Here’s Sean Ingle’s take from Wembley
Summary
Seahawks are back to 3-3 for the season, going into their bye week. They have a tough run of fixtures after that though, facing the Detroit Lions, LA Chargers, LA Rams, Green Bay Packers and the Carolina Panthers. Ouch. But there were some very encouraging signs here in London. That huge offensive line was excellent in giving Wilson the time and space to do his thing, but the QB was still hugely impressive, and some of his best plays were on the hop, making it up as he went along. Three touchdown throws and plenty of rushing yards, he is still the Seahawks’s biggest weapon.
For the Raiders, this was a bleak hop across the pond, and they are now 1-5, with their play-off hopes all but extinguished. This was technically a home game for Oakland but they were outnumbered in the stands – even booed by large sections of the crowd – and seemed to be outnumbered on the pitch. Compared to Seattle’s O-line, the Raiders’s simply collapsed, and Derek Carr was sacked six times. Under relentless pressure, the QB didn’t exactly excel himself but didn’t have a wealth of options with both Seth Roberts and Amari Cooper withdrawing with concussion. Beastmode, aka Marshawn Lynch, never really got going against his former side. John Gruden has plenty of work to do: after the Raiders’ bye week, they face the Colts on the 28th October.
Check in for Sean Ingle’s match report from Wembley, that should land in the next few minutes. Thanks for reading and for your emails and tweets. For anybody at Fox Sports asking, when I think of a quintessential London musician, I’d always plump for the late, great David Bowie. Derek Carr can probably relate to these lyrics:
I will sit right down
Waiting for the gift of sound and vision
And I will sing, waiting for the gift of sound and vision
Drifting into my solitude
Over my head.
Here are some of the final scores in the early games …
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 29-34 Atlanta Falcons
Pittsburgh Steelers 28-21 Cincinnati Bengals
LA Chargers 38-14 Cleveland Browns
Seattle Seahawks 27-3 Oakland Raiders
Arizona Cardinals 17-27 Minnesota Vikings
Indianapolis Colts 34-42 New York Jets
Carolina Panthers 17-23 Washington
Buffalo 14-20 Houston Texans
Miami Dolphins are in overtime against the Chicago Bears, it’s currently 28-28. The Dolphins have just inexplicably fumbled the ball on the 1 yard line, and the Bears have the ball. All to play for!
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Russell Wilson also speaks!
It’s always a journey, every year is different. This process was great for us to come out to London. We handled it like a business trip, we got the job done.
We were behind schedule the first couple of weeks of the season. We have explosive players. The offensive line gave me tons of time today, I was cookin’ sticks back there.
Tyler Lockett, Seahawks receiver, speaks to the cameras.
We knew we’d have to adjust coming to London, with the time difference. We got to see the London Eye, had a great time. The fans were amazing. To know what we have a lot of great 12 fans out here, it was an experience I’d love to have again.
When we played against the Rams, we knew what we could do. We played a great game today. Defence have always done a great job, sacking the quarter-back. See ya London!
Final score: Seahawks 27-3 Raiders
Not the game we were hoping for in London. Another near-shutout.
Seahawks 27-3 Raiders, 0:39, 4th quarter
This game is sleepwalking to its end now, Rashaad Penny making a couple of nice plays with some rushes for another first down. This has been a very impressive performance for the Seahawks, but the Raiders have been woeful, particularly at defensive tackle where they have allowed Carr to be sacked time and time again. After not using Lynch enough in previous weeks, he’s been used probably too predictably this time out. It didn’t help that Russell Wilson brought his A-game.
Interesting that the Fox Sports coverage thinks the most quintessential London song to play as they go into a commercial break is Madness – Our House. Not a bad choice, although Suggs is technically from Hastings in Sussex (on the south coast for all you in the US).
Seahawks 27-3 Raiders, 2:00, 4th quarter
Mike Davis gets another first down, rushing to the 45-yard line, to keep the clock ticking over nicely from a Seahawks point of view. They’ve already taken off more than four minutes in this early drive. 3rd and 5 and Wilson scrambles out the pocket on the right side, hurdles and tackle and gets the first down.
Seahawks 27-3 Raiders, 5:59, 4th quarter
It begs the question if Carr still needs to be out there. They can write off this game, protect their most valuable player. Carr is throwing some footballs on the sidelines, so maybe we will see him again today.
3rd and 4 for the Seahawks deep in their own territory and Brandon Marshall makes his first catch for the first down.
Raiders are finally on the board! Seahawks 27-3 Raiders, 8:36, 4th quarter
Big chance for the Raiders to get on the ball, and whadddyaknow, Carr is sacked on the 25-yard line. Next play, he tries to scramble but if felled at the line of scrummage. Carr looks hurt! He grabs his shoulder and he plods off the field. Things are going from bad to worse for the Raiders, whose offensive line is already banged up. They can ill-afford to lose their QB.
Matt McCrane does at least make the field-goal from 43 yards so the Raiders are on the board. A small positive in what seems like a terrible night for Oakland. Carr is off to the dressing room, it looks like.
Seahawks 27-0 Raiders, 9:45, 4th quarter
Derek Carr has had a torrid time in London but has scrambled well – that fourth down attempt aside. He’s made 30 yards from four rushes, and picks up another first down here. 2nd and five for the Raiders, who take a timeout with the snap at the Seahawks’ 18-yard line.
Seahawks 27-0 Raiders, 10:50, 4th quarter
Raiders have some momentum here, Jordy Nelson makes a nice block to help Oakland to another first down and into Seattle territory, but on the next play Seth Roberts is knocked out cold! It was an awkward tackle on him, and play stops so that he can get some medical attention. It doesn’t look good for the wide receiver, who dropped the ball when he went out. Seattle recovered the ball, and are challenging the call: the referees are checking to see if Roberts was already down before he was knocked out/lost control of the ball.
The referee rules in favour of Oakland, so Seahawks lose a timeout. Pete Carroll doesn’t hold back from letting the officials know his feelings. He clearly thinks Roberts’s knee wasn’t down. 2nd and 8 for the Raiders.
Seahawks 27-0 Raiders, 12:17, 4th quarter
Raiders now just hoping to avoid a shut-out. I’m pretty sure they haven’t even been in the red-zone yet this game. Raiders have the football again as Carr rushes for a first down in midfield a couple of neat catches. Raiders up to the half-way line.
Touchdown Seahawks! Seahawks 27-0 Raiders, 14:55, 4th quarter
First play of the fourth quarter and it’s a third touchdown pass this game by Wilson, who steps through the pocket and under intense pressure finds Tyler Lockett in the endzone. That’s classic Wilson: dynamic athleticism to break past defenders in the pocket, but he kept his head up, didn’t worry about getting hit and floated an inch-perfect pass into the hands of Lockett. Janikowski knocks over the extra point.
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End of the third quarter: Seahawks 20-0 Raiders, 0:00, 3rd quarter
Wilson runs the football, he’s meant to have a slight hamstring injury and it’s showing a little: he’s less explosive and only makes a yard or so. Going into this game, he only had Wilson only has 42 yards rushing this season. Wilson goes back to the passing game and hits Baldwin again for a big first down on the Raiders 25 yard line. More rushing from Wilson, who scrambles for another first down. Seattle creeping up the field, they are up to the 13-yard line, well within field goal range.
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Seahawks 20-0 Raiders, 3:27, 3rd quarter
Raiders still in their own half at 3rd and 3. Carr has time in the pocket and throws it long, but misses his target, and yet again Raiders will have to punt. It’s a poor one for the Raiders, Seattle will start on their 38-yard-line.
Seahawks 20-0 Raiders, 4:21, 3rd quarter
Jordy Nelson catches and gets a first down for the Raiders. Seahawks’ Baldwin looks hurt, he’s getting some treatment on the sideline. It’s also been confirmed that the Raiders’ Amari Cooper, who took a really heavy hit in the first half, is being treated in the locker room for concussion. Last season in the league there were 291 cases of concussion, an average of more than one a game.
Seahawks 20-0 Raiders, 4:59, 3rd quarter
Worley gets his revenge with an interception! Wilson’s pass to Baldwin is tipped – the Raiders have made a play and will start their drive on the 18-yard line.
Seahawks 20-0 Raiders, 5:56, 3rd quarter
WHAT. A. PLAY. Wilson gets some time in the pocket and he throws one deep to Baldwin, who somehow goes up and beat Daryl Worley to the ball. Over a 40-yard gain and the Seahawks are on the Raiders’ 10-yard line!
Seahawks 20-0 Raiders, 6:21, 3rd quarter
Seattle start then on their own 20-yard line and make their first down from 2nd and 5 with Doug Baldwin doing the business. Chris Carson then rushes for five yards and Baldwin picks up another first down. Seattle now up to midfield at the 50-yard line and the Raiders haven’t got close to laying a glove on QB Wilson.
Both teams have a bye week after this and will not be in action again until 28 Oct, Raiders playing the Colts and Seattle playing the Lions. The Raiders look like they need that break right now.
Seahawks 20-0 Raiders, 8:54, 3rd quarter
3rd and 6 and Carr breaks from the pocket, he could have run for the first down but throws waywardly at Jordy Nelson, too high for the diminutive former Green Bay Packer. Poor decision making yet again, and Raiders will have to punt the football away again.
Seahawks 20-0 Raiders, 10:11, 3rd quarter
Martavis Bryant makes a catch to help Raiders to 2nd and 4 in midfield and Lynch crashes over for a first down – a gain of 13, that’s his best run of the day. Raiders into Seahawks territory.
Seahawks 20-0 Raiders, 12:12, 3rd quarter
Raiders have the oldest roster in the NFL but it is the rookie that comes good for them defensively. Arden Key sacks Wilson, hitting him hard from behind. But then, some poor tackling allows Seattle back to 3rd and 7 on the Raiders’ eight yard line. Seattle can’t convert and Janikowski kicks another one through the posts for a 20-0 lead. Raiders need to wake up here, there’s been some poor play-calling from Gruden so far. They also need to make some defensive plays, they have been awful at protecting Carr thus far.
Peeeeeep! We’re back underway, and it’s Raiders to receive the football. Lynch is not having much joy against his former team, nine carries for 14 yards and doesn’t make any headway here. Carr is then sacked again for the fourth time in this game, and is sacked yet again the next play with Seattle recovering the ball! Carr is having a shocker!
Half-times scores around the NFL
Time for those at Wembley to fill up on their hot dogs and lite beer. I’m having sushi, What y’all eating at half-time? Hopefully something a bit more appetising than this …
At @AtlantaFalcons game: Smoked Salmon Chips. pic.twitter.com/u5axhTPFno
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) October 14, 2018
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Half-time: Seahawks 17-0 Raiders
Wilson breaks left and finds Moore, who is tightly covered by Daryl Worley but somehow manages to bring it out of the sky for a first down. There’s a penalty, but Seattle still have a first down. 2nd and 15 and Russell rushes for five yards and gets out of bounds to stop the clock. 3rd and 10 with 23 second left, and Mike Davis is stopped just shy of the first down. Seattle will go for the field goal and Janikowski nails a 44-yard kick! What a dagger in the heart for Oakland from the former Raider.
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Seahawks 14-0 Raiders, 0:39, 2nd quarter
Tre Flowers, the Seattle rookie makes a big play defensively to help get Raiders to the 3rd and 10. They get one yard short of a first down and Raiders QB Carr tries to sneak over the line. Ooooo, I don’t think he got there! The Raiders offence comes off the field and Coach Gruden looks furious – he calls Carr over for a friendly chat. It’s confirmed: Seattle get the football back on their 41-yard line, can they add to the scoreboard before half time?
Seahawks 14-0 Raiders, 1:44, 2nd quarter
Roberts picks up another first down for the Raiders, who are now on the 50-yard liune in midfield. It’s absolutely crucial that the Raiders pick up something on the scoreboard before half-time. Carr has now hit 10 out his last 11 catches – his only incompletion coming from a dropped catch from Lynch. The Raiders pocket is weak though, you always feel like he’s close to being sacked.
Seahawks 14-0 Raiders, 2:00, 2nd quarter
Raiders start their drive with a first down, with Lynch bulldozing his way over at 3rd and 1. That’s what the Raiders should have done last week against the Chargers! Seth Roberts makes a couple of nice catches to get another first down. We’re at he two-minute warning here in the first half and Jordy Nelson is yet to touch the ball for the Raiders.
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Seahawks 14-0 Raiders, 4:10, 2nd quarter
Baldwin makes a fantastic catch on third down but slips and doesn’t get the first down. He spikes the football in frustration and is penalised! It looked like the Seahawks were going to go for it on fourth down, but with that penalty they will punt. Seahawks dominating the game, but their discipline is a huge concern.
The pitch at Wembley is really cutting up. It’s grass of course, but is apparently made up from about 5% plastic, although I’m not really sure how. Still, it doesn’t look pretty.
There are 84,000 people in the stadium, by the way. That’s more than came to watch the soccer match between England and Spain last month. Impressive.
Seahawks 14-0 Raiders, 4:40, 2nd quarter
Seattle get a first down straight away, before Wilson airs it out from the 40-yard line. The throw is just too long for Doug Baldwin, who was free in the endzone but just couldn’t reach it despite flat out sprinting. 3rd and 4 then, and Seattle call for a timeout.
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“Somehow decided that wearing just a T-shirt and light jacket was a good idea. And, of course, it’s rather colder than I expected at Wembley.”
Seahawks 14-0 Raiders, 5:38, 2nd quarter
Carr is sacked again! The Raiders QB was slow in assessing his options and went down in the pocket. Raiders go for a field goal with their kicker Matt McCrane, but he drags it left and misses from 47 yards! Raiders stay scoreless and Seattle have the football back.
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Seahawks 14-0 Raiders, 6:50, 2nd quarter
Third and long again for the Raiders. So far they have been bailed out by Seattle indiscipline but Carr runs for a first down! It’s only the eight time that Carr has run with the football this year. Great initiative there, that’s what Coach Gruden said he wanted to see more of from his QB. Raiders on the Seahawks’ 22-yard line.
Seahawks 14-0 Raiders, 8:50, 2nd quarter
The Seahawks are doing a great job on stopping Lynch but Brandon Myers catches, finds a lane with some good blocking and gets a first down. Oakland up around Seattle’s 30-yard line.
Seahawks 14-0 Raiders, 11:30, 2nd quarter
The Raiders continue to get away with it: Carr is sacked but Quinton Jefferson looks like he grabbed the facemask and Raiders get an automatic first down! Fifteen-yard penalty, now up into Seahawks penalty.
Seahawks 14-0 Raiders, 12:40, 2nd quarter
Raiders get the first down! Massive 21 yard play from Carr, who scrambles out of the pocket to the right, finds Jalen Richard and he slides over for the right down.
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Seahawks 14-0 Raiders, 13:40, 2nd quarter
Touchback for the Raiders, who will start from the 25-yard line. 2nd and 10 and Lynch makes good ground up but another holding penalty on Lee Smith erodes that play. Raiders 2nd and 20 here, up against it again. Oooooooooo, big hit from Seahawks’s Bradley McDougald on Amari Cooper, who caught a short pass from Carr. Cooper stays down! It looked like a legitimate hit, although the helmets did touch. 3rd and 20 for the Raiders.
Touchdown for the Seahawks! Seahawks 14-0 Raiders, 14:10, 2nd quarter
The Seahawks double their lead! Second down, it’s a scrappy snap from Seahawks and Wilson drops the ball but he picks it up quickly, scrambles through the pocket, pump-fakes to the right and instead lofts a perfect pass to the back of the endzone where he finds David Moore, who just about manages to get both feet in! Moore goes crashing over the advertising hoardings and looks a little jaded but celebrates with his team-mates. That is absolutely magic from Wilson and the Seahawks kick the extra point. This is already looking daunting for the Raiders, who are actually being booed inside Wembley.
.@DangeRussWilson works his magic and finds David Moore!@Seahawks lead 14-0 in London! #SEAvsOAK @NFLUK
— NFL (@NFL) October 14, 2018
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/nYrMTrlG0Q
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End of first quarter: Seahawks 7-0 Raiders
Carr is sacked again and Seattle recover the football! Frank Clark gets his fourth of the season, flanking round to the right and knocks the ball out of Carr’s throwing right arm! The ball is greasy and slippery and Seahawks Jarron Reed falls on it. The Raiders Kolton Miller actually got to the loose ball first but somehow managed to let it out of his grasp. That’s the end of the first quarter, they will start the second with the ball at around the Raiders’ 25-yard line!
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Seahawks 7-0 Raiders, 0:40, 1st quarter
A huge 27-yard play for the Raiders is wiped off for holding and next play Carr is sacked! Ooooooo, but there’s a play for holding on Jordy Nelson and the sack is wiped off too. Both teams struggling with their discipline and that is a costly error from the Seahawks. Raiders with a first down.
Seahawks 7-0 Raiders, 2:10, 1st quarter
Raiders start at their 12: Carr throws for the first time, finds Lynch, who makes 13 yards and picks up the first down. Both teams are obviously expecting the rush here, and caught out with a pass.
Seahawks 7-0 Raiders, 3:17, 1st quarter
Seahawks start from the 30-yard line and a mixture of two good runs from Carson and two Seattle penalties leave them 1st and 28. Compared to their first drive, this is stodgy offence from Seattle, and the Raiders defensive tackle Maurice Hurst tips the ball to the ground on third down to force a Seattle punt. Raiders back with the football.
If you haven’t already, have a read of Sean Ingle’s preview:
There is also some breaking news of a much more serious nature.
Seahawks 7-0 Raiders, 6:10, 1st quarter
Seahawks swarm all over Lynch for the next two plays and the Raiders will have to punt on fourth down! To make things worse for the Raiders, it’s only a 28-yard punt before it goes out of bounds. Three and out for the Raiders and the football is back with the Seahawks.
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Seahawks 7-0 Raiders, 6:45, 1st quarter
From the kick-off, it’s a touchback so the Raiders will start their drive from the 25-yard line. Lynch takes the first play, rushing for two yards.
Touchdown Seahawks! Seahawks 7-0 Raiders, 7:50, 1st quarter
Duane Brown gets some separation in the end zone, and Wilson stands tall in the pocket and fires a bullet into Brown’s midriff. Easy catch, no Raiders defender within a few metres of the offensive tackle. Seahawks kicker Sebastian ‘Seabass’ Janikowski knocks it over for the extra point. What a way for the Seahawks to start: that drive was 82 yards and they held the football for more than seven minutes. Interestingly, the Seahawks got most joy out of their passing game, rather than rushing. I doubt if that will be the same for the Raiders. Here comes BeastMode.
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Seahawks 0-0 Raiders, 14:50, 1st quarter
A rush up the middle comes short before Oakland are penalised for holding with Wilson breaking out of the pocket and lugging one into the end-zone, which is incomplete. Seahawks get a first down but have a false start on the next play! Five yard penalty! They were on the one-yard line, that could be huge.
Seahawks 0-0 Raiders, 14:50, 1st quarter
Another Wilson floater is swatted away before a Carson run is well blocked. Third down and Tyrone Swoopes catches and runs straight up the middle for a gain of 23, inside the Raiders five-yard line! First and goal for the Seahawks.
Seahawks 0-0 Raiders, 10:20, 1st quarter
The first pass of the game from Wilson and Penny catches it cleanly and breaks down the left touchline inside the Raiders 30! Oakland were expecting a rush and caught cold there.
Seahawks 0-0 Raiders, 10:51, 1st quarter
Seahawks pick up a first down and Chris Carson gets them to 3rd and 1 with a powerful run. Big play here early in the game, but they barrell over the next play to pick up a first down. Seahawks up to the 45.
Seahawks 0-0 Raiders, 14:50, 1st quarter
Rashaad Penny returns the football for the Seahawks but is brought down just short of the 20. Excellent start for the Raiders defensively.
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OK, here we go! Raiders to kick off to the Seahawks. Peeeeeeeeeeep!
Both the American and the English national anthems are sung by singers that I don’t recognise. At one end of the Wembley field a huge US flag is raised, the Union Jack flag raised at the other. From what I could see, there were no players that took a knee.
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The players are out for the toss, among them Sebastian ‘Seabass’ Janikowsk, who now plays for the Seahawks but is a Raiders legend. He holds the record for most games played with the Raiders; as the end of the 2017 season, he has played 268 games with the team and is the only time in the modern NFL era a kicker was taken in the first round since the Saints’ failed Russell Erxleben experiment in 1979.
“He’s one of my favourite teammates I’ve ever had, he really is,” Raiders QB Derek Carr said when Seabass was still in Oakland. “He’s got such a good heart. I talk to him every morning, and he sits behind me at every team meeting. He means the world to me.”
Now 40 years old, Seabass might be on the wane a little. 66.7% this season for field goals, he’s never had lower percentage rate in his career.
Anyway, back to the game: Seattle will receive the football first.
Rainn Wilson, Dwight from the US Office, is a massive Seakhawks fan.
“I’m a mediocre TV celebrity but to Seahawks fans, I’m a God,” he says with more of a twinkle in his eye.
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The teams are out! The Seahawks are first up, and jog out to a thunderous cheers. The Raiders follow – it’s their name painted on the grass in the endzone. This is there house, baby! I’m excited.
Thoughts, predictions, gripes? Email me michael.butler@theguardian.com or via twitter @michaelbutler18. Caaammmaaannnn.
Gruden got a lot of heat for that decision. After years out of the game, Gruden was given a huge $100m, 10-year contract. His side have not started well, but most fans will know that this is a long term appointment. Still, this is only week six and if Raiders lose again today, you’d probably kiss their play-off hopes goodbye.
For more on Gruden, here is an excellent blog from earlier this year by Les Carpenter.
Nicknamed ‘Beastmode’, Lynch is nearing the end of his career but is still a force of nature. He has forced 20 missed tackles, five more than the next closest rusher in the league this year and ridiculously, 254 of his 300 rushing yards have come after contact.
Lynch’s attributes make the tactical decisions made in the Raiders’ heavy loss to the LA Chargers all the more baffling. They were 20-3 down, with the Raiders 1st and goal at the one yard line when Coach John Gruden instructed his QB, Derek Carr, to throw the football. Lynch would have walked it in from there, but Carr threw an interception, Raiders lost the football and never got back into the game, losing 26-10.
Preamble
Technically, this is a home game for the Raiders. But with drizzle pattering down from the grey skies, and with the Seahawks arriving in London two days before their opponents, it feels more like Seattle than California.
On my short tube journey across London today, I saw around 25 Seahawks jerseys, compared to half-a-dozen Raiders fans. Wembley might not be the home of the 12th Man, but it will be very, very loud – Seahawks and Raiders are two of the most popular teams over the pond. The NFL first came to the UK in 2007 and fans are increasingly educated about the game and there is genuine hope of a London-based NFL team being established, especially with Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shahid Khan nearing his purchase of Wembley Stadium itself.
This is the first of three regular season matches in London: next week the Tennessee Titans face the LA Chargers and the week after the Jacksonville Jaguars play the Philadelphia Eagles, last season’s Super Bowl champions. But attention today is squarely on the Seahawks and the Raiders, two teams with losing records (2-3 and 1-4 respectively).
It’s hard to see past the Seahawks today, who ran probably the best team in the NFL, the LA Rams, close last week. The Raiders are bottom of the AFC West, their only win coming in overtime against the Cleveland Browns.
Russell Wilson, the Seahawks QB who married pop star Ciara in Cheshire, is a nightmare match up for the Raiders. Since the inexpicable decision to trade Khalil Mack, Oakland have been very poor defensively and rushing the passer has been a real problem for the Raiders this season. They have just six sacks on the season which is tied for the fewest in the NFL. Wilson is mobile, extends the play out of the pocket and is one of the most revered QBs in the league.
But the Raiders have Marshawn Lynch, who is arguably the most powerful runners in the league and won a Super Bowl with Seattle in in 2014. In these conditions with a greasy ball, this may well be a running-based game. Lynch could be huge for Oakland today.
Kick-off is at 6pm in London, 1pm ET, 10am in Oakland and Seattle.
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