’re heading in the right direction. All the hard work is paying off, but we have to continue to grind and we can’t just think one preseason game means everything. It’s a good start but we have a long way to go.”

The battle to be Carr’s backup will be an interesting one for Raiders fans to pay close attention for the remainder of camp between former Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder and Matt McGloin.

Both players showed promised against the Rams second and third-teamers.

Ponder finished 6-of-8 for 59 yards and an interception, but connected with wide receiver Andre Holmes for a 3-yard touchdown in the second quarter.

According to a report by ESPN‘s Adam Schefter, Holmes suffered a broken hand in Sunday’s practice and will be out 3-4 weeks.  Holmes, who is battling for Oakland’s No. 3 wide receiver position, will almost certainly slip down on the team’s depth chart.

McGloin completed 10-of-11 passes for 104 yards, with a 16-yard touchdown toss to wide receiver Brice Butler in the fourth quarter.

Butler finished with six catches for 57 yards.

“As coaches, there’s so much we’re going to go back and agonize over,” Del Rio said. “How are we going to make this better? It was an excellent night. It was a clean night. We came out relatively healthy and got some good work so all and all I was pleased with the effort.”

Minnesota is coming off a 14-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL’s annual Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio. Vikings running back Adrian Peterson and Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger were among the notable players who watched the game from the sidelines.

Vikings starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater completed 5-of-6 passes for 44 yards on his one series of the game. Vikings backup quarterback Mike Kafka threw a touchdown pass, while running back Joe Banyard ran for another score.

Are you ready for some football? Raiders host Rams Friday in preseason opener.

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By Joe Hawkes

OAKLAND — The best time of the sports season has finally arrived: NFL football is back and I can’t be more excited. The action, the intensity of guys trying to make the final 53-man roster at the end of a grueling training camp. Some guys make a great impression in the first game and solidify their position on the depth chart, while others, can drop in a heartbeat.

And football will be played at 7000 Coliseum Way when the Oakland Raiders host the St. Louis Rams Friday night in the preseason opener for both clubs. Kickoff is set for 7:00 P.M. PDT.

The 2015 Oakland Raiders enters the season with a renewed breath of fresh air (from those who’ve visited training camp in Napa said there is an excitable feeling from players and coaches), which has been foggy for the past 13 seasons that have ended with Oakland watching the playoffs from the couch.

And why shouldn’t the future look bright for the Silver & Black?

They enter the season with Derek Carr at quarterback, who started all 16 games as a rookie in 2014 and displayed the characteristics of a 10-year veteran, despite leading Oakland to a 3-13 record.

Carr’s 2014 rookie campaign: 348-599 passes, 3,270 passing yards, 21 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions while completing 58 percent of his passes.

Carr was recently quoted in the Associated Press as one of the Raiders’ biggest goals (as it is for all teams), is to “win the (AFC West) division.” That is a lofty expectation for the second-year pro and a franchise that has not won a division title since 2002.

But you got to love the confidence and the visionary outlook from Carr.

Carr should improve on those numbers with the drafting of Alabama superstar in wide receiver Amari Cooper with the fourth overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, and the signing of veteran wide receiver Michael Crabtree.

Crabtree’s career appears to be coming to a full circle in signing with Oakland.

In 2009 NFL Draft, the Oakland Raiders selected Maryland wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey at seventh overall and passed on Crabtree, who was drafted three spots later at 10 to San Francisco.

As it is the first preseason game, don’t expect the first-team offense to be on the field for that long. I’d expect Carr and the first-team offense to be on the field for one drive. The running game will be an interesting subplot with Latavius Murray, Trent Richardson, and George Atkinson III (son of Raiders’ great George Atkinson II) all battling to be the bell-cow for Oakland in 2015.

The player I’m looking forward to seeing Friday night is rookie tight end Clive Walford. Walford has the chance to unseat incumbent starter Mychal Rivera should he have an amazing training camp and impressive showings in game action.

Walford, who has been battling a hamstring injury for parts of camp, was on the field Tuesday after a Monday off day. The 6’4″, 250 lbs Walford was an absolute weapon at the University of Miami. catching 121 passes for 1,753 yards and 14 touchdowns, becoming just the seventh tight end in Hurricanes history to surpass 1,000 career receiving yards.

Defensively, Oakland is converting explosive second-year player Khalil Mack from linebacker to defensive end. Oakland wants Mack to get after the quarterback more after having to play in coverage for most of his rookie year, but Mack has been a quick study and has adapted to his new position.

Justin Ellis is solid at defensive tackle and rookie defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. is expected to be a key contributor on the defensive line.

The linebacking corps looks good too, with a healthy Sio Moore, and free agent imports Curtis Lofton (Atlanta), and Malcolm Smith (Seattle). Smith, a former Super Bowl MVP, is quite familiar with want Norton Jr. wants to do on defense from their time in Seattle.

The secondary does have some questions. Charles Woodson, seems to always know when to drink from the fountain of youth.

Woodson, who is entering his 18th year in the league, is like a fine Napa Cabernet. Woodson remains a lock to start a free safety and former Philadelphia Eagle Nate Allen at strong safety, but who will be the starters at cornerback?

D.J. Hayden, who has been having a tough start to training camp, is penciled (not penned) in to be a starter at one spot, with T.J. Carrie, Chimdi Chekwa and Keith McGill competing for the other starting spot at cornerback.

St. Louis finally turned the page on the Sam Bradford Era, by trading the former No. 1 overall pick in 2010 to the Philadelphia Eagles for quarterback Nick Foles. Foles is adequate passer and is the kind of quarterback that Rams head coach Jeff Fisher loves.

In 28 starts for Philadelphia, Foles completed 550-of-893 passes for 6.753 yards, 48 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. St. Louis inked Foles to a two-year, $24.5 million deal last week, per NFL Media Insider Michael Rapoport. Rapoport confirmed that the Rams are committed to Foles through 2017 by guaranteeing $14 million to Foles, who was set to earn just $1.5 in the final year of his rookie deal.

Foles can void the final year of the deal based on Pro Bowl and team performance.

The Rams swung for the fences in drafting Georgia running back, Todd Gurley with the 10th overall selection in the 2015 NFL Draft. Gurley is an all-world talent with exceptional speed and field vision, but will not play in the preseason according to Fisher. Gurley is recovering from the torn ACL that ended his his junior year and college career.

Defensively, this might be one of the best units in all of football.

Robert Quinn, Chris Long, Aaron Donald and Michael Brockers make up a formidable defensive line that can get after the quarterback. Donald, the defensive tackle, finished with 9.5 sacks, was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2014.

Linebackers Alec Ogletree and James Laurinaitis combined for 220 tackles last season, while free safety T.J. McDonald (son of former Cardinals and 49ers strong safety Tim McDonald), finished with 105 tackles.

St. Louis comes into 2015 with high expectations. Most football experts and prognosticators have predicted that the Rams have a look of a playoff team, even playing in arguably football’s toughest division, the NFC West.

The Rams finished 6-10 (2-4 in the NFC West) last year.

Carr left off PFWA’s All-Rookie team

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon

OAKLAND — I guess Derek Carr still has a lot to prove in the NFL, according to the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA).

The PFWA released its All-Rookie team on Tuesday and the Raiders had two players receive honors: linebacker Khalil Mack and defensive tackle Justin “Jelly” Ellis.

Clearly there is no debate on why the PFWA selected Mack, Oakland’s fifth overall pick in last April’s NFL draft. Mack finished with 75 tackles, 4 sacks, and 1 forced fumble while starting all 16 games.

Ellis, who was a bit of a surprise to me, finished with 21 tackles, but didn’t record a sack in 16 games played (14 starts).

The bigger surprise was the fact that Raiders’ quarterback Derek Carr was snubbed from the team in favor of Minnesota Vikings’ quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater.

In 16 starts, Carr led all rookies by passing for 3,270 yards, with 21 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, with a 76.6 passer rating. His 599 passing attempts ranks second in NFL history among rookies (Andrew Luck had 629 in 2012).

One of Carr’s signature games has got to be the 24-13 victory in Week 14 over the Raiders’ Bay Area rival, the San Francisco 49ers where he tossed 3 touchdowns on 22-for-28 passes for 254 yards. That victory pretty much spelled the end of the Jim Harbaugh era in San Francisco.

Bridgewater had a strong season himself, throwing for 2,919 yards with 14 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, with a passer rating of 85.2 while playing in 13 games (12 starts).

Sure Bridgewater had a higher completion rating than Carr (64.4 to 58.1), and Minnesota (7-9) finished with a better record than Oakland (3-13), but Carr should’ve gotten the nod over Bridgewater.

Take nothing away from Bridgewater, who benefits from having one of the better offensive play-callers in offensive coordinator Norv Turner, who will return to Minnesota next season, but Carr will enter the 2015 season having to learn a new offense and adjust to his third head coach in a matter of a year.

Oakland introduced former Broncos’ defensive coordinator as the team’s new head coach on Friday at a press conference at the team’s Alameda headquarters.

Carr and Bridgewater will forever be linked to each other for the rest of their careers. Both quarterbacks are going to be compared to the other on how each team wins an loses, but in the long run, I think Carr will have the better career than Bridgewater.

Only time will tell, but I’m sorry, the PFWA got the choice at quarterback for its 2014 All-Rookie team wrong.

Below is the complete list of the 2014 PFWA All-Rookie team and rookie year-end awards.

2014 PFWA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: WR Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants
2014 PFWA OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: WR Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants
2014 PFWA DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: DT Aaron Donald, St. Louis Rams

2014 PFWA ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Offense
QB – Teddy Bridgewater, Minnesota Vikings
RB – Jeremy Hill, Cincinnati Bengals; Tre Mason, St. Louis Rams
WR – Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants; Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TE – Jace Amaro, New York Jets
C – Corey Linsley, Green Bay Packers
G – Joel Bitonio, Cleveland Browns; Zack Martin, Dallas Cowboys
T – Taylor Lewan, Tennessee Titans; Ja’Wuan James, Miami Dolphins
Defense
DL – Aaron Donald, St. Louis Rams; Timmy Jernigan, Baltimore Ravens; Kony Ealy, Carolina Panthers; Justin Ellis, Oakland Raiders
LB – Chris Borland, San Francisco 49ers; Khalil Mack, Oakland Raiders; C.J. Mosley, Baltimore Ravens
CB – Kyle Fuller, Chicago Bears; E.J. Gaines, St. Louis Rams
S – Deone Bucannon, Arizona Cardinals; Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Green Bay Packers
Special Teams
PK – Cody Parkey, Philadelphia Eagles
P – Pat O’Donnell, Chicago Bears
KR – Jarvis Landry, Miami Dolphins
PR – De’Anthony Thomas, Kansas City Chiefs
ST – Trey Burton, Philadelphia Eagles