Exhibition 3:@
The hated Ravens are in town but as it's an exhibition game, tempers are not strained today. That being said, the Raiders did NOT forget the playoff game last season and as such casme out and trounced the Ravens to a tune of 44-7. Yup, it felt good!
As for off the field, the first round of cuts include:
K Dustin Hopkins
* had a strong camp but cutting Sturgis was too much of a cap hit this season
WR Brice Butler
SS Jonathan Dowling
C Brian Folkerts
Breaking news out of Oakland!
The Raiders are reporting a multi-player trade with the Bears.
Oakland gets:
4th round pick
5th round pick
Chicago gets:
MLB Kevin Burnett
WR Cole Beasley
The move makes a lot of sense as the raiders have too many bodies at MLB. Rookie MLB Donaldson continues to move up the depth chart. As for Beasley, he has struggled to fit onto the roster. Young gun Raider recievers made hime expendable.
Exhibition 4:@
The Raiders ended the exhibition schedule in class by destroying the Giants, 52-24. McGloin wnet 15/16 for 124 yards and 2td's. Now the tough decisions need to be made...
The last day of cuts...
RB Latavius Murray
** this was a tough one but he had been surpassed by Sims and Miller on the depth chart
LOLB Kaelin Burnett
** the play of rookie, Kitchens made him expendable
RT Derek Newton
WR Lincoln Godfrey
** I don't like to release rookies but he just didn't have the talent to make the team.
Due to strong play in the preseason, WR Stedman Bailey will start as #3 reciever, getting the spot ahead of Terrik Lattimore. Speed at the wideout position will be huge this season!
Week 1:@
The season kicks off with a primetime clash versus the Steel Curtain. This Steeler team is not as deep as in previous years but they are a formidable matchup nonetheless. No more Big Ben changes the dynamic of the Pittsburgh squad but the D is still the strong point of the team. An inury to Mike Pouncey may give the Oakland D a line advantage.
As for Oakland, this team is built for a SuperBowl run. The strenght of the dvision has shifted as theWEST has a real lack of QB depth. This is the year to strike! Now the question... is the combo of McGloin & Carr up for it?
The Raiders start ith the ball and struggle out of the gate. The Pitt secondary is outstanding! McGloin went 1/4 for 24 yards. The drive went nowhere. Pittsburgh's rookie QB Jones also struggles on his first series.
On the Raiders 2nd drive, McGloin continues to struggle. The next Pittsburgh drive see's Jones show why he was a high draft pick. Jones carves up the Oakland D throwing for 74 yards. To end the first quarter, the Steelers are within striking distance.
The Raiders make a goal line stand and the Steelrs are forced into a 3 point attempt. That makes it 3-0 Steelers. Bad news, CB McGill is out with a fractured foot. It looks bad!!!
I don't know what is going on with McGloin... 4/12 for 31 yards. He missed three straight open recievers for a 3 and out. As compared to Jones who is over 100 yards on six completions out of 8 passes.
Just like that it's 10-0 Pittsburgh. What a joke! Jones hit the reciever out of bounds!!!! The call is challenged and it stands!!!! For the love of.... fix the challenge system in this game!!!!!
McGloin gets crushed in the backfield and he's out. Carr goes 3/4 for 72 yards and the drive ends with a 34 yard FG by Sturgis to make the score 10-3 Pitt. On PIttsburgh's next possession they go three and out. However, the Raiders cannot move the ball and the Steelers record their 5th sack of the half.
McGloin has a dislocated hip and is out for the rest of the game. It's Carr's show now.
With 1:13 left, Woodley comes up with a stripped ball at the Raider 37. That was huge as the Steelers were marchng. However a 3 and out by Oakland and Pittsburgh has the ball again. They move the ball with ease and end the half with another chip shot field goal. That makes it 13-3 Pittsburgh.
The first half is over and it was horrific for Oakland. The pass D has been embarrassing. Jones threw for 220 yards going 15/19. Pittsburgh controlled the clock for 14 mins and 22 seconds. Oakland has less than 100 total yards. What happened from preseason to this???
Pittsburgh starts with the ball but the drive ends with no points. On Oakland's firsty possession FINALLY Chaney has a reception!
On the next Pittsburgh possession, Raider DT Pat Sims gets a safety and that makes it 13-5. After a long beautiful drive, Sturgis misses a 40 yard FG. He actually missed by about 15 yards to the left... I didn't think that was possible... wow! The score remains 13-5.
The Steelers then go down the field and hit a 46 yard FG to make the score 16-5 with 9:46 left in the 4th. Horrendous!
After a great drive down the field the Raiders get to the 2 and four straight plays get stopped and turn the ball over on downs. The Raiders get the ball back and get to the 18 and then go 4 and out. ... again! Smith has no faith in Sturgis. However, Pittsburgh has stopped throwing the ball... why???? Jones cannot be stopped???? This makes no sense!
With 3:49 left Carr hits Chaney for a 9 yard TD and then hits Bailey for the 2 point conversion and that makes the score 16-13 Pittsburgh.
The Steelers then move the ball through the air as their rookie QB is amazing (even though he is 68 ovr...) and the Steelers hits a 40 yard FG to make the score 19-13 with 1:11 left. The Raiders are out of time outs. This game is probably over. Raiders played a weak game of football and don't deserve a win today... will they step up now???
On 4th and 9 Carr hits Lattimore for a 63 yard TD. OMG the Raiders take the lead 20-19 with 30 seconds left. This is crazy! Can they hold the lead???
Pittsburgh starts at ther own 24. The game comes down to a 4th and 16.... and DT Sims gets the sack. Three kneel downs and the game is over.
Raiders win! Raiders win! Wow!!! Oakland had no right to victory here. Pittsburgh dominated and Oakland got a lucky break with a major mismatch (MLB on a speedster wideout).
Carr 21/42 350 yards 2 TD
Jones 21/33 288 yards 1 TD
* only completed one pass in the 4th quarter after playing amazing for 3 quarters...
Vereen 20 carries 80 yards
MJD 15 carries 55 yards
Chaney 8 rec 137 yards 1 TD
Walker 5 rec 67 yards
Woodley 8 tackles 4 sacks
Abdul-Quddus 6 tackles
Sturgis 1/2 FG
Potter 4/4 FG
Agian this was a theft and a fluke win for Oakland. Pittsburgh was robbed. I think it is safe to say that the Raider faithful would like to NOT have to play the Steelers again this season...
Injury update:
QB Matt McGloin out six weeks
CB Keith McGill out six weeks
At this time neither play will be placed on IR.
Rumblings are aplenty in Raider Nation. Coming in at this hour are reports thatand O. CO Coliseum are prepared to go their separate ways. It is also being reported that Oakland is not able/willing to fund a new stadium at this time. Could a move be in the works? Is this the end of the line for the
in Oakland/Alameda???
Based on twitter commentary and NFL sources, THREE locations have been mentioned as possible destinations IF (and that's a BIG "IF"...) the Raiders are preparing to relocate. The locations mentioned in no particular order are:
1. Los Angeles, California
2. Portland, Oregon
3. San Antonio, Texas
Again, there is no guarantee a relocation is in the works but this story MAY have legs???
Week 2:
The 1-0 Raiders expect a tough game in Carolina as the 0-1 Panthers have a lot of weapons. Most of the Carolina O is based around RB Ridley.
The Panthers start with the ball and Neeton goes 4/5 and get to the 2 but are forced to go for 3 points. Just like that it's 3-0 Carolina. Newton and Ridley are a powerful combo!
After a beautiful response drive Oakland goes deep into Carolina territory but on 3rd down Carr misses a wide open Chaney in the endzone. Sturgis hits a 21 yard FG and the game is tied at 3-3. That was a great chance that the raiders blew!
With the 2nd quarter underway, the Raiders get some bad news.... MJD is out for the game. Stevenson will get the rock now.
This game is a dog! The D is holding boths teams off the stats sheet. However, the bigger story is that Derek Carr is NOT a very accurate passer. Oakland could be up by two majors but he cannot hit an open reciever. Overthrows and underthrows have stalled two drives thus far. Points are being left on the field. Will that bite Oakland later??? Let's hope not.
The half ends 3-3. This Mike Smith offense has not impressed today. Derek Carr has made it that much worse. On the first drive of the 3rd he follows up his great first half with another wide open overthrow. It would have been a massive gain...
Wow! On 4th and 13, kicking from the back of the endzone, Carolina's punter rips a 73 yard punt (no bounce) with the entire Raider special teams rushing in... (ps. insert crappy madden gameplay comment here...
Finally the big one! With 1:32 left in the 3rd, Carr hits TE Rivera for a 19 yard TD strike and the Raiders take the lead 10-3. The Ridley led Panthers are threatening as the 4th starts. The Panthers attempt a 50 yard FG but they suffer a false start and the drive ends with a punt. The score remains 10-3 Oakland.
Damn you Luke Keuchly. The guy is a freak! He is in on every play... literally every freaking play!!!
The Raider O switches to a spread run style and it works. Raiders move the ball and chew the clock. The drive ends with a 1 yard TD rush by Stevenson. With 2:23 remaining that makes it 17-3 Oakland.
Carolina will NOT let this one go without a fight. With 1:35 left, Newton hits Benjamin for a 60 yard TD. The Panthers still have all three timeouts and decide to kickoff. 17-10... it's all on the shoulders of Stevenson... and the kid delivers with a big third down conversion. Carolina runs out of timeouts and time and the Raiders prevail, moving their record to 2-0.
Carr 14/24 184 yards 1 TD
Newton 10/14 149 yards 1 TD
Stevenson 20 carries 95 yards 1 TD
Ridley 14 carries 109 yards
Lattimore 5 rec 76 yards
Ridley 4 rec 34 yards
Moore 6 tackles 2 sacks
Keuchly 15 tackles
Breaking news...
So wrong... Johnny Interception is the #1 ranked QB based on the stats...
Also, Zac Dysert of thehas Denver sitting at 2-0. He was
Breaking News!!!
Oakland's owner, Jaymo, being from the Pacific Northwest has talked openly about the feasibility of an
Week 3:@
The 2-0 Raiders have another matchup versus theSouth. The Saints and Drew Brees look to exploit a fragile Raiders secondary. However, the return of DJ Hayden from injury should help tighten up the Raider D. The 2-0 Saints are definitely the favourites in this game. Will coach Smith's gameplan be up to snuff???
The Raiders first drive ends with a 53 yard TD strike from Carr to Moore. Moore at WR has a great matchup dissadvantage in man D. This is something that will be exploited all day, if the Saints let it. 7-0 Oakland.
Brees to Colston is the theme of the Saints first drive. On 4th down the Saints go for it (due to a huge wind) and convert. However, 4 plays later the drive ends in a 36 yard FG... 7-3 Oakland.
Speaking of WR Moore... first play on the next drive and he gets rocked. A lower back strain and he is out for the game. No matter, as Lattimore takes over and scorches the DB for a long gain. MJD then punches it in from the 1 and at the start of the 2nd, it's 14-3 Oakland.
Midway through the 2nd, Carr hits TE Rivera from the 2 and that makes it 21-3 Oakland. Carr is on fire, going over the 200 yard passing mark.
With 29 seconds left in the half, NO hits a 33 yard FG and that makes it 21-6 Oakland. The half ends on that score. Carr went 9/10 for 211 yards and 2 TD's. Wow!!!
Early in the 3rd, Sturgis has one of the worst shanks in the history of the NFL. He misses from 54 but the ball went out of bounds at the 15! Ugly!!! The score remains 21-6. That's the chance Brees needs as he destoys the Oakland D and then ends the drive by hitting Graham for a 20 yard TD. That makes it 21-13.
At end the 3rd MJD takes it in from the 2 and the Raiders go up 28-13. Early in the 4th NO hits a 56 yard FG and that makes it 28-16. The Oakland O has gone silent and the NO D is bringing the house.
NO's hope begins to fade as Brees leaves the game with an injury. The Raiders continue to go three and out so the Saints are totally out of it...
Ouch! MLB Nick Roach suffered a collarbone injury and will be out awhile. That means the first round rookie will get his shot! Good luck Donaldson!
With 1:44 left the Saints hand the ball over at the Raider 22 as they cannot convert on 4th down. However, the Raider go three and out again and the Saints get another shot. Yet the fate is the same. With that the game ends 28-16 Oakland.
What a bizarre game. Oakland's offense was on fire in the first half yet went dead in the 2nd. Carr had 32 yards and 1 completion in the 2nd. MJD as dead in the water too.
Carr 14/20 243 yards 2TD
Brees 16/24 186 yards 1TD
Griffin 6/11 64 yards
MJD 28 carries 92 yards 2 TD
Demarco Murray 8 carries 24 yards
Lattimore 4 rec 137 yards
Colston 7 rec 73 yards
FS Young 8 tacklets
MLB Lofton 9 tackles
Game ball goes to DT Pat Sims as he had 4 tackles 3 tackles for a loss and 3 sacks.
With that the Saints drop to 2-1 and Oakland improves to 3-0.
Update:
Week 4:
Welcome to Lile High and the game of the week. Sunday night football features a matchup of the 3-0 Raiders and Broncos, class of the
Montee Ball is a beast on the ground while first year pivot Zac Dysert has thrown for 14 TD's on three games!!! Can the Raider D hold them in check???
The game starts with a Bronco three and out followed by a long Raider drive ending with a 34 yard Sturgis FG. That makes the score 3-0 Oakland.
On Denver's next drive, DJ Hayden makes his triumphant return to the starting lineup with an int at the Oakland 3. The Raiders got lucky there. The drive also saw the first sack for rookie MLB Donaldson.
The Raiders string together a beautiful drive... until Carr gets too cute and tries to thread the needle at the 2 of Denver, only to be interecepted by the alays unlikable AJ Hawk.
With 1:57 left in the 2nd quarter, Denver hits a 35 yard FG to tie up the game 3-3. The half ends by the same score. This is a tough defensive struggle. Rookie MLB Donaldson is having a monster game thus far with 2 sacks and 5 tackles in his first start.
The Broncos go for a 62 yard punt early in the 3rd but a false start ends those plans and the score remains 3-3.
On the Raiders next drive Carr throws a bad pass that gets picked off by Ward and Denver brings it to the Oakland 18. A few plays later Ball punches it in for the TD and it's 10-3 Denver. Oakland should be way out in front but... Carr has blown it big time.
On the next play, Carr trows another int andDenver starts at the Oakland 3. Carr is done for the day and Locker is warming up. Carr should have been traded when the raiders had the chance. The guy is a total liability!!!
Ball punches it in again and it's now 17-3 Denver. You suck Carr!!!
Locker's first drive is gold as he goes 6/9 and hits MJD in the endzone for a TD 17-10 Denver, early in the 4th. After a 3 and out by Denver, Oakland gets it back and with 6:08 left Reece punches it in on 4th and inches... 17-17 is the score. Wow!
Did anyone say cheap tent? That's what the Raiders D looked like on the next Denver drive. 4 minutes later and Denver runs it in for a TD. Unfreaking beleivable!!! 24-17 Denver.
On the next play Talib makes the best interception I have ever seen in a football game. Over the shoulder, up in the air, not looking at the ball. The Raider D holds but they are out of timeouts.
However, Jake Locker hits WR Moore in te endzone with 4 seconds left. 24-24 and it's time for OT baby!
The Broncos get the ball to start but fail to score. Oakland starts at their own 14. After 11 plays, Sturgis hits a 27 yard FG and the Raiders win in OT 27-24. What a game!
The player of the game hands down in Jake Locker. I sense a QB controversy on the horizon...
Locker 17/24 203 yards 2TD 1int
Carr14/26 151 yards 3int
Dysert 17/25 193 yards 1int
MJD 15 carries 75 yards
Ball 13 carries 52 yards
Chaney 10 rec 143 yards
Sanders 6 rec 63 yards
Mack 6 tackles
Trevathan 11 tackles
2-2
2-2
Top of the table... 4-0 teams
Down in the dumps after 4 weeks
After four weeks of play the Raiders there is real concern with the Raider rush attack. MJD may have passed his expirey date??? The Raiders have only rushed for 421 yards this season. This puts the rushing attack at 15th overall. Passingwise the Raiders are 7th with 1097 yards.
Week 6:
The 4-0 Raiders travel to Orchard Park to take on the 3-2 Bills. The Bills Dline is decimated as both Mario and Kyle Williams are out with injuries. This may be a blessing for the Raiders and their laclustre rush game. MJD needs a breakout game. Will this be it?
Mike Smith's offensive scheme has really minimzed the impact of the TE and the RB. That needs to be addressed today.
The Raiders start with the ball and the drive is very run heavy. MJD had 11 rushes in the first drive alone. FB Marcel Reece brings the drive to an end with a TD rush from the 2. That makes it 7-0 Oakland on a very, very long drive.
No matter, five plays later it is 7-7 as Manuel hits Woods for the TD strike. What a horrendous defensive effort by Oakland!
Bad news, Star WR Randy Chaney was lit up on a crossing pattern. He has been diagnosed with a torn shoulder labrum and will be out for at least a few weeks.
Midway through the 2nd, the Raiders O strikes as Carr hits Lattimore for a 70 yard TD and just like that it's 14-7 Oakland. Buffalo responds yet again with an easy TD.
Near the end of the half, Sturgis misses a 51 yard FG (this guy sucks!) and the score remains 14-14. That score holds going into halftime.
What a weird half. The Raiders gave up 138 rush yards but completely shut down the pass game. Carr has thrown for over 140 yards but sinnce the first drive MJD has been held to under 10 yards. This game truly is up for grabs but the Raiders sure don't look like they want it. Let's hope for a better effort in the 2nd half.
Damn you Madden!!! fix your challenge system!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Carr throws a screen and the pass is an incomplete forward pass but the Dline picks it up and Buffalo gets possesion at the Oakland six... Raiders cannot challenge and it's a TD on the next play. 21-14 Buffalo...
MJD is replaced as starter by Stevenson at the start of the 4th. The spark works and the Raiders move the ball well and the drive ends with Carr hitting Moore for a TD. That makes the score 21-21 with 7:56 remaining.
With 1:14 left Sturgis hits a 23 yard FG. It should have been a TD but Carr badly underthrew a wide open Bailey in the endzone. How did he blow that???
The Raider D needs to step up now... but they crap the bed and with 1 second left the Bills makes a 26 yard FG. Manuel shreds the Raiders secondary... horrendous D from Oakland and that means 24-24 and OT for the 2nd game in a row.
The Raiders win the toss and take the ball. Carr being Carr throws an int on the first drive of OT. A few plays later Manuel hits Watkins for a TD and the Bills win 30-24 in OT.
The Raiders fall to 4-1 and blow a victory. Management was quoted after the game as higly considering a QB switch for next game. For all the good Carr can do he is wildly inconsistent and amkes bad plays at the wrong time.
Carr 18/30 262 yards 2TD 1 int
Manuel 12/17 155 yards 2 TD
MJD 24 rushes 102 yards
Turbin 19 carries 127 yards 1 TD
Lattimore 4 rec 97 yards 1 TD
Woods 3 rec 24 yards
FS Young 8 tackles
MLB Reed 10 tackles 1 sack
Rumours are a flying at this hour that the Raiders are trying to swing a deal with Jacksonville to acquire the services of FS Will Hill.
There are also reports that the Raiders are entertaining offers about QB Carr.. ...
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