Tag: Patriots

Considering what the Patriots did to Miami yesterday, the Raiders should feel good about last week’s win over a revamped New England coach with Mike Vrabel at the helm. The highlight was Ashton Jeanty’s run. I’m sure you heard the stat of him having 44 YAC with only 38 yards from the day. Brock Bowers balled out with 100 yards on five receptions. Vegas held rookie phenom TreVeyon Henderson to only 27 yards on 5 carries. 

Otherwise, the Raiders offense showed an explosiveness not seen in years. Dont’e Thornton caught a couple of big passes. Tre Tucker caught a touchdown and another big pass. Jakobi Meyers and Michael Mayer were effective. Jack Bech also moved the sticks. Overall, the

On defense, the Raiders got a pick from Isaiah Pola-Mao. The pass rush came up big with sacks from Tyree Wilson, Malcolm Koonce, Jonah Laulu and Maxx Crosby all walked away with sacks. The defense was as advertised. 

Now, the Raiders will take on their AFC West rivals the Los Angeles Chargers. Los Angeles looked great popping the Chiefs on Friday in Brazil. Justin Herbert carved up Kansas City for three touchdowns and over three hundred yards. Quentin Johnston caught two of the passes. Omarion Hampton showed some sparks. This passing offense seems to have taken an another step in Year Two of Herbert. 

You can expect a Jim Harbaugh team to run the ball and play physical defense. Harbaugh and Carroll know each other well. They played against each other in the Pac-12 and NFC West. Carroll has won five of the last six. Harbaugh popped USC. Both guys want to compete as well as play smart and physical football. 

Let’s bring Pete Carroll a win for his 74th Birthday!  The Raiders need to establish Ashton Jeanty and the offensive line. They also need to prove their offensive line can maintain that offensive explosiveness in every game. It’s great to see Geno Smith spread the ball around. The tight ends must continue to be factors every week. 

Defensively, the Raiders need to find ways to create turnovers. The goal is to make Sam Darnold uncomfortable and force him into bad throws. If the defensive line can play as well as they did last week, they have a good chance. Overall, you want to see the Raiders establish their home field advantage in the first year. 

A Lot to be Excited about this Week One

Raiders fans have a lot to be excited about with Football back. First, we got a competent linebacker corps. I always have wanted to see Devin White and Germaine Pratt in Silver and Black. Jamal Adams was signed and moved to backer to be a wild card. Vegas finally has guys that are tough, experienced and athletic in the middle of their defense.

Second, Pete Carroll has long been one of my favorite coaches. Maybe, it’s because we share initials. Maybe, it’s because I live just a few miles from where Pete made a name for himself in Los Angeles.

We all wanted to believe the Antonio Pierce hype. However, the Raiders have captured that energy without compromising the discipline it takes to build a championship culture.

All reviews have indicated Pete has this group energized and playing their best ball. Either way, the Raiders finally have a proven leader at the helm.

Sure, we all wanted the Amari Cooper comeback to last longer than a week. Regardless, it’s better Cooper left if he did not fully by into the program. The Raiders actually have some young players ready for ascension. Jack Bech was a guy who rose up draft boards after the Senior Bowl and Dont’e Thornton killed the NFL Combine. Thornton has been picking up lots of hype in fantasy and bettingg circles.

Tre Tucker should benefit from another year under his belt. Brock Bowers took off last year and he should be even better with more weapons around him. Jakobi Meyers captured late season headlines by asking for a new deal or a trade. That seems to have calmed down a bit but it is worth monitoring depending how the season goes. Maybe Cooper saw what was in Vegas and determined there was not a role for him. Geno Smith already has a lot around him.

There’s some questions at offensive line. After a heated camp battle, Jackson Powers-Johnson ends up at right guard and Jordan Meredith ends up at Center. Alex Cappa will come off the bench despite signing a big free agency contract. DJ Glaze beat out Thayer Munford for the right tackle position again. Dylan Parham remains at left guard, although rookie Caleb Rogers could surpass him by the end of the season. This revamped offensive line isn’t the biggest in the league. However, they are physical and quick. Look for the Raiders to really try to spread teams out and gash them with Ashton Jeanty.

Of course, Jeanty is already one of my favorite players thanks to his ties to Boise State. That’s the school where my cousin played and coached at. I’ve enjoyed watching Jeanty on Saturdays and I can’t wait to see him ball out on Sundays. He is a versatile and physical back who should keep us ahead of the chains. The biggest question will be how does his speed translate versus NFL defenses.

In all, the Raiders season really comes down to defending the pass. Most people have been critical of the Raiders’ secondary. They added safeties Jeremy Chinn and Lonnie Johnson. Johnson is hurt but Chinn has a major piece in Washington’s playoff run last year. Vegas also signed Eric Stokes and drafted Darien Porter. Training camp reports loved Chris Smith at safety and Decamaerion Richardson at corner. Vegas felt good enough about the group to trade Bennett. This group won’t scary any one on paper but Carroll knows his DBs.

Upfront, the Raiders let defensive coordinator Patrick Graham bring back his guys. Christian Wilkins is gone after only playing a few games in Silver and Black. We all wanted that to work but the foot just did not get better. It doesn’t help that Wilkins was apparently doing wild things to teammates.

Nonetheless, the Raiders brought back Malcolm Koonce after he missed last season with injury. They also brought back Adam Butler for his second year as a full-time starter. We are all still waiting to see if Tyree Wilson can meet his potential. And they traded Jakorian Bennett for defensive tackle Thomas Booker IV. They still have Max Crosby but the defensive line is really going to determine how well the Raiders finish.

In Week One, Vegas will take on a Patriots team a lot of folks love. People love the Pats’ new head coach Nick Vrabel. He is a defensive guru that brought in former Raiders Robert Spillane and K’Lavon Chaisson.

They re-did their receiver room by signing Mack Hollins and Stefon Diggs as well as signing Kyle Williams. They drafted Will Campbell and Jared Wilson to give Drake Maye some added insurance. Running back TreVeyon Henderson has also got hype as a rookie runner. They also added Harold Landry and Carlton Davis to a revamped defense. This is a legit opening week test for the Raiders.

Vegas must stay ahead of the chains against this physical defense. They must make the young offense uncomfortable with varying pass rush looks. If Vegas can create pressure and force some turnovers, they should leave New England with a decisive win. If they let this team get in rhythm, it could be a long day for the Silver and Black.

Whatever happens, the Raiders still got a lot to look forward to this season!

Raiders Vs Chicago: Keys to dominance and lessons from the Pats

The Raiders haven’t won in Chicago since I was a kid. Still, they will take on a Bears team that has seen better days.

Chicago will be without their top quarterback and two top running backs. The Bears are 1-5 including losses to the lowly Vikings and Broncos.

Bears edge Yannick Ngakoue is the Bears most formidable pass rusher. He also has beef with the Raiders since they traded him and signed Chandler Jones. Ngakoue was hurt last year when the Raiders faced him and the Colts. Expect him to try and get a sack.

Andrew Billings is another former Raiders defensive lineman who will be looking to eat up some blocks. Justin Jones and DeMarcus Walker are also some AFC West who know the Raiders well.

Otherwise, much of the Raiders talk has been about the receivers. Hunter Renfrow is reportedly on the block. Davante Adams has been unhappy with his role. This is the game where the Raiders need to spread the ball around and get everyone involved. Vegas needs to get the ball out to their playmakers early and often.

Josh Jacobs is also looking for his first 100 yard rushing game of the season. Jacobs can help the Raiders control the clock. That will be extra important with Brian Hoyer expected to make the start for the Raiders. Hoyer needs great play from his offensive line, running back and receivers.

Jacobs and rookie tight end Michael Meyer will have a challenge with Tremaine Edmunds roaming the middle of the field. His combination of size and speed could take away some of the middle of the field.

Ultimately, Vegas should come out with their third consecutive win. They will take on rookie Tyson Bagent. Bagent went to Shepherd but he can throw the ball around. Still, there should be some turnover opportunities for the Raiders. Marcus Peters is still looking for his first pick in Silver and Black. Trevon Moehrig has two interceptions this year, which is more than his entire careee. Let’s see if he can get another one.

The Raiders should also get opportunities to rush the passer. Chicago is starting a rookie right tackle and down their starting right guard. Max Crosby should eat today. The defensive line should run some stunts to confuse the young signal caller, back and line.

If Vegas can control the line of scrimmage with their run game and get the ball to their playmakers, there is no reason why they shouldn’t control this game. That should setup the defense to play extra aggressive versus a rookie quarterback trying to play catch-up. The Raiders once again need to look to run the ball first, push the ball down the field and make plays on defense. They will be without their starting QB but they do not need to get cute to pull out this victory in Chicago.

The Raiders didn’t look great versus the Patriots and they had their starting QB at least at the beginning of the game. They made just enough plays on the defensive line and with Moehrig’s interception. However, they were really close to losing that game and almost gave Zeke his biggest play of the season.

Moreover, the Raiders stuck with the running game by giving Jacobs 25 carries. Yet, he barely averaged 3 yards a carry. Either way, it’s always great to beat New England.

This week the Raiders offensive line needs to create more of a surge for the running back this week. It will also help if Jacobs can bust a big run.

Ultimately, the Raiders need to beat Chicago before they take on the Detroit Lions next week. Detroit has a great offense, an explosive runner and elite pass rusher. That’s enough to give the Raiders problems, especially if their quarterback is still out next week.

Regardless, the Raiders need to tune up versus the Bears. Don’t overlook Chicago. They need to win this game and look good doing it. That will give them great confidence a record above .500 headed into Detroit.

Raiders Vs Patriots: Lessons from beating the Packers, Trade Rumors and How To Not Disappoint

The Raiders won with their defense making big plays over the Green Bay Packers. Vegas linebacker Robert Spillane came up with two interceptions. The second interception was setup by a Crosby sack followed by a Peters breakup that Spillane caught.

Amik Robertson made a beautiful pick off of Green Bay Packers QB Jordan Love to save the game. Las Vegas had missed a field goal that would’ve given them a full touchdown lead. It felt like we were headed toward another heartbreak until that Robertson interception.

Still, the Raiders offense needs to do more. They stuck with Josh Jacobs and the running game more versus Green Bay. However, the Raiders line did not really have an answer for Kenny Clark, Preston Smith, Rashan Gary and company upfront. Not only were they stout against the run but that big three each had a sack. Jacobs scored but averaged less than four yards a carry with 20 attempts.

Jimmy Garoppolo made some plays including a TD pass to Jakobi Meyers. However, he also threw an interception early. Michael Meyer and Davante Adams each caught passes for over 20 yards. Yet, neither have been consistent threats as expected.

Adams needs the ball more as the alpha pass catcher. Hunter Renfrow doesn’t even have 100 receiving yards this whole season. He hasn’t even missed one game. Vegas would not have beat the Packers without forcing three turnovers. It’s still a great win considering nobody expected much from the Raiders.

Rumor Time

Now, rumors surfaced that the Raiders are looking for a pass rusher and/or shopping Renfrow on the Trade Block. There’s not a lot out there in free agency on the edge.

Frank Clark was just released from the Broncos. He knows the AFC West well from his Chiefs days but I honestly think he’ll look at a team higher in the standings.

Otherwise, it’s mostly veterans like Carlos Dunlap, Robert Quinn and Jason Pierre-Paul that are available. Those guys are also trying to stay in the league despite age and injuries. Anthony Barr is probably the best hybrid linebacker/edge player available who just turned 30. Although, I’m not sure he fits the role the Raiders want opposite Maxx Crosby though.

After that, Vegas has to look at the trade block. Vikings edge Danielle Hunter and Commanders Edge Chase Young are the biggest names that have been on and off the block the last year. Young finally looks like he has bounced back from injury with three sacks this year. His contract is up but he could be pricey. Hunter also had his own contract issues this offseason but that did not stop him from registering six sacks this year. Hunter is about to turn 30 but he has 77 career sacks in 107 games.

It’s unclear if the Raiders would really be willing to give up the draft capital to get that quality of an edge rusher. Even if they added in Renfrow and one of their extra defensive backs, they would probably still have to give up at least a first or second round pick.

New York Giants defensive lineman Leonard Williams could probably be had for a bit cheaper given how bad their season is going. Williams knows defensive coordinator Patrick Graham but he’s only had 9.5 sacks through his last 34 games, including just .5 sacks this year. We’ve always wanted Williams to be a Raider and he would be an upgrade over what the Raiders have inside. He may still have some ability to flex outside.

Either way, it would not hurt for the Raiders to add some defensive line help. That way they could develop Tyree Wilson a bit more. He might even benefit from less playing time and more quality situations where he can thrive.

No Let Downs

This week the Raiders take on a Patriots team that is not playing well. There are rumors about a coaching change. The quarterback situation is a mess. Their top two running backs have both struggled in their own ways. New England’s defense has had serious injuries.

New England started their season with two one-possession losses to the Eagles and Dolphins. They beat the Jets. Then, they had two huge losses. One versus the Cowboys and a shutout versus the Saints last week. This team will come into Vegas desperate for a win.

All eyes are on quarterback Mac Jones. Patriots running back Rhamondre Stephenson is also coming back to his hometown. Last year, the duo had the game spoiled by a Chandler Jones pick-six at the end of the game.

Jakobi Meyers caused that turnover in the game last year and he is now with the Raiders. Meyers has been Garoppolo’s favorite target when the two play. Expect the defense to key on him.

It should not matter though. The Raiders need to exert their will if they want to put away this Patriots team that is fighting for an identity and their season. Outside of some defensive backs you’ve heard of, the Patriots defense is filled with average players. Vegas needs a bounce back game from their offensive line. They also need to help Josh Jacobs finally have a breakout game.

Moreover, this defense needs to keep creating turnovers. Crosby needs help from his peers as far as pressure the quarterback. The secondary needs to keep creating turnovers.

If Vegas can run the ball, push the ball downfield and make some turnovers they should win easily. Moreover, they’ll be that much closer to establishing and identity. Then, they go into Chicago versus a struggling Bears team. Vegas could easily string together three-straight wins. Then they’re looking at being above .500 when they take on a Detroit Lions team that is playing well.

Either way, Vegas must win this week and get to the .500 mark before we can even talk about momentum. A win versus the Patriots would give the Raiders an even bigger lead over the Denver Broncos in the division. It would also help them keep pace with the Chargers.

Moreover, it’s always great to beat the Pats. You can’t tell me Josh McDaniels doesn’t want to beat his old boss. And I’m sure GM Dave Ziegler wouldn’t mind sticking it to the organization that groomed him. Plus, I’m not sure there is a better ending for Bill Belichick than losing to his guys.

Raiders versus Pats: Recovering from last week and beating New England

What kind of team cuts all their guards? The Raiders do. This is the same team that loses to a hobbled Super Bowl Champion led by a QB fresh off another team. Don’t forget it was a defacto home game packed with Raiders fans, yet Vegas still lost.

Many Rams fans left before their team’s game-winning drive. Most sat quiet as they got heckled by Raiders fans. Until, chants of “Bakkkeeerrr…” hit the concourse on the route out.

Underwhelming Expectations

Anyways, the Raiders playoff prospects are basically dead. They sit in a three-way tie for 10th place. A win over the Patriots could keep them treading water but a loss helps their draft pick. Depends how you look at it but Josh McDaniels should want to beat his old team. It’s also a home game and the fans deserve better than the collapse we got at SoFi.

Not scoring 20 points again will not cut it. McDaniels is supposed to be an offensive mind and he has every tool he could want. He might even get Hunter Renfrow and Darren Waller back which gives the offense even less excuses.

The Guard Situation

Back to the offensive line. Seeing John Simpson get cut was surprising. Simpson started the last two seasons and started this season at left guard. He didn’t play bad in his limited action but quickly fell out of the offensive line rotation. He came back into the fold at right guard after Alex Bars got hurt. Bars isn’t great but he was getting better as the season went on.

Simpson did not look good against the Rams. He got caught leaning, turning his shoulder, playing high and not punching well. Simpson did do some solid things in the run game as far as pulling and getting to the next level. He did not get enough push though.

Rams DL Greg Gaines is an underrated defensive lineman though. He gave he entire group problems. Simpson also plays better on the left side.

Vegas also cut guard Lester Cotton. Cotton took many first team reps in the offseason. He entered the season starting at right guard. Cotton was hurt and he hasn’t played in weeks so it was also a bit surprising. Bars went on IR so he will probably miss the rest of the season.

The Raiders also added guard Netane Muti. Muti did not play much in Denver and he was mid in previous seasons per PFF. We’ll see how much time the Raiders give him but he is big and strong. He should add some push to the unit at the very least.

Questions facing both lines the rest of the season

Jermaine Eluemunor probably moves inside to guard and the Raiders start Thayer Munford at tackle. Eluemunor has been limited in practice due to injuries but he should actually play better at guard. He won’t be as limited by his speed and feet. He will have to play with more leverage.

Munford looked solid when he made his last start. He will need to keep showing consistency with extended playing time.

On the defensive line, there s a chance Andrew Billings returns. That should help the Raiders run defense. Chandler Jones finally broke the sack seal and hopefully he keeps that going versus the team he won a Championship with earlier in his career. Clelin Ferrell is looking solid as the defacto sixth man. Bilal Nichols is finally getting home. Jerry Tillery is getting upfield. All of them could be a little more consistent, especially as they play for roles in Vegas or elsewhere next year.

Overall, the Raiders have some questions to answer along both lines. Is Nichols worth his price tag next year? Can Tillery and Ferrell stay on the field? Can Jones keep getting to the quarterback in his 30s? Will Billings keep progressing to earn himself a payday?

What will the offensive line look like after this season? Can Andre James keep progressing? Can Kolton Miller make the jump to elite? Will Dylan Parham improve his technique? Are either of the players on the right side in plans beyond this season?

Rebounding versus the Pats

Nobody wants to lose to the Pats. We know the history between these teams. New England has been smoking the Raiders every time they play since the tuck rule. Vegas hired an apprentice at the head coach and head personnel roles to scale that winning culture to the Raiders. Results have been mixed to say the least.

Either way, Josh McDaniels wants to win this game whether he admits it or not. The Patriots defense is tough and highly ranked. Their pass rush, led by Matthew Judon, could give the banged up Raiders problem. This game should obviously start and stop with Josh Jacobs. They also need to find ways to keep Davante Adams in the gameplan. That means more quick passes to let Tae create after the catch.

The Raiders defense has been improving. A lot of that is improved play from the role players along the defensive line. Maxx Crosby also continues to look like one of the best players in the game.

Vegas needs to stop the run and play discipline in coverage. The Raiders are good in spurts but they can struggle getting off the field. They can get beat deep or give up a bad penalty that keeps an offense on the field. Their own offense can also be streaky. They don’t always capitalize on big plays or good field position. The Raiders offense is not great in the zone so that puts the defense in tough spots.

If the Raiders can get pressure and protect their own quarterback it should be a close game. If they can do that and control the game with their run game they should walk away with a victory. A turnover or two created by the defense should also help. Some big plays from the offense will help too.

Hopefully, Vegas asserts their will and identity. Otherwise, it could get ugly if the Raiders offensive line is shake and struggles to create lanes. It could also get bad if they don’t stop the run and let the Pats offense pick them apart.

A win here proves the Raiders are willing to fight for their season and their head coach. I get tired of asking the team to play for pride every year but often times that is all we have to play for. This team isn’t quite at that point yet but they are not far. Many of these guys are playing for contracts here or to prove they can stay in this league.

Obviously a win over his old boss should give McDaniels some confidence. It would also be nice if the Raiders could finally Just Win Baby over the Patriots again.

Raiders vs Texans: What we learned from the MNF loss, how to beat Houston and more from the Bye

Bye Week Blues

Every bye week comes and it brings ambitious of catching up on a bunch of articles. Instead, I didn’t finish my separate film article. I’m combining both columns into this week’s preview versus the Texans.

The Bye week always brings a great time to pause and rest as well as reevaluate and reassess. It’s the same thing for the players. Was a week off enough for the Raiders to show fresh legs and adjustments after the Bye Week? Or will we again see an inconsistent Raiders team that is still trying to establish an identity?

Here’s what we learned from the Raiders OL and DL before the Bye Week as well as what we need to do to beat the Texans today.

What Raiders team shows up?

The Raiders got five games to show their heart. They received a bye week to recover from underachieving. How will this team bounce back versus a Houston Texans team with the same number of wins and equal amounts of one-point loses? The Texans aren’t the most talented team but they’re filled with veterans who play hard and young players who are not afraid.

Houston has been floundering since they fired Bill O’Brien a few years ago. His Patriots style and influence ring over the Texans. The Raiders have slowly retooled their roster with Patriots influence since hiring Josh McDaniels.

Houston could be a problem

Lovie Smith picked up the Texans after David Culley was fired after a 4-13 season. Smith is a highly respected coach. He was the defensive coordinator of one NFC Champion Rams and the head coach for the last Bears team that lost the Super Bowl to the Colts. Yet, his legacy as the Texans coach might always be as the one who took over after DeShaun Watson was finally traded.

Vegas needs to stop the bleeding with a win. After this game, the Raiders move on to the easiest part of the schedule. They’ve proven they can play with every team in their division, including the Chiefs.

However, they still need to prove they can play a full four quarters of great football through all three phases of the game. That excuse has been stale for Raiders fans who have watched this for the better part of 20 years. Many great players wore Silver and Black but never sniffed postseason success. Don’t let this team continue disappointing with second half collapses or slow starts.

The Raiders should win this game but the Texans have played close in all their games. Vegas holds more talent top to bottom but they have yet to execute a complete four quarters. At home, the Silver and Black must set the tone by dominating from play one.

All eyes on the offensive line

The Raiders offensive line pushed their double teams better versus the Chiefs. That’s also why running back Josh Jacobs found success running between the tackles.

Vegas decided to move Alex Bars from starting left guard to starting right guard. Bars is still playing too high and getting beat with speed but he showed his size and strength in the run game versus the Chiefs.

Dylan Parham showed he could anchor the left side, even though he did take some lumps. Parham has started at three different positions as a rookie drafted in the third round. That’s incredible four the 6-3 interior linemen out of Memphis.

Kolton Miller had his best game of the season versus the Chiefs, according to PFF. Andre James also looked closer to his regular and consistent form.

It feels like the Raiders are finally steadying the ship at the offensive line. They need to improve their blitz pickup and they do take lumps versus speed in the pass and they struggle getting up to good backers. I’d like to see John Simpson back in the guard rotation as well as an upgrade at right tackle so Eleumunor can move inside to guard again.

Building on a big game

Vegas’ offensive line rotation seems to be finally settling down but that could all change after the Bye Week too. I still don’t think Bars is a starting guard on a playoff team, nor do I believe Jermaine Eluemunor is a starting right tackle for a good team. However, both looked competent and could get better as the season goes on. At the very least, this group has gotten better.

Moving onto the Texans, Vegas will need to keep building on their momentum with a solid effort from their offensive tackles. They helped Jacobs crack over 150 rushing yards with a 7 yards-per-carry average. QB Derek Carr was only sacked twice, not including that Chris Jones strip-sack that got reversed due to roughing the passer.

This week they’ll see one-time Raider Maliek Collins as well as run stopper Roy Lopez. Neither are great like Jeffrey Simmons or Chris Jones who the Raiders already faced, but both are formidable vets with defined roles in the defense.

On the edge, the Texans have enough length and athleticism to give the Raiders some problems. Jerry Hughes is having a resurgence with four sacks already this year. Former Seahawks edge Rasheem Green and former Rams edge Ogbonnia Okornokwo have looked good since joining the Texan’s rotation this year. The Silver and Black need a solid outing from their tackles.

The defensive line still needs help

Again, Maxx Crosby carried the front four with two sacks. Clelin Ferrell did some things to help Crosby but he still has not gotten a sack. Chandler Jones keeps finding himself in the play but he does not have the same explosiveness to make the play like a few years ago. The Raiders again find themselves in the bottom of the league for sacks.

Andrew Billings continued to look good in the interior but he’s limited as a pass rusher. The Raiders relied on Bilal Nichols again at defensive tackle. He’s a decent pass rusher but can get pushed in the run game. John Hankins was also missing from the center of the Raiders run defense.

Despite all the close games Vegas has played this year, they have not found a core-four defensive line players to finish games and win big spots. They still have to pick and choose between players who are solid against the run vs players who can rush the passer. Houston is in the middle of the pack for sacks allowed. The Texans are also in the bottom of the league for rushing yards. This is a matchup the defensive line can win in passing and running situations.

Give the ball to Jacobs

Back to the Patriots influence. The Raiders have been cute with their running back rotation all year. New England loves playing multiple backs and packages. It’s time to give Josh Jacobs the ball.

Jacobs has been the Raiders most consistent threat on offense. What the former Alabama running back lacks in size and speed, he makes up for it with effort and elusiveness. We’d all like to see him pull away a little more but he’s not afraid to finish runs. Jacobs’ cuts look way stronger. He is also being smarter about when to go down and protect his body.

Vegas just needs to give him the damn ball. Jacobs carved up the Chiefs and Broncos. The offense is different when they play with short third downs thanks to Jacobs. Darren Waller is not playing so the Raiders need an extra boost from Jacobs, particularly in the red zone.

Houston’s defense is discipline but they are not particularly strong against the run. The Texans allowed the 6th most rushing yard and they rank in the middle of pack for rushing touchdowns allowed. This should be a solid game for Jacobs and the rushing attack to eat again.

Let Davante Adams take out his frustration

We all saw the video where Adams knocked over a college student on his first day working as a freelance photographer. Adams apologized immediately after, but he still caught a misdemeanor charge and civil lawsuit from the individual he pushed.

It’s hard to blame Adams since he always says and does the right thing. Adams has been noticeably frustrated since coming to the Raiders. The team is 1-5 and his targets have gone up and down like the team’s success.

Still, the receiver registered 124 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns on only three receptions. Adams has always been a game changer so that play-making ability should not come as a surprise.

Vegas needs to again find ways to get Adams the ball early and often versus Houston. They are going to need his presence especially in the red zone since Waller is out again. The Silver and Black struggle in the red zone but hopefully Adams can make a few big plays to help them avoid that strife.

Houston is a middle of the pack pass defense. A big game from Adams should help him put the Kansas City situation behind him. It should also help the Raiders bury the Texans in an insurmountable lead.

It’s not about the Texans

The Raiders need to show a sense of urgency if they want to will themselves into the playoffs. Their chances of making the postseason decreased by a few points even though they did not play last week. They can easily blow out this AFC foe at home off talent alone.

A big win should give this team some confidence and momentum headed into an easy part of the schedule. It should also prove this team still believes in their head coach Josh McDaniels and their QB Derek Carr.

Nonetheless, they could also fall into a defensive battle with the Texans. That’s especially true if Vegas struggles stopping the run or allows big plays in the passing game due to miscues. This is the game for the Raiders to really showcase what they’re capable of for four quarters.

Bury the distractions

We’re all excited about Magic Johnson possibly joining the Raiders ownership. He was an L.A. Raiders fan back in the day and he helped the Lakers, Dodgers, Sparks and LAFC win championships in various roles. Johnson would bring diversity, connections and experience to the Raiders if the team sold a minority stake to him.

There’s been trade rumors about the Raiders exploring deals to bring back Nelson Agholor too. Rumors also surfaced that the team was shopping John Abram and Clelin Ferrell. It makes sense given neither lived up to their high draft status. However, what can you actually get for them and who are you going to play that is better?

None of that off-field conversation matters this season. Vegas will always be surrounded by talk and rumors. The Raiders need to forget all that to dig themselves out of a hole in the AFC West. That starts with just winning now, baby!

3-0 in sight? Week Three 2020 Preview

Las Vegas opened with a bang as the Raiders upset the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football.

The Raiders weren’t without their flaws. Their pass rush was still non-existent. Alvin Kamara and Latavis Murray were effective as receivers and runners versus the Raiders defense.

Our run game still averaged less than four yards a carry. How much can the team ride Josh Jacobs?

Derek Carr completed passes to a number of different receivers en route to three touchdowns and 284 yards. He was efficient as always but took a few good shots down the field.

We got a good long look at rookie guard John Simpson as Richie Incognito left with an injury. Early reviews are good. Rookie corner Damon Arnette took his lumps again. All rookie corners face ups and downs.

Either way, the Raiders face another tough test this week versus the New England Patriots. They will again face a perennial playoff team today.

We all know how they can start slow in those East Coast early start games. Carr won’t have the safety of a Dome. The Raiders haven’t won in New England since the ’90s.

New England is obviously a different team with Cam Newton. Newton already has four rushing touchdowns this year. The Raiders defense needs to stay discipline with Newton in an offense that features many wrinkles.

Last week, the Pats lost a close game to the Seahawks. Seattle’s Russell Wilson was damn near flawless versus the Pats. Vegas needs a similar performance from Carr this week.

The Seahawks also established multiple runners. Las Vegas needs a similar performance from their offensive line as well as Jacobs.

Seattle also took away the running game as Cam Newton threw almost 50 times. He was also their leading rusher as Sony Michel didn’t do much.

The Pats don’t have the same receiving threats outside of Julian Edelman. Edelman went off versus the Hawks and he could do the same versus the Raiders young corners and over-aggressive safeties.

Again, the Raiders need to stay discipline upfront. They need their defensive line to have a big week by staying on their keys but disrupting as much as possible.

On offense, the Raiders will need to keep feeding Darren Waller and Jacobs. Those are their biggest weapons. They also gotta do something to not run Jacobs into the ground. They can’t give him thirty carries while he is battling injuries and expect to make a playoff run.

Thus, starting 3-0 comes down to coaching. Gruden needs to get the fired up like it’s opening night on Monday again.

The defense needs to stay discipline and honest for four quarters. They need to find ways to pressure Newton, especially if he throws the ball a lot again. Our d-line needs to step up and find who they were last year.

Offensively, they need to continue mixing it up with different receivers. Let’s keep seeing some more Nelson Agoholor, Zay Jones and Bryan Edwards. All three made big plays on Monday. Jacobs and Carr need all the help they can go.

This is a winnable game for the Raiders as long as they don’t stray away from the young and explosive team we’ve seen the past few weeks. 2-1 is still progress but 3-0 Is another level. We need every win possible in the competitive AFC West.

Super Bowl LIII and more reasons to be Petty

it’s been awhile since I checked in. Let’s be honest, the Raiders haven’t given me much to talk about outside of some quotes from our coach and new GM.

Nonetheless, Raiders fans like myself will once again spitefully watch and binge drink to the Patriots playing in the Super Bowl.

This year is even more awkward. Not because we’re hoping this is the last call for Bellicheat or Brady. Nah, this year features another hidden evil.

New England plays the L.A. Rams in the Super Bowl this year. You thought the Media machines had fun with the Pats, wait until the Rams win a Super Bowl.

Not only do the Ramily play in LA, the home of NFL network, but they feature everyone’s favorite coach Sean McVay. MCVay rose to prominence due to his early success, age, good looks, gutsy play calling and being in L.A. McVay is a reminder of what Jon Gruden was, is and could be. It’s actually more of slap in the face considering Gruden might never get to where McVay is again despite the similarities.

Plus, the Raiders were the most loved team in Los Angeles. You see their influence all over the city. Not only did they win Championships in L.A. hosted Super Bowls but they called the region home for more than a decade. The Raiders almost called it home too until the   NFL green-lit the Rams relocation til LA over the Raiders joint proposal with the Chargers.

Thus, this Super Bowl puts Los Angeles one step closer to moving past the Raiders. For Raiders fans in L.A., a Rams win in Super Bowl means hearing about McVay’s genius in the national media and dealing with the local hype too.

Then there’s Aqib Talib whose had his beef with the Raiders before. Marcus Peters has too but he gets a pass being from Oakland. Don’t forget the Silver and Black’s flirtations with Suh everytime he is a free agent. Plus, Jared Goff is from the Bay Area.

Oh yeah, and the Rams were in a standstill with their elite defensive player Aaron donald, before giving him a record deal to end his holdout. The Raiders were in a similar situation with another generational talent from the same draft class, Khalil Mack. Except the Raiders resolved that situation by moving Mack. Thus, the Raiders ties in this game make it hard to root for the Rams in good conscious.

Further, Raiders fans will never get over the tuck rule. Not only did it berth the Pats dynasty but it also goes down in history as what deprived Oakland of one more Lombardi before the Raiders clout chase Vegas.

So Raider Nation can’t root for L.A. They can’t root for New England. Should we root for the apocalypse?

Nah fam, football isn’t that serious. Just root for not throwing up on your shoes, pop your heart burn medicine and enjoy your family while you drink the pain away of someone not in Silver and Black winning a Lombardi again.

Don’t worry though, as soon as this game is over, Raiders fans can turn their hope to another draft, free agency and season. Hopefully, the Raiders woes are left in last season and not carried on through the draft or free agency.

Because we all know what’s when it comes to the Raiders. The hangover is definitely worse than the pain.

Who you rooting for this year in Super Bowl 53? What’s on the grill?