data-mm-id=”_nqqov9cdn”>After just three games, the Las Vegas Raiders are teetering, and their season is already on the verge of falling off a cliff.Riding high after a come-from-behind 26-23 road win against the Baltimore Ravens, the Raiders fell flat on their faces in their home opener last Sunday in an embarrassing 36-22 loss to the previously winless Carolina Panthers to fall to 1-2.RELATED: Antonio Pierce shares harsh critique of players after Raiders' upset lossWhat the Silver and Black have proved over the past two decades is that, even when they hit rock bottom, a new low is just around the corner.On Friday, head coach Antonio Pierce announced that his best player on offense — wide receiver Davante Adams — and his best player on defense — defensive end Maxx Crosby — will miss this Sunday's home game against the Cleveland Browns because of injuries.Pierce told reporters that Adams (hamstring) and Crosby (ankle) are out along with two other starters: linebacker Divine Deablo (oblique) and tight end Michael Mayer, who will miss the game due to a personal matter.Crosby was listed as doubtful on the team's injury report, but the three-time Pro Bowler is highly unlikely to face the Browns, who are also 1-2 after last Sunday's 21-15 home defeat to the New York Giants.#Raiders injury report lists Crosby and Munford as doubtful, but HC Antonio Pierce said neither will play. Abdullah and Mauga are questionable.For the Browns, starting tackles Conklin and Wills are out. So are Njoku and Strong. pic.twitter.com/RzVVlrwCic— Tashan Reed (@tashanreed) September 27, 2024Crosby's expected absence is especially troubling. He suffered a high ankle sprain at the end of his dominating performance against Baltimore and was clearly limited by the injury against Carolina. However, even with a mostly healthy Crosby, Las Vegas ranks last in the NFL in pressure rate on all opponent dropbacks at 20%, according to TruMedia.Getting the ball to Adams has been a priority, but the six-time Pro Bowler's 27 total targets is 10 fewer than last season after three games. Without Adams, quarterback Gardner Minshew will likely rely on veteran wide receiver Jakobi Meyers and rookie tight end Brock Bowers in the Vegas passing game.The upset loss to the Panthers prompted the Raiders' second team meeting of the season. On Wednesday, coaches and players spoke their minds to hold each other accountable.Spoke with multiple #Raiders about the team meeting on Monday between coaches and players.Guys discussed the importance of it and said things got "personal" and players "got things off their mind."Seems like many left it more unified. pic.twitter.com/TvZQQVPwT6— Logan Reever (@loganreever) September 25, 2024On Sunday at Allegiant Stadium, the Raiders can make amends for the Carolina debacle and prove that they heeded their own words. They'll need to band together to beat the Browns without their best playmakers on offense and defense.MORE TOP STORIES From the Big LeadSPORTS MEDIA: NBA fans think they know why Zach Lowe is out at ESPNWNBA: How can Caitlin Clark get even better next season?ROUNDUP: Derrick Rose retires and so much moreNFL: What’s behind Kelce’s seemingly Swift decline?
Related Posts
Mounting a stellar comeback at Old Trafford on Wednesday night, Manchester United punched their FA Cup quarter-final ticket thanks to a late 3-1 victory against West Ham.
While the Premier League heavyweights might have been chasing a 1-0 deficit as Said Benrhama produced a wonderful opening strike nine minutes after the interval, Erik ten Hag s side showed their resolve in some style.
Ending their six-year wait to lift a piece of silverware as they were crowned EFL Cup champions thanks to a 2-0 win against Newcastle at Wembley, United are riding a real wave of momentum.
With Nayef Aguerd turning into his own net as ten Hag s side leveled things up 13 minutes before the full-time whistle, late goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Fred eventually clinched a hard-fou…
Spain captured their first major tournament since 1964 on Sunday, claiming the Euro 2008 title with a 1-0 victory over Germany in Vienna.
Spain started out the more ambitious of the teams and nearly went in front on 23 minutes when Fernando Torres rose to head a cross from Sergio Ramos, but the ball rang off the post with German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann beaten.
Ten minutes later, Torres found the right side of the post, beating Philipp Lahm to a loose ball and sliding it past a charging Lehmann for a 1-0 lead.
Germany lacked ideas and some good touches in the final third of the pitch and rarely threatened Iker Casillas in the Spain goal except for a spell near the hour mark, but they only had half-chances.
Marcos Senna was the closest to the second goal, …
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was left to rue missed opportunities as Manchester United failed to take the chance to book their place in the Champions League last 16.
Two goals from Neymar either side of Marquinhos third Champions League goal since the competition resumed in August handed Paris Saint-Germain a 3-1 win at Old Trafford.
In a thrilling contest, Marcus Rashford had cancelled out Neymar s opener, with the forward scoring for a third straight Champions League match against PSG, becoming only the second Englishman to net six goals in a group-stage campaign, behind Tottenham star Harry Kane.
Rashford s strike, which took a wicked deflection off Danilo Pereira, was one of 12 attempts United managed in total – one less than PSG s tally – though the hosts co…
Few things get the football world of fans and media more excited than a public falling out between two big stars. When one big star calls another big star a liar, we have an unseemly public row that nobody comes out of very well and we all thoroughly enjoy!
This at La Gazzetta explains just what is going on.
It is difficult to see how either party involved in this incident can move on sufficiently to continue a working relationship at Chelsea. The situation must be totally untenable for Lampard to remain at the club.
It seems that the two men had a conversation and whilst they both heard the same words, they have chosen to interpret them in very different ways.
Lampard, it would appear, remembers telling Scolari that he would love to stay at Chelsea but…
James McCarthy suffered a suspected broken leg as Everton ended a run of three straight defeats with a 1-1 draw against West Brom at Goodison Park.
McCarthy suffered the horrific injury 10 minutes after the interval as he was attempting to block Salomon Rondon s shot inside the penalty area, with the Venezuelan kicking his planted standing leg at full force.
The Irishman was attended to by medical staff for more than seven minutes, while a clearly distraught Rondon had to be comforted by his team-mates.
The Baggies had taken an early lead through Jay Rodriguez s fourth Premier League goal of the season, but Sam Allardyce s side pulled themselves level in the 70th minute through Oumar Niasse s first touch of the game.
Senegal forward Niasse had only just…
Real Madrid defender Nacho is one of the players being targeted by Roma coach Luciano Spalletti as he looks to bolster his defence.
Nacho made just 16 starts for Madrid in 2015-16 and Spalletti is keen to bring the 26-year-old to Stadio Olimpico as a replacement for Maicon – who is seeking a move back to Brazil.
A cruciate knee ligament rupture is likely to keep centre-back Antonio Rudiger out of Spalletti s plans until December, and the Roma coach told Corriere dello Sport: Because of injuries and departures of players, we need to make signings in defence.
Nacho we like, the club is following him.
Roma are still smarting from the departure of midfielder Miralem Pjanic to Juventus, and Spalletti admitted his loss would be sorely felt.
What ca…
Spanish daily that Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain are showing interest in Real Madrid star Angel Di Maria.
Despite recently signing a new contract with los Blancos, the Argentine winger is not entirely happy at Santiago Bernabeu and could decide to leave the club at the end of the season.
Di Maria, 24, was heavily criticized for his performances in La Liga this season and even lost his starting place to Jose Callejon at one stage.
Marca has learned that Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain are both closely monitoring the situation.
There have been no offers or contacts just yet, but the player and his agent Jorge Mendes are well aware of the interest from the two European giants.
Angel Di Maria, who joined Real Madrid in a €25 …
On-loan Werder Bremen striker Nils Petersen feels for Bayern Munich s benched first-team contingent.
On-loan Werder Bremen striker Nils Petersen feels for Bayern Munich s benched first-team contingent.
Big names such as Mario Gomez and Arjen Robben have struggled for starts in the past few weeks having been usurped from their positions while out injured.
Petersen, who joined Bayern in 2011 but spent last season confined to the fringes of the squad, highlighted the plight of Claudio Pizarro, who he believes has the quality to succeed anywhere in Germany.
It s sensational playing for Bayern, the former Energie Cottbus forward told Bild. They are among the top five clubs in the world, and have tremendous quality. Trophies are often guaranteed every year.…
Maurizio Sarri wants to see signs of a change of mentality from Juventus against Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday.
The Bianconeri s place in the Champions League knockout stages is already clinched heading into matchday six, with Sarri s team guaranteed top spot in Group D.
Juve have won four and drawn one in Europe so far, continuing Sarri s impressive personal run in continental competition after he led Chelsea to Europa League success last season.
But his side are second in Serie A and lost for the first time this season against Lazio at the weekend, meaning Sarri sees room for improvement even in a fixture they need not win.
We know that we have to work to do better, but we are calm, said Sarri.
Playing to win tomorrow.
The full reca…
Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been rewarded for his brilliant display up against Raheem Sterling in the Manchester derby, earning inclusion in FIFA Ultimate Team s latest Team of the Week.
Manchester United claimed a fine 2-1 win at the home of the champions on Saturday, with Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial getting the goals.
But arguably just as vital was the performance of Wan-Bissaka at right-back, as the England Under-21 international played an integral role in nullifying Sterling, one of the Premier League s form players.
Wan-Bissaka completed a match-high five tackles – one a last-ditch challenge to deny Sterling what looked set to be a certain goal – and also made seven clearances.
Liverpool star Sadio Mane is back in the TOTW for the second time, …