Week 3 pre-game discussion... we're on to Oakland...

[sb1]

You're quite the cheery one.

After declaring the Pats are in a rebuilding year, aren't any good, and were going to get sh*t-stomped by SEA Sunday night (all of which appears to be completely off-the-mark), you're now anticipating a letdown game.

How nice.

This team is competing, and honestly so much more fun to watch so far this year than it's been in a long time. I'm glad Cam is my QB now.

 

[1960Pats]

This game is historic to me. The Raiders are one of the original AFC teams and I actually have some good memories of the early days when Al Davis roamed the sidelines and George Blanda was their K/QB.

And then, with the help of Ben Dreith, they stole the Pats first SB title in 1976. Everything changed from then on and I still get annoyed when I think of what took place.

The Raiders went on to a great run of winning, getting 3 SB wins, until they came across the Pats in 2001, 25 years after their theft. That incredible, fantastic, surreal last game at the old stadium wiped away years of frustration for me, but it still hurts.

And then the Tuckheads were born and the Raiders fans and ex-players have been crying ever since. It's funny how a team that prides itself on being so tough and proudly wears the motto "if you ain't cheatin' you ain't tryin', can be a pack of slobbering crybabies when confronted with a perfectly legal call.

It was then that I put a 25 year curse on the Raiders, which kicked in with their humiliating loss in the SB the next year. They will not win again, if at all, until after 2026.

And of course, after the Pats won the Snow Bowl they went on to win 3 SB's in 4 years, tying the Raiders for titles all-time.

But a decade passed and the Pats didn't win another.

Then came Defamegate, the most disgraceful mistreatment of a star player and team that I've ever seen, and what happens? Three more SB wins, putting the Raiders way behind, probably for good.

And now we have a chance to burst their early-season bubble all these years later. I'm fine with that.

 

[sb1]

This game is historic to me. The Raiders are one of the original AFC teams and I actually have some good memories of the early days when Al Davis roamed the sidelines and George Blanda was their K/QB.

And then, with the help of Ben Dreith, they stole the Pats first SB title in 1976. Everything changed from then on and I still get annoyed wuen I think of what took place.

The Raiders went on to a great run of winning, getting 3 SB wins, until they came across the Pats in 2001, 25 years after their theft. That incredible, fantastic, surreal last game at the old stadium wiped away years of frustration for me, but it still hurts.

And then the Tuckheads were born and the Raiders fans and ex-players have been crying ever since. It's funny how a team that prides itself on being so tough and proudly wears the motto "if you ain't cheatin' you ain't tryin', can be a pack of slobbering crybabies when confronted with a perfectly legal call.

Yeah but that was a fumble.

 

[upstater1]

This is huge!

 

[Brandon_Cox]

I'm still a little sore that the Pats didn't draft Waller right before or after drafting Shaq in the 2015 draft. There are so few NFL quality players coming from my school, the Georgia Institute of Technology, and I want the Pats to grab the very few good ones. Don't get me started on Harrison Buttkicker; think how good he'd look in a Pats uniform.

edited to add: IIRC, both Smelter and Waller had their fans on the Pats draft board.

 

[libra957]

The Cam train is looking good.

 

[jimnance]

Spread looks about right to me. Patriots are at home for a 1pm start, Raiders are coming off a MNF game in the Pacific time zone. Pats are also a better football team.

Thought the game was in Vegas. My bad.
Time zone/ jet lag is real.
I agree Pats are the better team but I still won't bet that line. Its gotta come down a point. I like sure things.

 

[Uptown]

 

[Boomer B]

My thoughts on this game:

- the Raiders can attack at all levels.Good running game with a stud in Jacobs. Waller looked great at the intermediate level, and Ruggs can stretch the field.

-they have a pretty good line but we’lll see how the injuries they are dealing with work out. Rushing just 4 may not generate enough pressure.

- if we give Carr time he’ll put up points. For me I think we go man to man which is a strength and pressure the hell out of them. Load the box, stop the run, and pressure Carr with extra bltizers. He may hit a few shots but he also might give us a few if he’s throwing under pressure.

- We should be able to put up some points. They revamped their D with some young players but could be some time before it gels. Abrams is a hard hitter in the secondary so we gotta watch out for him. Hopefully we can establish the run and hit on some play action down the field.

- sooner or later if we don’t get out kicking game in order it will cost us. Folk needs to be better.

Carr puts up 2 picks under pressure. Pats 24 - Raiders 20

 

[sb1]

My thoughts on this game:

- the Raiders can attack at all levels.Good running game with a stud in Jacobs. Waller looked great at the intermediate level, and Ruggs can stretch the field.

-they have a pretty good line but we’lll see how the injuries they are dealing with work out. Rushing just 4 may not generate enough pressure.

- if we give Carr time he’ll put up points. For me I think we go man to man which is a strength and pressure the hell out of them. Load the box, stop the run, and pressure Carr with extra bltizers. He may hit a few shots but he also might give us a few if he’s throwing under pressure.

- We should be able to put up some points. They revamped their D with some young players but could be some time before it gels. Abrams is a hard hitter in the secondary so we gotta watch out for him. Hopefully we can establish the run and hit on some play action down the field.

- sooner or later if we don’t get out kicking game in order it will cost us. Folk needs to be better.

Carr puts up 2 picks under pressure. Pats 24 - Raiders 20

Definitely agree with that last one. Folk tbh should not be long for this team but I don’t know what the alternatives are.

 

[mikey m]

I'm definitely not the Mona Lisa Vito of Xs and Os, but any merit to the idea of having Dugger hit Waller at the los and slow him down before passing him off to Williams? Then Dugger can take an intermediate zone, help in run support, etc. I'd picture having Mccourty as the lone deep safety. Call me crazy but I'm really not concerned about Ruggs. Never thought his game speed matched his 40 time.

 

[Raider9175]

I think his point was that it's not necessarily going to be a game where our corners are challenged. Linebackers and safeties will need to be involved. Their receiving corps is average. I'm wary of Ruggs' speed, but it should be a good test for facing Hill, who may be a step faster.

I expect a bounce-back performance from the defense, since they won't have to fear Carr's legs quite as much. I do expect him to pick up a first down here and there, but he's not the elusive threat that Wilson is.

H Ruggs played Monday night at about 70% ( tough for speed guy who relies on his legs play with knee injury). His speed keeps defense honest so they can’t cheat on Darren Waller. B Edwards another rookie is no joke either .( made some impressive Big catches Monday night. HUNTER Renfrow is Young J Edelman - they don’t call him third down and Renfrow for nothing . ( N Agholor and Jay Jones see some time.
The Raiders strength is the Te‘s , and the Rbs. It just not Darren Waller, As there Foster Moreau , and old man Jason Witten . They all can block and catch. You can bet Patriots will see a lot of two Te, and sometimes three Te formations. Everyone of the Raiders Rbs are excellent receivers ( J Jacobs, J Richard - third down back , Devonte Booker , and Fb Alec Ingold.

Raiders offense line when healthy might be the best offense line in football. The problem is Rt Trent Brown has played three plays all year. R Incognito Achilles been bothering him( played only eleven snaps - Monday night. Fourth string Ot Denzel Good has done excellent job at Rt, but is the Raiders best backup guard. Trent Brown able to go , and Denzel Good replaces R Incognito( don’t miss a beat) .
Raiders defense is extremely young. Most of there cbs are either rookies or second year . Raiders really improved their lb corps this offseason( was major weakness for years). N Kwiatkowski ( didn’t play Monday night- makes a big difference, and Corey Littleton are nice combo. Raekwon Mcmillan run defender still learning the defense.

Raiders defenseline is young, This whole defense isn’t there yet ( , but as the season wears on should start to get a lot better. Tough to break in six new starters , with no preseason games to get ready.

Probably going to have to win a shootout

 

[Raider9175]

I would give JJ Williams a shot

Darren Waller goes 6’6 255 with legit 4.4 speed . JJ Williams might have the height but doesn’t have the speed to stay with him. Jmo I expect the Patriots to double team him all game. Make someone else beat them.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Will be a tough go for the front 7 as the Raiders have a massive O-line.

 

[Raider9175]

View attachment 28676

Gilmore giving up six inches to Waller , and Waller just as fast as Gilmore . (think power forward on a guard) . I hope they put your best cover cb on him. I like that matchup better than Gilmore on any of the Raiders wr.( he probably makes them non factor)

 

[Tottie]

Carr hasn't thrown down the field at all this year. I'm not sure if that's by design, but lets see how BB plays it.

 

[Uptown]

We need to re-establish the run game. Aside from Cam, we were abysmal Sunday night. Oakland has given up 120 rypg. Let’s dominate up front & get back to our bread & butter.

Patriots' Josh McDaniels Explains One 'Huge Focus' For Team's Offense - NESN.com

New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels noted the running game must be better entering Sunday versus the Las Vegas Raiders.

nesn.com

 

[bigballas]

I don’t want to let Ruggs run free and beat NE deep. Those deep bombs Sunday - while good plays for Seattle - were killers and hard to watch...

yeah, but Russ Wilson deep bombs were pretty perfect. they werent just hail mary's

 

[Raider9175]

Carr hasn't thrown down the field at all this year. I'm not sure if that's by design, but lets see how BB plays it.

Yes he has to Ruggs. ( just missed) What percentage is Ruggs at Sunday afternoon. He sustained a knee injury in week one. Was clearly not running anywhere close to his top speed Monday night. Personally I would like to see Rico Gafford activated this week, ( Henry Ruggs lite) with Henry Ruggs. Stretch that Patriot defense out , so you can attack the middle where you want to with Waller, and the Rbs.

 

[TinhWoodhead]

Derek Cah will not play well this week, Daren will hit the Wall’. Just win, baby!