Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O: Chiefs Kelce fined for unsportsmanshiplike conduct; If Chiefs win no parade in downtown KC; plus more news

(left) Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Jordan Phillips (97) headbutts Kansas City Chiefs Travis Kelce (87) after Kelce got in the face of the Bills Damar Hamlin (right) (photo stills from You Tube)

Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O:

#1 Kansas City Chiefs Travis Kelce was fined $11,255 during the AFC Championship game against the Buffalo Bills for unsportsmanshiplike conduct in their win against the Buffalo Bills. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes who scored on a one yard touchdown in the second quarter. Kelce got in Bills safety Damar Hamlin’s grill after Hamlin tackled Mahomes in the end zone. Kelce was responding to Hamlin’s end zone tackle and Bills defensive tackle Jordan Phillips ended up head butting Kelce. Phillips was fined 6,722 for the headbutt.

#2 Kansas City has announced that if the Chiefs win the Super Bowl there will be no parade celebration. If the Chiefs win they will gather their players, family members, friends, Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe and Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas. The parade will be televised along the parade route. The parade was called off due to a shooting at Union Station near a garage that injured 22 and killed Lisa Lopez Galvan.

#3 Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker is facing more allegations of sexually inappropriate behavior with three massage therapists who have accused him of misconduct. There a total of nine massage therapists that have accused Tucker of inappropriate behavior. The timeline of these accusations were from 2012-2016.

#4 Charlie, talk about Tom Brady’s role in the Las Vegas Raiders hiring of head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Spytek. Raiders owner Mark Davis depended on Brady’s knowledge and experience in making these choices.

#5 Luka Doncic traded to the Los Angeles Lakers from the Dallas Mavericks was this because of Doncic’s challenges with weight and were there internal problems in Dallas?

#5 On Saturday the Sacramento Athletics held a celebration of life for the late Rickey Henderson who died five days before his 66th birthday on Dec 20, 2024. The a star studded dais included former MLB stars, Shooty Babbitt, Dave Stewart, Dave Winfield, Bip Roberts, Frank Big Hurt Thomas, Dennis Eckersley, Ken Griffey Jr, Carney Lansford, Jose Canseco, Tony LaRussa, NBA star Gary Payton, (MC) Renel, best friend of Rickey Fred Atkins, former A’s exec Sandy Alderson, and MC Hammer.

Charlie O does Headline Sports podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Jessica Kwong: Raiders wanted win for pride wouldn’t lose for first round draft pick; Rogers laughs that Jets’ owner son could release him; plus more news

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rogers meets with the press after a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sun Dec 15, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville (AP News photo)

On Headline Sports podcast with Jessica Kwong:

#1 The Las Vegas Raiders could have the number one draft pick if they just had mailed it in on Sunday but instead decided to fight it out and beat the visiting the Jacksonville Jaguars at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday winning by five 19-14.

#2 New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rogers laughed while being interviewed on the Pat McAfee show saying that Jets it would be funny if he was released by the owner Woody Johnson’s son. Rogers was making fun of the way the organization has been run “Being released would be a first; being released by a teenager, that would also be a first,” said Rogers.

#3 The very next day after the Arizona Cardinals were eliminated from the playoffs after they occupied first place in the NFC West just a month ago the Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said he accepts for most of the blame for the Cards fall “I’m not satisfied with the performance of the team, and that starts with me,” said coach Gannon “So, what I’m really saying, that’s an indictment on myself. I’m not satisfied with myself.”

#4 The injured list continues to pile up for the San Francisco 49ers as left tackle Trent Williams (left ankle), left guard Aaron Banks (right MCL) and back up tackle Jaylon Moore (quad) they will miss the remaining two games of the season. The 49ers have sank fast losing five of their last six games and were eliminated from post season on Sunday when they lost to the Miami Dolphins 29-17.

#5 Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes says his ankle should be alright and he was ready to go under center on Christmas day against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Mahomes said that the team hasn’t done a lot of as far as getting on the practice field saying they’ve done two walk throughs. Mahomes says he can walk around and do what he needs to do that all in all he came out pretty well.

Join Jessica Kwong for Headline Sports podcasts every other Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O: Red Sox, Giants, Mets, Padres, Dodgers named as top teams in Yamamoto sweepstakes; Reid and Mahomes fined for criticizing NFL officials; plus more news

Team Japan pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto seen here throwing in the World Baseball Classic in Mexico Mar 20, 2023 is being sought by five MLB teams which are said to be the two top teams bidding for Yamamoto’s services (AP file photo)

On Headlines Sports podcast with Charlie O:

#1 Charlie, a pretty good source former Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers general manager Jim Bowden said that both the San Francisco Giants and Boston Red Sox seemed to be the two finalists in their bid to get Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Bowden said both clubs are down for the $300 million to get Yamamoto it’s just a matter of who will outbid who for Yamamoto.

#2 The NFL fined Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid $100,000 and quarterback Patrick Mahomes $50,000 for public criticism of the officiating. Mahomes was yelling at the on field officials. Mahomes picked up an unsportsmanship like conduct last Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. Mahomes said the penalty was “elementary school (stuff)” and Reid said that he and Mahomes normally would get a warning prior to getting penalized and said of Kadarius Toney’s penalty was “a bit embarrassing in the National Football League.”

#3 Former Los Angeles Laker center star Kareem Abdul Jabbar broke his hip when he fell at a concert on Friday. Jabbar 76, said that he was deeply appreciative of the Los Angeles Fire Department. Jabbar’s representative Deborah Morales said they were an  “amazing medical team and doctors at UCLA Hospital who are taking great care of (him).”

#4 Detroit Lions quarterback Teddy Bridgewater said this will be his last year in pro football. Bridgewater came into the NFL in 2014 with the Minnesota Vikings he missed 2015 and 2016 with a dislocated ACL and dislocated knee, he played for the Saints, Panthers, Broncos, and Dolphins. Bridgewater said that for three hours he realized he’s just a football player outside of that the injuries put everything in prospective.

#5 Turning to Major League Baseball the Los Angeles Dodgers introduced two way player Shohei Ohtani at a press conference on Friday at Dodger Stadium. Ohtani was fitted with a a Dodger cap and jersey while meeting the press and will be the designated hitter for the 2024 season. Ohtani didn’t answer questions about having Tommy John surgery he will not pitch this season.

#6 The San Francisco Giants big signing came when Korean outfielder Jung Hoo Lee signed a six year $113 million deal. Lee is expected to add if not be the biggest name in the line up for the 2024 season. Lee hit .318 with six home runs in 86 games last season. Lee’s season ended in July when he needed left ankle surgery in spite of it all MLB clubs came calling and it was the Giants that Lee signed with.

Join Charlie O for Headline Sports podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O: Browns on their fourth quarterback Flacco to start against Rams; Is 49ers-Eagles match up of the season?; plus more news

Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco will suit up for this Sun Dec 3, 2023 game against the Los Angeles Rams at So Fi Stadium in Los Angeles. Flaaco is the Browns fourth quarterback used for this season. (AP News photo)

On Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O:

#1 How frustrating does it have to get for the Cleveland Browns in terms of having the revolving door of quarterbacks. The Browns are now on their fourth quarterback with 38 year old Joe Flacco getting the start after quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson suffered a concussion last week. Robinson was ruled out on Friday. The Browns lost quarterbacks DeShaun Watson who is out with a shoulder injury and PJ Walker who started two games this season and will serve as Flacco’s back up Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams.

#2 Charlie, to the big game of the season the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles. How much is this game unfinished business for the 49ers and how badly does quarterback Brock Purdy want to get in win it and come out it in one piece?

#3 The Eagles have been leaning on their defense with linebackers stopping any quarterback keepers or opposing running backs. Will this be a factor for running back Christian McCaffrey whose had nothing but success in finding holes and getting yards.

#4 The Las Vegas Raiders badly want to get back in the win column after losing their last two games to the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs badly did some damage to Raiders defense last Sunday at Allegiant Stadium with a 14 point second quarter and a ten point fourth quarter for a 31-17 win. Simply put the defense just couldn’t stop quarterback Patrick Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid’s game plan down.

#5 The Raiders have a bye this Sunday and host the Minnesota Vikings Sun Dec 10th at Allegiant. Vikings lost to the Chicago Bears last Sunday in a squeaker 12-10 at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The Vikings have gone without their starter Kirk Cousins and have started Joshua Dobbs who went 22-32 for 185 yards one touchdown and what hurt Dobbs the most he was picked off four times. How do you see the Raiders and Vikings next Sunday in Vegas?

Join Charlie O for Headline Sports Sundays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports with Charlie O podcast: Pissed-burgh Steelers carry fight into dressing room after last game; Jets sticking with QB Boyle as Rogers rehabs; plus more news

Pittsburgh Steelers Dionte Johnson got into a heated argument with teammate Minkah Fitzpatrick and nearly got into a brawl before teammates Cameron Heyward and TJ Watt broke up the altercation after a loss to the Cleveland Browns in Cleveland on Sun Nov 19, 2023 (photo from Sportswire)

On Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O:

#1 What has happened on the Pittsburgh Steelers after the Steelers have won four straight games they have dropped their last two games and frustrations are starting to heat up after last Sunday’s 13-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns were no different. The Steelers Dionte Johnson and Minkah Fitzpatrick nearly got into a fight in the dressing room after the game but teammates Cameron Heyward and TJ Watt broke it up. Head coach Mike Tomlin had a team meeting afterwards and emphasized that they had to work as a team and move on.

#2 Despite getting clobbered by the Miami Dolphins on Friday Night Football 34-13 the New York Jets are staying with starting quarterback Tim Boyle. The Jets starting quarterback Aaron Rogers is back fulltime with the team trying to recover from his Achilles tendon injury. Rogers is expected back in the coming weeks but for now Boyle is the starting quarterback for New York.

#3 It was also announced that Rogers would be under center for the Jets when the Jets come calling in Green Bay in the 2014 season. Rogers was the former longtime quarterback for the Packers. A Rogers return would be a moment that Green Bay fans would be anticipating on as well as the television networks.

#4 Charlie, when you watch Dolphins linebacker Jaelin Phillips come off the line to run a play against the Jets you could see the back of his right thigh pop and he fell to the ground and had to be carted off the field. Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel confirmed that Phillips will be lost for the rest of the season. Running back Raheem Mostert said that the turf field at MetLife Field is trash and they need to get it replaced with real grass.

#5 The Raiders who are in a two game losing skid and took a tough loss against the Dolphins 20-13 in they’re last game are hoping to spring back but they got some bad defensive news as Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby is doubtful because of a knee injury. If Crosby is out of the line up it’s just one less defensive weapon the Raiders would have had to put pressure on Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes this Sunday at Allegiant Stadium.

Join Charlie O for Headline Sports each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Super Bowl LVII podcast with Dave Zizmor: Taking a look a the key players in Super Sunday

FILE – Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, left, talks to his brother, Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, after they exchanged jerseys following an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Sept. 17, 2017. This upcoming Sun Feb 12, 2023 will be the first time siblings will be matching up against each other in Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium in Glendale AZ (AP file photo)

On the Super Bowl LVII podcast with David Zizmor:

#1 Dave, we wanted to get your thoughts on some of the participants in Super Bowl LVII, we’ll go to Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes who pretty much favored to be the Super Bowl MVP before the game even gets started.

#2 Chief tight end Travis Kelce is classified as the top tight end in the NFL and he’s tough to stop. How do you see the Eagles contending with Kelce?

#3 Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones can bring the pain on quarterbacks he got two sacks against the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship and that’s been pretty much the norm for Jones season so far. How much damage do you see him doing on Sunday?

#4 The Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce is noted help block up front and you can rest assured he’ll key in on Chris Jones and has the ability to stop his rush.

#5 Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson is the best tackle in football. What’s remarkable Dave that he’s coming in Sunday and playing injured and he doesn’t bend to pressure and is one of the most dominant players in the NFL.

Dave Zizmor and Tony Renteria did the Super Bowl podcasts during Super Bowl week for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Super Bowl LIV prediction: 49ers edge Chiefs in thriller behind 49ers MVP Raheem Mostert

photo from mercurynews.com: San Francisco 49iers running back Raheem Mostert celebrates the NFC Championship victory at Levis Stadium on Sun Jan 19th 

By Joe Hawkes
SRS Contributor

Call me a homer if you want, but I truly believe that the San Francisco 49ers will win Super Bowl LIV over the Kansas City Chiefs.

Score? 35-28, 49ers.

Why?

Simple, behind the play of their stud defensive line powered by rookie defensive end Nick Bosa, and their solid running game centered around running back Raheem Mostert. In fact, Mostert is my pick to walk away with the MVP award of the game.

Mostert, who single-handily punched San Francisco’s ticket to Miami, FL after his four-touchdown, 220-yard rushing performance on 29 carries in the NFC Championship Game against the Green Bay Packers, has become an overnight sensation and a key piece in the 49ers’ run to Super Bowl LIV. After being cut by six teams before latching on with San Francisco in 2016, Mostert became the first player to rush for at least 200 yards and four touchdowns in a playoff game.

For all the talk that the 49ers’ chances to win their sixth Vince Lombardi Trophy rests on the right arm of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, and possibly so, but Mostert will be the guy that the bulk of the offense will flow through when the ball is kicked off on Sunday at 6:38 p.m. ET (3:38 p.m. PT) from Hard Rock Stadium.

The game will be tightly contested for three quarters as both Garoppolo and Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes will trade touchdown scoring drives heading into the fourth quarter to tie the score at 28-28.

After San Francisco forces Kansas City into a 3-and-out, Mostert will punctuate a 12-play, 75-yard drive with his second touchdown run of the game at the four-minute mark giving the 49ers a 35-28 lead. In turn, San Francisco’s offense will anxiously watch its defense get them across the finish line which its done for most of the 2019 season.

The defense, who has exhibited such a herculean effort in trying to slow down Mahomes and Kansas City’s high-powered offense, the aforementioned Bosa will come up with a crucial sack on fourth down to secure the win.

Mostert, who will finish with a stat line of 22 carries for 120 yards and two touchdowns, will be just the eighth running back named MVP of the Super Bowl joining Larry Csonka (Super Bowl VIII), Franco Harris (Super Bowl IX), John Riggins (Super Bowl XVII), Marcus Allen (Super Bowl XVIII), Ottis Anderson (Super Bowl XXV), Emmitt Smith (Super Bowl XXVIII), and Terrell Davis (XXXII).

Everyone but Anderson is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

49ers’ defense will have their hands full against Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City’s offense in Super Bowl LIV

ap file photo: Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes drops back to pass in the first half of their game against the Chicago Bears on Aug 25th in pre season play. Little did Mahomes know at the time he and the Chiefs would wind up in Super Bowl LIV 

By Joe Hawkes
SRS Contributor

SANTA CLARA–The San Francisco 49ers made winning the NFC Championship over the Green Bay Packers, 37-20, to advance to Super Bowl LIV on Sunday night look like a walk in the park. It will be San Francisco’s first trip to the Super Bowl since 2013, where they lost to the Baltimore Ravens 34-31.

For the franchise to claim its sixth Vince Lombardi trophy in seven trips to the Super Bowl, the 49ers are going to have to take down Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, who are returning to the Super Bowl for the first time in 50 years after defeating the Tennessee Titans, 35-24, to capture the Lamar Hunt trophy, named after the Chiefs’ late owner as the winner of the AFC.

The Chiefs defeated the Minnesota Vikings, 23-7, in Super Bowl IV.

The play of San Francisco’s defense will be critical when the football is kicked off at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Feb. 2. If San Francisco’s defense plays anywhere near it did against both the Vikings and Packers respectively, than the 49ers will be in primed position to win the game.

In two playoff games, the 49ers stood head and shoulders above the rest on defense, finishing first in points (15.0), total yards (252.2), rushing yards (41.5), takeaways (5), and third down percentage (23.8).

But neither Minnesota or Green Bay can match Kansas City’s offense, which can go nuclear within a blink of an eye with the aforementioned Mahomes as the trigger man. The third-year quarterback has a stacked offense, a track team of wide receivers in Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins and Mecole Hardman, and an electrifying tight end in Travis Kelce at his disposal.

In the AFC Championship Game, Kansas City found itself down 10-0 and 17-7, but Mahomes and that high-powered Chiefs offense didn’t flinch, building a 35-17 lead over the Titans thanks in large part of controlling the clock with a strong ground game. Mahomes, who finished the game throwing for 294 yards and three touchdowns, his final touchdown came on a 60-yard strike to Watkins for the Chiefs’ 28th straight point midway through the fourth quarter.

That’s the type of offensive explosion that the 49ers must avoid if they have any shot at winning this football game. That means the 49ers, who may arguably have the NFL’s best defensive line, featuring Nick Bosa, DeForest Buckner, Dee Ford and Arik Armstead must make life difficult for Mahomes every time Kansas City has the football.

The 49ers have the league’s best pass defense and ranked fifth with 48 sacks during the regular season. They have nine more this postseason, largely by taking opponents off schedule and setting up favorable pass-rush situations.

That’s huge against a quarterback that has the penchant of eluding would-be tacklers like Mahomes. Especially in a game with so much on the line like the Super Bowl.

 

Raiders and Chiefs get ready for AFC West showdown

Photo credit: chiefswire.usatoday.com

By Joe Hawkes
SRS Contributor

OAKLAND — The Raiders prepare for a big matchup in Week 13 as they will travel to Arrowhead Stadium to take on the Kansas City Chiefs in the second matchup this season between the two clubs, and 119th meeting all-time regular season. The Chiefs have won four straight games against the Raiders, who are trying to win in Kansas City for the first time since 2012.

The Raiders won that contest, 26-16.

Kickoff is set for 1:25 p.m. PT after being flexed into the afternoon slot from their original 10:00 a.m. PT start time on CBS. You know this is a big game as CBS sends its No. 1 broadcast team of Jim Nantz, Tony Romo and Tracy Wolfson on the call from Arrowhead Stadium.

In Week 12, the Raiders fell hard on their faces, losing on the road to the New York Jets, 34-3, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ to fall to 6-5 on the season. Oakland currently sits in second place in the AFC West, trailing the 7-4 Chiefs by one game.

The Jets’ No. 1 ranked defense against the run held Raiders rookie running back Josh Jacobs in check, holding Jacobs to just 36 total yards from scrimmage (34 rushing, 2 receiving) on the day. On the season, Jacobs has totaled 1,101 yards from scrimmage, good for the fourth-most scrimmage yards by a player in first 11 games of a season.

His 957 rushing yards this season ranks fifth in the NFL and third in the AFC and are the most among all rookie rushers.

Defensively for Oakland, rookie defensive end Maxx Crosby registered another sack, giving him 5.5 sacks in his last three games. With a team-leading 7.5 sacks this season, Crosby is tied for third-most among all rookies and are the most by a Raiders rookie since 1991, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

Crosby is one of two players (T.J. Watt) in the NFL who have recorded at least seven sacks to go along with three forced fumbles and three passes defensed.

Kansas City enters Week 13 after coming off their Bye Week following a 24-17 victory in an AFC West battle with the Los Angeles Chargers in Mexico City on Monday Night Football.

In Kansas City’s first matchup against Oakland in Week 2 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, the Raiders jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter before Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes tossed four touchdowns in the second quarter alone to pace the Chiefs to a 28-10 win. Mahomes completed 30-of-44 passing for 443 yards, shredding the Raiders defense in the process.

Following the game, the Raiders will return home for their final two home games of the year against the Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars. Tennessee (6-5) and Indianapolis (6-5) are logged-jammed with the Raiders in a battle for a wild card spot for the AFC playoffs.

Kansas City will head to New England to face the Patriots before returning home to take on the Denver Broncos in Week 15.

Raiders are breathing down the Chiefs’ neck

Photo credit: reviewjournal.com

By Joe Hawkes
SRS Contributor

OAKLAND — Don’t look now, but the Oakland Raiders are knocking on the door for the top spot in the AFC West.

With Kansas City losing to the Tennessee Titans, 35-32, in Nashville on Sunday to drop their record to 6-4, the Raiders (5-4) are just now a half-game back of the Chiefs for first place with six games left in the season for both teams.

The Raiders defeated the visiting Los Angeles Chargers, 26-24, on Nov. 7 in prime-time on FOX’s Thursday Night Football at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum to kickoff Week 10. Oakland’s defense performed tremendously under the lights, registering five sacks, three interceptions and one touchdown.

Kansas City already holds a victory over the Raiders, back in Week 2.

In that game, the Raiders jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter before the Chiefs scored 28 unanswered points behind four touchdowns by quarterback Patrick Mahomes as Kansas City held on for a 28-10 win.

Mahomes would throw for 443 yards on 30-of-44 passing with a 131.2 passer rating for the game

The two teams will meet again on Dec. 1 at Arrowhead Stadium in Week 13.

With the winless Cincinnati Bengals (0-9) coming into Oakland next Sunday for a Week 11 matchup, the Raiders are almost a shoe-in to win that game and apply even more pressure on the Chiefs.

Kansas City hosts the aforementioned Los Angeles Chargers on ESPN’s Monday Night Football on Nov. 18, which won’t be an easy game for them.

Mahomes looked very healthy playing for the first time since dislocating his right kneecap Oct. 17 against the Denver Broncos. His best play came with the pocket collapsing around him when he jumped up to throw over the linemen to wide receiver Mecole Hardman, who ran for a 63-yard TD with 11:54 left and a 29-20 lead.

Oakland, who were picked by many prognosticators to finish near the bottom of the division this year but the infusion of young, rookie talent on both the offensive side (running back Josh Jacobs and wide receiver Hunter Renfrow), and the defensive side (defensive lineman Clelin Ferrell and Max Crosby) has rejuvenated the Raiders.

Jacobs is running away with the AFC’s Offensive Rookie of the Year Award in my opinion, leading all rookies in rushing yards (811), rushing attempts (168), and touchdowns (7).

With all due respect to tight end Darren Waller, who leads the team in receptions (51), targets (65) and yards (588) and wide receiver Tyrell Williams, who leads the team with five touchdown catches, Renfrow has become quarterback Derek Carr’s security blanket. Carr loves to look for Renfrow with the game on the line.

Renfrow is second on the team in receptions (28) and targets (42) for 299 yards and two touchdowns. His second-career touchdown against the Lions in Week 9 was his first game-winner.

Coupled with the fact that Carr, whose engineered 19 fourth quarter comebacks (which includes two in the span of four days) has played some of his best football in his career, throwing for 2,202 yards with 14 touchdowns to just four interceptions with a career-high 104.4 passer rating, Oakland is a legit playoff contender.