Raiders surrendered 102 yards on the ground, dropping their season mark to 125.0. They surrendered a season low 168 yards passing, dropping their season average to 286 (lowest on the season). That's good enough for 270 yards (season best) and a season average of 410 yards (season low). Those numbers are all coming down.
Da good: crew has confidence...resiliency...on the road against odds. Da kinda bad: we're playing at home...(yes I said it!) Collinsworth could barely contain his excitement last night looking forward to this game. We really need this game as a statement and to keep the lead. Oh and sorry a** Jacksonville plays at Kansas City so... My X-factor key players for the upcoming game: Offense: Seth Roberts. Cooper and Crabtree will be going against Denver's really good corners. Defense: D.J. Hayden. I do not know if Smith can suit up but he will have to step up his solid play. Carrie will be playing the slot. - Rivera has been coming up big the since he's seen the field. - good to see our runners all playing. - as T-Rod sez...defense is solidifying itself. - Jano missed two what would be considered "chippies" yesterday. - that Penn TD was sweet especially for the tackle who felt Tampa wronged him.
Yesterday's Penalty-a-thon: Offense: 13 Defense: 6 2 declined 1 offsetting 1 dual [committed by 2 players...]
Captain Clutch had 513yrds yesterday 77 were taken away because of penalties about 40 was taken by that one Coop drop he easily could have had 600yds
Good news then... We put Hayden on the outside opposite Amerson but we can always keep him on the slot and put Carrie there instead... Crazy how slot is the tougher responsibility since you don't have the sidelines as boundaries but Hayden has done fine. That might not happen as Sanders could be a problem for Carrie given how small and quick he is so Hayden is an ideal matchup. Amerson will cover Thomas...
I read this on ESPN today and found it wonderfully fitting, especially the Mario Kart reference. from: http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/17938867/nfl-week-8-2016-lessons-learned
^Raider game -> must see TV now. Two Prime Time games lined up. Denver Sunday and two weeks later in Mexico against Houston on MNF.
Pressures Mack 8 Autry 5 Smith 4 Ward 4 Irvin 3 Williams 3 Mack is picking it up. Not at an elite level, but he was amazing last game, and overall it's trending upward.
Mack has started slow and he will have to amp it up to match last season's total. Good stuff... Autry has been a positive surprise.
Osemele and King part of NFL.com's mid-season All-Pro team. All 12 SI panelists has us making the playoffs... http://www.si.com/nfl/2016/11/03/nfl-predictions-midseason-playoffs-super-bowl
You probably know that I have this QB Impact stat that I use, in particular in the Post-Gannon era. I went back and looked at Gannon's numbers. His 2002 season was amazing, and he posted a 28.3 Impact while taking the Raiders to the Super Bowl. He also posted a 27.5 Impact in 2000 and a 27.4 in 2001. Here are the top QBs in the post-Gannon seasons: 2005 Collins +0.2 2006 Brooks -11.9 2007 Culpepper -0.5 2008 Russell -0.6 2009 Gradkowski +2.8 2010 Capmbell +9.0 2011 Campbell +6.8 2012 Palmer +4.0 2013 Flynn +3.9 2014 Carr +0.5 2015 Carr +20.0 2016 Carr +23.6 *Carr is on pace to smash Gannon's mark in Gannon's best season. That's ridiculous. Career Marks (minimum 5 starts) in the Post-Gannon Era Carr +37.0 Campbell +13.3 Palmer 0.0 Culpepper -0.5 Gradkowski -1.6 McGloin -2.3 McCown -4.3 Collins -5.1 Pryor -6.4 Russell -17.5 Walter -19.4 *Carr is already the best - by far - in the post-Gannon era.
^With the exception of Palmer, the names on your list make me wince... You don't even have Aaron Brooks there.
Thinking we win this game we are a lock to get in the playoffs.... which brings me to this being the year of the Raiders. Crabs won the title for the first time ever, Cubs just won in a million years.... Thats NBA and MLB with long suffering champs.... Raiders next?
Raiders beginning to work on a Derek Carr deal. Expected to be in the neighborhood of Luck's 5 year, $123M contract. He's worth it.