Broncos Blow Another Lead But Hang On To Defeat Raiders

by PapaManningsPizza | 7 years ago | 0 Comments

Denver, Colorado

Something that happens once is said to be a fluke. Something that happens twice is said to be odd. Something that happens three times makes you scratch your head. But when it happens a fourth time, it needs to be considered a trend.

The Broncos blew their 4th lead of 20 or more points in as many games, but for the 3rd time, held on for a nail-biting win, defeating the Raiders 37-34.

What seemed to be just a rough stretch of defensive play late in games now has GM Swan concerned. He has ordered head coach Peyton Manning to take action.

"I've told ya'll before. We're in the business of winning football games. So I've ordered Peyton to score until the clock says 0:00. No more of this Andy Reid, Lincoln Riley, Kirby Smart, play it safe in big games bulls***. We don't want any more close games. I don't care what the league thinks of us...if we can win the game 100-0, we will do it."

Sports have a history of having certain unwritten rules. One of those rules is not running up the score. But it doesn't sound like the Denver Broncos will be obeying any such unwritten rule any longer. 

The Broncos offense continues to flourish with Ben Roethlisberger at the helm, and are currently averaging 38 points per game. However, scoring points hasn't been the problem. It's allowing the opposing team to score points that is. The Broncos were up 30-7 on the Raiders at halftime.

During that halftime break, the two teams made the necessary adjustments. But the Raiders were the only ones with adjustments that worked. Head coach Kung Fu told the team at half that they "needed to trust themselves more" and "not do more than they could do as an individual". He spoke with the media following the game.

"It's a tough way to start the game, going down 10-0 in the first quarter. We weren't quite ready to play, and we've had a bad case of the turnover bug. But despite being down 30-7 at halftime, I'm proud of the comeback the team mounted in the second half, even if it wasn't quite enough. Dalvin (Cook) broke out in the second half and we showed some promise for the rest of the season. Hopefully, we can put it all together next week and get the first win of the season. But that was the best the offense and defense have looked all year, and it's a good sign."

The Raiders defense did a good job of making the Broncos one dimensional, all but eliminating the running game. Running back Stephen Jett was virtually a non-factor, but Big Ben put the team on his back with the help of his fast and strong receiving corps. Also breaking out in the game was rookie tight end Jacob Schmidt, who hauled in four catches for 38 yards and a touchdown. 

On defense, the Broncos shut down the Raiders entirely in the first half, limiting Dalvin Cook to hardly any yardage on the ground and forcing QB Derek Carr into throwing two interceptions. Bradley Roby made both of them, taking one back for a touchdown. 

Cook stepped up his game tremendously in the second half, as did Carr. Cook finished with a solid 151 yards and two touchdowns. 

The Broncos (3-1) will travel to take on the Tampa Bay Bucs (1-2) next week. The Raiders (0-4) will travel to Atlanta to take on the Falcons (1-2). 

GAME STATS

Passing

Ben Roethlisberger (DEN): 13/18, 256 yards, 3 TDs

Derek Carr (OAK): 13/19, 293 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs

Rushing

Dalvin Cook (OAK): 21 carries, 151 yards, 2 TDs

Jaxson Cope (OAK): 2 carries, 2 yards, 1 TD

Stephen Jett (DEN): 10 carries, 40 yards

Receiving

Amari Cooper (OAK): 6 receptions, 180 yards, 1 TD

Darian Robiskie (DEN): 4 receptions, 102 yards, 1 TD

Carlos Henderson (DEN): 2 receptions, 89 yards, 1 TD

Jacob Schmidt (DEN): 4 receptions, 38 yards, 1 TD

Tyrell Williams (OAK): 1 reception, 9 yards, 1 TD

Defense

Broncos Interceptions: Bradley Roby (2)

Raiders Interceptions: None

Broncos Sacks: Bradley Roby, Ezekiel Ansah, Derek Wolfe, Kashawn Iquoma

Raiders Sacks: None

Kicking

Brandon McManus (DEN): 3 FG, 58 yd. long, 4 XP

Punting

Jacob Schum (DEN): 2 punts, 54 yd. avg, 1 I20, 59 yd. long

Marquette King (OAK): 1 punt, 59 yds