Tag Archives: Oakland Raiders

Michael Crabtree lands three-year deal with Baltimore Ravens

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OWINGS MILLS, MD — The Baltimore Ravens have been making a lot of moves this week to try to bolster their wide receiver core. John Brown and Ryan Grant were both signed as soon as free agency opened, but the team backed out of their deal with Grant after seeing something pop up on his physical.

By voiding their contract with Grant, the Ravens gave themselves more money to pursue other free agents but also took a step back in their pursuit of building a complete offense. Their fortunes would change on Friday though, when recently-released Oakland Raiders receiver Michael Crabtree came to Owings Mills for a visit and left with a new three-year contract worth $21 million.

The 30-year-old receiver enters his tenth professional season in 2018. After being drafted by the 49ers, Crabtree spent six years in San Francisco. For the past three seasons he has put up some of the best numbers of his career while playing for the Oakland Raiders.

Crabtree averaged 77 receptions, 847 yards and eight touchdowns per season in his time with Oakland. After missing out on players like Jarvis Landry, Sammy Watkins and Allen Robinson, the Ravens finally found themselves a true veteran receiver to build around.

It’s hard to say where the Ravens will go from here. Mike Wallace has been a reliable target in Baltimore for the past two seasons, but there is some uncertainty as to whether he will receive a larger payday with another team. Bringing him back would surely do a lot to solidify a receiving core that was on life support just a week ago. Unfortunately, receivers are not the only need the Ravens have on their roster, so the front office’s attention could turn to another position before the draft.

Image credit: Cary Edmondson – USA Today Sports

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Ravens hold on for big road win against Oakland

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OAKLAND — The Ravens entered Sunday’s game against Oakland with a two game losing streak and a lot of drama. Joe Flacco was slammed by fans and media alike all week after turning in another sub-par performance and the defense appeared to have lost their edge.

Despite all of this, the Ravens looked like a brand new team when they stepped on the field in Oakland. Even with a depleted line, Flacco and company put up 23 points of offense and jumped on a struggling Raiders team. The Ravens ended up winning 30-17, putting their season back on track.

In desperate need of a hot start, the Ravens offense came out of the gates with a quick touchdown drive. Joe Flacco connected with Mike Wallace for a 52-yard completion on the very first play from scrimmage. Third year tight end Vince Mayle capped off the drive with a nice end-around touchdown run.

The only wrinkle in the Ravens’ hot start was Terrance West going down with an injury. After busting a 13-yard run on a draw play, West was tackled and remained on the ground in pain. He would end up being carted off and ruled out for the remainder of the game.

The defense also got off to a great start. On the third play of Oakland’s first drive, Patrick Onwuasor forced Jared Cook to fumble and Jimmy Smith was right there to scoop it up and take it 47 yards the other way for a touchdown.

The Ravens maintained their lead and entered halftime up 24-10 thanks to a clock-eating touchdown drive and a field goal by Justin Tucker. By winning the time of position and turnover battle, the Ravens found more success in the first half than the past two weeks combined.

Both offenses stalled coming out of the half with a pair of three-and-outs. The Raiders put together a successful drive on their third possession of the half. Marshawn Lynch put the finishing touches on a 65-yard drive with a goal line touchdown run to cut the Baltimore lead to just seven.

With the Oakland crowd coming back to life it looked like the Ravens were in serious trouble. Flacco led his team down the field for a much needed score. The veteran QB looked like the “Joe cool” we all know and love with the game on the line.

There were two crucial third down scenarios on the drive and Flacco found the open man each time to keep the drive alive. The offense pounded their way into the red zone and had a 1st-and-goal situation, but failed to put seven on the board. Instead, they would settle for a field goal to put them back up by 10.

On the ensuing Oakland possession, the Raiders moved the ball just into Ravens territory before being shut down and forced to punt. The drive shaved an additional four minutes off the clock and put the ball back in the Ravens hands with just under nine minutes to play.

For the first time in weeks, the offensive line played a quality game and allowed Alex Collins and Javorius Allen to run downhill with ease. This was on full display in the fourth quarter when the Ravens running backs picked up 42 yards on the ground to put the game on ice. Tucker added his third field goal of the afternoon and the Ravens went on to win 30-17.

In addition to West’s injury on the first drive, the Ravens lost two more players over the course of Sunday’s win. Both Carl Davis and Matt Skura went down with leg injuries and neither one was able to return. Jimmy Smith’s health was also a big question mark. Despite having a big impact on the game with his fumble recovery, Smith was seen standing on the sideline for most of the afternoon. He only played seven snaps on defense, still dealing with an Achilles injury.

Snapping a two game losing streak looked like a long shot coming into this game, especially with all the injuries. However, the offense proved that they can get the job done even with a depleted core. A Steelers loss makes the win even sweeter as the AFC North rivals find themselves tied for the division lead once again. The Ravens will return home next weekend for a 1:00 pm matchup against the Chicago Bears.

Image Credit: USA Today 

Game Preview: Struggling Ravens head to west coast to face Raiders

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OAKLAND, CA — Just two weeks ago, the Ravens flew high with a 2-0 record. Following a trip to London and a tangle with the Steelers, the Ravens came back down to Earth, now owning a 2-2 record and trying to stay afloat in the brutal AFC North Division. On Sunday, the Ravens will play in a third time zone in as many weeks with a trip to Oakland, where the Raiders await.

Oakland finds itself in a similar circumstance. Just like Baltimore, the Raiders emerged victorious in their first two games against the Titans and Jets, and then slipped to the Redskins and Broncos. The Raiders share a similar trait with the Ravens in the injury department. Several starters on both sides of the ball face nagging injuries, and now quarterback Derek Carr‘s name falls on the injury report.

High expectations surrounded the Ravens and Raiders for 2017, and neither team expected to hold a 2-2 record entering week 5. This may not be a divisional game, but it’s a crucial one. The winner will sport a winning record, and pick up a conference win that could help them later in the season.

Ravens’ last time in Oakland: In 2019, the Raiders will move from Oakland to Las Vegas. These two teams will meet again next season, but that matchup will take place in Baltimore. A listing of the Ravens’ future opponents through 2019 can be found here.

Injury Report (as of Oct. 6):

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Friday notes: Smith returned to practice, as did Hill. John Harbaugh said he will play on Sunday. Smith has been dealing with Achilles soreness for a few weeks, put played through it. He also welcomed a baby into the world this week. Hill has not yet played this season. after an impressive preseason. Watson and M. Williams also returned to practice on Friday. Watson may play, Williams will not. B. Williams and Terrell Suggs did not practice on Friday. Probably a veterans day off for Suggs; Williams is out.

*Limited Practice (LP), Full Practice (FP), Did Not Practice (DNP)

Screenshot Credit: Baltimore Ravens

Details:

Where: Oakland Alameda Coliseum in Oakland, California

When: Sunday, Oct. 8, 4:05 pm EST

Network & Commentators: CBS, Greg Gumbel and Trent Green

Game coverage: Ravens fans can catch the game on their local CBS station. Fans out of market can watch on NFL Sunday Ticket. Gerry Sandusky has the call on WBAL 1090, 98 Rock, and gameday audio will also stream on the Baltimore Ravens website.

Weather: Looking at The Weather Channel, the temperature in Oakland on Sunday looks promising. There’s a high of 77 degrees Fahrenheit, and a low of 58. Winds will blow west at 10-15 MPH. There’s a 10% chance of rain.

Offensive Offense? 

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That graphic says it all. With Joe Flacco‘s back injury and the state of the offensive line, expectations for the offense became low. In the first two Ravens games, the offense got help with the defense forcing 10 combined turnovers. The defense has not played as well in the last two games, and its taking its toll on the offense.

Even with the offensive line in shambles, Flacco needs to play better. Out of all 32 starting quarterbacks, Flacco has the worst QBR (65.0) and its not close. Ahead of Flacco stands Jay Cutler (80.4 QBR). To put things in perspective, the Dolphins have been shut out two games in a row.

Flacco needs to get the ball to the receivers more. The Ravens’ top three receivers have yet to make a difference in a game. Jeremy Maclin (10 catches, two TD), Mike Wallace (nine catches, one TD), and Breshad Perriman (two catches) need to do a better job catching the football too. Watson leads the team in receiving with 16 catches for 146 yards and a touchdown.

The defense needs to carry some of the blame too. With B. Williams in the lineup, the defense has given up 10 points. Without him, they have given up 70 points. Offenses, particularly running backs, are taking advantage of Williams’ absence. The Ravens will not have Williams again this week, but Oakland’s running attack has not taken off so far this season. That, coupled along with the absence of Carr, should bode well for Baltimore.

Graphic Credit: Evin Hartsock 

Scouting Oakland:

  • Carr will miss Sunday’s game after suffering back spasms in Oakland’s 16-10 loss to the Denver Broncos last week. Carr, who is 2-0 with a 110.6 rating against the Ravens (seven touchdown passes, one interception) will miss 2-6 games.
  • In Carr’s place, former Bills first round pick E.J. Manuel will start against Baltimore. Manuel went 11-for-17 for 106 yards and an interception last week against Denver. Manuel is 1-0 against the Ravens in his career. He has 3,608 career passing yards, 19 touchdowns and 16 interceptions (76.9 QBR).
  • Other injury notes: WR Michael Crabtree (chest) missed last week’s game, but is probable for Sunday. Crabtree leads all Oakland receivers with three touchdowns on 16 receptions. WR Amari Cooper (knee) and RB DeAndre Washington (hamstring) are probable as well. DE Mario Edwards (back), G Gabe Jackson (foot), CB Keith McGill (foot), DB David Emerson (concussion), and CB Gareon Conley (shin) are all questionable.
  • After taking a year off, 31-year-old running back Marshawn Lynch has yet to rush for 100 yards in a game. His highest rushing total so far? 76 yards against the Titans in week 1. He has one rushing touchdown this season.
  • Right now, the Raiders possess the 15th-ranked offense and the 13th-ranked defense. Oakland has been penalized 25 times for 238 yards, where their opponents got penalized 26 times for 213 yards.

Image Credit: SFBay.ca

NFL Wild Card Weekend Breakdown

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Editor’s Note: This article was also written by Nolan McGraw and Tyler Feeser.

The NFL playoffs begin this weekend, as the Wild Card round takes place. There are four games total, with two taking place on Saturday and two on Sunday.

To break down the weekend, all of our experts here at Charm City Bird Watch will provide an analysis of each game, followed by a prediction. Let’s see how much we agree, or disagree.

Saturday, Jan. 7

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Texans Quarterback Brock Osweiler has not lived up to his big contract. Credit: NFL Spin Zone.

AFC: #5 Oakland Raiders (12-4) @ #4 Houston Texans (9-7) – 4:35 pm – ESPN / ABC

Jake: I feel so bad for the Oakland Raiders. They finally made the playoffs after a 14-year drought and would have probably gotten the #2 seed if Derek Carr had not gotten hurt. Carr is a lead candidate for the NFL MVP this season and his loss is going to doom the Raiders.

Out of all the games this weekend, this one will definitely be the “who cares” bowl. Why? Because the Raiders are starting a third string quarterback in Connor Cook. How could this game get any worse? Well, that is because Brock Osweiler is the Texans’ starting quarterback. Osweiler was benched in week 16 and is only starting this game because Tom Savage suffered a concussion during Houston’s week 17 game against Tennessee.

This game is going to come down to which quarterback plays worse, and I think that will be Connor Cook. Osweiler sucks, but I think he will do enough against Oakland’s 24th ranked passing defense to lead the Texans to a victory. Houston: Have fun getting destroyed by New England next week.

Prediction: Texans 19, Raiders 10

Nolan: This has to be nerve-racking for Raiders fans. After having an amazing season they find themselves on the road in the wildcard round without their starting QB. The Texans are no strangers to quarterback problems either. The decision to bench Osweiler has not proven to be a success considering Tom Savage’s injury. Neither team is in great shape but I think the Texans will escape this one with a victory. Starting running back Lamar Miller will be returning at the perfect time for Houston’s unstable offense and their 7-1 home record should not be ignored either.

Prediction: Texans 17, Raiders 14

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Tyler: Oakland will travel to Houston to face the AFC South champs without their most valuable player, quarterback Derek Carr. Some believe Carr to be the league’s most valuable player. Instead they will start third string rookie Connor Cook at quarterback who will be making his first NFL start. Cook was thrown into the fire last week when Matt McGloin got hurt. Houston’s offense comes into the game having one of the league’s worst offenses even after giving quarterback Brock Osweiler a four year, $72 million contract this past offseason. However, Oakland has struggled on the defensive side of the ball almost as much as Houston has on offense, giving up 117 yards-per-game on the ground and 257 YPG through the air. Houston boasts one of the league’s best defenses (1st overall, 2nd against the pass, and 12th against the run) and will playing with the home crowd. I think Houston can take advantage of Oakland’s poor defense and possibly score on defense to pull out a win.

Note: These two teams met back in week 11 with the Raiders pulling out a 27-20 victory.

Prediction: Houston 24 Oakland 13

NFC: #6 Detroit Lions (9-7) @ #3 Seattle Seahawks (10-5-1) – 8:15 pm – NBC

Jake: Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford was playing at an MVP-caliber level for the entire season, but an injury suffered to the middle finger on his throwing hand derailed his effort. He simply has not been the same since sustaining that injury, and that has to be a concern for the Lions as they face a Seahawks defense that can get after the quarterback.

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Lions receiver Golden Tate leads the team with 91 receptions for 1,077 yards. Credit: US Buzz Blog 7.

The Lions defense has been average at best, but the Seattle offensive line has simply been horrible for the past few seasons now. Russell Wilson has suffered several minor injuries to his legs this season, a result of poor protection in the pocket. Seattle is also missing some weapons at receiver, and is limited at running back.

Both teams have their issues, but I have to give the edge to the Seahawks, especially with “The 12th Man” rocking all night long. I think this will be a relatively low-scoring game with Seattle advancing to the divisional round.

Prediction: Seahawks 20, Lions 14

Nolan: The Lions backed their way into the playoffs after losing their final three games. Despite having a 9-7 record Detroit has not proven that they can beat legitimate opponents. The Lions are 0-5 against playoff teams this season and only one of their nine wins was against a team above .500 (Washington). Matt Stafford and the Detroit offense can put up points but overall their path to the playoffs was a cakewalk. Seattle is a more competitive team that has excelled in the playoffs in recent history.

Prediction: Seahawks 28, Lions 17

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Seahawks defensive lineman Michael Bennett and Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor bump chests before the game against the Bears at CenturyLink Field Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015. Credit: The Seattle Times. 

Tyler: Detroit will be making their third appearance in the postseason since 2011 when they travel to Seattle this weekend. The Lions come in losing their final three games all against playoff teams (Giants, Cowboys, Packers). The Lions have not played very well on the road this season either (3-5) including 0-3 in road games played outside. Seattle will come in with a few starters on injured reserve, including star safety Earl Thomas and electric return man / wide receiver Tyler Lockett. The Seahawks will be making their fifth playoff appearance in as many years and are always dangerous when it gets to January and February. Going just 2-2 in their last four games, some may consider the Seahawks a struggling team. However, they are extremely tough to beat in Seattle every year (7-1 this season). Detroit’s defense is nothing to write home about which will result in Russell Wilson and the Seattle offense being able to move the ball effectively. Ultimately I think that the Lions’ inability and reluctance to run the ball will play right into Seattle’s hand and will put Stafford in a very uncomfortable spot all evening.

Prediction: Seattle 31, Detroit 20

Sunday, January 8

AFC: #6 Miami Dolphins (10-6) @ #3 Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5) – 1:05 pm – CBS

Jake: It has been nice to see Adam Gase take over this Dolphins team, and the dividends seemed to pay off with Miami making it to the playoffs. The Dolphins will be without Ryan Tannehill, but luckily they have Matt Moore, one of the better backup quarterbacks in the NFL.

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Jay Ajayi ran for 204 against the Steelers in week 6. Credit: Sun Sentinel. 

The Dolphins beat the Steelers 30-15 in week 6, and running back Jay Ajayi ran for 204 yards against the Steelers defense. If Miami has any chance in this game, they will have to rely heavily on Ajayi to put over 100 yards of rushing to wear out a Steelers defense that played better as the season went on.

The Steelers have won seven straight games, and I think they will win their eighth straight on Sunday. I think Le’Veon Bell will have a solid day on the ground, and Big Ben will find a way to distribute the football evenly through the air, most notably to Antonio Brown.

Prediction: Steelers 27, Dolphins 20

Nolan: With all of the QB injuries in the AFC, the Pittsburgh Steelers have the best chance to compete with the Patriots for the AFC title. When these teams met in week six Miami was the winner. However, Ben Roethlisberger was injured during that game. The Dolphins could hang in there if they are able to start a healthy Tannehill but as of today he remains questionable. In the end, the Steelers are the more cohesive team, riding the wave of a seven game winning streak.

Prediction: Steelers 24, Dolphins 13

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The Antonio Brown “stretch catch” that won the AFC North for the Steelers. Credit: MMQB.  

Tyler: The Miami Dolphins will be making their first playoff appearance since 2008 and will most likely be playing without their starting quarterback, Ryan Tannehill, when they travel to Pittsburgh this weekend. The Dolphins have been playing relatively well lately, going 3-1 in their last four games with their only loss coming in week 17 to the AFC favorite Patriots. On the other hand, Pittsburgh has been scorching hot, winning their last seven games of the regular season after losing four straight in the weeks prior. These two teams met earlier this season in Miami where the Dolphins pulled out an upset win 30-15. However, Ben Roethisberger left that game early with a knee injury and it was simply too much to overcome. Pittsburgh’s strong home field advantage coupled with Miami’s postseason inexperience is a combination Dolphins fans should be concerned about. I think the key for both teams is establishing the run, controlling the clock, and keeping the opposing offense off the field. Neither defense is top notch and both are vulnerable on the ground. I am trusting that Roethlisberger, Brown, and especially Bell can be effective, keeping Jay Ajayi and the Dolphins offense off the field. T to a victory for Pittsburgh.

Prediction: Pittsburgh 34, Miami 24

NFC: #5 New York Giants (11-5) @ #4 Green Bay Packers (10-6) – 4:40 pm – FOX

Jake: Every time the Giants make the playoffs, they go through Green Bay. In the Giants’ last two playoff pushes that both ended in Super Bowl victories, they defeated the Packers along the way. Now, they enter the postseason for the first time in five years, and will have to do that again if they want to go to Houston in February. You could not write a better script.

At one point, the Packers were 4-6 this season and people were calling for Mike McCarthy’s head. Since then, they have won six straight games to win the NFC North. Their offense is on fire, and Aaron Rodgers is playing out of his mind. A lot of people are leaning towards Green Bay this week, but I am going the opposite direction.

I am really looking forward to the battle between Rodgers and New York’s top-10 defense. I think the Packers will put up points, but I have learned not to pick against Eli Manning in the playoffs. Yes, he is Eli Manning and he is a very pedestrian quarterback in the regular season that makes dumb mistakes, but he turns it on in the playoffs. I do not see a reason of why he won’t do it again this season.

Prediction: Giants 34, Packers 31

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Will playoff Eli Manning show up Sunday? Credit: Bleacher Report. 

Nolan: This might be the most exciting match-up of the Wild Card round with both teams showing that they can get hot and go on some win streaks. The Packers are coming into the Wild Card round with a six-game win streak and a division title. The Giants had a six game win streak of their own in the middle of the season and finished with some nice wins over Dallas, Detroit and Washington. It should be noted that the Giants handed the Cowboys two of their three losses. Everyone is talking about the QB match-up of Rodgers vs. Manning, but I’m focused on the defensive play of these two teams. New York has the best defense in the NFC in points allowed while the Green Bay defense has been unreliable and has forced Rodgers into some unnecessary shootouts. The Giants will move on to the divisional round but this should be a great game.

Prediction: Giants 27, Packers 20

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Ty Montgomery has played both running back and wide receiver for Green Bay this season. Credit: Rotoprofessor. 

Tyler: The New York Giants will travel to Green Bay to face the Packers in the most anticipated match-up of Wild Card weekend. This will be the Giants’ first playoff appearance since 2011 when they won Super Bowl 46. New York has been surprisingly carried by their defense this season. The Giants used three of their first four draft picks on defensive players each of the last two seasons and spent over $200 million in free agency last offseason. The New York offense has been no slouch and they have proven that they can put up points in a hurry. The Packers come in winning six games in a row to end the season and will be making their eighth straight playoff appearance. Green Bay’s defense has been vulnerable through the air which bodes well for the Giants who have been much more successful this season passing the ball than running. The Packers offense has resurrected after some called it predictable and boring half way through the season. This can all be attributed to Aaron Rodgers being himself and the Packers finding a potential diamond in the rough by moving Ty Montgomery from receiver to running back. I’m giving the nod to Eli and the Giants because I think Eli can do enough in the passing game and the Giants defense will be able to keep the Packers offense in check.

Prediction: New York 31, Green Bay 27