Week 4:@
A huge matchup this weekend as theWest's two top dogs battle it out at Milehigh. Demarcus Ware, A.J Hawk and Terrance Knighton are all injured so Denver's D is vulnerable. Also, the Bronco O-line is a mess... it's the weak spot on their solid roster. Can Oakland find the advantage? After a terrible outing versus Minnesota, Oakland needs to respond.
Denver starts off the scoring with a 50 yard FG by Prater. Later in the first quarter, breakout rookie RB Stephenson fumbles the ball in Denver territory. On the next raider drive McGloin gets sacked and fumbles the ball deep in Oakland territory. Three plays later Manning hits Sanders for the Td and it's 10-0 Denver.
On the next Oakland drive... finally a response! The raiders drive the field and then MJD punches it in from the 2 to make the score 10-7 with 3:40 left in the half.
With time running out the Raiders begin their last drive of the half and with 0:00 on the clock, Janikowski hits a 36 yard FG to tie the game at 10-10 going into halftime. McGloin started slow but at this point he is on fire throwing for 166 yards in the first half! Denver cannot run the ball. Ball has 8 rushes for 2 yards. Manning and the pass game are the only thing working for Denver's offense.
On Denver's first drive of the 3rd quarter, Manning throws a pic six to Usama Young and the Raiders take their first lead of the game. That's 17 unanswered points by Oakland. You can hear the boos from the Denver fans. Ouch!
Denver responds with a beautiful drive ending with Manning hitting Thomas for the TD and a 17-17 tie game. The third comes to an end with the score 17-17.
With 9:21 left in the 4th, Janikowski hits a FG from 34 yards out and Oakland goes back on top, 20-17. As Denver begins their next drive, the Oakland D steps up and backup CB McGill takes a 71 yard pic six to the house... 27-17 Oakland. With 7:20 remaining that could be the game???
Not so fast. Manning goes 82 yards in six plays and hits his rookie TE for a TD. That makes it 27-24. However the MJD show takes over and the Raiders begin to chew the clock. They key play of the game... 3rd and 7. Denver has no timeouts and there is on 1:44 left on the clock... McGloin hits Moore on a crossing pattern and he fights for the first down. That ensures the win for Oakland with the final score Oakland 27 Denver 24.
The QB play for both teams was strong.
McGloin 22/30 217 yards
Manning 22/29 268 yards 3TD 2 INT
* the two pic six plays for manning was a real game killer.
As for the run game... no comparison
MJD 22 carries 108 yards 1 TD
Ball 13 carries 39 yards
The difference in the game was the pic six plays and no run game by Denver. Those things ensured an Oakland victory.
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