Tag: brock bowers

Jaguars vs. Raiders: Key matchups

Jaguars vs. Raiders: Key matchups

The Jacksonville Jaguars head into Week 16 against Las Vegas with some offensive momentum following a productive Sunday in their loss to the New York Jets.

One of the key storylines from the Jaguars’ defeat is their franchise record-setting rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., who has emerged as one of the best young playmakers in the league. Jacksonville’s first-round selection will be a high-level target for a healthy Trevor Lawrence in 2025 and beyond.

This week against the Raiders, the Jaguars have a chance to add another win to their lowly season total against a team projected to be selected within the first three slots in April’s NFL Draft. 

Jaguars Wire takes a closer look at the key matchups ahead of Sunday’s late afternoon bout with Desmond Ridder and the Raiders.

Jaguars secondary and linebackers vs. Raiders TE Brock Bowers

This weekend will feature two highly regarded rookie skill players, Thomas and Raiders tight end Brock Bowers, who have quickly become franchise cornerstones on their respective teams.

Bowers himself is on his way to a record-breaking rookie season as he is just over 100 yards away from breaking Mike Ditka’s rookie record for receiving yards by a tight end at 1,076.

Against a Jaguars defense that ranks last in yards allowed (396.4), Bowers has a good chance to break the record this weekend. However, there is a way to keep this from happening for at least another week.

If Jacksonville wants to slow down Bowers, match zone and heavy man coverage will be key. One idea is to allow Tyson Campbell to travel with Bowers and limit his productivity or play match coverage on the second level against Foye Oluokun, Devin Lloyd, or rookie nickelback Jarrian Jones, who we highlighted in this week’s All-22 review.

Either way, Bowers is the best player on the field for the Raiders at the moment. Limiting him would clear a path for a potential Jaguars victory in the Nevada desert.

Jaguars RB Tank Bisgby vs. Raiders defense

With Travis Etienne Jr. back in the starting lineup, Tank Bigsby’s rushing production has varied. His highest rushing total in his last five games is 55 yards. Yet, he continues to create yards after contact and make defenders miss in space at a steady clip.

The Raiders’ rushing defense could provide Bisgby with a productive game. According to Next Gen Stats, they have the 10th-highest missed crackle rate in the league at 13.9 percent. Bigsby has the third-highest missed tackle rate in the league at 36 percent.

Those numbers translate on film as well. Bigsby has a strong contract balance and jittery footwork that allows him to create yards in space consistently. A noisy day from the former Auburn Tiger tailback could spell success for Jacksonville.

Jaguars QB Mac Jones vs. Raiders QB (TBD)

Close your eyes football fans. This is not the superstar quarterback matchup you might hope for this weekend. One of the paths to success for either team is which signal-caller can play a cleaner game.

There is a possibility that Aidan O’Connell will return to the starting lineup for the Raiders this weekend. However, Desmond Ridder could be in line to start again if O’Connell can’t go (or if Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce were to make another quarterback change).

Ridder was efficient on quick-tempo passes against his former team on Monday night, the Atlanta Falcons, going 11-of-15 for 114 yards and one touchdown in that respect, according to Next Gen Stats.

Yet, he also demonstrated why he is already on the third team within one league year. Far too often, he put the ball in harm’s way and made inaccurate throws.

O’Connell doesn’t come without risk either but is a more effective vertical passer, potentially allowing Bowers to see more production downfield. However, neither are particularly great options.

Jones is also a quarterback prone to making questionable throws, including two interceptions against the Jets. He enters the weekend with a four-to-seven touchdown-to-interception ratio on the season. 

While he did give Thomas, second-year tight end Brenton Strange and wide receiver Parker Washington chances to make plays, Jones’ knack for turning the ball over at the worst times continues to plague him. 

That said, if Jones were to put up similar numbers to what he did in place of Trevor Lawrence against Houston three weeks ago, there is a sound opportunity for Jacksonville to get its fourth win of the season in Sin City.

Raiders star currently leads Pro Bowl fan voting

One Raider is the leading Pro Bowl fan vote recipient at his position and several others find themselves inside the top 10.

Raiders rookie tight end Brock Bowers is authoring a 2024 season that won’t soon be forgotten.

The 6-foot-4, 230 pound tight end has reeled in 90 catches for 968 yards with four touchdowns. Bowers’ catches and yards are both tops in the NFL among tight ends and rank fourth and 11th among all NFL players, respectively.

Bowers has already set the new NFL record for the most catches by a rookie tight end. With three games still left to play, Bowers is well within striking distance of breaking the NFL’s rookie tight end single-season receiving yardage record (1,076) set by Mike Ditka in 1961.

Selected No. 13 overall in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft, the Georgia alum has nine games with five or more catches and three with 10 or more grabs.

Bowers has eclipsed the century mark in receiving yardage in two games this season and has eight games with 50 or more receiving yards in 2024.

Bowers’ rapid ascent has caught the attention of NFL fans worldwide. In the latest Pro Bowl fan voting update, Bowers is now the leading vote-getter among tight ends.

Three other Raiders find themselves within the top 10 of the latest Pro Bowl fan voting update at their respective positions.

The Raiders’ Maxx Crosby currently possesses the fourth-most votes among defensive ends, Robert Spillane owns the fifth-most votes among inside linebackers and Daniel Carlson received the ninth-most votes among kickers.

Crosby recently announced that his 2024 campaign is over after sustaining a season-ending ankle injury that will require surgery.

Crosby ends his 2024 season with 45 tackles and team-leading figures in tackles for loss (17) and in sacks (7.5). Crosby also tallied five passes defensed.

Spillane intercepted Atlanta quarterback Kirk Cousins in Las Vegas’ Monday Night Football loss against the Falcons. It was Spillane’s second interception of the 2024 season.

Spillane also boasts a team-leading 126 tackles and has registered seven tackles for loss, five passes defensed and one sack.

Carlson is 26-of-31 (83.9%) on field goal tries during the 2024 season and has connected on six from 50-plus yards. The kicker out of Auburn is also 19-of-20 on PAT tries.

Raiders TE Brock Bowers moving up ranking of favorites for Offensive Rookie of the Year

Brock Bowers is nipping on the heels of Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix in race for Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Can you imagine a tight end winning Offensive Rookie of the Year? Well, prior to this year, few people could. In fact, no tight end has ever won it. But just like Brock Bowers changed the game in college at Georgia, he has changed the pro game as well.

Now with four games left in the season, the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Month has positioned himself as a favorite to win the award.

Washington QB Jayden Daniels is still the favorite to win it. And odds are he will win the award, mostly because he plays the most important position in football. And despite Gregg Rosenthal’s opinion, Bo Nix is probably also more likely than Bowers to win the award.

But Bowers has already set a new NFL rookie record for TE receptions (87) with still four games to go and his 933 yards put him within striking distance of the rookie tight end receiving yards record as well, which has stood for over six decades. So, he deserves to be in the conversation. Perhaps even forcing the committee to step outside their box and consider positions other than QB, WR, or RB for a change.

Raiders PFF grades: 5 highest rated Week 14 vs. Buccaneers

The Raiders lost again, their ninth straight defeat. But who actually performed well against the Buccaneers on Sunday?

The Raiders battled in Tampa Bay on Sunday after falling behind the Buccaneers early, and for a while, it seemed like they’d actually win a game.

But the Las Vegas offense couldn’t score enough points and the defense ran out of steam, allowing the Bucs to register a couple of fourth-quarter touchdowns. It was the Raiders’ ninth straight defeat.

Some players put good performances on tape, however. Safety Tre’von Moehrig is the highest-graded Raider this week according to Pro Football Focus, earning an impressive 90.6 score. He’s followed on the list by another defender, defensive end K’Lavon Chaisson.

Moehrig led his team in tackles and recovered a fumble, and Chaisson had an incredible interception after tipping the football at the line of scrimmage. Each player registered half of a QB sack and Moehrig had three pass breakups.

They’re followed on the list by three young players on offense: running back Sincere McCormick, tight end Brock Bowers, and center Jackson Powers-Johnson. McCormick started in the backfield and responded with 78 yards on 15 carries. He’ll get more opportunities to adjust to the NFL as the season winds down.

Bowers had a quiet day as a receiver with just three catches, though he had a long reception of 25 yards. He’s still in the running for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Powers-Johnson has displayed a lot of skill at center since he took over for offensive lineman Andre James, but the rookie needs to reduce his penalties and miscues as part of the maturity process.

After nine straight weeks of PFF grades following a Raiders loss, when will we see how the team grades after a win? That’s uncertain, but Las Vegas will try for victory again on Monday night against the Falcons in Las Vegas.

Raiders TE Brock Bowers sets another NFL record

Brock Bowers has broken the record for most receptions by a rookie tight end previously held by Sam LaPorta.

Brock Bowers’s historic season continues. He was already on pace to rival some of the best seasons for a tight end or for a rookie at any position. But today, he officially made history.

The 13th overall pick rookie’s three receptions against the Buccaneers gave him 87 for the season, surpassing Sam LaPorta (86) for the most catches by a rookie tight end in NFL history.

Bowers also has 933 yards receiving, which is already third most for a rookie tight end in NFL history. He is 94 yards from surpassing Kyle Pitts (1026) for number two and 144 yards from breaking Mike Ditka’s record of 1076 yards which is stood for 63 years!

And with four games left in the season, he has a very good chance of getting those records too.

Heck, at this point the Raiders franchise record for receptions is within reach for him. And I mean at any position and not just among rookies.

It’s fun to imagine what Bowers could do — and will do — when the Raiders can get their quarterback situation figured out as well as perhaps having the same offensive staff for at least a full season.

Which rookie is closest to Jayden Daniels in Pro Bowl voting?

Daniels leads all rookies in Pro Bowl voting. His closest competition is not a quarterback.

This week, the NFL revealed the first results of fan voting for the 2025 Pro Bowl. Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson led the way, which was no surprise. Rounding out the top five was Ravens running back Derrick Henry, Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Lions running Jahmyr Gibbs.

Washington Commanders rookie sensation Jayden Daniels was the top-ranked quarterback in the NFC. Daniels, the favorite for the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award, has Washington in playoff contention, only one year after the franchise finished 4-13.

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix is Daniels’ biggest competition for the Rookie of the Year award. However, Nix is way behind Daniels in Pro Bowl voting.

The closest rookie to Daniels? Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers. The No. 13 overall pick from the 2024 NFL draft, Bowers is already one of the NFL’s top tight ends, with 84 receptions, 884 yards and four touchdowns.

In a normal year, Bowers would have the NFL OROY award locked up. However, with multiple top quarterback prospects in the same rookie class, Bowers likely has no chance at the award.

However, the Pro Bowl is another story. Bowers is on pace for over 100 receptions, making him only the fourth rookie in NFL history with over 100 receptions. Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua set a new record with 105 receptions last season.

Raiders offense seeing signs of progress of late

Even as the Raiders losing streak continues, there are positive signs they could be putting things together on offense under interim OC Scott Turner.

Make no mistake, the Raiders are still one of the worst teams in the league. They are still in the midst of an eight-game losing streak and the offense hasn’t cracked 20 points in a month. But if you are looking for signs of hope, there are signs to be found.

A month ago, the Raiders fired offensive coordinator Luke Getsy and promoted passing game coordinator Scott Turner to interim OC. And things have improved in the three games since he took over.

Total yards have been better in each of the past three games than they had been for any of the games over the final month under Getsy. The passing yards totals have been better than at any point since their losing streak began and have gone over 300 yards in each of the past two games, which hadn’t happened all season coming in. And their 116 yards on the ground in Kansas City last week was their third highest total of the season.

Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce credits Turner for that improvement.

“When I look at all our skill guys and improvement that they’re making these last three games, I think Scott [Turner] has done a good job of really getting everybody involved and that’s even in our running game,” said Pierce. “And that’s a credit to these players, because it hasn’t gone our way for most of the season offensively, and to see the progress that we made over the last two or three weeks is good to see.”

The deep passing game has been the catalyst for the overall improved numbers through the air. And the best example was the 58-yard touchdown from Aidan O’Connell to Tre Tucker last week.

“We’ve been talking about hitting shots for a while now, and I thought the best thing we did was play design,” Pierce said. “Let’s look at that, right? We got him in motion. We got movement between the corner and the nickel, now we’ve got Tre Tucker running full speed on them, something we’ve been really working on in practice.”

Coaching may be where it starts, but you can’t call a pass play like that without a QB who can make that throw. It’s something former starter Gardner Minshew lacked, but that is very much in a staple of current (and former) starter Aidan O’Connell’s game.

“We haven’t thrown the ball down the field, let’s just keep it frank,” Pierce continued. “And Aidan [O’Connell] saw it, and I’m not going to lie he did right in front of me, I just said ball and that bad boy kept running. It was beautiful to see.”

At some point, it may lead to a win. Which, with the Raiders officially eliminated from playoff contention, may not matter much. What you really want to see now is progress and some signs of a good foundation for the future.

Derwin James heaps high praise on Ladd McConkey: ‘That’s the Rookie of the Year’

Ladd McConkey has been one of the best rookies this season, and Derwin James believes he should be recognized as it.

Ladd McConkey has been one of the best rookies this season, and Derwin James believes he should be recognized as it.

“That’s the Rookie of the Year,” James said about McConkey on a recent episode of FanDuel TV’s Up & Adams.

McConkey, the second-round pick, has established himself as Justin Herbert’s go-to target and a centerpiece in the offense. He paces the Chargers in catches (58), targets (81) and receiving yards (815).

McConkey has the second-most receiving yards among rookies, trailing his former college teammate and Raiders tight end Brock Bowers.

“Ladd’s a great pro,” James added. “Every day, he shows up to work. He’s got his priorities in line off the field. And I feel like every day, he wants to be great and give it all to the team. Love Ladd so much.”

McConkey recorded 105 receiving yards before halftime in the win over the Falcons, which set a record for the most receiving yards in the first half of a game by a Chargers rookie.

McConkey is on pace to shatter another franchise record, as he currently sits third on the single-season rookie list with 815 yards. Keenan Allen holds the Chargers single-season rookie receiving record at 1,046 yards.

McConkey is currently tied with Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving for the fifth-best odds for the award, trailing Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (-250), Broncos QB Box Nix (+200), Bowers (+1200) and Bears QB Caleb Williams (+6600).

Bucs HC praises Raiders star rookie Brock Bowers ahead of matchup

Bowers was seen as a top player in the 2024 NFL Draft and on Wednesday, Bucs head coach Todd Bowles offered his thoughts on the rookie. 

The Las Vegas Raiders haven’t had much go their way during the 2024 season. They are just 2-10 on the year but they may have a fundamental piece of their offense secured for the future in rookie tight end Brock Bowers.

Many saw Bowers as a top-five player in the 2024 NFL Draft, and on Wednesday, Bucs head coach Todd Bowles offered his thoughts on the rookie.

“I thought he was one of the best tight ends coming out in a long time – not just this draft, but in a long time. He’s living up to expectations. He can play wideout, he can play tight end, he can do some fullback, he can run jet sweeps. They do a lot of things with him and he’s a very talented guy.”

The talent has translated to the NFL immediately in terms of production. The rookie has 84 receptions on the year totaling 884 receiving yards and four touchdowns.

On Sunday, to avoid a trap game for the Bucs, he will be the center of attention for this Bucs’ defensive unit.

Raiders TE Brock Bowers named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month for November

Raiders rookie phenom TE Brock Bowers’s historic November has him named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month for November.

Being on a record pace not just for tight ends but for a rookie at any positions tends to garner some attention. And Brock Bowers has earned some notoriety of late, including, as of Thursday being announced as the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Month for November.

The 13th overall pick put up some monster numbers in November with 32 catches for 349 yards and three touchdowns over four games inside the month.

He set two new career highs in the month, first against Miami when he had the third most catches in a game in franchise history (13) for 126 yards and a touchdown. Then he finished the month strong in a hostile environment in Kansas City when he posted a new career-high with 140 yards on ten catches and a touchdown.

Even before this past month, Bowers was on an historic pace that put him among the greatest tight ends in NFL history.

His consistent ability to get open, make tough catches, and get yards after the catch had head coach Antonio Pierce removing all comparisons from his uniquely talented rookie offensive weapon.