Brett Favre picks Raiders HC Jon Gruden as coach of the year

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There is a lot still to be played out this season in the NFL. The Raiders are in the thick of a playoff race that includes more teams than it excludes. But if you ask Brett Favre — and Sirius XM host Bruce Murray did — what he thinks of the job Jon Gruden is doing in Oakland, he had some strong words in response.

“I don’t know what the outcome of the season will be but if I had to pick a Coach of the Year right now it would be Jon Gruden. Some people may say I’m absolutely crazy but I think he’s done a tremendous job. I mean, think about the drama that he’s – and you just talked about not so much drama, but last year when he traded Khalil Mack and then Mack’s first game against Green Bay he just goes crazy and has a tremendous game and everyone says, ‘Is Gruden crazy?’ Trades [Amari] Cooper. Then he has the Antonio Brown fiasco at the start of the season, and all this could have just destroyed his team. I think when you look at all those things that have occurred and where they are and more importantly how they’re playing. They’re playing well and they’re responding to how he coaches. It’s just a tremendous job, it really is. I very impressed with what he’s done there.”

Favre was on the Packers when Gruden was a young assistant in the early 90s. He added that Gruden was a ‘sponge,’ and he could tell Gruden would go on to become a head coach at some point. Gruden would get his first head coaching job with the Raiders just a few years later in 1998.

After ten years as a head coach with the Raiders and Buccaneers, he returned to coaching and the Raiders before the 2018 season. At that time, Favre said he thought Gruden would be even better than he was because of the perspective he gained from his nine years with ESPN as a Monday Night Football analyst.

Raiders-Bengals Wednesday injury report: Josh Mauro returns to practice

Against the Chargers’ backup tackles, the Raiders had their best pass-rushing game of the season. They were also without Josh Mauro and Arden Key for that game as both missed the game due to injuries. While Key was placed on injured reserve, Mauro …

While Key was placed on injured reserve, Mauro returned to the field today for the team, upping his chances of facing the Bengals next Sunday.

Mauro (groin) was limited along with several other Raiders players, including Trent Brown (knee), Rodney Hudson (ankle), Josh Jacobs (shoulder), and David Sharpe (calf). As of now, there’s no reason to believe they won’t be ready to go for the game.

The one player missing for the Raiders was Lamarcus Joyner, who suffered a hamstring injury against the Chargers and who Jon Gruden said is “Very questionable” for the Bengals game.

Missing with injuries for the Bengals were WR AJ Green (ankle), CB Dre Kirkpatrick (knee), TE Drew Sample (ankle), and WR Alex Erickson (back). OT Bobby Hart (shoulder) and G Alex Redmond (knee/ankle) were both limited.

Lamarcus Joyner missed practice today for #Raiders with his hamstring injury. A few others were limited pic.twitter.com/QOUd0bNDW3

— Levi Damien (@LeviDamien) November 13, 2019

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Midseason Ballers for the Oakland Raiders in 2019

We’re just past the official midway point of the Raiders 2019 season. They sit at 5-4 on the season, which is better than many thought they would be in light of the grueling 5-game, 7-week absence from a game in their home stadium. There were many great and solid performances over the first half of the season. Here’s a compilation of the very best.

RB Josh Jacobs

Baller nominations: 7

Best game: Week 5 vs Bears

Jacobs had 143 yards and 2 touchdowns on 29 touches (26 carries) against arguably the stoutest run defenses in the NFL. It was one of six games this season he has gone over 100 yards from scrimmage, with a seventh in which he hit 99 yards, all on the ground. It was also one of three multiple touchdown games for Jacobs, who has 7 touchdowns on the season. Only two games this season was he NOT a Baller.

TE Darren Waller

Baller nominations: 4

Best game: Week 3 vs Vikings

Waller was basically the Raiders’ entire offense in that game. He had 13 catches on 14 targets for 134 yards and another 7 yards on a run. Waller has been at least a good portion of the Raiders passing game all season and still leads the team in both catches (51) and receiving yards (588) by a considerable margin.

OT Trent Brown

Baller nominations: 4

Best game: Week 2 vs Chiefs

Brown kept the Chiefs pass rushers at bay, not allowing a single pressure on Carr. We’re talking about a Chiefs team that is tied for fifth in the league with 30 sacks, the most of any Raiders opponent this season. Brown also cleared the way for a 51-yard run by Josh Jacobs in that game.

C Rodney Hudson

Baller nominations: 3

Best game: Week 10 vs Chargers

It didn’t even look like he would play in this game. Just days earlier Gruden said Hudson wasn’t close to returning for the previous game with an ankle injury. He would return on a short week, play every snap, and look like he hadn’t missed a beat against one of the best defenses in football. His most impressive play was the one in which he laid two blocks to open a hole for Josh Jacobs to run 18 yards for the game-winning touchdown.

DE Benson Mayowa

Baller nominations: 3

Best game: Week 2 vs Chiefs

Despite playing just 18 snaps, Mayowa got in on two sacks on Patrick Mahomes, forcing the fumble on one of them which the Raiders recovered. That game gave him 3.5 sacks in the first two weeks and he has double that tally since then to lead the team with 7.0 sacks.

S Erik Harris

Baller nominations: 3

Best game: Week 10 vs Chargers

On Thursday night football, Harris spotted the Raiders 10 points with two interceptions; one that put them in field goal range and the other returned for a touchdown. That was his second pick-six of the season.

DE Maxx Crosby

Baller nominations: 3

Best game: Week 10 vs Chargers

While Harris was picking off Philip Rivers, it was Crosby putting on the pressure to help set them up. Pressure is something he has done a lot of this season. He leads the team with 25 pressures, is second with 7 QB hits, and third with 2.5 sacks.

Honorable Mention

QB Derek Carr — He led the way three times this season. But those were offset by three rough outings, including the game in Green Bay when he fumbled through the end zone for a touchback. But he shook that game off and has been Top Baller twice. He appears to be putting things together in Gruden’s offense and his arrow is pointing up.

OT Kolton Miller — A couple rough games early — mostly in the run game — he has picked it up since then and has done a stalwart job protecting Carr’s blindside.

FB Alec Ingold — He has been quite the find as an undrafted rookie clearing the way for Jacobs. And he’s made a few plays of his own, either in short-yardage or the Spider 2 Y Banana TD last week.

TE Foster Moreau — The number two tight end has been the most surprising rookie this season. He can catch and move a lot better than anyone gave him credit for coming out in the draft.

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NFL Week 11: How to survive and advance in your knockout pool

The Niners and Raiders are double-digit favorites in the same week for the first time since 1987. Does that make them safe picks?

The Miami Dolphins and Atlanta Falcons combined to send many knockout pools to the finish line in Week 10. However, if you rolled the dice and went with the Bears against the Matthew Stafford-less Lions as a late audible, you were rewarded … barely. On to Week 11 as the drama builds and tension heightens.

Don’t think about it

The New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles get together for the first time since Super Bowl LII. This figures to be a great game to watch and if you somehow have either team available, keep them in the bank. The Rams and Bears get together again. Last year saw Chicago on top. Another game that is worth enjoying and not getting anywhere near. Would have to say the Steelers and Browns fall into this category. Pittsburgh is playing well and Cleveland is coming off a good win against Buffalo. It’s Thursday night and not worth ruining your weekend. The Texans and Ravens get together in what should be a showcase of two of the best QBs in the game, Deshaun Watson and Lamar Jackson. This could come down to who has the ball last and that is not the memory you want to take away from being eliminated from a knockout pool. Not going to try and figure out what Colts team shows up to face the Jaguars. If Brian Hoyer plays again, stay far away from Indy. And, in the Monday night matchup, San Diego plays host to Kansas City in Mexico City. This could provide plenty of offensive fireworks and is a great way to finish NFL Week 11 by enjoying it and not having to choose sides.

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3 biggest needs for the Raiders entering the 2020 offseason

The Oakland Raiders are right in the thick of things in the AFC playoff hunt, and with seven games remaining, they have a great chance of clinching a playoff berth for the first time since 2016.

However, it’s never too soon to look forward to the offseason as the team tries to continue its rebuild. So without further ado, here are the Raiders’ three biggest needs entering the 2020 offseason:

1. Linebacker

No position has haunted the Raiders more over the past decade than linebacker. Oakland has struggled to find consistent play at the position, cycling through dozens of players over the last few seasons.

If the Raiders want to improve as a defense, they need to get faster in the middle. While elite off-the-ball linebackers don’t often hit free agency, the 2020 draft does have several quality players at the position this year. Look for Oakland to address that need early next offseason.

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Raiders select Alabama WR Henry Ruggs III in latest mock draft

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It’s no secret that the Oakland Raiders will be looking to add to their wide receiver room this offseason. While the team is having a ton of success on offense, the unit lacks a true No. 1 receiver that can dictate coverage.

Oakland has a bunch of nice complementary players, including Tyrell Williams and Hunter Renfrow, but they need that one stud they can go to in the game’s biggest moments.

Luckily for Oakland, several elite wide receiver options are entering the 2020 draft. One such player is Henry Ruggs III of Alabama. While Ruggs doesn’t have the prototypical size for a No. 1 receiver, he is one of the most explosive receivers in the country.

Through nine games, Ruggs is averaging 20 yards per receptions on 29 catches as he has scored seven total touchdowns. In Luke Easterling’s latest mock draft at the Draft Wire, Ruggs was the selection for the Raiders at pick No. 17. Take a look at Easterling’s reasoning for the pick below:

The Antonio Brown debacle is in the rear-view mirror, but the Raiders still need a No. 1 receiver who can take over a game with size, athleticism and physicality. Current management takes a page out of the late, great Al Davis’ book, opting for Ruggs and his elite speed.

Ruggs would be a great fit in Oakland’s offense because he can stretch the field, opening up the underneath routes for Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow, while also taking a safety out of the box in the run game.

Ruggs isn’t likely to be a 100-catch receiver in the NFL, but that isn’t what Oakland needs. They just need someone to keep defenses honest, and that’s precisely what Ruggs can do.

Expect the Alabama receiver to be on the shortlist of players the team considers come April’s draft.

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Updated playoff standings entering Week 11

After a much-needed win in Week 10, the Oakland Raiders are right in the thick of things in the AFC playoff chase. Sitting at 5-4, there are only a few teams in the conference with a better record than the Raiders.

With the Chiefs losing in Week 10, Oakland is somehow only one-game back of the division lead with a game left with Kansas City.

While a wild card berth is still the most likely outcome for the Raiders, it’s certainly not impossible that they catch the Chiefs given how soft their schedule is over the next few weeks.

Let’s take a quick look at the current playoff standings in both the AFC:

SEED	TEAM	DIVISION	RECORD
1	New England	East	8-1-0
2	Baltimore	North	7-2-0
3	Houston	South	6-3-0
4	Kansas City	West	6-4-0
5	Buffalo	East	6-3-0
6	Pittsburgh	North	5-4-0

SEED	TEAM	DIVISION	RECORD
7	Oakland	West	5-4-0
8	Indianapolis	South	5-4-0
9	Tennessee	South	5-5-0
10	Jacksonville	South	4-5-0
11	Los Angeles	West	4-6-0
12	Denver	West	3-6-0
13	Cleveland	North	3-6-0
14	Miami	East	2-7-0
15	N.Y. Jets	East	2-7-0
16	Cincinnati	North	0-9-0

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How many more games will Broncos win this season?

The Denver Broncos are sitting at 3-6 following their bye week. How many more games will they win?

The Denver Broncos are ready to return from their bye week and sit at 3-6 heading into the second half of their 2019 season. Fans are still riding high after a win over the Cleveland Browns, which featured a new quarterback in Brandon Allen.

Several questions remain for the rest of this season, including how many more games the team will win. But before we get into that part, let’s look at some of the other key questions.

How much longer should Allen hold onto the starting job? Much of that answer likely lies within what the team decides to do with Drew Lock. Will the second-round pick play at all this season?

Will the offensive line, specifically Garett Bolles, ever start to play at a consistent level, or will this unit again be one of the big question marks going into next season?

When are the quarterback and offensive line spots not going to be big question marks for this team? How many games can the team win with those question marks the rest of this season?

Going over the team’s remaining schedule, we attempt to answer that final question.

Week 11 at Minnesota Vikings

Despite the Broncos being well-rested coming off the bye week, they have to travel to Minnesota to face a surging Vikings team.

Minnesota has a stout rushing attack and a good defense. This looks and feels like an unlikely win for the Broncos.

Prediction: Vikings 24, Broncos 13

Record: 3-7

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Former Longhorn Malik Jefferson waived by Cleveland Browns

Former Texas Longhorns linebacker Malik Jefferson was waived by the Cleveland Browns on Tuesday

On Tuesday, former Texas Longhorns linebacker Malik Jefferson was waived by the Cleveland Browns.

#Browns waiving of LB Malik Jefferson official; team will not make a corresponding move today

— Daryl Ruiter (@RuiterWrongFAN) November 12, 2019

Jefferson is in just his second year as a pro. He was drafted in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals.

With the Browns in 2019, Jefferson only made an appearance in one game, and that game came in week one against the Titans. In that game, Jefferson recorded just one tackle.

Hopefully, we see Malik find a new home soon. After all, he was a third-round pick last year for a reason.

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NFL rooting guide: Who Jaguars fans should root for Week 11

As the No. 10 seed in the playoff picture, the Jags need some help to make the postseason and a loss for the Steelers would be a huge help.

With it being Week 11, the NFL playoffs will be here before fans know it. Of course, at 4-5 the Jacksonville Jaguars are one of the teams who are currently in the hunt, however, if they are to make the postseason they will need some help in addition to handling their own business. That said, here’s a recap on how the AFC playoff picture looks after Week 10 and a rooting guide on who Jags fans should watch on Week 11:

1. New England Patriots (8-1)
2. Baltimore Ravens (7-2)
3. Houston Texans (6-3)
4. Kansas City Chiefs (6-4)
5. Buffalo Bills (6-3)
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-4)

7. Oakland Raiders (5-4)
8. Indianapolis Colts (5-4)
9. Tennessee Titans (5-5)
10. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-5)

Rooting guide

(Thursday Night Football) Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns – root for the Browns

Hardly ever will you catch Jags fans rooting for the Steelers and they will especially have a reason to root against them this week. After starting 1-3 during the first quarter of the season, Pittsburgh has clawed their way back to a 5-4 record by winning their last four games and have found themselves with the last wild-card spot. Needless to say, the Jags would gladly take some help from the Browns, who aren’t in the playoff picture currently but could spoil things for their divisional rival.

Sunday, 1 p.m. games

Houston Texans vs. Baltimore Ravens – root for the Ravens

The Texans are the AFC South’s divisional leader with a 6-3 record and it would take a miracle for the Jags to catch them because they own the tiebreaker over them. However, Sunday’s game against the Ravens is the start of a tough stretch for Houston as they also play the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts afterward. That said, a skid can begin here for them as the Ravens are playing solid football as the No. 2 seed.

Buffalo Bills vs. Miami Dolphins – root for the Dolphins

The Jags have a rivalry with Buffalo (6-3) as it is, however, they will really have a reason to root against them Week 11 as the Bills have the first wild-card spot. That said, they would gladly take some help from their Florida rivals Sunday. With the Dolphins being a divisional rival of the Bills, this could be a close one as they are on a two-game win streak currently and have some momentum.

Sunday, 4 p.m. games

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Oakland Raiders – root for the Bengals

The Raiders (5-4) are knocking on the door of getting a wild-card seed as they are the No. 7 ranked team in the playoff race. However, with the Bengals (0-9) being the league’s only winless team, Jags fans would unfortunately be asking for a lot here. Still, as we witnessed Week 10, upsets can happen and teams need to bring it week in and week out.