Raiders

Marshawn Lynch shines in Raiders win over Giants

Published

7 years ago

December 3, 2017

Oakland, CA – The Raiders were cautious in using Marshawn Lynch early in the season but now they’ve unleashed the beast. Oakland used their running game to power past the New York Giants. Lynch recorded a season-high run on opening drive and crossed the 100-yard barrier for the first time in the Silver and Black.

The Raiders 24-17 victory over the Giants put them in first place in the AFC West and will battle the Kansas City Chiefs for the number one spot next week. In the meantime, Oakland will revel in their win behind an offense that was without a few of their top Wide Receivers.

“I think today he had 100 yards, which is awesome,” said Derek Carr. “Anytime you can do that, the ball is in your hands. Anytime you can run the ball efficiently, you’re moving the chain – so that just helps us in the pass game element of it.”

Lynch exploded on opening drive with season-high 51-yard touchdown. He was the go-to guy on the first two carries before going untouched through a seas of red, white and blue jerseys. Lynch finished the series with 60 yards on 3 carries, the Raiders had 3 attempts for the touchdown.

Before Lynch managed to elude reporters waiting by his locker after the game, he produced a document that requested a urine sample. The ever so brazen running back explained that he had to submit “ding ding sauce” for those who didn’t understand what the document meant.

In another attempt to avoid answering any questions he did refer to his 100-yard game day by saying “his young life did it.” Lynch’s 100-plus yard game marked Oakland’s first since Latavius Murray did so on Dec. 8, 2016 at Kansas City. He also finished the first half with 80 rushing yards, his most in a first half since Week 15 of 2012 against the Bills (100).

“He’s getting stronger as the season goes on with more carries, DeAndre Washington said. “It’s hard to tackle that man for four quarters, you know what I am saying? He is going to wear you down regardless if he is getting two yards or the 50-yarder like he busted today. He is going to wear guys down and at this point in the season we are really going to need him.”

Washington also got in on the action rushing for a 9-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. It was the first time the Raiders scored since the first half. After Lynch’s phenomenal touchdown, things slowed down for Oakland. Not to give too much credit to New York’s defense, the Raiders offense just stunk up the place.

“We have a lot of guys playing some new spots,” said Carr. “For us, it was just finding the rhythm, staying the course – because we knew our plan was good. We were just making sure that we stayed the course because at some point it’s going to flip.”

You have to credit Oakland’s defense for keeping them in the game. Carr’s offense struggled to get in the red zone multiple times. Two back-to-back 3 and out before the Giants tied the game 7-7 to end the 1st quarter. Orleans Darkwa rushed up the middle for a 1-yard touchdown after it took New York half the period to reach the end zone.

The Raiders went for it on 4th and 1 from the 45 but Lynch got stuffed for a loss. Oakland turned it over on downs with 11:45 in second. Bruce Irvin got the strip on his former college teammate Smith and NaVorrow Bowman recovered the fumble. Still unable to get into the red zone, Giorgio Tavecchio kicked a 39-yard field goal.

“That’s the best play in football to me,” Irvin said. “It was a big moment. We pride ourselves on turnovers. We haven’t gotten that many this year, but they’re starting to come. That’s two in two weeks, three in two weeks. They say they come in bunches. We have to keep practicing, keep focusing on that and they’ll continue to come.”

After a botched punt by Marquette King, the Giants got the ball with .46 remaining in second quarter. The Raiders got a neutral zone infraction penalty for 5 yards and put New York at 1st and goal. But Khalil Mack got the sack on Smith and the strip for the fumble. Oakland was able to hold on while the clock ran out making it a 10-7 game to end the half.

“It’s all about the communication, us all being accountable,” Bowman said. “It’s doing a great job making sure everyone is on the same page. Coach [Jack Del Rio] said it earlier this week, ‘respect all teams’. You knew their record wasn’t well but we still went out there with the mentality that they’re capable of winning a game in the NFL.”

By the fourth, the Raiders found their grove but not before a few obstacles in the third. Carr completed a 26-yard pass to Clive Walford for the first down but again came into dangerous territory when he tossed his almost second interception for the day. Luckily, both defenders dropped the ball.

Carr found Johnny Holton for a 14-yard pass but Holton fumbled the ball. Back to Lynch for a 21-yard pass then Hilton followed with 16-yard pass from Carr to setup Washington’s touchdown. But the Giants responded quickly with Smith’s 10-yard touchdown pass to Evan Engram making it a 17-14 game.

“We sat on the sideline before we got the ball and [offensive coordinator] Todd [Downing] drew up the play,” said Cordarrelle Patterson. “It was just a screen route, we ran it all game but we just did it out of a different formation. He said, just get the ball and we are going to score a touchdown. Unfortunately, I got caught.”

Carr connected with Patterson for 59-yard pass and the 1st down. On what would be the drive that put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter, Patterson notched his longest reception of the season. He caught Carr’s pass on the line of scrimmage and scampered down the sideline to set up a Holton’s 9-yard touchdown reception.

“Just one at time,” Del Rio said. “Just like we’ve been doing. We’ve been purposeful in our work. We understand the scenario of where we are and what we need to get done. And what we need to get done is one week at a time.

Keep improving as a football team. Need to stay together no matter what the noise is outside. Sometimes the noise gets loud. Sometimes it gets loud in another direction. For us not to focus on anything but the work, the preparation, the recovery and then going out and competing our tails off.”

In the last two games, Oakland has held their opponent to under 300 total yards. For the first time all season, the Raiders’ defense began the game with three straight three-and-outs. It marked the second week in a row where the defense completed this fete. Oakland now tied for first place in the AFC West with the Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers at 6-6. They’ll face Kansas City at Arrowhead Stadium next Sunday.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Up Next

Peralta Colleges’ Board of Trustees Halt Oakland A’s Ballpark Plan

Don't Miss

Raiders again embrace, MY CAUSE, MY CLEATS CAMPAIGN

Oakland Post

Click to comment

Bay Area

IN MEMORIAM: John Madden, Oakland Raiders Super Bowl Winning Coach, Dies at 85

“We all know him as the Hall of Fame coach of the Oakland Raiders and broadcaster who worked for every major network, but more than anything, he was a devoted husband, father and grandfather,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said.

Published

3 years ago

January 9, 2022

Oakland Post

John Madden.

By Bay City News

John Madden, who won a Super Bowl with the Oakland Raiders and went on to be a television commentator and namesake of a popular football video game series, has died at the age of 85, the National Football League announced on Dec. 28, 2021.

No other information about a cause of death was immediately released.

Madden, who grew up in Daly City, led the Oakland Raiders to a Super Bowl victory in 1977, then went on to highly successful careers in TV and video games, and was recently the subject of a documentary titled “All Madden.”

Madden’s death prompted widespread reactions on social media from those who knew or admired him.

The Raiders, who have since moved to Las Vegas, wrote “A brilliant coach. A loyal and trusted friend. A Raider.”

Gov. Gavin Newsom wrote, “Tonight we mourn John Madden — he redefined the role of a sports broadcaster — his voice as recognizable as anyone who ever did the job. He hoisted a Super Bowl trophy with CA’s own Oakland Raiders. Our thoughts are with his family as we mourn this incredible man.”

Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf wrote, “I join all in mourning + honoring SuperBowl-winning coach John Madden. He was a great personality who truly loved #Oakland. When his grandson played at O’Dowd, John was as enthusiastic about the Dragons as any NFL team. We will miss him!”

San Mateo County Board of Supervisors president David Canepa wrote, “RIP John Madden. A 1954 graduate of Jefferson High School in Daly City and Super Bowl winning coach for the Oakland Raiders. He did so much for Daly City!”

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Featured

City Seeks to Work With A’s, Major League Baseball To Keep Team in Oakland

City Council leaders said it’s incorrect “that the City Council is delaying or refusing to consider the A’s project proposal,” at Howard Terminal.

Published

4 years ago

May 18, 2021

Mia Lane

Leaders of the Oakland City Council told the head of Major League Baseball in a May 14 letter that they are willing to work with the A’s baseball team to keep it from moving out of the city.

Oakland recently lost both its National Football League franchise the Oakland Raider’s to Las Vegas and the Golden State Warriors to San Francisco.

The letter comes just days after MLB told the Oakland A’s to look for another city to play while pursuing a waterfront park in Oakland.

“The Oakland City Council is committed to negotiating in good faith for a strong future for the A’s in Oakland, and we invite the A’s and MLB to do the same by agreeing not to seek relocation while the A’s complete the (stadium at the Charles P. Howard Terminal) project process,” the letter begins.

But officials in Las Vegas revealed on May 12 on Twitter through Mayor Carolyn Goodman that they have been talking with the A’s since 2019 and they are excited.

City Council leaders said it’s incorrect “that the City Council is delaying or refusing to consider the A’s project proposal,” at Howard Terminal.

Rather, many, such as city staff have been working to bring the proposal to the council for potential approval.

But the A’s have been working on the project for nearly five years, A’s president Dave Kaval said in February. Opposition, too, has mounted against the Howard Terminal site and in favor of a new stadium at the current Oakland Coliseum site.

The City Council’s letter says that MLB has concluded without sufficient support “that the Coliseum site is not viable.”City Council leaders asked in the letter for the materials MLB reviewed to draw that conclusion.

The council’s letter is signed by council President Nikki Fortunato Bas, Vice Mayor and Councilmember At-Large Rebecca Kaplan and Councilmember Carroll Fife, who represents downtown and West Oakland.

The Howard Terminal site is near both downtown and West Oakland.

City Council leaders are willing to meet with MLB officials and the A’s ownership, the letter says, “to thoughtfully move forward.”

Council leaders said the A’s leadership recently changed their requests.

“Rather than send forward full completed deal terms for consideration,” the A’s demanded that the council vote on summary deal terms.

“Council leadership expressed willingness to explore this request, and met with the A’s staff and other stakeholders to seek how best to move forward,” according to the letter.

Council leaders were in the process of scheduling a vote on the summary deal terms before their summer recess when MLB told the A’s to seek a new home while it pursues a waterfront ballpark in Oakland.

“This relocation announcement came without giving the council an opportunity to receive and vote on a proposal and did not even wait for the time requested for the vote,” the letter says.

“Since the request was for a vote by August, why would you announce permission to explore relocation, prior to the date of the requested vote, if the request had been a sincere one?” the letter said.

Council leaders asked MLB to confirm its intentions.

“Can you confirm definitively, that if the council were to take such a vote for a term sheet regarding the A’s, that you would prohibit any action to seek or pursue relocation during those next steps?”

Kaplan’s staff confirmed late on the afternoon of May 14 that a vote on the summary deal terms will be scheduled for before the August recess.

Mia Lane

Posts by Mia Lane

Bay Area

City Reacts as A’s Threaten to Leave

The A’s said on Tuesday said they will start looking into relocating with the backing of Major League Baseball.

Published

4 years ago

May 13, 2021

Ken Epstein

Mount Davis Oakland with Fans/Wikimedia

The Oakland Athletics made a public threat this week to leave Oakland if the City Council does not accept their latest proposal by the end of June to build a baseball stadium and huge real estate complex at the Howard Terminal at the Port of Oakland.

The A’s said on Tuesday said they will start looking into relocating with the backing of Major League Baseball.

A’s owner John Fisher said in a statement, “The future success of the A’s depends on a new ballpark. Oakland is a great baseball town, and we will continue to pursue our waterfront ballpark project. We will also follow MLB’s direction to explore other markets.”

A’s President Dave Kaval told the Associated Press on Tuesday, “I think it’s something that is kind of a once-a-generational opportunity to reimagine the waterfront. We’re going to continue to pursue that, and we’re still hopeful that that could get approved, but we have to be realistic about where we are with the timelines.”

Many residents are angry at the A’s aggressive stance, especially since the team’s new proposal is vague on details and puts the city and its residents on the hook for nearly one billion dollars in infrastructure improvements plus over $400 million in community benefits the A’s have pledged but instead would be handed off to taxpayers.

Reflecting the reaction of some residents, Tim Kawakami, editor-in-chief of the SF Bay Area edition of The Athletic, tweeted, “I just don’t see the municipal validation in kowtowing to a billionaire who won’t spend much of his own money to build a new stadium that will make him many more billions.”

Mayor Libby Schaaf says she is open to the A’s proposal, and Council members want more details on its financial impact on the city and its taxpayers,

Councilmember Loren Taylor told the Oakland Post in an interview: “We know they are looking for alternative locations. It is something that has to be factored in. Our commitment is to work to keep the A’s in Oakland but to do it in way that protects the interests of the city and is the best deal for the people of Oakland.”

Said Councilmember Treva Reid:

“My commitment will always be to the residents of East Oakland and ensuring strong community benefits and economic development. I appreciate the contribution of the Athletics … However, the Council must have an adequate amount of time to thoroughly evaluate their proposed offer to ensure Oakland residents receive a fair, transparent and equitable deal.”

In her statement, Mayor Schaaf, who has long been a backer of the A’s real estate development near Jack London Square, said, “We share MLB’s sense of urgency and their continued preference for Oakland. Today’s statement makes clear that the only viable path to keeping the A’s rooted in Oakland is a ballpark on the waterfront.

“Now, with the recent start of financial discussions with the A’s, we call on our entire community — regional and local partners included — to rally together and support a new, financially viable, fiscally responsible, world class waterfront neighborhood that enhances our city and region and keeps the A’s in Oakland where they belong.”

Major media outlets, often boosters of super- expensive urban developments, are unenthusiastic about the A’s proposal and the team’s pressure on the city to go along with its demands.

In an article, the San Francisco Chronicle’s Scott Ostler wrote, “Get the message, Oakland? Vote to approve the A’s plan and commit to kicking in $855 million for infrastructure for the A’s new ballpark and surrounding village around Howard Terminal or kiss your lovable little baseball team goodbye.

“It’s called power politics, folks.”

In an editorial, the Mercury News and the East Bay Times wrote,” The team has thrown down a greedy and opaque demand that the city of Oakland approve a $12 billion residential and commercial waterfront development project that happens to include a new ballpark — and requires a massive taxpayer subsidy.

“If that’s the best the A’s can offer, the city should let them go.”

Ray Bobbitt of the African American Sports and Entertainment Group told the Oakland Post, “These are bully tactics. You either give me the money or I’m leaving. I don’t think that’s the way to work with the community.

“Do it in a way that’s respectful of the people. If you want to play hardball, I don’t think it’s a tactic that works these days.”