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Archive for October, 2013
The Oakland Raiders have historically had to prepare to defend against a running quarterback when getting ready to play the Philadelphia Eagles. It’s the other way around now, as the Eagles must instead prepare for Oakland's mobile signal-caller, and how well Terrelle Pryor is able to run the ball will go a long way in determining which team will win this Week 9 matchup. The game features two of the NFL’s top-five rushing teams, though each has gotten there by different means. The Raiders have done so behind the swift athleticism of Pryor, while the Eagles counter with the league’s leading-rusher ...
A lot of credit for the Oakland Raiders’ success this season should go to the team’s improved pass rush and the creative, blitz-happy schemes employed by defensive coordinator Jason Tarver. Equally important, if not more so, has been the recent play of cornerbacks Mike Jenkins and Tracy Porter. While the Raiders’ overall pass defense has been mediocre—they rank 17th, allowing 241 yards a game—Jenkins and Porter have combined to give Oakland its best cornerback tandem since 2001, when Charles Woodson and Eric Allen roamed the secondary. Woodson is back for another tour with the Raiders, only now the 37-year-old lines up at ...
Imagine what Oakland Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie would like to say to all the NFL analysts who said his team was the least talented they had ever seen. Some adjectives commonly used to describe the roster were "horrible" and "pathetic."  Prior to the season, the Oakland Raiders were considered one of the two worst teams in the NFL. Expectations could not have been lower, but nearly halfway through the season they are 3-4 and can move to .500 with a win over the Philadelphia Eagles at home on Sunday.  After suffering through a 4-12 campaign in 2012, the Raiders had to make ...
With two wins in their last three games, the Oakland Raiders are building a little momentum as the season nears the midway point. They can get to .500 by beating the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 9, a game that is shaping up to be pivotal for both teams. Before that, however, head coach Dennis Allen and his staff still have plenty to correct. As nice as Sunday’s 21-18 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers was, the Raiders didn’t exactly dominate and had to withstand a late surge by the Steelers before holding on and improving to 3-4. The offense was completely shut down in ...
While Oakland Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie's job was likely to be safe no matter the outcome of this 2013 season, the same was not always assumed for that of head coach Dennis Allen. Considering the magnitude of the rebuilding project taken on by this organization as a whole, placing blame on Allen and his staff for a second straight poor season would have been unfair to say the least. At the same time, the NFL is known as a "what have you done for me lately" kind of league, and a head coach is expected by both his organization and team's ...
From 2012 to 2013 the Oakland Athletics kept their roster mostly intact. In both seasons, they went as far as Game 5 of the ALDS. Chances are, they'll keep this roster in 2014 as well, but if they want to get over the hump, there are a few moves worth looking into. Don't put it past general manager Billy Beane to make a move. It might not be a wild, Matt Holliday-caliber move. Then again, this close to contending for a World Series berth, maybe he does decide to pull the trigger on a more high-profile player. This list contains both. There are ...
The Oakland Raiders got a record-setting play from quarterback Terrelle Pryor and another stellar effort from the defense to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 8 and pull to 3-4 in the AFC West. It’s a pattern coach Dennis Allen’s team has followed for most of the season and one the Raiders will undoubtedly continue to follow the rest of the way. For a team that many expected would struggle to get four wins this year, that’s still an encouraging position to be in. Although there’s one more game left until Oakland hits the midway point of the season, we offer up our ...
The Oakland Raiders are a lot better than almost anyone expected. On Sunday, the Raiders dominated the Pittsburgh Steelers with defense and moved to 3-4 with a 21-18 victory.  It all started with a 93-yard touchdown run by quarterback Terrelle Pryor on the first play from scrimmage—the longest touchdown run by a quarterback in NFL history. While Pryor continues to steal the headlines, it's Oakland's defense that deserves the credit for the team's progress in 2013. In the last four games, Oakland's defense has allowed no more than 18 points with an average of 17.3 per game. That's elite-level play from a ...
All week long the Oakland Raiders talked about the importance of needing multiple defenders to sack Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. On Sunday, they discovered they didn’t need that many after all. The Raiders sacked Roethlisberger five times, matching their season high, hurried him into two interceptions and knocked him around numerous other times while hanging on for a much-needed 21-18 win. It was another step forward for Oakland’s defense, which has gotten better each week. The most impressive part? The Raiders were able to bring down Roethlisberger often with just one defender. “When we got hands on Ben we got him down,” Oakland ...
Terrelle Pryor set a franchise record with a 93-yard touchdown run, and the Oakland Raiders jumped out to an early 18-point lead against Pittsburgh before having to hold on for a 21-18 win over the Steelers on Sunday. With the offense entirely shut down in the second half, the Raiders had to lean heavily on the defense to secure their third straight home win over the Steelers. Running back Darren McFadden scored a pair of touchdowns, although it may not be enough to secure his future in Oakland. The NFL trade deadline is looming, and McFadden could be one of the players ...