Opening game - Raiders 9/7

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oldbagfan said:
I was curious if it was too early to start a thread about our season opener, when what to my wondering eyes should appear . . .
I am really excited to watch the retooled Pats. They have been getting all kinds of preseason love and I hope it is not misplaced. This will be a chance for me to see all the players in action that the nabobs have been praising. Plus, any Raiders/Patriots game at my house is a major event as Mr. OBF is just as much of a Raiders fan as I am a Patriots fanatic. The outcome of this game will determine the climate in my home for the following week. Hard cheese, buddy! My earnest hope is that the Patriots prevail and Mr. OBF can just pound sand. :patslogo26: :biggrin:
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I would have hoped that after all these years, Mr OBF would have realized that the dirty rotten cheatin Raiders will never be their ancient selves.
They got tucked away on that snowy January evening and descended to football purgatory where they will remain for an eternity.
It's your duty to bring him back to reality. If he were a Jets fan, then it would be hopeless.
 
I worry that the Raiders come out in 12, commit to the run, and force enough commitment to get leverage from play action to TEs Bowers and Mayer, and that size-speed combo rookie WR.

I'm not that worried about their WRs, but I'm not at all sure how the Patriots are covering those two TEs while not getting beat deep by that kid. Gino Smith is a top tier deep ball thrower, and does a lot of the little things well to sell play action, look off safeties, etc.

I think we see more Tonga and Jennings than we might have expected.

On both sides of the ball, the offenses are in good position to challenge the (perceived) weaknesses of the opposing defense. Add in Gonzalez out, and uncertainty all over the place - massive roster overhauls, new coaches, systems, & coordinators - and almost no outcome of this game would surprise me except a 13-6 slugfest. Could be 23-21 or 38-7 in either direction, or both teams north of 30.

That's my prediction, and I'll stand by it! :rolleyes:
 
It's a free article

www.bostonherald.com

Callahan: Why the Patriots’ season opener will be more telling than most

If the Patriots win on Sunday, it will mean more than just a 1-0 start to the Mike Vrabel era.
www.bostonherald.com www.bostonherald.com

The Raiders are a top-heavy team built to press the softest pressure points on Vrabel’s roster. Las Vegas’ two stars — Maxx Crosby and Brock Bowers — are where the Patriots’ problems will start Sunday, and where the game could end. Neutralizing them should be both their toughest and most critical challenges.

While Crosby typically aligns opposite right tackles, the four-time Pro Bowler will see rookie left tackle Will Campbell often enough the Patriots must send help. Over training camp and the preseason, Campbell struggled in pass protection like all rookie offensive linemen do. Furthermore, there were precious few flashes between those losses that gave reason to feel encouraged about the 21-year-old’s chances against one of the most dangerous pass rushers in the NFL.

Danger lurks next to Campbell, too.

Third-round rookie guard Jared Wilson barely held off career journeyman Ben Brown this summer to win the starting job at left guard, a position he hasn’t majored in since 2022. Wilson faced similar issues during the preseason, when he graded out as one of the worst pass-protecting interior offensive lineman in the league at Pro Football Focus across a 32-play sample that included one allowed sack and another pressure. Running all day won’t ease their growing pains, and rushing may be completely off the table if the Patriots fall behind early by multiple scores.

So, how will Josh McDaniels problem-solve?
 
chevss454 said:
It's a free article

www.bostonherald.com

Callahan: Why the Patriots’ season opener will be more telling than most

If the Patriots win on Sunday, it will mean more than just a 1-0 start to the Mike Vrabel era.
www.bostonherald.com www.bostonherald.com

The Raiders are a top-heavy team built to press the softest pressure points on Vrabel’s roster. Las Vegas’ two stars — Maxx Crosby and Brock Bowers — are where the Patriots’ problems will start Sunday, and where the game could end. Neutralizing them should be both their toughest and most critical challenges.

While Crosby typically aligns opposite right tackles, the four-time Pro Bowler will see rookie left tackle Will Campbell often enough the Patriots must send help. Over training camp and the preseason, Campbell struggled in pass protection like all rookie offensive linemen do. Furthermore, there were precious few flashes between those losses that gave reason to feel encouraged about the 21-year-old’s chances against one of the most dangerous pass rushers in the NFL.

Danger lurks next to Campbell, too.

Third-round rookie guard Jared Wilson barely held off career journeyman Ben Brown this summer to win the starting job at left guard, a position he hasn’t majored in since 2022. Wilson faced similar issues during the preseason, when he graded out as one of the worst pass-protecting interior offensive lineman in the league at Pro Football Focus across a 32-play sample that included one allowed sack and another pressure. Running all day won’t ease their growing pains, and rushing may be completely off the table if the Patriots fall behind early by multiple scores.

So, how will Josh McDaniels problem-solve?
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I hadn't heard Campbell or Wilson painted in a bad light like this, did they really struggle as much as he's implying? First I've heard of it, and I've been paying attention..
 
PumpDee said:
Amare Cooper has informed the Raiders he no longer wants to play football. He is taking his ball and going home. Intends to retire.
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Good timing! Guess we'll see a lot of the rookie Thornton on Sunday.
 
ParanoidPatriot said:
I would have hoped that after all these years, Mr OBF would have realized that the dirty rotten cheatin Raiders will never be their ancient selves.
They got tucked away on that snowy January evening and descended to football purgatory where they will remain for an eternity.
It's your duty to bring him back to reality. If he were a Jets fan, then it would be hopeless.
Click to expand...
I kind of have to give him a pass as he grew up in Santa Rosa where the Raiders used to have their practice camp, so he knew a bunch of the guys from the old days. A couple of my girlfriends also hung out at the bar near there which the team frequented. One of them boasted she had done the deed with Ted Hendricks and that wouldn't surprise me. The teams from those years were indeed randy and wild. right, snake?
 
PumpDee said:
Amare Cooper has informed the Raiders he no longer wants to play football. He is taking his ball and going home. Intends to retire.
Click to expand...

I referred to him in an earlier post as the ghost of Amari Cooper so it makes perfect sense to me.
 
ParanoidPatriot said:
If they can shut down Jeany, I think will be able to deal with Geno and Bowers.
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Watch out for Mayer. He's more than good enough to hurt you if you ignore the threat. Meyers will get his yards, and they will test you deep with Thornton at least once. How confident are we in the new safety tandem? How about if they are getting pulled to the LOS to help support the run?
 
Left tackle Will Campbell (ankle) and defensive tackle Christian Barmore (not injury related) were limited Thursday after not being on the report a day earlier.

Campbell, the fourth overall pick, is slated to start and protect Drake Maye’s blindside.

Seventh-round pick Marcus Bryant and veteran Vederian Lowe are options if Campbell can’t play Sunday.

Only one player didn’t practice for the Patriots, and cornerback Christian Gonzalez’s absence makes it likely he won’t play the season opener against the Raiders. Gonzalez has not practiced since injuring a hamstring July 28.

Wide receiver Efton Chism III (knee) and cornerback Charles Woods (concussion/groin) were full participants Thursday.

www.nbcsports.com

Patriots LT Will Campbell added to practice report with an ankle injury

The Patriots added two players to their practice report Thursday.
www.nbcsports.com www.nbcsports.com
 
They finally killed Streameast, so no idea how I'll watch the games this year. I'm too broke to watch the games legit. Sad broke guy right here.
 
oldbagfan said:
I kind of have to give him a pass as he grew up in Santa Rosa where the Raiders used to have their practice camp, so he knew a bunch of the guys from the old days. A couple of my girlfriends also hung out at the bar near there which the team frequented. One of them boasted she had done the deed with Ted Hendricks and that wouldn't surprise me. The teams from those years were indeed randy and wild. right, snake?
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so instead of the stork visiting her she visited the stork? 😄
 
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