September 29, 2024 Posted in  NFL News, Raiders

Week four is (mostly) in the books, but I am here to discuss the undercard of each week, that being the 1 pm and 4 pm ET games. The main card is tonight and tomorrow night. The day featured games like the Chicago Bears defeating the LA Rams, the Las Vegas Raiders holding on to beat the Cleveland Browns (more on that game later), and the New England Patriots getting crushed by the San Francisco 49ers. Here are the takeaways from Week Four of the season:

Good: The Raiders showed they have a pulse when they narrowly escaped with a win vs. the Browns. Last week they flatlines but Coach’s criticism acted as a defibrillator and it must have succeeded because, even without their best offensive player and defensive player, among other key pieces, they took care of business...

September 22, 2024 Posted in  NFL News, Raiders

Week three shows us even dreadful teams, like the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos, can rise from the ashes of the land of zero wins, and upset decent teams, like the Las Vegas Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Neither of the latter two teams looked decent today, but do either of them deserve my scarlet letter? Here we go:

Good: The Los Angeles Rams. They managed to beat an excellent San Francisco 49ers team that had a great day from their quarterback. Honorable Mentions: Carolina Panthers decisive victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles beating the New Orleans Saints, and the Green Bay Packers crushing the woeful Tennessee Titans.

Bad: The Cleveland Browns losing to the dreadful New York Giants...

September 15, 2024 Posted in  NFL News, Raiders

Week two of the NFL season was known for not being good for the heavy favorites. Upsets ran the day. Here are the good, bad, and ugly this week:

Good: The New Orleans Saints. They dismantled the Dallas Cowboys and Derek Carr is making Raider Nation think “Why did we cut him last year?” Alvin Kamara was solid while the defense held the Cowboys to only one touchdown. Honorable Mentions: Arizona crushes the Rams; Las Vegas comes from ten down in the fourth quarter to stun Baltimore.

Bad: The New York Giants decision to go for the two point conversion twice when they didn’t have to...

September 8, 2024 Posted in  NFL News, Raiders

Here are my three Takeaways from this weekend’s NFL Action

The Good: The Chargers are for real. In the second half of Sunday’s game vs. the Raiders, they demonstrated why many are convinced that this team is going to the playoffs. The defense, who I thought was terrible, proved me wrong when they held the Raiders to ten points and the offense took advantage of a defense who couldn’t stay off the field for most of the game.

The Bad: Caleb Williams’ efficiency. His only saving grace were the Bears’ defense and special teams, who scored a touchdown each in their win. I saw him miss three deep passes long. If he wants to be in the Hall of Fame he should spend some time on his timing.

The Downright Ugly: The Panthers effort...

August 29, 2024 Posted in  NFL News, Raiders

Welcome to my inaugural edition of preseason Lamentations. On this topic I will pick three teams who I now project to be worse (or better) than I expected at the start of the preseason.

BETTER: Cincinnati Bengals. They have the one QB not named Tom Brady who has defeated Patrick Mahomes in the playoffs. The defense is passable, so they’ll be in the mix to win the AFC North.

WORSE: Las Vegas Raiders. Great defense, great coach, but no consistent QB. To his credit Gardner Minshew almost led the Colts to the playoffs, but I went from 11-6 to 9-8 with slim playoff hopes with this team.

BETTER: Carolina Panthers. QB Bryce Young is showing signs of improvement and the RBs and receivers are improving as well...

April 27, 2024 Posted in  NFL News, Raiders

Here are my final grades for the Raiders’ picks in the 2024 NFL Draft: (NOTE: Undrafted FA signings are NOT included in this analysis).

Day 1: A+

Day 2: B+

Day 3: B-

January 20, 2023 Posted in  NFL News, Raiders

Well, 2022 didn’t go as expected for the silver and black. Back to the drawing board.

Legend has it that Tom Brady wants to be a Raider. Two days ago I tweeted that if that were to happen I wouldn’t support the team for as long as he was a Raider, but I am having second thoughts… if they re-sign Josh Jacobs at all costs. I’d rather have Brady and Jacobs than no Brady and no Jacobs. But as for the quarterback position goes, I’d rather have Aaron Rodgers, Jimmy Garappolo, or Lamar Jackson sign with the Raiders over Brady. Rodgers is still in his prime, Garappolo seems to know only how to win. Lamar Jackson is the most electrifying QB since Randall Cunningham. In terms of financial sense, Jackson is commanding the most and Garappolo would be a bargain.

In terms of the draft, if they get any o...

August 6, 2019 Posted in  NFL News, Raiders

All right, football fans, it’s about time for the annual six month meeting of the minds. That’s also known as NFL football and it’s in more ways than one. Without further ado, here are my predictions:

(From first to last)

AFC East: New England, Buffalo, Miami, New York Jets

AFC North: Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Cincinnati

AFC South: Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Tennessee

AFC West: Kansas City, Los Angeles Chargers, Oakland Raiders, Denver Broncos

AFC Wildcards: Los Angeles Chargers, Pittsburgh

AFC Super Bowl Pick: Kansas City

NFC East: Dallas, Washington, Philadelphia, New York Giants

NFC North: Minnesota, Green Bay, Chicago, Detroit

NFC South: New Orleans, Atlanta, Carolina, Tampa Bay

NFC West: Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco, Seattle, Ariz...

September 6, 2018 Posted in  NFL News, Raiders

Football is here. Rejoice, fans.

Whether it is a bone headed trade like the Raiders have made five days ago with Khalil Mack or holdouts like the Steelers’ Le’Veon Bell, football unites us all.

So without further ado, here are my pictures for the 2018 NFL season.

(See “What were the Raiders thinking” where it says “The Raiders playoff hopes are survived by…” then the twelve teams I mentioned there, for my playoff prediction. The first four teams of the first six (AFC) are the division winners and the other two are the wild cards. Repeat cycle for the last six teams (NFC).

Super Bowl 53 Preview
Los Angeles Rams over Pittsburgh Steelers

Now for my world-famous First Pick in the next year’s NFL draft prediction (in this case, 2019):
Buffalo Bills

Are you ready for some football?

September 1, 2018 Posted in  NFL News, Raiders, Tributes

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today for the memorial service… to the Raiders’ 2018 playoff chances.

As you likely have heard by now, the Raiders traded Khalil Mack and two beans (2020 2nd and conditional 5th in 2020) for a bag of beans (2019 1st & 6th, 2020 1st & 3rd). I hope this resembles Jack and the Beanstalk more than a child’s book where the patriarch sells the farm for practically nothing.

This has the potential to be a good trade for both teams, if the Raiders hit on their draft picks that they’ve just acquired. Mack alone to the Bears was worth three 1st rounders. The Bears are not a playoff team, even with Mack, but the Raiders went from a boss to a janitor real fast.

In memory of the Oakland Raiders’ 2018 playoff chances, the NFL family requests donations to the New York ...