Author: Chris McClain

The Oakland Raiders went to Los Angeles looking to build on their first win of the season but the Chargers had different plans. Chargers veteran quarterback Philip Rivers gouged the Raiders defense from the beginning of the gam, finishing 22 of 27 for 339 yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, Jon Gruden and the Raiders offense struggled to get the ball moving and when they did they couldn’t get it into the end zone. Quarterback Derek Carr drove the offense 82 yards on 10 plays in a first-quarter drive but were forced to settle for a field goal that kept the game tied heading into the second quarter. The Chargers found the end zone first when Rivers beat the Raiders blitz, finding running back Austin Ekeler for a 44-yard touchdown pass to put them up 10-to-3. Trying to answer, Carr found wide receiver Martavis Bryant over the middle but he lost the ball trying to get extra yards. It took Rivers just six plays to get his offense back into the end zone, this time it was Melvin Gordon scoring from one yard out. The Raiders had 1:39 left in the half to get some more points on the board but Matt McCrane came up shot on a 58-yard field goal attempt. A costly roughing the passer penalty by Bruce Irvin put the Chargers in field goal range after a...

The Oakland Raiders returned home looking for their first win of the season as they hosted the Cleveland Browns and newly-named starter Baker Mayfield. Jon Gruden and his defensive coordinator Paul Guenther have expected big things from second-year cornerback Gareon Conley and they got it on Sunday. Conley, who has played well this season, got the scoring started for the Raiders when he intercepted a pass from Mayfield and returned it 36 yards for the first-quarter touchdown to make it 7-to-0 early. Mayfield’s struggles would continue in the first quarter but the Raiders offense would be unable to take advantage of the slow start, going three-and-out on both of their opening drives. Cleveland’s rookie quarterback and the offense would find its rhythm in the second quarter with the help of rookie running back Nick Chubb who broke free and scampered 63 yards for the team’s first touchdown of the day. Mayfield would add on to the lead by finding his tight end Darren Fells over the middle, breaking free from a couple of defenders and walking into the end zone to take a 17-to-7 lead over the Raiders. Gruden’s team answered before the half as Derek Carr threw a fastball between two defenders into the arms of Amari Cooper to make the deficit just 17-to-14 at the half. The Raiders have struggled in the second half all season and...

The Raiders flew across the country to take on the Miami Dolphins looking for their first win of the season against a team that was undefeated. Jon Gruden and his squad entered the game winless largely due to their inability to close out, whether on the road or at home. The Raiders held a second-half lead much like their first two games, but they were also unable to close out a win, just like their first two games. The Raiders held a 17-to-7 lead in the third quarter after a touchdown run by Marshawn Lynch but were only able to add a 52-yard field goal by Mike Nugent after that. Meanwhile, the Raiders defense gave up three straight touchdowns to a suddenly explosive Dolphins offense. The Dolphins took their first lead of the game when wide receiver Jakeem Grant took a pass on a trick play 52 yards to give them the 21-to-17 lead in the fourth quarter. Derek Carr and the Raiders offense had a chance to bounce back but veteran Dolphins pass rusher Cameron Wake broke through the offensive line to hit Carr as he let go of the ball and was intercepted in the end zone. The Dolphins wouldn’t hesitate to take advantage of the added possession, finding wide receiver Albert Wilson on a shovel pass, who used his speed to take it 72 yards and...

Jon Gruden and the Oakland Raiders looked to bounce back from a 33-to-13 loss to the Los Angeles Rams as they traveled to Denver to take on the Broncos on a short week. Just like last week, Gruden’s offense got off to a quick start going 67 yards on nine plays before their drive stalled out in the red zone and they had to settle for a 26-yard field goal to take the early 3-to-0 lead against the Broncos. Defensive coordinator Paul Guenther’s defense played a nearly perfect first half, shutting out the Broncos defense. Meanwhile, quarterback Derek Carr was also nearly perfect, completing 18 of his 19 pass attempts for 158 yards. The Raiders lone touchdown in the first half came on a one-yard touchdown rush by running back Marshawn Lynch, giving the Silver & Black a 12-t0-0 lead at halftime. The Broncos got onto the board in the second half as quarterback Case Keenum orchestrated an 11-play drive to go 75 yards that culminated in a one-yard touchdown run by rookie Royce Freeman to make the score 12-to-7. But Carr’s domination would continue. The veteran quarterback would complete all four of his pass attempts on the next drive, including a 20-yard bullet to Seth Roberts for a touchdown in between two Denver defenders to extend the Raiders lead to 19-t0-7. Guenther’s defense dodged some bullets on the...