The roars from the crowd at the Red Rock Resort sportsbook came one after another late Sunday afternoon as the NFL took fans and bettors on another thrill ride.
Sports Columns
Raiders running back Josh Jacobs set franchise records for rushing yards and all-purpose yards in an overtime victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.
Jakob Johnson at fullback plays an important role for the Raiders, even as his position has been phased out across the NFL.
Eleven of the 74 remaining entrants in the Circa Survivor contest, which pays $6.1 million to the winner, might be too stressed to properly enjoy their Thanksgiving feast.
There were several lessons to be learned by bettors on an NFL Sunday won by the sportsbooks. One is that when a line doesn’t look right, it’s probably right on the money.
Pro Bowl edge rusher Maxx Crosby had two sacks, a forced fumble and blocked a field-goal attempt in the Raiders’ overtime victory over the Denver Broncos on Sunday.
Regardless of how the Raiders attempt to spin their failings of the season, a 2-7 start was not the plan or expectation. Owner Mark Davis said as much before the season.
Bettors were in position to hit an elusive middle — win on both sides — of the Bills-Vikings game after Buffalo fluctuated from a 3- to 7½-point favorite during the week.
His eyes were red and his voice cracking. Derek Carr swayed from one side of a podium to the next, searching for answers that aren’t there.
The Raiders’ Maxx Crosby is ranked as the NFL’s second-best edge rusher despite constant double-teams and playing on a defense that’s rated 28th in the league.
Only four teams in NFL history have finished perfect regular seasons: the 2007 Patriots (16-0), 1972 Dolphins (14-0), 1942 Bears (11-0) and 1934 Bears (13-0).
The mindset internally might have changed, but the Raiders still should be held to the standard set forth prior to the season kicking off — making the NFL playoffs.
With apologies to Winston Churchill, halfway through the NFL season, handicapping the league remains a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma.
If they haven’t learned how to play four quarters by November, there’s no reason to think the Raiders will figure it out in the second half of the season.
Patrick Graham is the defensive coordinator hired by coach Josh McDaniels to create successful results on that side of the ball. That hasn’t happened after seven games.