We wrap up our Sunday of NFL Action with SNF on NBC with one of the marquee match ups of the week. The Oakland Raiders (2-0) travel to our nation’s capital to take on the Washington Redskins (1-1).
The game kicks off a little after 8:30 p.m. on your local NBC affiliate. As always, I’ll be along for the ride with you the whole way running the Get More Sports live blog.
The Game: Oakland Raiders at Washington Redskins (+3)
O/U: 47.5
The History
The Raiders and Redskins have only met 13 times in their combined history, with their first game showing up on the board on October, 19, 1970. Oakland holds an 8-5 series advantage.
While they haven’t played that many games, one of them was huge in NFL lore. The then Los Angeles Raiders beat the Redskins 38-9 in blowout fashion in Super Bowl XVIII. Marcus Allen rushed 20 times for 191 yards and two touchdowns and was the game’s MVP. It was the AFC’s last Super Bowl win for the next 14 years until the Denver Broncos upset the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXII on January 25, 1998.
The longest streak in the series belongs to the Raiders who won three in a row from December, 1989 to September, 1995.
OAKLAND RAIDERS (2-0)
The Raiders have opened the season hot, looking exactly like a team competing for a Super Bowl berth. Not that anyone should be too impressed with a win over the New York Jets last week, but Oakland did what it was supposed to do when facing a bad team; they crushed them, 45-20.
Derek Carr continued his way too early MVP level performance, completing 23 of 38 passing for 230 yards, three touchdowns and no picks. The Raiders didn’t screw around with Marshawn Lynch last week. He rushed 12 times for 45 yards and touchdown and as soon as the game was under control, he hit the bench. I expect him to see a lot more action this week.
With all the talk of Amari Cooper at wideout, and I’m one of those guys, Michael Crabtree is having a hell of a year over on the other side. He caught six passes for 80 yards and three touchdowns last week and put up similar numbers in game one. With Cooper keeping the defenses honest, Crabtree is showing why he was a first round pick himself with the San Francisco 49ers back in 2009.
The Raiders defense got to Josh McCown four times and should have Kirk Cousins under siege for most of the day.
WASHINGTON REDSKINS (1-1)
Cousins hasn’t wrapped up his tenure with the Redskins just yet and is coming off a solid performance against the Los Angeles Rams where he completed 18 of 27 passing for 179 yards and the game winning touchdown. He didn’t turn the ball over and his offensive line kept his uniform clean for the most part, giving up just two sacks.
Washington has a couple of key players listed as questionable in this game, with the biggest issue being tight end Jordan Reed’s ribs and sternum. He’ll play as that should just be a pain issue and he’s a tough guy. If Reed didn’t play hurt, the dude would never play.
Running back Rob Kelly is dealing with rib soreness, but the Redskins are deep at running back with Chris Thompson and Samaje Perine so they’ll probably dress him, but only put him on the field if needed.
Washington’s defense didn’t produce a lot of heat on Jared Goff last week, getting just two sacks of their own and only three tackles for a loss. That does not bode well when facing off against one of the best offenses in the league.
The Pick
Washington did not look bad a week ago and should be able to run the ball against the Raiders. Their problem will be stopping Oakland’s offense and I don’t think they can do it. Look for Lynch to have his first 100 yard day in the silver and black. Raiders 34, Redskins 24
This week
Straight up: 1-0
Against the spread: 0-1
Last week
Straight up: 11-5
Against the spread: 8-8
Season
Straight up: 21-10
Against the spread: 16-15
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