The Oakland Raiders kick off the 2013 season with a Week 1 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts in a game featuring two diversely different offenses.
The Raiders, losers in nine of their last 10 season-openers, are putting their chips on running back Darren McFadden and a ground game that lost one of its most important pieces when left tackle Jared Veldheer went down in the preseason with a triceps injury.
The Colts, on the other hand, plan to ride the arm of quarterback Andrew Luck and a steady group of wide receivers that includes former Raiders first-round draft pick Darrius Heyward-Bey.
Oakland has ...
Dennis Allen’s decision to go with Terrelle Pryor as the Raiders starting quarterback appears to be the worst-kept secret in the NFL, with Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle citing two league sources as confirming Pryor as the Week 1 starter.
It’s also a move that makes every bit of sense in the world, particularly for a team looking for any ray of hope it can find.
Pryor clearly outplayed Matt Flynn in the preseason. He engineered more scoring drives, put up better numbers and moved the offense in a way that Flynn couldn’t.
Granted, much of it came against backups while Flynn ...
Headed into the 2012 college football season, Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson was one of the most sought-after prospects at his position. After a junior season in which Wilson threw for 3,638 yards and posted a passer rating of 148.4, the 6'2", 215-pounder may well have been a first-round pick had he entered the NFL early.
Now, just one year later, Wilson is a fourth-round flameout, a practice squad passer who couldn't crack the 53-man roster of the team with the worst quarterback rotation in the NFL.
What happened? How did Wilson go from the penthouse to the outhouse so fast?
As is usually ...
The Oakland Raiders have finally declared a winner in their quarterback battle. According to multiple reports, including the NFL itself, Terrelle Pryor will start Week 1—removing the sliver of doubt that the Raiders might go back to Matt Flynn.
Now that the starter has been determined, the Raiders will shift their focus to putting Pryor in a position to be successful. This is the job of any football coach, but it's particularly crucial for a quarterback like Pryor to be put in situations that emphasize his strengths and minimize his weaknesses.
A talent-deprived roster needs to get the most out of every ...
A month that began with the A's scuffling and ultimately losing their lead in the American League West ended with a 5-1 flourish that enabled the team to record its ninth straight winning month at 14-13. And don't be fooled, that record is indicative of how the A's played in the month of August: up and down and all around.
Even the nice finish was dulled a bit by the three-run lead lost in Detroit on the 29th as the A's let a chance at a rare four-game sweep against the Tigers slip away. But as of this writing, the A's ...
The Oakland Raiders still haven't announced who their starting quarterback will be. There is also uncertainty along the offensive line and with the wide receivers.
We did learn a few things about head coach Dennis Allen's team during training camp, however. Some of it good, some of it not so good. Take a look:Begin Slideshow
Reggie McKenzie has been applauded for getting Oakland's financial books in order, and rightfully so considering the budget disaster he inherited after being hired as general manager nearly 20 months ago.
McKenzie's work as a personnel man, however, has raised some doubts.
After an uninspiring draft in 2012, the Raiders made several risky picks this season. In some cases, like fourth-round pick Tyler Wilson who was left off the team's 53-man roster, the picks were apparently too risky.
There were a few other curious roster decisions that could land McKenzie in hot water if they don't pay off.Begin Slideshow
The Oakland Raiders kick off the 2013 season this Sunday as they travel to Indianapolis to take on the Colts.
As tough as this season may turn out to be for the silver and black, they may surprise many people around the league. No, they aren’t the most talented team, but they have made some upgrades in key areas.
For the Raiders to start on the path of surprising their doubters and continuing to move the franchise in the right direction, they will need to start with a solid effort in Week 1.
Here are the Raiders’ matchups to watch this Sunday.
Terrelle Pryor vs. ...
Fans were watching a potential postseason preview today as the Oakland Athletics hosted the Tampa Bay Rays.
Oakland came into the game holding the top spot in the American League wild-card standings, 1.5 games above the second spot in the wild card, held by today's opponent, Tampa Bay.
With one month to play in the regular season, neither the A's nor the Rays count themselves out in their respective divisions. Coming into today's game, Oakland sat two games out behind American League West leaders the Texas Rangers. After the win and a Rangers' loss, the A's have now closed that deficit to one game.
Tampa ...