» WEEK 3 MATCHUPS FOR 49ERS, RAIDERS
The Raiders fly to Miami Friday afternoon for a 1 p.m. EST kickoff with the Dolphins on Sunday, as the silver and black looks to avoid its first 0-3 start since Derek Carr’s rookie season in 2014.
The Dolphins, on the other hand, have won their first two games against the Titans and Jets. The Raiders beat the Dolphins in a Week 9 matchup in Miami last season, 27-24.
The early kickoff in Miami has been a tricky one for the Raiders, who are 16 in early starts in South Beach since 1986.
Here are a few things to watch in Sunday’s game.
Can Marshawn Lynch find the end zone again (which he did twice in Miami last season)?
The Raiders’ starting running back has rushed for a touchdown in each of the first two games, a 10-yard run on the season’s opening drive against the Rams and a 1-yard score in the second quarter against the Broncos. Lynch has run 29 times for 106 yards this season, good for 3.7 yards per carry.
Last season in Miami, Lynch returned from a one-game suspension and found the end zone twice in a threepoint win, once from 22 yards and once from 3 yards. After storming onto the field to interject in a scrum against the Chiefs in Week 7, Lynch missed Week 8 against the Bills and returned with vengeance against the Dolphins. His two-score game on Sunday Night Football in Week 9 jumpstarted a run where he scored five touchdowns in five games.
This season, Lynch is running with the same purpose, possibly even more speed and force, as he looks to help the Raiders get on the board with more touchdowns in Miami. And since Lynch himself doesn’t talk to the media, let one of his veteran offensive lineman evaluate his first two weeks instead.
“He’s doing good. We’ve got to help him out a lot more, got to be more consistent,” right tackle Donald Penn said. “We’ve got that roller coaster thing going like we have in the past. Got to be more consistent. He’s looking real good, doing a lot of real good things for us. Our main thing is to get him to the second level. If he gets to the second level, I’ll bet on him against anybody at the second level.”
Another big day for Amari Cooper in his homecoming?
Cooper reaped the benefits of some precise route-running and Carr’s pinpoint accuracy in Denver, enjoying a 10catch, 116-yard bounce-back performance after a one-catch, 9-yard dud in Week 1.
Cooper grew up in Miami watching the Dolphins, and the Raiders wouldn’t mind a second straight game like last week’s from their best receiver even if it comes at the expense of his childhood favorite team. Last season in South Beach, Cooper caught four passes on nine targets for 58 yards. Last Sunday he caught all 10 of his targets.
“I just remember growing up and watching Dolphins games on Thanksgiving and stuff like that with the family, having a good time,” Cooper said. “I can remember last year I had to give out a lot of tickets. (Raiders cornerback and Miami native) Johnny (Holton) gave out a hundred so I’m not going to complain about my number.”
Cooper said this week his communication with Carr has improved, which clearly showed in their perfect connection against the Broncos. Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard told the Miami Herald he’ll following Cooper all game. Some stats on Howard, from Pro Football Focus’ Austin Gayle: “Howard has allowed a 28.2 passer rating when targeted through two games, ranking fifth among qualifiers. He’s also allowed just three receptions (nine targets) for 82 yards and no touchdowns while logging an interception. He’s allowed receptions of 17, 21 and 44 yards into his coverage.”
So after a first two weeks against the vaunted Rams and Broncos secondaries, it might not be much easier for Cooper on Sunday.
Will the Raiders get more out of Bruce Irvin?
On Monday, Gruden said he needs more out of his captain and defensive end. It wasn’t a direct shot at Irvin, more so a wish for Irvin’s effort to translate into more results.
The veteran tallied a strip-sack of Jared Goff in Week 1, but he took a step back in Week 2 with a costly unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and what looked like fatigue at the end of the game when Denver wore the Raiders down.
Irvin has plenty more on his plate after the Raiders traded Khalil Mack, the guy who was supposed to free up space for Irvin to rush the quarterback. Now Irvin is the prime target for opposing offensive lines, and we’ll see if he can rise to the occasion.
“Well first of all he can’t get penalties on third down. In a critical game like that, you can’t have those kinds of penalties,” Raiders defensive coordinator Paul Guenther said when asked what he wants to see from Irvin. “Obviously, as the game wore on, it was kind of hard to sub some of the guys at the end because they’re on a one-minute drill. I always say our best player has to play great all the time. He’s one of them and he has to play great for us to be successful all the time.”