Week 16 game vs. Miami set for a Saturday night
In a game the Raiders hope will have postseason ramifications, they will host the Miami Dolphins in an evening game in one of three NFL games to be played Saturday in Week 16.
The game at Allegiant Stadium will have a 5:15 p.m. kickoff on Dec. 26 and be broadcast on the NFL Network.
The Raiders are 6-5 following a 43- 6 road loss to the Atlanta Falcons, while the Dolphins under second-year coach Brian Flores are one of the surprise teams of the NFL at 7- 4 and a game behind the Buffalo Bills in the NFC East. In Jon Gruden’s third season since returning to the sideline, the Raiders are hoping to challenge for one of three wild- card berths with the Kansas City Chiefs in control of the AFC West at 10-1.
Among teams that are not division leaders, the Cleveland Browns are 8-3 and the Dolphins and Indianapolis Colts are 7- 4 with the Baltimore Ravens at 6- 4.
The game had never been assigned a date and had been listed as “to be determined” on the schedule. LIKE A TRIP TO THE DENTIST >> Jon Gruden was sitting in his home office for his weekly teleconference Monday, banished from the Raiders practice facility under the latest NFL coronavirus protocols. Watching game film of the Raiders’ loss to the Falcons, however, made Gruden feel as if he’d just left the oral surgeon.
“When you go to the dentist and have to have your teeth pulled out? It’s pretty much like that,” Gruden said.
But Gruden watched anyway, and recited a litany of mistakes that led to the biggest loss in terms of point spread since he returned to the Raiders.
“Fourth-and-1, we had the ball, we go for it, we get rejected,” Gruden said. “Next possession, first down, going to take a shot with an aggressive play-action protection. Sack, strip, fumble. Right before the half we’re going in for points. Sack, strip, fumble. Early in the third quarter, great field position, interception for a touchdown.”
Gruden was just getting warmed up.
“We force a kicker to miss a field goal, we rough the kicker, they end up getting seven on that,” Gruden said. “There wasn’t anything pleasant about watching the tape, but as a coach, you have to take responsibility for what you can control and we’re going to try and make the proper corrections.”
PLAYERS SHOULD BE GOOD TO GO >> The good news is a number of players could be back on the field this week in preparation for the Jets, most notably Josh Jacobs. The Raiders’ leading rusher had 27 yards on seven carries Sunday before leaving with an ankle injury.
Others who could return this week include slot corner Lamarcus Joyner, defensive end Clelin Ferrell, running back Jalen Richard and practice squad running back Theo Riddick. Joyner and Riddick are on the COVID-19 reserve list and could come off it for practice Wednesday. Richard was cleared to play but came up ill in Atlanta and had to be scratched.
Trent Brown could come off the COVID-19 list and practice Wednesday, although it’s unlikely he would face the Jets.
Cornerback Damon Arnette, who took some friendly fire in the helmet from teammate Cory Littleton and then was removed by an official after appearing unsteady following a tackle, is in the concussion protocol.
THE DENVER DILEMMA >> Seeing the Broncos lose all three quarterbacks for their 31-3 loss to New Orleans has opened eyes throughout the league, including the Raiders. The Raiders will consider taking measures that further distance the quarterbacks from each other to prevent a calamity at the most important position on the field.
“(GM) Mike Mayock and I are discussing the possibility of rearranging how we meet as a quarterback group,” Gruden said. “It’s hard right now because this is the ultimate team game and you do like to have some face-to-face conversations with your players and coaches, but right now we’ve got to rethink things given what happened yesterday. Maybe we should think outside the box.”