Raiders set to finish extended road trip Sunday in Houston

Photo credit: @Raiders

By Joe Hawkes
SRS Contributor

The Oakland Raiders have finally come to the finish line of their 49-day stretch away from the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum as they prepare for a trip to Houston to take on the 4-3 Texans. This will be the first meeting between the two clubs at NRG Stadium since the 2016 Wild Card game, which the Texans prevailed over the Raiders, 27-14.

The two teams met earlier that season, an international home game in Mexico City for Oakland, in which the Raiders defeated Houston, 27-20, that brought the all-time series to 6-4 in favor of Houston.

Originally slated for a 10:00 a.m. PT start time, the kickoff was flexed to 1:25 p.m. PT by CBS. The Raiders are looking to finish their five-game road trip at 3-2, and win their third-straight road game over the Texans.

Last week, the Raiders (3-3) were hammered by the Green Bay Packers, 42-24 at Lambeau Field in Week 8 following their Bye Week. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers lit up the Raiders defense, throwing for five touchdowns and rushing for another one en route to completing 25-of-31 passes for 429 yards as the Packers defeated the Raiders for the eighth-straight time dating back to 1990.

Green Bay (6-1) has scored 30-plus points in their last five meetings against the Raiders.

Raiders running back Josh Jacobs recorded his second-straight 100-yard rushing game, rushing for 124 yards on 21 carries with 5.9 yards per attempt. With 554 yards rushing through the first six games of his career, Jacobs surpassed Bo Jackson’s mark of 553 yards in 1987 for most in franchise history.

Quarterback Derek Carr completed 22-of-28 passes for 293 yards, two touchdowns, but had two costly turnovers in the red zone for Oakland.

With Oakland trailing 14-10 late in the first half, Carr had Oakland in position to retake the lead. After Carr found tight end Darren Waller on a 48-yard hookup down the middle of the field, the Raiders had first and goal at the Packers’ 3-yard line.

On second down, Carr rushed for the pylon, but Packers linebacker Blake Martinez forced a fumble and the ball went through the back of the end zone for a touchback.

Following Carr’s turnover, Rodgers would connect with wide receiver Jake Kumerow for a 37-yard touchdown that would give Green Bay a 21-10 lead heading into halftime.

With Oakland desperately trying to mount a comeback in the fourth quarter trailing 28-17 following a 7-yard touchdown from Carr to Waller, Packers cornerback Kevin King intercepted Carr with 8:09 left to play in the game that seemingly iced the game for Green Bay.

Following the turnover by Carr, Rodgers would throw register his sixth score of the day, a 74-yard pass to wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who finished with two catches for 133 yards.

Waller recorded his second 100-yard receiving game this season, hauling in seven catches for 126 yards and two touchdowns. Both scores were Waller’s first for the season.

Waller’s 44 catches are the most for a Raiders player through the first six games, breaking Hall of Famer Tim Brown’s 41. Waller also lead the team with 485 yards.

Defensively, rookie defensive end Maxx Crosby registered a sack for the second-straight week. Crosby recorded a sack against the Bears in Week 5 in London.

The Texans are coming off a 23-20 loss to their AFC South rival, the Indianapolis Colts, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Week 7.

Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson is one of the best passers in the league, throwing for 1,952 yards with 13 touchdowns and five interceptions with a 104.1 passer rating. Watson leads the NFL’s ninth-best scoring offense, averaging 26.4 points per game.

Houston wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins will have Oakland’s defense on high alert. Hopkins is currently third in the NFL in catches with 49 to go along with 508 receiving yards and three touchdowns (tied with fellow teammates Will Fuller and tight Darren Fells).

Fuller is second on the team in catches (34) and yards (450).

Defensively for Houston, linebackers Zach Cunningham (53 tackles) and Benardick McKinney (52 tackles) are always around the ball and barely misses tackles.

Fellow linebacker Whitney Mercilus leads the team with 5.5 sacks, while defensive end J.J. Watt is second with 4 sacks.

Following Sunday’s game, the Raiders will return home to begin a three-game stretch where they will face the Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Chargers and Cincinnati Bengals, respectively.

Houston will travel to Jacksonville to take on the Jaguars in Week 9 before heading into their Bye Week.

Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria: Raiders need to hit the playbooks in preparation of the Texans this Sunday; 49ers host the Panthers in hopes to stay undefeated; plus more

Photo credit: silverandblackpride.com

On the Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria:

#1 The Oakland Raiders faced a very ready Green Bay Packers offense on Sunday as Packers quarterback Aaron Rogers threw for five touchdowns as the Raiders defense was no match for the Packers offense in the 42-24.

#2 The San Francisco 49ers may have not have scored a touchdown or set any kind of scoring records last Sunday in Washington, but they got by with three field goals kicked by kicker Robbie Gould that got the 49ers their sixth win to put them at 6-0.

#3 The Sacramento Kings opened up their regular season with a road trip in Phoenix. Is it tougher to open a season on the road or it really doesn’t make a difference?

#4 The Golden State Warriors open up their season tonight at Chase Center in San Francisco as they christen the new building for their first regular season game.

#5 Do you think the Astros get that backs to the wall feeling after dropping Games 1 and 2 at home against the Washington Nationals? The Nats are more than expected nemesis who broke it wide open in game 2 on Wednesday night.

Tony R does Headlines Sports podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Niners hope Sanders will bolster passing attack

Photo credit: ninerswire.usatoday.com

By Jeremy Harness

When the undefeated 49ers take the field at Levi’s Stadium Sunday against Carolina, there will be a big change. Or maybe two.

The 49ers knew that they needed to upgrade the wide receiver position at some point, and they pulled the trigger on a key move Tuesday, adding veteran wideout Emmanuel Sanders in a trade from the Denver Broncos.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan said that he expects to have Sanders to play Sunday, and that it is very likely that he will play both outside as well as in the slot, along with fellow receivers marquise Goodwin and Dante Pettis.

A key factor in the 49ers making this trade was the fact that the status of injured receivers Trent Taylor (foot) and Jalen Hurd (back), who have been out all season.

They are both on the eligible-for-return injured reserve list, but according to reports, the team has started to lose hope of getting them back on the field in 2019.

On the bright side, the 49ers are getting closer to having a key player back on the offensive side of the ball. Left tackle Joe Staley has been out since Week 2 with a hairline fracture in his fibula, but he practiced on a limited basis, and there is a chance that he will play Sunday.

Tight end George Kittle, receiver Deebo Samuel, running back Raheem Mostert and defensive end Dee Ford were all limited in practice Wednesday, but all are expected to be on the field against Carolina.

For the Panthers, quarterback Cam Newton was held out of practice Wednesday as ne nurses a foot injury, meaning that backup Kyle Allen is likely to be under center when the Carolina offense is on the field Sunday.

Headline Sports podcast with Barbara Mason: 49ers get just enough done to beat Washington; Raiders will have to turn the page after getting crushed by the Pack; plus more

Photo credit: mercurynews.com

On Headline Sports with Barbara:

#1 The San Francisco 49ers kept their perfect record in tact shutting out Washington on Sunday 9-0. It was, messy, muddy, sloppy, and kicker Robby Gould did all the heavy lifting kicking three field goals for all the scoring.

#2 The Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Rogers threw all day on Sunday against the visiting Oakland Raiders resulting in a 42-24 laugher for the Pack. The Packers ran through the Raiders defense like butter as Rogers passed for five touchdowns.

#3 The 2019 World Series is underway tonight at Minute Maid Field in Houston between the Washington Nationals and the Houston Astros. Both teams come into the series with potent pitching staffs, which proved their success in getting to the World Series.

#4 The Cal Bears (4-3) suffered their third loss dropping to 4-3 in a game they were supposed to win against Oregon State (3-4) 21-17 in Berkeley. The Bears couldn’t get any offense going in the first half.

#5 Quarterback problems live at Stanford University as the Cardinal (3-4) are now on their third quarterback. K.J. Costell and David Mills are both out with injuries and third string quarterback Jack West worked under center last Thursday night, but couldn’t get enough yards, rushing or passing done in the 34-16 loss to the UCLA Bruins (2-5).

Listen to Barbara Tuesdays for Headline Sports at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco 49ers podcast with David Zizmor: Kicking makes up for a lack of touchdowns in muddy ball game in Washington

Photo credit: @bookies

On the 49ers podcast with David:

#1 49ers kicker Robbie Gould kicked for all of San Francisco’s scoring on Sunday as the 49ers shutout Washington 9-0 win. For quarterback Jimmy Garroppolo, he just couldn’t get any traction on Washington’s muddy field as the 49ers didn’t get any touchdowns in the game.

#2 The 49ers defense once again came through and contributed big in the shutout of Washington.

David Zizmor does the 49ers podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

49ers Can Win Ugly Too; Beat Washington 9-0, Improve to 6-0

photo from sfgate.com: San Francisco 49ers offensive guard Mike Person walks on the sideline in the second half of an NFL football game against Washington at Landover MD

By: Joe Lami

The 49ers continue to prove that they win no matter the circumstance, improving their undefeated record to 6-0. Sunday was the most extreme example of the yet as San Francisco brawled out a muddy 9-0 victory in the rain-drenched nation’s capital. The shutout marks the first under the Kyle Shanahan era and brings the 49ers to 6-0 for the third time in their history and the first since 1990.

The defense continues to be the backbone of this team. Washington totaled 156 yards with the Niners completely shut them down in the second half, allowing just 36 yards. Washington also struggled to do much on third down, going three of nine to extend drives.

Adrian Peterson was a workhorse for Washington, picking up 81 yards on 20 carries, including 49 yards on eight carries in the opening drive. Washington was able to copy LA’s opening drive by marching right down the field on the Niners, but the defense was able to make a stand. Dustin Hopkins was no good from 39 yards.

Nick Bosa led the team with seven combined tackles. He also finished off the game to his fourth sack of the season to a slip and slide styled celebration. The defense got to Case Keenum three times with Dee Ford and Arik Armstead joining the fun.

Kwon Alexander made the play of the day, punching out the ball in the middle of a promising Washington drive for the only forced turnover the Niners had.

The offense also improved as the game went on, as Kyle Shanahan started to get more aggressive. 215 of their 283 yards came in the second half. More importantly, the Niners were able to stay on the field, converting 7-of-16 third downs and totaling 17 first downs.

Jimmy Garoppolo was responsible for nine of them, and in a sloppy game, that’s all it takes sometimes. He threw for 151 yards on 12 of 21 passing, but more importantly, he scrambled for 20 yards in crucial situations.

Robbie Gould was three of four, missing his first attempt of the game. The miss marked the seventh of the early season and immediately brought concern about how serious of an issue it’s becoming. Fortunately, he was able to settle into the game, knocking in three-straight.

The Niners’ next test will be next week at home against the 4-2 Carolina Panthers who will have the extra week to prepare coming off their bye.

Rodgers throws five touchdowns in Packers win 42-24

photo from sfgate.com: Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden reacts during the second half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in Green Bay, Wis.

By Jeremy Kahn

Daniel Carlson gave the Oakland Raiders the lead on their first series of the game, but after that it became the Aaron Rodgers Show.

Rodgers went 25-for-31 for 429 yards passing with five touchdowns, as the Green Bay Packers defeated the Raiders 42-24 at Lambeau Field.

Carlson got the Raiders on the board, as he nailed a 42-yard field goal just 2:35 into the game; however, Rodgers took the Packers right down the field and connected with Aaron Jones for a 21-yard touchdown pass.

That would be all the scoring in the first quarter, and then Foster Moreau was on the receiving end of a 10-yard touchdown pass from Derek Carr to give the Raiders a 10-7 lead; however, Rodgers decided that it was enough for that lead for the visitors.

Rodgers and the Packers scored the next three touchdowns to take a commanding 28-10 lead before Carr found Darren Waller for a seven-yard touchdown pass.

Once again, the Packers and Rodgers scored the next two touchdowns to give them a 42-17 lead, as Rodgers found Jimmy Graham for a three-yard touchdown and the last touchdown of the game, as he located Marquez Valdes-Scantiling for a 74-yard touchdown pass.

Waller caught his second touchdown of the game with just 1:32 remaining in the game, as he ended the week where he signed a long-term contract in style, when he and Mike Glennon hooked up for 17-yard touchdown pass.

Despite the loss, it was a good day for Carr, who went 22-for-28 for 293 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.

Josh Jacobs continues to shine in his rookie year, as he carried the ball 21 times and gained 124 yards.

Waller was the leading wide receiver for the Raiders, as he caught seven passes for 126 yards and those two touchdowns.

Jones was the leading rusher for the Packers, as he carried the ball 12 for 50 yards, while Valdes-Scantlingwas the leading receiver, as he caught just two passes for 133 yards, that included that 74-yard touchdown pass.

UP NEXT: Once again, the Raiders return to the road, as they face the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on October 27.

San Francisco 49ers podcast with Joe Lami: After big win over LA, 49ers head to Washington to keep it going

Photo credit: nytimes.com

On the 49ers podcast with Joe:

#1 Last Sunday, the 49ers answered the bell and took on their biggest challenge of the year with a 20-7 win over the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles.

#2 The win puts the 49ers at 5-0 and what lent to their most recent success was the defense, who stuck to their game plan and shutdown the Rams to just one touchdown.

#3 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo said that the defense did such a good job that the offense had time to rest and not push running up the score because of the confidence in the defense

#4 Garoppolo went 24-33 and had thrown for 331 yards and an interception not a stellar game, but enough to win. Was it the Rams pass rush that kept Garoppolo off balance or was it just a mediocre game for Garoppolo?

#5 The 49ers head to Washington this Sunday. Washington beat Miami by one point and the 49ers are expected to win this one easily.

Joe Lami does the 49ers podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland Raiders podcast with Joe Hawkes Beamon: Raiders well-rested, head to the Frozen Tundra to face the Pack Sunday

Photo credit: greenbaypressgazette.com

On the Raiders podcast with Joe Hawkes:

#1  Well-rested coming off a bye and the jet lag from London from October 6th’s game, the Oakland Raiders come into Week 7.

#2 The Raiders are playing their fourth game in as many as five weeks away from Oakland. For most of those games, they had to stay back in the cities they were visiting without returning to Oakland, practice and get ready for the game which made for more focusing and it paid off when they were in London.

#3 After the game with the Chicago Bears, the Raiders for the bye week got to return back to their Alameda facility and workout and practice before setting out to Green Bay for this Sunday’s game at Lambeau Field.

#4 In the game against Chicago, quite a game for Raiders running back Josh Jacobs with 26 carries, 123 yards, and two touchdowns, and for quarterback Derek Carr 25-32 for 229 yards.

#5 The Green Bay Packers are coming off a razor close win over the Detroit Lions in which the Lions’ Trey Flowers was called for hands to the face that sent the ball into the Detroit red zone with the Lions ahead 22-20, but after the penalty and Packers quarterback Aaron Rogers taking two knees, the Packers’ Mason Crosby kicked a 23-yard field goal and the Packers came away with a one-point win, 23-20. Can the Raiders come out at Lambeau and give the Packers a game?

Joe Hawkes Beamon does the Raiders podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria: Raiders look to keep it going against Packers Sunday; Can Garoppolo help keep the streak alive?; plus more

Photo credit: nbcsports.com

On Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria:

#1 Talk about the Oakland Raiders’ last win. It was electrifying defeating the Chicago Bears in London. After taking a 17-point lead, the Raiders saw the Bears come rushing back with three touchdowns in the third quarter, but the Raiders just got by with a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

#2 Raiders quarterback Derek Carr threw 25-32 for 229 yards and zero on touchdowns and interceptions.

#3 Taking a look at the San Francisco 49ers, the thrill of victory has them up 5-0 in the game against the LA Rams. They got some great defense working.

#4 For the 49ers quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo is having a great defense on the other side of the ball is giving him peace of mind and actually some confidence to throw the ball when the 49ers can get a substantial need.

#5 The Sacramento Kings conclude their preseason against Melbourne’s national team last night at Golden 1 Center. The Kings started preseason in Mumbai, and finished off the last three in Sacramento. Reports have been the Kings will have their hands full playing in an improved Western Conference.

Tony does Headline Sports each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com