Las Vegas Raiders

Steve Smith, a former Penn State fullback who also played seven seasons with the NFL's Raiders, has died from Lou Gehrig's disease. He was 57.

"The Raiders Family is deeply saddened by the passing of Steve Smith, who valiantly battled Lou Gehrig's Disease for two decades," the Raiders said in a statement Saturday. "Steve and his wife Chie are an inspiration, smiling every day while always working for a cure for ALS. The prayers of the entire Raider Nation are with Chie, their children Dante and Jazmin, and their grandson Little Steve."

Smith was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis about 20 years ago. He was unable to walk or talk in recent years and communicated, in part, with a computer system.

The Raiders selected Smith in the third round of the 1987 NFL draft out of Penn State, where he helped the Nittany Lions win their last national championship during the 1986 season.

Smith served as the Raiders' lead blocker for much of his career, blocking for stars such as Bo Jackson, one of the best two-sport athletes of all time. Jackson told the York Daily Record in December of 2019 that he frequently visited with Smith:

"He laid his body on the line for me hundreds of times," Jackson said. "I'm just glad God let him stay around as long as he has so I can go see him. ... I want to do my part to make sure he's not forgotten."

Smith ran for 1,627 yards and nine touchdowns on 429 carries and caught 131 passes for 1,250 yards and 13 touchdowns in his NFL career. In addition to the Raiders, he played two seasons with the Seattle Seahawks before retiring after the 1995 campaign.  

Attorneys for former Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III were instructed to independently seek a subpoena for Las Vegas fire department records about the fatal car crash involving Ruggs.

The Associated Press' Ken Ritter reported Justice of the Peace Suzan Baucum wouldn't provide a court order and said that Ruggs' representatives, David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfeld, should obtain their own subpoena.

In addition to her decision about the subpoena, Baucum ordered Ruggs to appear in court on Monday after missing an alcohol test. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal's Katelyn Newberg, he's required to be tested for alcohol four times a day as a condition of his bail.

Prosectors allege Ruggs was traveling at 156 mph shortly before colliding with a Toyota Rav4 being driven by Tina Tintor. The Rav4's fuel tank ignited as a result of the crash, and Tintor was trapped in the car as it became engulfed in flames.

Based on an eyewitness account, Ruggs' attorneys contend first responders were too slow to begin putting out the fire.

"Firemen did not attempt to extinguish the fire at Ms. Tintor's vehicle for approximately 20 minutes at which time the entire vehicle was engulfed in flames," they said in a court filing, per ESPN.com.

Clark County spokesman Erik Pappa responded to the claim and said that "the passenger compartment was not survivable for anyone inside" when emergency personnel arrived.

Newberg reported Ruggs' attorneys had requested for Baucum to subpoena the fire department for text messages, video and photographs captured at the scene, log reports and dispatch recordings.

Ruggs, whose blood alcohol level was measured at .161, is facing felony charges of driving under the influence resulting in death and reckless driving in connection to Tintor's death.  Prosecutors filed separate felony DUI and reckless driving charges against the 22-year-old because his girlfriend, Kiara Kilgo-Washington, was injured in the crash as well.

Police officers said they found a loaded gun in Ruggs' car, which led the prosecution to add a misdemeanor possession of a firearm while under the influence charge.

Tecmo Super Bowl Bo Jackson is arguably the greatest virtual football player of all time. 

Not that the real-life version would know from direct experience.

"I am not a video game-type person," Jackson told Bleacher Report in an exclusive interview. "The Madden video games that I get, I'm putting them up for my grandson. He's six months old, and I'm going to have him teach me how to play. … A lot of people ask, and they are shocked when I tell them I've never played Tecmo Bowl."

The two-sport star who laced it up in the NFL and Major League Baseball may have never played the game, but he was a major part of its transformation into a cultural phenomenon.

Few things were more recognizable for gamers of the late 1980s and early 1990s than the 8-bit graphics, two-dimensional crowds, catchy music and memorable touchdown celebration cut screens of the Tecmo Bowl games.

Jackson remains so naturally associated with it that he starred in a Kia Sorento commercial in which he drives the car through the defense much like his avatar would run in Tecmo Super Bowl.

He might not pick up the controller and play it, but he appreciates the fans who keep the memories alive to this day.

"All of the letters that I've gotten and people who I meet at sports memorabilia shows," he said. "Every six out of 10 guys who walk up to me say 'Hey, I had your game when I was a kid.' Six out of 10 say they got in the worst fight of their life even with their brothers or their cousins or their best friends because they both wanted to be me in the game. And they end up having the game taken away from them because they got into a fight. That makes me feel good. That makes me laugh that I get guys in their 40s and 50s coming up to me telling me they enjoyed playing that game. And they pull it out of their bag and want me to sign it."

It seems only fitting then that virtual Jackson is returning to the football video game world.

EA Sports announced there will be a new digital cover for Madden NFL 22 that features Jackson. Gamers will also have the opportunity to use Jackson in a number of the game's modes from Nov. 19 through Jan. 14.

Players will receive an 85 overall-rated Jackson and a classic Raiders uniform in Madden Ultimate Team while also having the chance to land a Bo Knows Legend in Ultimate Team. Jackson will be available in the draft pool in the Superstar KO mode, and new Nike x Bo Knows gear will be available in The Yard.

"This has been in the works for a long time," Jackson said. "For Madden to want me to be part of their system, I have to look back and say I did something right. There are thousands of players who have come along like me, and out of all the ex-NFL players that are out there, I'm one of the very few that they chose to work with."

The Bo Knows gear in The Yard is a particular nostalgia play on the famous Nike commercials that featured Jackson playing a number of sports with different athletes saying "Bo knows" their sport.

The memorable ads were part of the lore surrounding Jackson, who played professional baseball for the Kansas City Royals, Chicago White Sox and California Angels from 1986 through 1994 and professional football for the Los Angeles Raiders from 1987 through 1990.

He was a standout baseball player who won the All-Star Game MVP in 1989 during his best individual season that saw him slash .256/.310/.495 with 32 home runs and 105 RBI. It was one of four straight seasons where Jackson launched 22 or more long balls.

Jackson was also a Pro Bowler in his final NFL season and, true to his Tecmo Super Bowl avatar, led the NFL with the longest rush of the season in three of his four years when he went for 91 yards in 1987, 92 yards in 1989 and 88 yards in 1990.

Yet it was never about the stats with Jackson. He was a larger-than-life legend who could blast baseballs into the outfield bleachers, blow past defenders on the football field and use his strength to snap his bat like a toothpick if he was frustrated with a strikeout.

Some of that frustration still appears when he watches sports, including the NFL, today.

"When I watch it I get frustrated," he said. "Not from the standpoint of the play, but I'm a horrible spectator. I'd rather be out there playing. … I notice things that you wouldn't notice, like: 'He's carrying the ball in the wrong hand. If he had it in the other hand, he could have gotten another four or five yards and gotten the first down.' Things like that. That's me."

He doesn't have a Super Bowl prediction as a spectator, although he stressed it's still all about the Silver and Black when he said, "If it's not the Raiders, then I don't care."

Those Raiders are 5-4, although they've lost two straight and are just 2-4 after their impressive 3-0 start.

"Right now they are going down a rough patch in the road," Jackson said. "It's like going down the road with a speed bump. What you've gotta do is slow down and get over that speed bump and continue down the road. And I think that's what the Raiders are doing right now. They are in the midst of getting over that speed bump. And when they get over that speed bump, it's going to be smooth sailing."

Las Vegas is still in playoff contention, but it might have to get past one of Jackson's favorite current-day running backs in Derrick Henry in the postseason if the Tennessee Titans star returns after foot surgery.

"Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry," Jackson said when asked who he likes to watch play. "Those are my two guys."

Much like Jackson in his prime, Henry and Barkley possess enough burst in the open field to create separation and enough power to run through arm tackles at the line of scrimmage. Those attributes are clear both on the field and in the virtual world in Madden NFL 22.

But they've got nothing on Tecmo Super Bowl Bo Jackson.

New England Patriots offensive tackle Trent Brown considered retirement after his IV mishap nearly killed him during the 2020 season when he was a member of the Las Vegas Raiders, according to MassLive's Chris Mason. 

“To pass out and almost go into cardiac arrest was crazy,” Brown said. “I almost died, so it was scary. I was in Cleveland by myself in the hospital for a few days.”

He added: “I definitely thought about my kids. I even thought about retirement. It was that scary. I was about to be done with it.”

The incident occurred before the Raiders' game against the Cleveland Browns on Nov. 1, 2020. The mishap with his pregame IV caused air to enter his bloodstream, and he had to be rushed to the hospital. 

Raiders quarterback Derek Carr described the incident while speaking with reporters after that game.

"All of a sudden, we come in and they're wheeling him out, and I'm like, 'Bro, what is going on?' It was crazy, and so we prayed," Carr said. "As a team we prayed for him, we made sure he was OK, his family, because I'm sure they were scared to death."

The 28-year-old also said he didn't begin feeling fully recovered until eight months later. 

The Patriots acquired Brown in March for a 2022 fifth-round pick. He spent the 2018 campaign in New England before joining the Raiders in 2019. 

Brown has only appeared in two games for the Patriots this season. He injured his calf during a Week 1 loss to the Miami Dolphins and didn't return until Week 10 against the Cleveland Browns. The Georgia native played 69 percent of New England's offensive snaps against the Browns and 26 percent of special teams snaps. 

Brown's presence on the offensive line made a significant difference Sunday against Cleveland as Patriots running backs rushed for 143 yards and two touchdowns in a 45-7 win. If New England wants to continue being successful on the ground, it'll be important Brown steals healthy. 

The Patriots are 6-4 on the season entering Thursday's game against the Atlanta Falcons.  

The Las Vegas Raiders suffered a 41-14 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night.

The Raiders offense struggled to get going for much of the night. So what did we learn about the Las Vegas receivers?

Second-year wideout Bryan Edwards had his best fantasy game of the season, recording a team-high 88 yards and a touchdown on three receptions. It just was his second time reaching the end zone this year.

Edwards was targeted by Raiders quarterback Derek Carr four times, which trailed receiver Hunter Renfrow (nine), tight end Darren Waller (seven) and running back Josh Jacobs (five). The South Carolina product has yet to top 100 yards in a game in his career, but he showed some promise on Sunday.

Veteran receiver DeSean Jackson, on the other hand, had a lackluster showing in his team debut. Jackson caught his only target, a 38-yard reception that he ended up fumbling as he tried to gain some yards after the catch.

Jackson signed with the Raiders last week after being released by the Los Angeles Rams. The 14-year veteran was unhappy with his role in the Los Angeles offense and requested his release. While Jackson has never been a target hog, we can expect him to garner a couple of more looks from Carr as he continues to acclimate to the offense.

For fantasy managers seeking help at wide receiver, it's hard to trust either Edwards or Jackson. Waller usually dominates the target share for Las Vegas, and Renfrow is Carr's favorite option at wide receiver.

Due to injuries or desperation, it might be worth rostering Edwards and hoping for the best. If he can develop some consistency in the latter half of the season, he could emerge as a WR3 or flex option. Jackson's days as a steady fantasy receiver are long gone, and he should be avoided until he proves otherwise.

Don't look now, but the Kansas City Chiefs are rounding into form.

Kansas City extended its winning streak to three with a 41-14 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders in Sunday's AFC West showdown at Allegiant Stadium. Patrick Mahomes, Darrel Williams and Tyreek Hill led the way for the visitors, who improved to 6-4 and picked up a key divisional win as both sides battle with the 5-4 Los Angeles Chargers and 5-5 Denver Broncos for positioning.

Derek Carr threw two touchdowns in the losing effort for the Raiders, who dropped to 5-4 with a second consecutive defeat.

Notable Player Stats

• Patrick Mahomes, QB, KC: 35-of-50 passing for 406 yards, 5 TDs, 0 INTs
• Darrel Williams, RB, KC: 11 carries for 43 yards; 9 catches for 101 yards, 1 TD
• Tyreek Hill, WR, KC: 7 catches for 83 yards, 2 TDs
• Travis Kelce, TE, KC: 8 catches for 119 yards
• Derek Carr, QB, LV: 25-of-35 passing for 261 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
• Bryan Edwards, WR, LV: 3 catches for 88 yards, 1 TD

Kansas City's Offense Returns to Form

One of the biggest storylines of the entire NFL season has been Kansas City's inability to live up to its Super Bowl potential, especially on offense.

That meant Mahomes and Co. were once again under the spotlight after averaging 12 points per game in their last three contests, and they were up to the challenge out of the gates. Mahomes found Hill for two short touchdowns in the first half and established an immediate rapport with Travis Kelce as the tight end found openings in the middle of the field.

Kansas City scored on three straight first-half possessions after opening with a punt to take a 17-7 lead, but self-inflicted mistakes prevented it from putting the game away early.

Mike Hughes fumbled the ball back to Las Vegas on a punt return that would have set the visitors up with favorable field position, and Harrison Butker missed a field goal to end the half after Mahomes drove them into scoring position with an impressive two-minute drill.

There would be no missed opportunities in the second half.

Mahomes froze the defense with a play-action on a 4th-and-goal from the 1-yard line before finding Noah Gray over the middle for a touchdown. Even when he made a rare mistake by missing a wide-open Hill streaking down the sideline for a potential third touchdown, he got another chance after a successful fake punt and scrambled out of pressure before finding Williams for a jump-ball touchdown.

No. 15 was in full control by taking what the defense gave him with short and intermediate throws for long stretches until the deep ball opened up late. If the Williams touchdown didn't end the game, his fourth-quarter dime to Byron Pringle did as the offense resembled the unstoppable force so many expected to see this season.

Slow Start, Turnovers Doom Raiders in Blowout Loss

Two steps forward and one step back has been the theme of the Raiders' season on the field with a three-game winning streak out of the gates that was followed by a two-game losing streak, a two-game winning streak and an ugly loss to the New York Giants.

Sunday's step back started early when the offense managed just seven points in the first half.

Those points came after a special teams turnover kept the Kansas City defense on the field, and Carr took advantage with a long connection to Bryan Edwards to help set up an eventual touchdown pass to Hunter Renfrow.

Other than the one strike to Renfrow, Las Vegas was completely overmatched in the first half. Its rushing attack was nonexistent, and Carr failed to match Mahomes, as the three-time Pro Bowler picked the Raiders secondary apart with throws up the seam, dump-offs to Williams and touchdowns to Hill.

It looked as if Carr would turn things around in the second half when he hit Zay Jones for a long gain and found Edwards up the middle for a touchdown to get right back into the game.

He continued to roll with a deep ball to DeSean Jackson, but the new Raider lost a fumble while trying to extend the play, killing all the momentum the offense built. Carr then inexplicably threw a ball up for grabs like a Hail Mary near the end of the third quarter, which was intercepted by Daniel Sorensen.

Las Vegas can ill-afford mistakes like that against any team, let alone a daunting Chiefs offense that was finally dialed in throughout the game. Sunday turned into a blowout on just a couple of mistakes, and the Raiders find themselves looking up at their division rivals after a second straight loss.                

What's Next?

Both teams are home in Week 11. The Chiefs will play the Dallas Cowboys and the Raiders will face the Cincinnati Bengals.