SB Nation Bay Area - Raiders Vs. Broncos: Oakland dominated in Denver, 37-6https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48817/bayrea-fave.png2012-10-03T04:01:21-07:00http://bayarea.sbnation.com/rss/stream/31685632012-10-03T04:01:21-07:002012-10-03T04:01:21-07:00Darrius Heyward-Bey 'I'm not going to miss a beat"
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/rVAMyhSREdn_66lq0Nh_dLsFhbs=/0x10:523x359/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/494457/107847531.1349238230.jpg" />
<figcaption>Tim Umphrey - Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Darrius Heyward-Bey returned to practice on Tuesday and expect to play following Oakland's bye week.</p> <p>After missing last week's game due to a concussion and neck injury, <span>Darrius Heyward-Bey</span> returned to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/oakland-raiders">Raiders</a> practice on Tuesday.</p>
<p>Heyward-Bey ran routes and caught a few passes, saying he felt close to normal. The Raiders are on a bye week this week, but Heyward-Bey said he plans to return to the field the following week against Atlanta and expects to begin where he left off.</p>
<p>"I'm not going to miss a beat when I get back. I'm just going to be the same guy, working hard and trying to make plays," Heyward-Bey said, according to <a href="http://www.csnbayarea.com/football-oakland-raiders/raiders-talk/DHB-Im-not-going-to-miss-a-beat?blockID=782911&feedID=2801" target="_blank">Paul Gutierrez of CSN Bay Area</a>.</p>
<p>He was injured during the fourth quarter of Oakland's Week 3 game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Pittsburgh Steelers</a>. While attempting to make a catch in the endzone, Heyward-Bey took a helmet-to-helmet hit from Steelers safety <span>Ryan Mundy</span>. He laid motionless on the field for several minutes before being carted off the field. Mundy was not flagged for the hit, but was later fined $21,000 by the NFL.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/2012/10/3/3447510/darrius-heyward-bey-im-not-going-to-miss-a-beatMark Sandritter2012-10-02T16:18:33-07:002012-10-02T16:18:33-07:00Heyward-Bey back at practice after Week 3 hit
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/YUuhV0a0nhWw7YAyyiuWdx3wQu4=/0x4:1000x671/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/483071/136069733.1349219823.jpg" />
<figcaption>Thearon W. Henderson - Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Darrius Heyward-Bey was practicing on Tuesday after sustaining a concussion and neck strain in a brutal hit during the 34-31 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.</p> <p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/oakland-raiders">Oakland Raiders</a> wide receiver <span>Darrius Heyward-Bey</span> was back at practice on Tuesday after being knocked out of the team's Week 3 34-31 victory over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Pittsburgh Steelers</a> with a scary helmet-to-helmet collision, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.csnbayarea.com/football-oakland-raiders/raiders-talk/Heyward-Bey-returns-to-practice?blockID=782695&feedID=2801">CSN Bay Area reports</a>.</p>
<p>Heyward-Bey missed Sunday's game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.milehighreport.com/">Denver Broncos</a> because of a concussion and neck strain suffered in the hit delivered by <span>Ryan Mundy</span>. He was knocked so hard that <a target="_blank" href="http://bayarea.sbnation.com/2012/9/29/3426926/darrius-heyward-bey-injury-raiders">Heyward-Bey doesn't even remember the hit</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1225501/dhbhit.gif"><img src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1225501/dhbhit_medium.gif" class="photo" alt="Dhbhit_medium"></a></p>
<p>Heyward-Bey has nine receptions for 98 yards and one touchdown on the year. He had two receptions for 14 yards and a touchdown before being knocked out of the game against the Steelers.</p>
<p>He took part in the first team-offense stretches and drills on Tuesday, and will most likely practice tomorrow. The Raiders won't practice again until next Monday due to a CBA-mandated break. The Raiders have a bye-week in Week 5 and then go on the road to face the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons">Atlanta Falcons</a> in Week 6.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/raiders/2012/10/2/3446282/darrius-heyward-bey-injury-raiders-wr-back-practicingPeter Woodbrook2012-10-02T14:10:20-07:002012-10-02T14:10:20-07:00Raiders Vs. Broncos: Did They Cover?
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/G0-pRIY4kxr6Wb1r1m2g2LnKJCY=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828101/large_bayarea.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>When the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/odds">oddsmakers set the Oakland Raiders as 6½-point underdogs</a> in the team's Week 4 matchup with the Denver Broncos, they might have wanted to aim a little higher. Thirty-plus points higher. The Broncos crushed the Raiders 37-6 at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on Sunday.</p>
<p>The Broncos dominated, as quarterback Peyton Manning threw for 338 yards and three touchdowns, and the Broncos defense held the Raiders to just two field goals, 56 rushing yards and 237 yards total.</p>
<p>The over/under for the game was set at 47<b style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; font-weight: normal;" id="internal-source-marker_0.31795926042832434"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">½</span></b>, and taking the over – given the potential strength of the Broncos passing attack combined with the Raiders porous defense and a running game that looked good but not great in Week 3 – looked like a fairly safe bet. Unfortunately, the Raiders had nothing going on offense and taking the under ended up being the right call.</p>
<p>NFL odds for Week 5 and every week of the football season can be found at <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/odds">SB Nation's NFL odds hub</a>.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/raiders/2012/10/2/3445562/raiders-vs-steelers-betting-lines-coverRiley Breckenridge2012-10-02T05:15:19-07:002012-10-02T05:15:19-07:00Raiders defense struggling hard
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/9Bn_D38RO5kcsOQIvfF9p_zzBqY=/5x0:3995x2660/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/432473/153121429.1349150026.jpg" />
<figcaption>Doug Pensinger - Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Oakland Raiders defense has been drastically underachieving so far this season, giving up 125 points through four games, the worst in franchise history in over half a century.</p> <p>The <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/oakland-raiders" class="sbn-auto-link">Oakland Raiders</a> defense have somehow become worse as a unit this past season. Despite being pretty bad last season, the Raiders have not gotten much better. <a href="http://www.csnbayarea.com/football-oakland-raiders/raiders-talk/So-this-is-a-real-defense?blockID=782281&feedID=2801" target="_blank">Paul Gutierrez of CSN Bay Area runs through all the crazy numbers</a>.<br><br>Consider that the Raiders are giving up scores on over half their drives, they're averaging nearly a sack less, opponents are completing over 70% of their passes, teams are averaging over 400 total yards per game, are converting over half their third downs into first downs, and are averaging just over 31 points per game, which is currently the worst rate in Raider history since 1963.<br><br>Players seem very surprised by the poor defensive performance so far. <a href="http://www.csnbayarea.com/football-oakland-raiders/raiders-talk/So-this-is-a-real-defense?blockID=782281&feedID=2801" target="_blank">Michael Huff talks about those concerns with Gutierrez</a>.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"I’m definitely surprised," Huff said. "I came out, I was the one buying in, believed in the scheme, believed in the coaches, believed in everything. I’m not staying away from that.</p>
<p>"Watching on film, we see what we can be. We’re still one play here, one play there. It’s there to be had. We just got to make the plays."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>There are injury concerns. The Raiders still need to get their starting cornerbacks back in place to become a complete unit once again, as Huff is currently playing out of position at corner rather than safety. But the results through four weeks have to be mighty distressing.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/2012/10/2/3441946/oakland-raiders-defense-2012Avinash Kunnath2012-10-01T10:12:09-07:002012-10-01T10:12:09-07:00Raiders fail to get to Peyton Manning
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/tgsrpFkpsz3uFAnJNTUA_gl6b7Q=/3x0:3996x2662/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/396711/20120930_lbm_ac4_292.jpg" />
<figcaption>Ron Chenoy-US PRESSWIRE - Presswire</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Raiders failed to register even one quarterback hit on Peyton Manning in Oakland's 37-6 loss to the Denver Broncos.</p> <p><a href="https://www.milehighreport.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Denver Broncos</a> quarterback <span>Peyton Manning</span> operated with a clean pocket for almost all of Sunday's 37-6 over the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/oakland-raiders" class="sbn-auto-link">Oakland Raiders</a> as the boys in silver and black finished the game with zero quarterback hits.</p>
<p>With Manning being given all the time in the world, he was able to turn in the best performance of his short career in Denver, completing 30-of-38 passes for 338 yards and three touchdowns. In his post-game press conference, here's what former Broncos defensive coordinator and current Raiders head coach Dennis Allen had to say about his team's struggles in slowing down the future Hall of Fame quarterback, <a href="http://nbcbayarea.csnbayarea.com/09/30/12/Third-quarter-collapse-as-epic-as-it-was/nbcbay_landing.html?blockID=781797&feedID=10194" target="_blank">via NBC Bay Area</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"Pass defense works collectively. It's pass rush and pass coverage together, and when we do put pressure on the quarterback, we've got to be able to cover him. When we're covering him, we've got to be able to get to the quarterback."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The aforementioned lack of pressure allowed the Broncos to score 27 unanswered points coming out of the half with Manning going through his reads and completing a pass to eight different receivers. The Raiders were unable to get off the field on third down as well, allowing Denver to convert 10 of their 16 chances while racking up 26 total first downs.</p>
<p>Things aren't going to get any easier next week either with Oakland heading to Atlanta to take on the undefeated <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons" class="sbn-auto-link">Falcons</a>. If the Raiders give Matt Ryan the same benefits they gave Manning, they won't stand a chance with Ryan already leading the NFL in the quarterback rating department.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/raiders/2012/10/1/3438260/raiders-vs-broncos-oakland-couldnt-even-hit-peyton-manningCody Ulm2012-10-01T10:01:48-07:002012-10-01T10:01:48-07:00Broncos dismantle Raiders, blog reacts
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/O7e3EEDnAOqPF2VPGIlDGcJtBS4=/135x0:3990x2570/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/395511/153120653.jpg" />
<figcaption>Justin Edmonds - Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Silver and Black Pride takes a look at what went wrong in the Broncos 37-6 shellacking of the Raiders.</p> <p>It was the anti-halftime speech, a tale of two halves where the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/oakland-raiders">Oakland Raiders</a> looked like a team that could play with anyone in the AFC West and then turned around and gave their best impression of a rebuilding team still looking for its identity, especially on the defensive side of the ball.</p>
<p>As <a href="http://www.silverandblackpride.com/2012/9/30/3434960/oakland-raiders-with-mile-high-crash-to-earth-denver-broncos">Silver and Black Pride breaks down</a>, the game started as it should have. Both teams came in at 1-2, looking for some consistency on both sides of the ball. They were evenly matched on paper and the first half played that way.</p>
<p>But after only being down by four points at the half, the Raiders were down by 11 after one second half drive and then the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.milehighreport.com/">Broncos</a> decided to score – often:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>That lead would continue to get bigger and bigger for the Broncos who scored on every single second half drive. The first three drives for touchdowns and that final two ending in field goals.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>SBP points out the lack of a pass rush on <span>Peyton Manning</span>, who was able to find a rhythm, which eluded him last week as he continues to play himself back into form:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>But it didn't stop with the pass rush. The Raiders were beaten in every facet of the game. The contrast in the run game was laughable. Broncos running back <span>Willis McGahee</span> had 112 yards on 19 carries (5.8 yards per carry). <span>Darren McFadden</span> had just 34 yards on 13 carries (2.6 yards per carry).</p>
</blockquote>
<p>SBP was frustrated and so were the Raiders fans. Another second half collapse against a team the Raiders should be able to play well against.</p>
<p>Here's to next week.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/raiders/2012/10/1/3438254/raiders-vs-broncos-blog-reactsRonald Clark2012-10-01T05:04:11-07:002012-10-01T05:04:11-07:00Raiders unscathed in rout
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zdcEcWK3XYeqpFZEYZLZjiJNAJs=/0x0:3999x2666/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/368869/20120923_jla_bs4_221.jpg" />
<figcaption>Ed Szczepanski-US PRESSWIRE - Presswire</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The good news for the Oakland Raiders after a 37-6 whipping by the Denver Broncos is that it doesn't seem like any major injuries occurred during the game. Darrius Heyward-Bey is still recovering from a concussion suffered in Week 3 action.</p> <p>Nothing went right for the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/oakland-raiders" class="sbn-auto-link">Oakland Raiders</a> as they were pummeled, 37-6, by the <a href="https://www.milehighreport.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Denver Broncos</a>, but on the plus side, nobody got hurt.</p>
<p>The Raiders didn't suffer any major injuries in the rout. Many Oakland players were unable to play in the game - <span>Darrius Heyward-Bey</span> was inactive with a concussion, <span>Khalif Barnes</span> sat out the game at right tackle with a groin injury, with <span>Willie Smith</span> stepping into an offensive line that allowed three sacks for 21 yards, and cornerback <span>Shawntae Spencer's</span> foot injury forced <span>Joselio Hanson</span> into duty, where he recorded five tackles. <span>Andre Carter</span> was a late scratch, as the new roster addition at defensive end still hasn't recovered from a torn quad last season. The Raiders had hoped he would play this week, but he will have two additional weeks to heal accustom himself to his new team as Oakland heads into a bye week.</p>
<p>Denver wasn't lucky enough to stay off the injury report, as their center, <span>J.D. Walton</span>, hurt his ankle and had to leave the game.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/49ers/2012/10/1/3436194/raiders-vs-broncos-injury-reportRodger Sherman2012-10-01T05:03:10-07:002012-10-01T05:03:10-07:00Raiders dash all hope created by week three win
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/KGLFD9t9fZkYOH5cocsKMVAQ61U=/0x73:4000x2740/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/367071/20120930_lbm_al2_414.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kirby Lee-US PRESSWIRE - Presswire</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Oakland Raiders came into the week with a new sense of hope, but will head into the bye week with a new sense of fear.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/oakland-raiders">Oakland Raiders</a> looked inept on offense once again this week. After picking up a dramatic win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Pittsburgh Steelers</a> in Oakland, the Raiders traveled to Denver where they were humiliated by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.milehighreport.com/">Denver Broncos</a>, 37-6. Much like the loss to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thephinsider.com/">Miami Dolphins</a> in week two, the Raiders looked absolutely helpless in Denver this week and did not give much reason to be positive as the Raiders head into their bye-week.</p>
<p><span>Peyton Manning</span> must have heard the talk about how he could no longer throw the ball post neck surgery. Manning tore up a depleted Raiders secondary and finished the game with 338 yards and three touchdowns. On the ground, Wilis McGahee registered 112 yards and one touchdown and the Broncos as a team put up 165 yards. But where the Broncos really shined was on defense, holding the Raiders to 6 points and making them look terrible in the process.</p>
<p>The entire Raiders offense put up 100 fewer yards than Peyton Manning did by himself. The run game looked horrendous as <span>Darren McFadden</span> only averaged 2.6 yards per carry with a long run of a measly 8 yards. Meanwhile, the pass game continued to look boring and barely above average, which is shocking considering the explosive potential the Raiders have at the pass catching positions.</p>
<p>For many of the recent years where the Raiders struggled to find success, often times the only solace that can be found was in special teams. With two of the best in <span>Shane Lechler</span> and <span>Sebastian Janikowski</span>, at least the Raiders could count on special teams being a bonus. That, however, has not been the theme of the 2012 campaign. On Sunday, the Raiders could not escape failure in any part of the game. After going ten years without getting a punt blocked, Lechler has had two blocked this season after having one blocked against the Broncos. </p>
<p>All in all, this game was a wake up call to any of the Raiders fans who found hope in their week three win over the Steelers. The Raiders are clearly a team in rebuilding mode and cannot expect much success in the form of wins this year. </p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/raiders/2012/10/1/3435886/raiders-vs-broncos-raiders-suffer-mile-high-massacre-at-hands-ofJames Arcellana