Fresh off their bye week, the Raiders head to Lambeau Field for tough test from Green Bay

Photo credit: @Raiders

By Joe Hawkes
SRS Contributor

ALAMEDA–Following their bye week in Week 6, the Oakland Raiders return to the football field in Week 7 as they travel to Lambeau Field to face the Green Bay Packers. The Raiders (3-2) are riding a two-game winning streak after starting the season 1-2.

Kickoff for this matchup is at 10:00 a.m. PT.

This will be the third meeting for Oakland against an NFC North opponent this season, having splitting games against the Minnesota Vikings (lost) and the Chicago Bears (won).
As the Raiders continue their 49-day stretch from the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, the Silver and Black will look to snap a seven-game losing streak against the Packers.

The last time the Raiders defeated the Packers: Sept. 13, 1987 when the franchise was still in Los Angeles. The Raiders defeated the Packers, 20-0, in Green Bay.

Prior to their Week 6 bye, the Raiders rallied past the Chicago Bears, 24-21, in Week 5 in London. The matchup between Chicago and Oakland was the NFL’s first game at the newly built Totteham Hotspur Stadium.

The Raiders started fast against the Bears, jumping out to a 17-0 lead before heading into halftime before Chicago scored 21 unanswered points. Late in the fourth quarter, Oakland would utilize a 13-play, 97-yard drive that would be punctuated by running back Josh Jacobs’ second rushing touchdown of the game.

Jacobs finished the game with 26 carries for 123 yards and two touchdowns, while becoming the first running back in Raiders history to post a 100-yard rushing game against Chicago.
The running back leads all rookies rushers in carries (88), yards (430), and touchdowns (4). His 430 rushing yards are the most in franchise history by a running back through the team’s first five games.

The former Alabama Crimson Tide is the early favorite to win AFC Offensive Rookie of the Year and possibly, the NFL’s Rookie of the Year if he continues to have a great season.

Quarterback Derek Carr, who earned his 17th-career fourth quarter comeback, played remarkably against the Bears. Carr completed 78.1 percent of his passes (25-of-32) for 229 yards. His 73.3 completion rating leads the NFL, and is challenging Drew Brees’s all-time mark of 74.4 set last season.

On the season, Carr has thrown for 1,117 yards with six touchdowns and three interceptions with a 96.7 passer rating.

More importantly, the offensive line kept Carr upright by not allowing a sack by Chicago’s defense for only the second time since 2017.

Former Raiders linebacker/defensive end Khalil Mack, who was traded to Chicago prior to the start of last season from Oakland, was a non factor. Mack’s biggest play of the game was when he recovered a fumble after Jacobs went the wrong way on a pitch in the third quarter that ignited Chicago’s comeback.

Oakland’s defense turned in a stellar performance, racking up four sacks and two interceptions for the first time since 2014.

Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst had his first career multi-sack game and cornerback Gareon Conley and linebacker Nicholas Murrow each notched an interception off Bears backup quarterback, Chase Daniel.

Conley’s interception with 1:14 left in the fourth quarter would seal the win for the Silver and Black heading into their bye week.

Green Bay (5-1) is entering Week 7 coming off a 23-22 victory over their division rival, the Detroit Lions in the final seconds on Monday Night Football to close out Week 6.

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed 24-of-39 passes for 283 yards and two touchdowns, while running back Jamaal Williams chipped in with 14 carries for 104 yards.

Following Sunday’s game, the Raiders will travel to the Lone Star State to face the Houston Texans in Week 8 for their fifth-straight game away from Oakland before returning home to close out their NFC North schedule against the Lions on Nov. 3.

The Packers will take on the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in Week 9.

 

 

Undefeated Niners have potential trap game

Photo credit: @SNFonNBC

By Jeremy Harness

SANTA CLARA–The 49ers are riding a wave they have not experienced in almost 30 years, winning their first five games and getting a statement victory last Sunday against the defending NFC champions on the road.

The Washington Redskins, on the other hand, are 1-5, just fired their head coach a week and a half ago, and only got their first win after holding off a furious comeback against unquestionably the worst team in the NFL, the Miami Dolphins.

These are the Redskins that the 49ers will travel across the country to face on Sunday, and this can be safely classified as a potential trap game, for all the reasons illustrated above.

Washington has question marks all over the place, and based on the moves that are being made on and off the field, they are not expected to be solved any time soon. This should all equate to a convincing win, but stranger things have happened in the NFL over the years.

The interim head coach across the sideline from the 49ers has Bay Area ties, as Bill Callahan, who previously served as the team’s offensive line coach until taking over for the fired Jay Gruden, was at the helm when the Oakland Raiders went to the Super Bowl after the 2002 season before he himself was fired after the team stumbled to a 4-12 mark the very next year.

Aside from missing their two starting tackles, starting fullback and starting right corner, the 49ers do have a few other injury concerns as they head into Sunday.

A pair of significant offensive players, tight end George Kittle and receiver Deebo Samuel, sat out Wednesday’s practice with groin ailments. Both are listed as day-to-day and are expected to play Sunday.

Running back Raheem Mostert did not practice Wednesday with a knee strain, and he, too, is day-to-day.

For the Redskins, cornerback Josh Norman was held out of Wednesday’s practice with hand and thigh injuries, while running back Adrian Peterson’s quad ailment kept him from practicing as well.

Headline Sports podcast with London Marq: Can Raiders make it three in a row against the Pack?; Garoppolo, 49ers take lots of confidence to Seattle this Sunday; plus more

Photo credit: @Raiders

On Headline Sports podcast with London:

#1 For the Oakland Raiders, they’re nice and rested from their jet lag after their trip to London on October 6th and a bye week on October 13th. Now they prepare to play a Green Bay Packers (5-1) team, who are coming off a 23-22 narrow edge victory against the Detroit Lions last Monday Night Football. Can the Raiders pull off their third straight win at the Frozen Tundra this Sunday?

#2 The Packers got a late field goal in the fourth quarter — a 23-yarder with just over a minute left in the game from kicker Mason Crosby after quarterback Aaron Rogers took two knees before electing to kick a field goal for the one point win.

#3 San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has no doubts and lots of confidence going into these games, on Sunday against the LA Rams Garoppolo threw 24-33 for 243 yards and their fifth straight win 20-7.

#4 The Sacramento Kings picked up their first preseason win against the Utah Jazz Monday night with a 128-115 victory. The Kings’ Buddy Hield was all over the place with 23 points and he was the key to the offense in the Kings win.

#5 In the baseball playoffs, the Houston Astros took a 2-1 ALCS lead over the New York Yankees on Tuesday at Yankee Stadium. The Astros’ Garrett Cole threw for seven innings, four hits, five walks, and seven strikeouts.

London Marq does Headline Sports podcasts each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Fresh off their bye week, the Raiders head to Lambeau Field for tough test from Green Bay

Photo credit: @Raiders By Joe Hawkes
SRS Contributor

Following their bye week in Week 6, the Oakland Raiders return to the football field in Week 7 as they travel to Lambeau Field to face the Green Bay Packers. The Raiders (3-2) are riding a two-game winning streak after starting the season 1-2.

Kickoff for this matchup is at 10:00 a.m. PT.

This will be the third meeting for Oakland against an NFC North opponent this season, having splitting games against the Minnesota Vikings (lost) and the Chicago Bears (won).

As the Raiders continue their 49-day stretch from the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, the Silver and Black will look to snap a seven-game losing streak against the Packers.

The last time the Raiders defeated the Packers: Sept. 13, 1987 when the franchise was still in Los Angeles. The Raiders defeated the Packers, 20-0, in Green Bay.

Prior to their Week 6 bye, the Raiders rallied past the Chicago Bears, 24-21, in Week 5 in London. The matchup between Chicago and Oakland was the NFL’s first game at the newly built Totteham Hotspur Stadium.

The Raiders started fast against the Bears, jumping out to a 17-0 lead before heading into halftime before Chicago scored 21 unanswered points. Late in the fourth quarter, Oakland would utilize a 13-play, 97-yard drive that would be punctuated by running back Josh Jacobs’ second rushing touchdown of the game.

Jacobs finished the game with 26 carries for 123 yards and two touchdowns, while becoming the first running back in Raiders history to post a 100-yard rushing game against Chicago.

The running back leads all rookies rushers in carries (88), yards (430), and touchdowns (4). His 430 rushing yards are the most in franchise history by a running back through the team’s first five games.

The former Alabama Crimson Tide is the early favorite to win AFC Offensive Rookie of the Year and possibly, the NFL’s Rookie of the Year if he continues to have a great season.

Quarterback Derek Carr, who earned his 17th-career fourth quarter comeback, played remarkably against the Bears. Carr completed 78.1 percent of his passes (25-of-32) for 229 yards. His 73.3 completion rating leads the NFL, and is challenging Drew Brees’s all-time mark of 74.4 set last season.

On the season, Carr has thrown for 1,117 yards with six touchdowns and three interceptions with a 96.7 passer rating.

More importantly, the offensive line kept Carr upright by not allowing a sack by Chicago’s defense for only the second time since 2017.

Former Raiders linebacker/defensive end Khalil Mack, who was traded to Chicago prior to the start of last season from Oakland, was a non factor. Mack’s biggest play of the game was when he recovered a fumble after Jacobs went the wrong way on a pitch in the third quarter that ignited Chicago’s comeback.

Oakland’s defense turned in a stellar performance, racking up four sacks and two interceptions for the first time since 2014.

Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst had his first career multi-sack game and cornerback Gareon Conley and linebacker Nicholas Murrow each notched an interception off Bears backup quarterback, Chase Daniel.

Conley’s interception with 1:14 left in the fourth quarter would seal the win for the Silver and Black heading into their bye week.

Green Bay (5-1) is entering Week 7 coming off a 23-22 victory over their division rival, the Detroit Lions in the final seconds on Monday Night Football to close out Week 6.

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed 24-of-39 passes for 283 yards and two touchdowns, while running back Jamaal Williams chipped in with 14 carries for 104 yards.

Following Sunday’s game, the Raiders will travel to the Lone Star State to face the Houston Texans in Week 8 for their fifth-straight game away from Oakland before returning home to close out their NFC North schedule against the Lions on Nov. 3.

The Packers will take on the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in Week 9.

San Francisco 49ers podcast with David Zizmor: 49ers’ Jimmy G gets it done again; 49ers prepare for Washington this Sunday

Photo credit: cnn.com

On the 49ers podcast with Dave:

#1 Once again, it was about both sides of the football and the 49ers did it against the challenging Los Angeles Rams in the Southland.

#2 For the 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, another big afternoon throwing 24 for 33 for 243 yards to keep the 49ers undefeated.

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Cardinals facing elimination in game at Washington; Yankees-Astros series tied at 1-1; plus more

Photo credit: bleacherreport.com

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary’s podcast:

#1 The series all tied at 1-1, the Houston Astros won Game 2 and they had to come back from behind against the New York Yankees in 11 innings to win by a run, 3-2.

#2 After facing some tough pitching in St. Louis, the Cards play an elimination game tonight in Washington. Down 0-3, the Cards faced some tough Nationals pitching over the last two games.

#3 Is it a lack of patience by the Commissioner of Baseball Rob Manfred with the City of Oakland and that lack of patience translate to the city council retreat or double down on the Oakland A’s and MLB in their lawsuit against the A’s?

#4 The 49ers have won five straight and are undefeated after their many struggles over the last few years. The question is are the 49ers the real deal?

#5 Some of the candidates named for the open Giants manager position are Ron Wotus, Bam Bam Muelens, Bob Geren, Gabe Kapler, Mark Kotsay, Raul Ibanez and even current Dodgers manager Dave Roberts if the Dodgers let him go.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish radio voice for the Oakland A’s on KIQI 1010 San Francisco and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Time to Start Respecting 5-0 Niners, Beat Rams 20-7

Photo credit: @arikarmstead

By: Joe Lami

On Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers answered their biggest test yet, defeating their division foe, the LA Rams 20-7. With only two undefeated teams remaining in the NFL and a victory over the defending NFC Champions, it’s finally time to say this team is for real.

Leading that statement is the defense, who once again balled out in the win. Starting off shaky, allowing a seven-play 56-yard opening drive with all rushing plays for a touchdown, they buckled down as the game went on and started dominating. The Rams were held to just 165 total yards while Jarred Goff contributed 78 yards on 13-of-24. At one point in the third quarter, Goff was 7-of-9 for 29 yards.

The pass rush was distributive once the Rams started throwing the ball, sacking Goff four times with Dee Ford picking up a strip-sack. The Niners were especially impressive when it mattered most, forcing the Rams to go 0-for-9 on third down and 0-for-2 on fourth down.

One of the big stops came late in the second quarter when the Niners stuffed Malcolm Brown on fourth down on the goal line, forcing a turnover on downs.

As good as the defense was, the offense was mediocre, finishing with 331 total yards. Jimmy Garoppolo finished with 243 passing yards on 24-of-33 with an interception. He also ran in San Francisco’s second touchdown of the game, that was set up by Arik Armstead, picking up a fumble at the 17 yard-line on the Rams’ first play of the second half.

Garoppolo continues to throw at least one terrible pass per game that leaves you scratching your head. Sunday was no different as he floated up a ball in the end zone to Marcus Peters, all alone, taking away points from San Francisco.

Tevin Coleman scored the first touchdown of the game, as the offense was able to get settled into the game halfway through the first quarter. He finished with 45 yards on 18 carries. Matt Breida finished with 13 carries for 36 yards. With just 99 rushing yards, it shows that missing both Mike McGlinchey and Kyle Juszczyk has stagnated the run game.

George Kittle was Garoppolo’s favorite target, catching all eight passes targeted to him for 103 yards. Dante Pettis had his best game as a Niner, catching three balls for 45 yards, picking up two third-down conversions.

Even with a lackluster performance from the offense, this team continues to roll through the NFL. The defense is leading the way and is beginning to look like a team that Harbaugh led to the NFC Championship Game just a few years ago.

The Niners look to continue to roll, at they travel to Washington next week in a game that they should dominate. Washington picked up their first win of the season with a one-point victory over the Dolphins on Sunday.

Oakland Raiders podcast with Joe Hawkes Beamon: Was the suspension of Burfict justified? Burfict loses appeal

Photo credit: cbssports.com

On the Raiders podcast with Joe Hawkes:

#1 Oakland Raiders linebacker Vontaze Burfict was suspended for the September 30th helmet to helmet hit on Indianapolis Colts tight end Jack Doyle. Was suspending Burfict for the rest of the season going too far for the NFL?

#2 Burfict tried to appeal, but the NFL and the NFL Players upheld the suspension for the entire season.

#3 Raiders head coach Jon Gruden and quarterback Derek Carr both spoke about Burfict at his appeal and said he was a good teammate and he has tried to change from lowering his helmet.

#4 The thing about it is Doyle said Burfict tackled him and he didn’t feel anything, but the league didn’t like the way Burfict came in with his helmet and held up the suspension.

#5 The Raiders have a bye this Sunday and get ready for Green Bay Sunday, October 20th.

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

San Francisco 49ers podcast with Joe Lami: Will McGlinchey and Juszczyk on IL put a hurt on 49ers?

Photo credit: sacbee.com

On the 49ers podcast with Joe Lami:

#1 49ers tackle Mike McGlinchey and fullback Kyle Juszczyk are expected to be out 4-6 weeks. How does this effect the 49ers going into Sunday’s game in L.A.?

#2 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said “You don’t replace Kyle, he’s a one of a kind fullback.”

#3 The 49ers are ranked fourth in the NFL in offense and that considering they’re doing it without tackle Joe Staley. Running back Tevin Coleman had a good outing on Monday night.

#4 Joe talk about 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa and what he has meant to the defense.

#5 The 49ers are preparing to meet the LA Rams this Sunday in what could be their biggest challenge at this juncture of the season.

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

Raiders enter the bye week a game over .500

Photo credit: @Raiders

By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
SRS Contributor

After five weeks of NFL games, the Raiders find themselves on a bye week entering Week 6 of the 2019 schedule.

The Raiders (3-2) shook off a 1-2 start and are riding a two-game winning streak heading into break thanks in large part of a efficiency on offense, and aggressive defense.

Quarterback Derek Carr has gotten off to a good start, completing 118 of 161 passes for 1,117 yards with six touchdowns and three interceptions while sporting a 96.7 passer rating through five games.

In a season that was expected to feature superstar wide receiver Antonio Brown to be a key weapon for Carr after acquiring the mercurial Brown from the Pittsburgh Steelers in an offseason trade before Brown would force his way out of Oakland, the Raiders signal-caller has spread the ball around field most notably to tight end Darren Waller.

Waller, who is in his second season with Oakland, leads the team in receptions (37) and receiving yards (359) this season. Even though wide receiver Tyrell Williams leads the team with four touchdown catches, Carr looks for Waller on almost every passing play.

Oakland ranks 18th in total offense, averaging 20.6 points per game.

But the true weapon for Oakland’s offense is rookie running back Josh Jacobs, who is the engine that powers Oakland’s ninth-ranked rushing attack.

Through five games, Jacobs is easily the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year with 88 carries for 430 yards and four touchdowns to lead all rookie rushers. His 430 yards on the ground are more than Hall of Fame running back Marcus Allen through Allen’s first five games in Silver and Black per the Elias Sports Bureau.

Throw in six catches for 77 yards as an added bonus, and Jacobs is a complete running back who fits in today’s NFL where running backs must be reliable in the passing game.

Defensively, linebacker Tahir Whitehead paces the team with 31 total tackles (25 solo, 6 assisted); while defensive end Benson Mayowa leads the Raiders with 4.5 sacks this season.

Oakland ranks 16th in the NFL in scoring defense, surrendering 24.6 points per game.

Safety Erik Harris has Oakland’s biggest play on defense this season, cementing Oakland’s 31-24 win in Indianapolis in Week 4 with a pick-6 interception in the fourth quarter.

Following Oakland’s Week 6 bye, the Raiders continue their five-game road trip (even though last week’s 24-21 victory over the Chicago Bears in London was considered a “home” game), with a trip to Lambeau Field to take on the Green Bay Packers in Week 7 before finishing up against the Houston Texans in Week 8.