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38 years ago, Oakland Raiders stopped an 18-game winning streak |
On the surface, it doesn’t appear as if the Raiders have much going for them entering Sunday’s game against the undefeated Green Bay Packers. People aren’t taking into account the Raiders’ secret weapons: franchise and league history. The Packers are the eighth team in NFL history to win 18 consecutive games, including the first 12 this season. Six of the first seven lost their next game. The 2003-04 New England Patriots are the only team to break through the threshold, tacking on three more wins. The 2007 Patriots were the last team to get this far. They went 16-0, won two playoffs games and lost to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl. Coincidentally, the Raiders are in this situation for the second time in franchise history. They faced the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 23, 1973, with the Dolphins riding an 18-game winning streak. The Raiders beat the Dolphins 12-7 in a game played at Cal. George Blanda kicked four field goals for all the Raiders’ points. The Dolphins scored a late touchdown for their only points. Former Raiders safety George Atkinson remembers the game well for many reasons, not the least of which because he suffered a broken left ring finger that remains disfigured despite numerous operations. “We wanted to stop their win streak, for one thing,” Atkinson said. “That’s what our main motivation was. Also, we didn’t want them to keep that thing going on our turf.” The Raiders entered that game 0-1 but believed they were every bit as good as a Dolphins team fresh from a 17-0, Super Bowl-winning season, as well as a season-opening win in 1973. “We had a lot of confidence going into the game that we could beat them,” former Raiders All-Pro cornerback Willie Brown said. “We matched up very well with them, our offense against their defense, our defense against their offense. “We knew that it would be a tough game, but there wasn’t any pressure. Nobody was thinking, ‘Well, we’ve got to win this game to break the streak.’ We just took it as another game, because we had so much confidence in ourselves that we were much better. We knew we had better football players.” The Dolphins were the first team in the NFL’s modern era to post an undefeated season. Running back Jim Kiick said winning was expected under coach Don Shula. Hence, the Dolphins treated the Raiders that day as if they were just another notch on their belts, standing between them and yet another victory. “We didn’t like to lose, period,” Kiick said. Kiick said the Dolphins remained convinced that they were going to win until the very end, when Raiders quarterback Daryle Lamonica ran out the clock. After that, it took a while for the magnitude of the loss to sink in. In retrospect, Kiick said, he feels as if that victory catapulted the Raiders to the success they enjoyed the next several seasons. “It bothered us that we lost that game,” Kiick said, “but they were a hell of a football team that year. That started them on their way. The next few years, they won a lot of games and wound up in a Super Bowl. All good things come to an end.” Kiick said he feels as if the Packers are going to run the table this season and extend their streak to 25. “We’ll put another chair on top of the mountaintop,” Kiick said of the Packers joining the Dolphins as the only undefeated team through the Super Bowl. “If Green Bay does it, and I think they will because they are, by far, the best team in the NFL.” “If I had to live in Detroit, I think I’d drown myself in the river across the way,” Allen said. Lions defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham isn’t one to take a shot without firing a retaliatory blow. Here’s what he had to say to Allen, a Los Gatos native who played under Cunningham for four seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. “He’s not good enough to live here,” Cunningham said. “I know him well. He should go back to California, Los Gatos, where all those nice people live. This is too rough of a town for him.” Cunningham went on to sing the praises of Allen as a player. He finished by doling out some advice. “He has great quotes for (the media), and they’re good for the fans to read,” Cunningham said. “If I were him, though, in the streets I’ve driven down, I’ve made some wrong turns in town. “I got stopped one day and I looked out the window, and they all yelled, ‘Hey, Coach, how are you?’ I went out and signed autographs. Jared, if you come to town, good luck. You’re not going to get to sign autographs.” With four games to go, 22 teams have either qualified for a playoff berth or are within two games of a playoff spot. The Texans, who are on six-game winning streak, have won their past three games with different starting quarterbacks: Matt Schaub, Matt Leinart and rookie T.J. Yates. There is even a chance they could win one or more games with another quarterback the final four weeks. The Texans signed 41-year-old Jeff Garcia last week, and he always seems to find a way onto the field whenever he joins a new team. The 49ers are the standard bearers with 10 or more wins for 16 seasons (1983-98), seven more than the Colts (2002-10). The Patriots need only a win over the 4-8 Washington Redskins to tie the Colts. That’s all the news for today. Posted in 1, Kansas City Chiefs, Matt Schaub, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, raiders-news, Washington Redskins | Comments Off
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Week 14 NFL Picks: Oakland Raiders Face Nearly Impossible Task Against Green Bay Packers |
By David Fucillo – Editor
Two sets of predictions against the spread for Week 14 of the NFL season. Your best bet might be to bet the opposite. Check out SB Nation NFL for full week 12 coverage. Follow , and Like SB Nation Bay Area on Facebook. Dec 9, 2011 – Week 14 of the 2011 NFL season is at hand and both the Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49ers face big games. The Raiders travel to Green Bay to face the undefeated Packers. Oakland is tied with Denver for first in the AFC West in what is quickly becoming a dog fight heading into the final quarter of the season. The Raiders are battling through an assortment of injuries and are just looking to hang around and keep their hopes alive. The 49ers head down to Glendale to face the Arizona Cardinals in a game they need to have to maintain their lead in the race for the number two seed and accompanying bye in the NFC. The Cardinals are on a bit of a roll, having won four of their last five games. Their only loss was to the 49ers, but they were also playing without starting QB Kevin Kolb. He returns this weekend and it should make for an intriguing game. As always, the Thursday pick was made in advance of the game. David - PITTSBURGH STEELERS (-14) over Cleveland Browns: Although this is a rivalry game, leaving the door open for a close one, I just don’t see it. The Browns are way too inconsistent and the Steelers aren’t going to be messing around with this one. James – PITTSBURGH STEELERS (-14) over Cleveland Browns: Remember early in the season when everyone was swearing up and down that the Steelers were old and no longer relevant? Yeah, not so much anymore. This is a strong team with a good offense and a good defense. Browns do not stand a chance. David – GREEN BAY PACKERS (-12.5) over Oakland Raiders: I’d be tempted if the Raiders were 100% healthy. Without McFadden, Ford, Moore and Jones? It would take a small miracle. James – Oakland Raiders (+12.5) over GREEN BAY PACKERS: I cannot and will not pick against the Raiders. David – CINCINNATI BENGALS (-1.5) over Houston Texans: The Bengals are scuffling a bit, but I think their defense can contain Arian Foster just enough to force T.J. Yates into a position where he has to try and win this thing. And I don’t think he can do that. The Bengals are sneaky solid. James – Houston Texans (+1.5) over CINCINNATI BENGALS: Really tough game to call. While the Texans are on their third string quarterback, it does not look to have slowed them down a whole lot. They still have a very good defense and one of the best running games. Meanwhile, the Bengals are struggling right now and I cannot see them putting up many points against this Houston defense. David - DETROIT LIONS (Even) over Minnesota Vikings: Joe Webb is not the answer. James – DETROIT LIONS (Even) over Minnesota Vikings: This is just a matter of two mismatched teams. I know the Lions are struggling right now, but the Vikings are just not a good team. I do not see them going to Detroit and doing anything but floundering. David – TENNESSEE TITANS (+3.5) over New Orleans Saints: The Saints are playing some great football right now, but when they go on the road, things are a little more up in the air. The Saints could roll in and handle their business, but I’ve just got a gut feeling about this one. James – New Orleans Saints (-3.5) over TENNESSEE TITANS: The Saints could have the most potent offense in the NFL right now. That is no knock on the Packers offense, but the Saints are just something else and are playing very well right now. I don’t understand why this line is so close, I’d put the Saints as two score favorites. David - MIAMI DOLPHINS (-2.5) over Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles are on the way down, the Dolphins are kind of on the way up in a weird sort of way. Philly is so wildly inconsistent that I really don’t know what to expect out of them week to week. James – MIAMI DOLPHINS (-2.5) over Philadelphia Eagles: The battle of two 4-8 teams. One, the Eagles, is massively underperforming despite a blockbuster roster. The other, is massively overperforming despite an underwhelming quarterback and running back combo. The fact of the matter is, Miami is playing like a solidified unit while the Eagles are playing like they are a pick up team. David - Kansas City Chiefs (+10.5) over NEW YORK JETS: I made a change here. Was originally going to go with the Chiefs, but something about that line intrigues me with the Chiefs. I’m sure they’ll now get blown out (sorry, KC fans), but it’s just a gut feeling. James – NEW YORK JETS (-10.5) over Kansas City Chiefs: Another example of one team just simply being much better than the other. Though the Jets have not had a stellar season, they are playing much better as of late. And with a playoff spot on the line, I expect them to turn it up late in the season and win games like this one big. David - New England Patriots (-9.5) over WASHINGTON REDSKINS: The Patriots can be questionable on the road, but the Redskins have Rex Grossman maning the helm. Sorry, Washington. James – New England Patriots (-9.5) over WASHINGTON REDSKINS: Is much discussion really needed on this one?If the line was bigger then maybe I’d have to think about it for a bit. But come on, this will not be anywhere near a close game. David - CAROLINA PANTHERS (+2.5) over Atlanta Falcons: I’m a Cam Newton believer. I think most folks are, but I think they are going to start pairing some wins together before Cam goes postal with all the losing. If this was in Atlanta I’d be questioning it, but I think they can swing the upset at home. James – CAROLINA PANTHERS (+2.5) over Atlanta Falcons: The Panthers are starting to play better. They have back to back wins for the first time this year. Oh, and Cam Newton is an absolute BEAST. Meanwhile, the Falcons could not pull off a win over the Texans and TJ Yates. David - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Even) over JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: I was a little bit tempted by the Jaguars, but then I remembered they just aren’t any good. Blaine Gabbert showed some things at times against the Chargers, but struggled enough to leave me questioning them this season. James – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Even) over JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: The Jags are just a bad team. The Bucs are a massively underperforming team. While their records are very similar, the quality of the teams is not. The Bucs will look like the team most people thought they were this season and get a win on the road in an empty Jaguars stadium. David - Indianapolis Colts (+17.5) over BALTIMORE RAVENS: The Ravens win this, but they have a nasty habit of playing down to lesser competition from time to time. I think we see it once again. James – Indianapolis Colts (+17.5) over BALTIMORE RAVENS: Do not worry, this is not a typo, nor have I completely lost my mind. The Colts have played a lot of close games this season, and have only been blown out by 17 or more points four times. Meanwhile, the Ravens have a nasty habit of playing down to their competition (see: Seattle). Ravens will win, and win easily, but it will be closer to 10-14 points. David - Chicago Bears (+3.5) over DENVER BRONCOS: I’m breaking the most important rule: Do not bet against Tim Tebow. Well, my gut has me thinking something crazy happens and the Broncos actually lose. I’m not sure why I think this, but I just have a hunch. James – DENVER BRONCOS (-3.5) over Chicago Bears: No Jay Cutler. No Matt Forte. Good god, is Tebow going to do it again? I think he is and let me tell you, I am pretty bitter about it. David - San Francisco 49ers (-3.5) over ARIZONA CARDINALS: The 49ers clinched the NFC West last week and face the Pittsburgh Steelers next week on Monday Night Football. This is a chance for a let-down as the Arizona Cardinals roll out Kevin Kolb in his second start since coming back from a foot injury. Crazy things sometimes happen when these two teams meet in Glendale, but I think the 49ers can handle their business. James – San Francisco 49ers (-3.5) over ARIZONA CARDINALS: Jim Harbaugh is far too good of a coach to allow the Niners to have the same kind of let down against the Cards as the Cowboys did last week. Arizona does not stand a chance in this game. The Niners will have their sights on a number two seed in the NFC and will not allow a team like the Cards to derail them from that goal. David - SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (-7.5) over Buffalo Bills: Don’t bet against the Chargers in December. James - SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (-7.5) over Buffalo Bills: The Chargers are looking like they have finally hit their stride late in the season. Probably not enough for a playoff berth, but enough to put down the struggling and injured Bills at home. David – DALLAS COWBOYS (-3) over New York Giants: NFC East rivalry games can be incredibly crazy, but I think the Cowboys pull out this home game. They are getting Miles Austin back and while they were stunned by Arizona, I think they bounce back strong. James - New York Giants (+3) over DALLAS COWBOYS: My pick here comes down to the intangibles. I believe that the Giants want the win more than the Cowboys do. I also have more faith in the Giants in late game situations than I do in the Cowboys. Both are coming off of tough losses, but one was a close loss to the league’s best team while the other was a close loss to a very bad team. David - SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (even) over St. Louis Rams: I think the NFC picked this game just to show off how popular the NFL really is. That can be the only reason for it. The Rams are falling apart and the Seahawks are starting to play some decent football. I’ll go with the Seahawks. James - SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (even) over St. Louis Rams: Wait a second. I must have read wrong. This is not the Monday Night Football game, right? There is no way the NFL would schedule a game like this so late in the season, on the biggest prime time game of the week. Sorry, Im not even going to explain my pick, Im just going to complain about this being the MNF game. TERRIBLE! DAVID FUCILLO JAMES ARCELLANA Read More: week 14 nfl picks, 2011 nfl picks, 49ers picks, raiders picks Follow , and Like SB Nation Bay Area on Facebook. Do you like this story?
Running low on time today, i’ll be back tomorrow hopefully with some more news. Posted in 1, Arian Foster, Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, New York Jets, Oakland Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers, raiders-news, San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams, Tennessee Titans, Tim Tebow, Washington Redskins | Comments Off
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Why the Oakland Raiders Will Beat the Miami Dolphins: Fan’s Take |
With the Oakland Raiders the first-ranked team in the AFC West and Miami Dolphins the last ranked team in the AFC East, it’s not hard to see who will come out on top when they meet. I have no doubt the Raiders will continue their assault towards Super Bowl XLVI, rolling over the Dolphins on Sunday December 4. Surface of an American football ball. Here are my top five reasons the Raiders will beat the Dolphins: Passing and QB I believe we will look back on 2011 as a great year in Raider history. It’s the year Carson Palmer(notes) came to the Raiders and will be the first of many Super Bowl wins with him at the helm. He has thrown for at least 299 yards in three of the past four games and is 3-1 since joining the team and starting in the lineup. The only problem could be interceptions, Palmer has eight pick-offs. All this without his main receiver Jacoby Ford(notes). Miami’s Matt Moore(notes) has been doing well, but it won’t be enough against the Silver and Black. The Raiders lead the Dolphins here statistically, with 373.3 yards per game passing vs. the Dolphins’ 316.4. Running game It could be all about Darren McFadden(notes), if he’s healthy enough to play. The Raiders may have an advantage over the Dolphins in rushing years (149.2 per game vs. 110.2) but I think the Raiders have struggled here. If McFadden is healthy, it will make a unbeatable combination with Palmer’s passing game. Michael Bush(notes) has stepped up his game and I think he will be a big threat to the Dolphins defense. Defense Miami has been playing good, hard defense and on paper they look better than the Raiders, especially in the key stat of points per game allowed. The Raiders have allowed 24.9, the Dolphins 18.7. Most of the other defensive match-ups look even except for rushing yards allowed per game. The Dolphins have allowed 97.5 yards per game, compared to the Raiders 135.3, so the Dolphin running game could present a threat. One issue for the Raiders defense is linebacker Rolando McClain(notes), who was arrested in Alabama, charged with assault, discharging a firearm and other gun charges, then released. He is scheduled to travel with the team to Miami but is listed as questionable to play in the game. If nothing else, I think it’s a distraction the team didn’t need right now. Coaching I like Raiders coach Hue Jackson and I think a lot of years of hard work are stating to come together. He’s been a lot of places, coaching at Cal and USC, then moving up to the NFL and working for the Washington Redskins, Cincinnati Bengals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens and finally Oakland. He’s seen a lot of techniques and systems and I think he’s putting all that knowledge to use this season. Jackson coached Raiders QB Palmer when he (Jackson) was a coach at USC and I think that’s another reason the team brought him on-board. Across the field, Miami coach Tony Sparano is probably worried about his job, he’s now 28-31 in his fourth season and I think Miami fans are ready for a change. Al Davis The legacy of Raiders long-time owner Al Davis is to win and the players wear stickers on their helmets to honor him. I think his passing in October has inspired the team and taken them to a new level of intensity. I think it created a “12th man” effect, adding to the strength of Raider Nation, supporting the team at home and away. Although born and raised with Eagles fans in Philadelphia, Freddy Sherman has always been a citizen of Raider Nation at heart. Since his dad got him a signed George Blanda football as child, to meeting Lyle Alzado in the 1980s, he hasn’t looked back. Follow him on twitter @thefredsherman More from this contributor: Oakland Raiders – Top 5 Reasons They’ll Be in Super Bowl XLVI Broncos’ Tim Tebow is Building Another Hospital: Fan’s Opinion Top 5 Greatest Oakland Raiders Hall of Famers Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content. That’s all for today guys, i’ll be back to blog you tomorrow. Posted in 1, Baltimore Ravens, Darren McFadden, Jacoby Ford, Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders, raiders-news, Rolando McClain, Tim Tebow, Washington Redskins | Comments Off
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Top 5 Greatest Oakland Raiders Seasons: Fan’s Opinion |
It’s shaping up to be a great season for the Raider Nation as the Oakland Raiders lead the AFC West and look good to continue the momentum right into Super Bowl XLVI. While I really think the 2011 season may end up being a truly great one for the team, I thought it was a good time to also look back into Raider history at some of the team’s greatest seasons, and here are my picks for the Raiders’ top five greatest seasons: Surface of an American football ball. 1963 – First season with Al Davis as coach 1963 was an incredible season for the Oakland Raiders, then part of the upstart American Football League (AFL), created as its own stand-alone league, separate from the NFL. Al Davis came on-board as a coach for the 1963 season and led the Raiders to a 10-4-0 record. This is considered one of the greatest coaching accomplishments in pro football history as the Raiders went 1-13 the season before, and 2-12 in 1961. 1976 – 13-1 record and Super Bowl XI win The Super Bowl was played in January 1977, but it was the 1976 season that took the team there. Under the leadership of super-coach John Madden, the team dominated the league, going 13-1, the best record in the NFL. I grew up in Philadelphia and remember when the Raiders beat the Philadelphia Eagles to clinch the Western Division Championship that November. 1980 – Super Bowl XV win Living in Philly, this season’s ending was really tough as the Raiders beat the Eagles to win Super Bowl XV. John Madden was gone, replaced by Tom Flores, another great Raiders coach, who led the team to a 11-5 record. With that record, the Raiders became the first team in NFL history to have 16 consecutive winning seasons. 1983 – Super Bowl XVIII win The 1983 season was a great one, the team had moved to Los Angeles, where they were playing in front of a new group of crazed fans. It was a season of controversy with lawsuits surrounding the move to Los Angeles, but they didn’t affect the team’s on-field play. The Raiders rolled into Super Bowl XVIII in Tampa where with the strength of QB Jim Plunkett and RB Marcus Allen, they beat the Washington Redskins 38-9. 1967 – 13-1 season To me, this was the first year of modern football, with the AFL and NFL merged and playing together in one league. The Raiders powered through the season to finish 13-1, the best record in AFL history. When they played in Super Bowl II they were beaten by the Green Bay Packers 33-14 in a crushing loss. Although born and raised with Eagles fans in Philadelphia, Freddy Sherman has always been a citizen of Raider Nation at heart. Since his dad got him a signed George Blanda football as child, to meeting Lyle Alzado in the 1980s, he hasn’t looked back. Follow him on twitter @thefredsherman More from this contributor: Oakland Raiders – Top 5 Reasons They’ll Be in Super Bowl XLVI Farmers Field Proposed Re-design is Too Expensive to Build: Fan’s Opinion Top 5 Greatest Oakland Raiders Hall of Famers Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content. Gotta run!. |
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Fan’s Look at the History Between the Miami Dolphins and the Oakland Raiders |
The Oakland Raiders will head to Miami, Florida this weekend to battle it out with the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, December 4, 2011. These two teams have had some memorable games over the years, and it’s the Raiders who lead the series, winning 19 to the Dolphins’ 14 victories, with one tie. Raiders fan, Dr. Death Over the past decade, it’s been a different story, with Miami winning five out of their six most recent games. But the tide is turning, as everything in football seems to be cyclical for many teams. The last time the two faced each other in a playoff battle, was on January 6, 2001, and it was Oakland who defeated Miami, 27-0. Here is a look back at some of the best games between the Raiders and the Dolphins. December 21, 1974 This 1974 AFC Playoff Game was one of the best games in the history of the NFL. It was played at the Oakland Coliseum, with the famed Don Shula as Miami’s head coach and John Madden coaching the Raiders. The great Kenny Stabler was the quarterback for Oakland, and Bob Griese was the Dolphins’ quarterback. With less than five minutes left in the game, the Raiders were losing, but Cliff Branch scored a touchdown to put Oakland up 21-19. Then Griese helped lead an immediate comeback to put Miami up 26-21 with only two minutes left on the clock. The Raiders had to get the touchdown, and Stabler led the team down the field. In one of the most unlikely catches in history, under a sea of Miami players, Clarence Davis outfought them to come up with the ball and hold onto it for the score. The Raiders scored twice in less than four and a half minutes, and it went down in history as one of the greatest plays ever. Final score, 28-26, Raiders. September 22, 1975 Less than a year later, on September 22, 1975, the Raiders’ snapped Miami’s 31 home game winning streak with a defeat of the Dolphins, 31-21 on Monday Night Football. The Raiders’ running back, Harold Hart, took a kickoff 102 yards for a touchdown, and some of the Silver and Black’s greatest players were on the field that night, including Dave Casper, Skip Thomas and Fred Biletnikoff. September 19, 1983 Early in the season in 1983, it was my favorite quarterback, Jim Plunkett, who led the, then, Los Angeles Raiders to victory over the Dolphins, 27-14. It was also famed quarterback, Dan Marino’s rookie year. Plunkett went 11-for-15 with 162 passing yards, and one of the best running backs in NFL history, Marcus Allen, rushed for 105 yards. The Raiders went on to win their third and last Super Bowl to date, against the Washington Redskins on January 22, 1984. K.C. Dermody grew up in the Bay Area of California, and has been an Oakland Raiders fan from the time she could walk. She has continued her loyalty to the team through its many ups and downs over the decades, and has been privileged to meet several of her favorite players, including famed quarterback, Jim Plunkett . Follow her at www.facebook.com/KCDermodyWriter or on Twitter @kcdermody. More from this contributor: Oakland Raiders’ Sebastian Janikowski Named Special Teams Player of the Week: Fan reaction The Oakland Raiders Get a Win at Home Against the Chicago Bears: Fan reaction Oakland Raiders’ Fan’s Look: Hue Jackson Proving the Naysayers Wrong Fan’s Look at Why the Oakland Raiders Will Stay on Top of the AFC West Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content. Running low on time today, i’ll be back tomorrow hopefully with some more news. Posted in 1, Chicago Bears, Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders, raiders-news, Sebastian Janikowski, Washington Redskins | Comments Off
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