Rookie DE Maxx Crosby has historic day vs Bengals in Week 11

The Oakland Raiders have gotten some outstanding production from their rookie class. Josh Jacobs might be the front-runner for the Offensive Rookie of the Year award, and players such as Hunter Renfrow, Foster Moreau, and Trayvon Mullen are all starting to grow into their roles.

But the player that has impressed the most this season relative to expectations is the fourth-round pick, Maxx Crosby. On Sunday, Crosby had a historic game in Oakland, recording four sacks and five solo tackles. He is just the fourth rookie to ever record four sacks in a single game.

Four sacks for the fourth pick of the fourth round.

His motor doesn't quit.@CrosbyMaxx | #MVPofMPG pic.twitter.com/SRe3eKGv1U

— Oakland Raiders (@Raiders) November 18, 2019

Crosby is a highly athletic defensive end who is just starting to learn the position. With Clelin Ferrell starting to make some noise on the other side, Oakland might just have their franchise defensive ends. Crosby’s development in the second half of the season has been fantastic and much-needed.

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Studs and duds after Bengals stumble to 0-10 vs. Raiders

Winners and losers from Bengals vs. Raiders in Week 11.

A valiant defensive effort from the Cincinnati Bengals mattered little in Sunday’s 17-10 loss at the hands of the Oakland Raiders.

The Bengals fall to 0-10 on the season after Zac Taylor’s offense could only muster 246 total yards. Ryan Finley threw for just 115 yards and took five sacks in the process, rendering a strong Joe Mixon performance also a moot point.

Here are the winners and losers coming out of the loss.

Stud: Joe Mixon

Nov 17, 2019; Oakland, CA, USA; Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon (28) runs with the football against the Oakland Raiders during the first quarter at the Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

Mixon was one of the biggest winners last week thanks to his 100-yard performance. Turns out that was a sign of things to come — Mixon scored his first touchdown of the season in the first quarter and then gave the ball to his mother:

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The strong early showing was a sign of things to come, as Mixon finished with 15 carries for 86 yards (5.7 average).

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Raiders playoff odds move up to 49 percent with Week 11 win

According to the site, the Raiders have a 35 percent chance of finishing the season with a record of 9-7 and a 19 percent chance of ending up at 10-6.

The Raiders got their third straight win on Sunday, defeating the winless Cincinnati Bengals at home. With that win and a few other AFC losses, the Raiders’ playoff odds have moved up to 49 percent, according to the New York Times playoff simulator.

According to the site, the Raiders have a 35 percent chance of finishing the season with a record of 9-7 and a 19 percent chance of ending up at 10-6. Either of those records would likely be good enough for the Raiders to make the playoffs as they would assumingly be the No. 6 seed in the AFC.

Sitting at 6-4, the Raiders are in a great position to make a run over the next few weeks. With six games left to go, the Raiders might only need to go 3-3 to secure a playoff spot. Considering where this team was just a year ago, that seems like quite the accomplishment.

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Best 80 images from the Raiders Week 11 win over Bengals

The Raiders won an ugly game on Sunday to defeat the Cincinnati Bengals, 17-10. They were led by quarterback Derek Carr, who completed 25 of 29 passes for 292 yards. Oakland has improved to 6-4 and they are in a prime position to steal a wild card spot this season.

To relive the team’s Week 11 win, here are the best pictures via USA Today and Getty Images:

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Instant analysis after Bengals fall to 0-10 with loss to Raiders

Here are some notes and game balls from Bengals vs. Raiders Week 11.

The Cincinnati Bengals defense did what it could to compensate for a struggling offense but the effort came up short in Sunday’s 17-10 loss to the Oakland Raiders.

Road game or not, this wasn’t a blowout favoring Cincinnati’s opposition. But the Ryan Finley-led offense sputtered to 246 total yards. The loss means the Bengals fall to 0-10 on the season.

Some quick notes and game balls from the loss.

It was over when …

…the Bengals came up short on a fourth-down attempt late in the fourth quarter. The game was 17-10 at that point and the defensive dam finally broke

Quick Hits

— First play of the game — a 21-yard scamper for Raiders running back Josh Jacobs. Besides resembling the obvious season-long defensive problems, it proved to be a bit of foreshadowing as Jacobs finished the day with 112 yards on 23 carries for a 4.9 average.

— Cincinnati’s first offensive drive? Fumble by Ryan Finley after pressure from the blindside, Raiders recover. Finley gifted the Ravens 14 points on similar turnovers last week. The rest of the day, Finley coughed up another interception late to seal the game.

— Josh Tupou punched a ball out from behind to create a turnover for the Bengals in the first quarter. That seemed like it would be the only way the team stopped Jacobs on the ground. That ended up serving as a preview, as the Bengals forced two turnovers.

— Big touchdown for Joe Mixon in front of his family for the 7-0 lead:

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— Bengals were one of six on third downs by halftime. If that wasn’t bad enough, Randy Bullock shanked a kick at the end of the half. Second-half adjustments didn’t help the third-down outlook much, as the Bengals finished three of 13 in this area.

— Jessie Bates picked off a pass for the second week in a row. If nothing else, it’s a sign of his steady upswing and emerging from the muck of a rough overall season for the unit.

Key Stat

3 of 13: Cincinnati’s mark on third downs. Despite good running from Mixon, the offense just couldn’t consistently move the chains.

Game Ball: Joe Mixon

Mixon had another good game given the circumstances, rolling for 86 yards on 15 carries for a 5.7 average. Even with the line whiffing entire plays, it wasn’t uncommon to see him making a little bit of something from nothing.

Up next: The Bengals return home for a two-game stretch and first play the Pittsburgh Steelers. That AFC North rival might be riddled with injuries, but it will be anything but easy given how the last encounter went (27-3), besides the obvious history.

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Raiders get sixth win of season, defeat Bengals 17-10

The Oakland Raiders got their sixth-win of the season on Sunday, defeating the Bengals 17-10. While it wasn’t a dominating win that many hoped for or expected, Oakland was able to move the ball up and down the field for most of the day.

Outside of one poor throw, Derek Carr was on fire against the Bengals as he completed 14 straight passes to open up the game. On top of Carr’s successful passing day, the Raiders were able to run the ball up and down the field on the Bengals to a tune of 115 yards.

The Raiders now sit at 6-4 and are in a prime position to steal a wild card berth this season. Given their upcoming schedule, that doesn’t seem all that unrealistic.

Here are the Raiders’ statistical leaders from their Week 11 win:

Leading Passer: QB Derek Carr – 25 of 29 for 292 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT.

Leading Rusher: RB Josh Jacobs – 23 carries for 112 yards

Leading Receiver: WR Tyrell Willams – 4 receptions for 82 yards

Leading Tackler: SS D.J. Swearinger – 7 tackles (5 solo)

Leading Sacker: DE Maxx Crosby – 4 sacks (5 total tackles)

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The 32 nominees for the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award

The players nominated for the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award have been announced.

The 32 player nominees for the sixth annual Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award were announced last week. Each NFL team nominated one of its players for the award, which recognizes players around the league who exemplify outstanding sportsmanship on the field.

The award is presented each year to an NFL player who best demonstrates the qualities of on-field sportsmanship, including fair play, respect for the game and opponents, and integrity in competition.

The nomineese:

2019 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award Nominees

» Arizona Cardinals C A.Q. Shipley
» Atlanta Falcons WR Julio Jones
» Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson
» Buffalo Bills LB Lorenzo Alexander
» Carolina Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey
» Chicago Bears DB Kyle Fuller
» Cincinnati Bengals DE Sam Hubbard
» Cleveland Browns RB Nick Chubb
» Dallas Cowboys CB Byron Jones
» Denver Broncos LB Von Miller
» Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford
» Green Bay Packers CB Tramon Williams
» Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson
» Indianapolis Colts WR T.Y. Hilton
» Jacksonville Jaguars DL Calais Campbell
» Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes
» Los Angeles Chargers LB Thomas Davis Sr.
» Los Angeles Rams S Eric Weddle
» Miami Dolphins C Daniel Kilgore
» Minnesota Vikings DE Danielle Hunter
» New England Patriots WR Matthew Slater
» New Orleans Saints T Terron Armstead
» New York Giants DL Dalvin Tomlinson
» New York Jets DL Steve McLendon
» Oakland Raiders QB Derek Carr
» Philadelphia Eagles QB Carson Wentz
» Pittsburgh Steelers RB James Conner
» San Francisco 49ers T Joe Staley
» Seattle Seahawks LB K.J. Wright
» Tampa Bay Buccaneers LB Lavonte David
» Tennessee Titans C Ben Jones
» Washington Redskins RB Adrian Peterson

A panel of former players — Warrick Dunn, Pro Football Hall of Famer Curtis Martin, Karl Mecklenburg and Leonard Wheeler — will select eight finalists (four in the AFC and four in the NFC) from the 32 nominees. The winner of the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award will then be determined by a vote of current NFL players.

Past recipients:

» 2018: Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints
» 2017: Luke Kuechly, LB, Carolina Panthers
» 2016: Frank Gore, RB, Indianapolis Colts
» 2015: Charles Woodson, CB, Oakland Raiders
» 2014: Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals

Raiders-Bengals inactives: Newly signed SS DJ Swearinger, DE Dion Jordan will play

Raiders-Bengals inactives: Newly signed DJ Swearinger, Dion Jordan will play

This week the Raiders signed a new safety and a new defensive end. Both are active today against the Bengals.

Safety DJ Swearinger was added to the squad last Saturday following the loss of Karl Joseph to a season-ending injury, leaving the safety position thin. With Lamarcus Joyner inactive with a hamstring injury, the Raiders will have just three safeties in Erik Harris, Curtis Riley, and DJ Swearinger. Cornerback Daryl Worley could potentially play some safety in a pinch.

Defensive end Dion Jordan came off a 10-game suspension this week, and the first eligible day for him to join his new teammates was Wednesday. With the injury to Arden Key, Jordan could see some work on third down and obvious passing situations.

Raiders

WR Keelan Doss
WR/RS Dwayne Harris
CB Lamarcus Joyner
QB DeShone Kizer
C Erik Magnuson
DT Terrell McClain
T David Sharpe

Notes: Nevin Lawson will handle slot corner duties with Lamarcus Joyner out.

Bengals

G Alex Redmond
LT Cordy Glenn
QB Jake Dolegala
TE Drew Sample
WR A.J. Green
CB Torry McTyer
DE Anthony Zettel

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Can Joe Mixon bail out Bengals defense and spur an upset of Raiders?

Can Joe Mixon help the Bengals beat the Raiders?

The Cincinnati Bengals sit on the edge of an 0-10 start to the Zac Taylor era.

A 5-4 Oakland Raiders team is the only thing separating the Bengals from such a dubious fate.

The Bengals are on the road for their second game after the bye week. The first was a 49-13 home loss to Baltimore. And while it’s easy to pin that debacle on the MVP candidacy of Lamar Jackson, Cincinnati has struggled on defense all year. The team coughs up 429.4 yards per game, worst in the NFL. Don’t forget 173.0 rushing yards per game (last) and 28.8 points (fourth-worst).

This is all worth spotlighting because the Raiders — winners of two in a row– have put up 31 and 26 points in those victories. Rookie of the Year contender Josh Jacobs has averaged 4.8 yards per carry with 811 yards and seven scores, tallying 39 first downs. Derek Carr has completed 70.8 percent of his passes with a 14-4 touchdowns-interceptions ratio and a tight end, Darren Waller, leads the team in receiving with 588 yards and three scores.

Given Cincinnati’s inability to stop the run or tight ends, this is problematic. The front office cut Preston Brown while trying to shake up the locker room, but the bulk of the responsibility still falls on rookie Germaine Pratt, who continues to go through weekly growing pains.

It seems the only hope for the Bengals out west rests on the shoulders of the offense experiencing a turnaround. Thanks to some changes in approach to gap play, Joe Mixon got going for 114 yards on a 3.8 average last week. But rookie starter Ryan Finley coughed up 14 points of his own on turnovers.

Normally, the lack of worthwhile film on a new rookie starter under center might help a team like the Bengals pull off a few surprises. But asking Finley to make another leap in a brutal environment without guys like A.J. Green and John Ross is a tough sell.

Unless Mixon has an otherworldly performance, it’s easy to see this one falling into a familiar feeling. Oakland cruises on the ground and opens up a lead early. Finley, shoved into playing from behind, makes a few understandable mistakes as he learns on the fly and the Bengals head back to Cincinnati with an 0-10 record.

Prediction: Raiders 30, Bengals 14

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3 keys to victory for the Raiders in Week 11

Raiders wire looks at the three keys to victory for the Raiders in their Week 11 matchup against the Bengals.

Week 10 was an incredible boost for the Raiders with teams in front of them in playoff position having massive upsets. The losses of the Indianapolis Colts and the Kansas City Chiefs set up the Raiders correctly with an easy schedule coming up down the stretch.

The easy part starts this week with a matchup against the winless Cincinnati Bengals, who are coming of an embarrassing loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The Bengals are the worst team in football and are torpedoing for the first pick overall in the 2020 draft. At this point, they are abysmal on both sides of the football.

The scenario creates a trap game for the Raiders, especially with the Pittsburgh Steelers losing to the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night. The Raiders need to handle business and solidify themselves as a playoff contender and not fall back into old habits. It is a crucial game for the Raiders, no matter the opponent.

What are the keys to securing a win against the Bengals Sunday afternoon in Oakland? Let’s look at the three keys to victory for the Raiders in Week 11:

1. Heavy dose of RB Josh Jacobs

Josh Jacobs has proven he is worth as a first-round pick with his stellar play so far this season. Jacobs leads all rookies in rushing yards and touchdowns and is number one graded running back according to Pro Football Focus. On Sunday, expect Jacobs to dominate against one the worst run defenses in the NFL.

The Bengals are last in the NFL in rushing yards per game allowed with a whopping 173 yards allowed per game. They have been dominated up front all year with a front seven full of injuries giving up huge plays in the run game. Last week the Ravens only passed the ball 17 times and won 49-13 using the run game to dominate and overwhelmed the Bengals defense.

The Raiders gameplan should be no different using Jacobs to keep drives alive and force the Bengals to become one dimensional on offense. Expect Jon Gruden to call plenty of run plays early to set the tone for the offense and to roll over the Bengals with the Raiders mismatch in the trenches.

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