Raiders vs. Bengals NFL Playoff Live Game Thread
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After eight long seasons, the Las Vegas Raiders Derek Carr will lead the Silver and Black onto the field for an NFL Playoff game today against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Remember the rule of five. If the Las Vegas Raiders win that key statistical battle, the game is over. For those who don't remember it, it has to do with sacks and turnovers. If the Raiders have three sacks and give -up two, that means they are plus one. If they then get four turnovers and give up only one, that means they are plus three. That would give them a plus-four for the day. They want to get to a plus-five ratio every game. Teams that reach the rule of five scenarios win 91 percent of their NFL games on average.
We have the keys to what could be the Raiders' first playoff win since 2002 and final predictions for the game.
Eliminate self-mistakes
Every play gets magnified once you reach the playoffs, and that goes double for all of the ones that lead to teams shooting themselves in the foot.
That was a theme in the Raiders' earlier loss to the Bengals, as they had two turnovers and 77 yards worth of penalties as compared to only one turnover and five penalty yards for Cincinnati.
In a game where it's do-or-die for both teams, the Raiders can't allow for those kinds of mistakes to happen again, or else their playoff run could be a short one.
Control the line of scrimmage
One key thing the Raiders were able to do well in their four-game winning streak to close out the season was being able to instill their will on both sides of the ball.
The Raiders finished with more rushing yards than their opponents in three of those four games, and you only have to look at the season finale against the Los Angeles Chargers to know how the Raiders can get after the quarterback on defense.
The Silver and Black will need to do both of those things and control the pace against a Bengals team that can put up big plays in a hurry.
Here’s how to watch:
TV: NBC
Venue: Paul Brown Stadium
Kick-Off: 1:30 PM PST / 4:30 PM EST
NBC is the host of today’s Wild Card game, which can be watched on FuboTV by using the link here.
In addition, if you are located in-market, Raiders.com on mobile devices and the Raiders Official app will carry Saturday’s game. Raiders app is available on both iOS and Android devices.
Radio: KOMP 92.3 FM/Raider Nation Radio 920 AM
Today’s game will air on both KOMP 92.3 FM and Raider Nation Radio 920 AM, the latter as the flagship radio station for all Raiders games.
Brent Musburger is back in the booth for play-by-play. His color analyst is former All-Pro tackle Lincoln Kennedy, who is in the booth for the second season running.
In addition, the Raiders have affiliate stations throughout the nation. Click on the link here for more details.
Saturday’s game will also be available to listen live on the Official Raiders mobile app.
We will be updating this article with highlights and updates as the game progresses. Please keep checking back.
Get the latest analytics, updated after every play WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.
START OF FIRST QUARTER:
PENALTY: False start called on Raiders Darren Waller. Five-yard penalty. Remains 2nd down.
SCORING UPDATE #1: 47-yard field goal attempt by Raiders placekicker Daniel Carlson is Good. Raiders lead 3-0 with 9:23 left to go in the first quarter.
SCORING UPDATE #2: Bengals C.J. Uzomah catches a seven-yard touchdown pass. PAT is Good. Bengals lead 7-3 with 4:31 left to go in the first quarter.
PENALTY: False start called on Raiders Kolton Miller. Five-yard penalty. Remains 2nd down.
TURNOVER: Fumble by Raiders Derek Carr is recovered by Bengals Larry Ogunjobi. Bengals will take over at the Raiders 15-yard line.
PENALTY: False start called on Bengals. Five-yard penalty. Remains 3rd down.
SCORING UPDATE #3: 31-yard field goal attempt by Bengals PK Evan McPherson is Good. Bengals lead 10-3 with 1:15 left to go in the first quarter.
PENALTY: False start called on Raiders Brandon Parker. Five-yard penalty. Remains 2nd down.
END OF FIRST QUARTER: Bengals lead 10-3. Raiders will have the ball, 3rd and four, at their own eight-yard line.
START OF SECOND QUARTER:
SCORING UPDATE #4: 30-yard field goal by Bengals PK Evan McPherson is Good. Bengals lead 13-3 with 10:23 left to go in the first half.
SCORING UPDATE #5: 28-yard field goal attempt by Raiders PK Daniel Carlson is Good. Bengals lead 13-6 with 7:58 left to go in the first half.
TWO MINUTE WARNING: Bengals lead 13-6 and will have the ball, 3rd and four, at the Raiders 10-yard line.
SCORING UPDATE #6: Bengals Tyler Boyd catches a 10-yard touchdown pass. PAT is Good. Bengals lead 20-6 with 1:51 left to go in the first half.
PENALTY: Defensive holding called on Bengals. Penalty results in an automatic 1st down.
SCORING UPDATE #7: Raiders Zay Jones catches a 14-yard touchdown pass. PAT is Good. Bengals lead 20-13 with 13 seconds left to go in the first half.
END OF FIRST HALF: Bengals lead 20-13 and will have the ball to start the 2nd half.
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HALFTIME:
With the way the Las Vegas Raiders have played in the first half against the Cincinnati Bengals, they're probably lucky to just be down by seven points.
The Raiders have shot themselves in the foot several times already in this game, having a turnover that the Bengals soared a field goal from and being called for three false start penalties in the first quarter.
The crowd seems to be playing a factor, and the Bengals have also been able to get to quarterback Derek Carr for two sacks.
Carr otherwise has had an uneven first half, but came up big in leading the Raiders to their first touchdown before the end of the half.
Defensively, the Raiders have so far done a much better job on Bengals running back Joe Mixon in holding him to 28 yards on 10 carries.
Bengals QB Joe Burrow has been able to make multiple big throws, though, and the Raiders pass rush hasn't been able to affect him enough.
He's already thrown for nearly as many yards as he had in the team's first meeting with each other earlier this season.
Going into the second half, the Raiders have to stop with the mistakes and realize the moment isn't too big for them to succeed.
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START OF THRID QUARTER:
PENALTY: Illegal formation called on Bengals. Five-yard penalty. Remains 1st down.
SCORING UPDATE #8: 43-yard field goal attempt by Bengals PK Evan McPherson is Good. Bengals lead 23-13 with 10:56 left to go in the third quarter.
PENALTY: Holding called on Raiders Alex Leatherwood. 10-yard penalty. Remains 1st down.
PENALTY: Holding called on Raiders Andre James. 10-yard penalty. Remains 2nd down.
PENALTY: Pass interference called on Bengals. Results in an automatic 1st down.
PENALTY: Holding called on Raiders John Simpson. 10-yard penalty. Remains 2nd down.
END OF THRID QUARTER: Bengals lead 23-13. Raiders will have 3rd down and long coming up.
START OF FOURTH QUARTER:
SCORING UPDATE #9: 34-yard field goal attempt by Raiders PK Daniel Carlson is Good. Bengals lead 23-16 with 14:17 left to go in the game.
SCORING UPDATE #10: 28-yard field goal by Bengals PK Evan McPherson is Good. Bengals lead 26-16 with 6:46 left to go in the game.
PENALTY: Ineligible man downfield called on Raiders Alex Leatherwood. Five-yard penalty. Remains 2nd down.
PENALTY: Holding called on Bengals. Results in an automatic 1st down.
SCORING UPDATE #11: 28-yard field goal by Raiders Daniel Carlson is Good. Bengals lead 26-19 with 3:34 left to go in the game.
TWO MINUTE WARNING: Bengals lead 26-19.
PENALTY: Roughing the passer called on the Bengals. Results in a automatic Raiders 1st down.
TURNOVER: Raiders Derek Carr intercepted by Bengals.
FINAL: Bengals beat Raiders 26-19.
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