Case Keefer
Assistant Sports Editor
Story Archive
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Sports‘Finish, finish, finish’: How Raiders hope to carry season-finale win into next year
Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 Social distancing represented a difficult challenge for Darren Waller Sunday evening in Denver and shouldn’t get any easier once he’s back in Las Vegas. Everyone wants to congratulate him. ...
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SportsLive coverage: Raiders escape with 32-31 victory in Denver
Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 The Raiders’ third turnover of the day has given the Broncos a lead. ...
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SportsTight ends Darren Waller, Jason Witten out for history in Raiders’ final game
Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021 A pair of Raider legends caught tight end Darren Waller by surprise last year coming out of halftime of the franchise’s final game in Oakland. ...
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SportsGruden noncommittal on Raiders employing a Mariota package in Week 17
Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020 The Raiders have scored touchdowns on less than 40% of their trips to the red zone during a three-game losing streak that’s torpedoed their playoff aspirations. ...
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SportsRaiders’ defense deteriorates again to drop winnable game against Dolphins
Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020 Mack Hollins was left so wide open along the sidelines that it didn’t matter that quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick’s head was twisted in the wrong direction, away from the receiver. ...
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SportsLive coverage: Raiders blow late lead, lose 26-25 to Dolphins
Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020 Twenty-five seconds after the Raiders’ big game-changing play, the Dolphins made one of their own. ...
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NoiseYear in Review: Our favorite 2020 albums
Thursday, Dec. 24, 2020 Where did Fiona Apple, The Weeknd, Perfume Genius and Run the Jewels rank on our four critics’ lists?
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A&EBest in Show: Counting down the top 10 moments of 2020 in Vegas sports
Thursday, Dec. 24, 2020 The sports world was far from immune to the effects of COVID-19, as several negative consequences stemmed from its spread. But all things considered, the adjustments eventually made to go forward were impressive.
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SportsCarr or Mariota? Injury makes starter unclear for Raiders against Dolphins
Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020 The Raiders may not give the Dolphins the luxury of knowing which quarterback they’ll face Saturday evening at Allegiant Stadium. Las Vegas starter Derek Carr, who hurt his groin early in a 30-27 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers last Thursday, returned to practice Tuesday but only in a ...
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SportsAnalysis: Injuries not to blame for the Raiders’ recent fall from grace
Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020 The best defensive effort the Raiders have shown over the past month might have come in Jon Gruden’s most recent news conference. ...
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Sports
Raiders’ late-season collapse continues in crippling loss to Chargers
Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 Only a little more than a month ago, the Raiders were 6-3 and sitting pretty in their aim to get to the postseason in their first season in Las Vegas. They’ve won only one of ...
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SportsHandicapping hoops: 7 bets to make as the NBA makes its short-notice return
Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020 Local sportsbooks were quick to post point spreads for opening-night and Christmas Day games along with their usual future offerings, so it’s time to snap back into action and bet all the NBA has to offer. Here are seven plays to make at the onset of the season.
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SportsLive coverage: Raiders fall to .500 with overtime loss to Chargers
Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020 A third straight loss at Allegiant Stadium has all but killed the Las Vegas Raiders’ playoff hopes. ...
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SportsDiscipline on defense: How Rod Marinelli hopes to turn around the Raiders
Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020 Nick Kwiatkoski and Johnathan Hankins, the two Raiders’ defensive players who spoke to media following the team’s 44-27 loss to the Colts, didn’t see a need for sweeping changes in the final three games of the season. ...
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SportsPaul Guenther fired, Rod Marinelli takes over as Raiders’ defensive coordinator
Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020 A change many frustrated Raiders’ fans have requested came to fruition Sunday night, about two hours after the team’s lopsided loss to the Colts. ...
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SportsRaiders get trampled by Colts as playoff chances tumble
Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020 Las Vegas squandered an opportunity to solidify its playoff standing, falling to 7-6 and sitting a victory outside the current postseason picture with a third ...
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Sports
Darren Waller validates Raiders’ faith in him with another great season
Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020 Some skepticism regarding Darren Waller may have been warranted entering this season, at least considering the lengths the Raiders went to hype their tight end after a breakout season. ...
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SportsA five-step plan for the Raiders to punch a postseason ticket in their final four regular-season games
Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020 With a 7-5 record after a miracle win on a completed Hail Mary to Henry Ruggs III in the final seconds at New York, Las Vegas sits in position to make it into the playoffs ...
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SportsClemson Connection: Raiders' Clelin Ferrell enjoys teaming up with Vic Beasley
Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020 With only seconds to spare before the Jets snapped the ball for a play late in the first half on Sunday, Vic Beasley turned to Clelin Ferrell and suggested ...
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SportsHail Henry: Inside Ruggs’ reception that rescued Raiders against Jets
Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020 EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — A year ago, when the Jets unceremoniously drowned the Raiders at MetLife Stadium, coach Jon Gruden compared his team to a sinking ...
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SportsLive coverage: Raiders escape against Jets with late Ruggs touchdown
Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020 Henry Ruggs saved the Las Vegas Raiders from a second straight humiliating defeat. ...
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SportsRaiders will have to mend run game without injured Josh Jacobs at Jets
Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020 In three of his four Zoom calls with media over the last week, Raiders coach Jon Gruden has mentioned the same play from last week’s loss to the Falcons without being asked. ...
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SportsClelin Ferrell’s return from ‘really crazy’ COVID sickness looms large for Raiders
Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020 When Raiders defensive end Clelin Ferrell started seeing teammates and friends across the NFL come down with coronavirus earlier this year, he had a realization and accepted that he may one day test positive too. ...
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SportsRaiders hope to return to practice refocused after two-day COVID shutdown
Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020 A consummate football junkie, Raiders coach Jon Gruden enjoys his early wake-up every Monday morning during the season to review film of his team’s game from the previous day. Just not this week. Dissecting Las Vegas’ 43-6 loss to Atlanta proved as ...
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SportsRaiders implode, halt progress with no-show against Falcons
Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020 His mask slipping down his face as he shook his head, Raiders coach Jon Gruden stood slouched to his side around midfield with his arms crossed at Mercedes-Benz Stadium Sunday afternoon. ...
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Sports
Angry for the birds: Raiders in foul mood after loss as they travel to take on Falcons
Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020 Raiders coach Jon Gruden has sported his trademark scowl in every media Zoom call since last Sunday’s 35-31 loss to the Chiefs and has proven a bit irritable ...
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SportsJohnathan Abram under fire but Raiders won’t ‘single out’ anyone after loss
Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020 Jeff Heath started at free safety for the first time this season on Sunday against the Chiefs. Many Raiders’ fans are left wishing he would have taken over at his more natural position of strong safety after the 35-31 loss. ...
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SportsHeartbreak at home: Raiders deflated after allowing Chiefs’ comeback victory
Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020 A black Gatorade towel draped over his head as he sat alone at the end of the bench, it was as if Derek Carr couldn’t watch. An expressionless stare adorning his face, it was as if the Raiders’ quarterback knew what was coming. ...
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Sports5 things the Raiders need to replicate from first game to beat Chiefs again
Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020 As hard as it was for the Raiders to beat the Chiefs once, it’s arguably going to be even more difficult to do it again when ...
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SportsThe Big Kwiatkoski: Raiders' middle linebacker coming into his own as a playmaker and a leader
Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020 Las Vegas’ defense still rates in the bottom third of the NFL and has a long way to go, but after years of struggles, the unit might finally be headed in the right direction. That’s largely because the Raiders appear to have uncovered and crafted a captain out of the 27-year-old Nick Kwiatkoski.
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SportsVictory lap rivalry? There's new fire in Raiders, Chiefs long-running hostility
Monday, Nov. 16, 2020 Derek Carr famously said the Raiders “have to win some games” to make their series with the Chiefs a rivalry again going into the teams’ first matchup this season. . Going into the teams’ second matchup at 5:20 Sunday night at Allegiant Stadium, the rivalry has ...
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SportsRaiders ride new formula to big result in 37-12 victory over Broncos
Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020 The Raiders scouted the Broncos’ offense so thoroughly that even their own offensive players seemed to know what was coming in Sunday’s game at Allegiant Stadium. ...
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SportsCast off, voice up: Damon Arnette could lift Raiders in return from injury
Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020 Raiders’ practice has gotten noticeably louder since the start of last week. ...
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SportsMillion-dollar rivals: Poker players Daniel Negreanu and Doug Polk on their ongoing, heated duel
Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020 The long-simmering tension between live poker professionals and their online counterparts has exploded into one of the biggest one-on-one card showdowns in the history of the game. Daniel Negreanu and Doug Polk are in the middle of playing 25,000 hands of ...
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Sports
Ruggs vs. Jeudy: Who’s ahead going into first matchup of first-round receivers?
Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020 For Henry Ruggs and Jerry Jeudy, it was never a competition. The former Alabama receivers actively opposed campaigning for themselves in the debate ...
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SportsIsaiah Johnson honors slain 'little brother' with game-winning plays
Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020 The call came Wednesday and devasted Isaiah Johnson. The Raiders’ reserve cornerback learned his “little brother” and college teammate ...
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SportsLingering injuries continue to hamper Raiders going into game at Chargers
Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020 Despite having suffered a pair of serious injuries in the year prior, Raiders rookie receiver Bryan Edwards didn’t worry much when he rolled his ankle in a Week 3 game against the Patriots. ...
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SportsCollege football's Power 3: Analyzing the championship race from a betting perspective
Thursday, Nov. 5, 2020 This year’s college football season is unprecedented, and not only for its shortened and mostly crowd-less nature. It might also be the most top-heavy championship picture since the 1998 advent of the Bowl Championship Series (which evolved into the current College Football Playoff), with three teams looming large compared with the other 127 Football Bowl Subdivision programs. This year, it’s Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State … and then everybody else.
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SportsChanges or circumstances: Have the Raiders turned a corner on defense?
Thursday, Nov. 5, 2020 Raiders coach Jon Gruden and his staff harped on forcing turnovers in every practice going into last week’s game at Cleveland. Linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski took their pleas for takeaways to heart. ...
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SportsVegas pick'em: NFL Week 9 winners against the spread
Thursday, Nov. 5, 2020 The victory lap that ensued after the NFL’s encouraging lack of coronavirus positive tests in training camp now feels like forever ago. ...
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SportsRaiders energized, pleased by Johnathan Abram’s unique, evolving playing style
Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020 Abram returned from a one-game absence as a result of coming into contact with right tackle Trent Brown, who tested positive for coronavirus, and further solidified his unique if not vital role with the Raiders. ...
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Sports
Instant Analysis: Raiders overpower Browns with throwback effort in the cold
Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020 The weather conditions in Cleveland made it so Las Vegas could line up and pound the ball with its run game ...
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SportsLive blog: Raiders win slugfest in Cleveland, 16-6
Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020 The Raiders just released their inactives for Sunday and in a bit of a surprise, Trent Brown will not play today. The big right tackle returned to practice on Friday and it looked like he could be on track to play ...
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SportsWith return of Brown, Raiders' offensive line trending towards full strength
Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020 The Raiders’ coaching staff routinely refers to the team’s offensive line as the best in the NFL. ....
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SportsOptimistic, pessimistic: Two ways to interpret Josh Jacobs’ slow start
Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020 The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ rush defense had its way with Raiders running back Josh Jacobs last week. ...
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SportsWith schedule easing, Raiders not sitting in a bad position at 3-3
Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020 A fair bit of frustration followed each of the Raiders’ first two losses of the season. Despite Sunday’s 45-20 defeat to the Buccaneers nearly equaling the margins of the other two losses combined, the team was not nearly as negative. Quarterback Derek Carr specifically strayed from ...
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Sports
Raiders’ defense reverts to old ways, gets ravaged by Buccaneers
Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 Maurice Hurst turned around and offered to help Tom Brady up after he slammed the veteran quarterback to the Allegiant Stadium grass early in Sunday’s game. ...
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SportsTom Brady picks apart Raiders as Buccaneers roll at Allegiant Stadium
Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 The Raiders rode high into their third-ever home game at Allegiant Stadium after beating the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, but they couldn’t repeat the success against six-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady. ...
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SportsGame On? Everything to know about Raiders' current coronavirus situation
Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 The Raiders’ fan base expressed outrage when the NFL moved the team’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers up from Sunday Night Football to Sunday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. The Raiders themselves were much less concerned with ...
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CasinoCirca sports book is as mind-blowing as advertised
Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020 They say it can take up to 10 people to operate the three-story, high-definition screen at the front of the Circa sportsbook, but Derek Stevens is ...
