FLASH RECAP:
Josh McCown throws for three touchdowns and Justin Fargas rushes for 146 yards and a touchdown to propel Oakland (4-8) over Denver (5-7) before an announced crowd of 61,990 at McAfee Coliseum on Dec. 2, 2007.
The victory snaps Oakland's five-game losing streak against AFC West rival Denver. The Raiders win back-to-back games against division opposition for the first time since 2002. They ended a league-record 17-game division losing streak the previous week with a 20-17 win at Kansas City.
Quarterback JaMarcus Russell, the top overall choice in the 2007 NFL draft, makes his Raiders debut. The former Louisiana State star is 4-of-7 passing for 56 yards in two offensive series in the second quarter against Denver.
The Raiders' Jerry Porter catches a 13-yard touchdown pass early in the third quarter, his first TD reception in Oakland since December 2004.
The Broncos lose in Oakland for the first time in five games. Broncos coach Mike Shanahan drops to 6-20 in 26 career games against the Raiders.
PRIME-TIME PLAYERS:
QB Josh McCown — Throws for three TDs on 14-of-21 passing and 141 yards despite playing with a dislocated left pinkie finger. McCown picks up a key first down on an 11-yard bootleg run on the Raiders' final TD drive.
RB Justin Fargas — Rushes for 146 yards on a career-high 33 carries. His 5-yard TD run with 3:04 left seals Oakland's first win over Denver in six games.
Raiders defense — The unit forces four turnovers and allows only 86 rushing yards. After the Broncos have 83 yards on their opening drive, they gain only 209 yards the rest of the contest.
WR Brandon Stokley — Has three catches for 102 yards.
RB Travis Henry — Has two rushing TDs but coughs up a fumble that leads to Josh McCown’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Zach Miller for a go-ahead touchdown late in the first half.
LB D.J. Williams — Has 13 solo tackles and a fumble recovery.
GOAT:
Broncos QB Jay Cutler. The Raiders score 17 points on three Cutler turnovers (two interceptions, one lost fumble). Cutler finishes 16-of-32 passing for 214 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions for an abysmal efficiency rating of 45.6.
KEY STAT:
The Raiders score 24 points off of four Broncos turnovers.
The Raiders surrender only 86 rushing yards, well below their league-worst average of 153.6 yards allowed through the season's first 11 games.
TURNING POINT:
With Oakland leading 27-20, cornerback Fabian Washington intercepts a Jay Cutler pass at the Denver 43 with 8:48 remaining. The Raiders then drive 38 yards in nine plays before Justin Fargas' victory-clinching touchdown on a 5-yard run.
THEY SAID IT:
Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha
"It's big. It's not just another game for us. Back-to-back AFC West games. That's huge. That's never been done since I've been here. We're taking strides."
"We started out moving the ball real well, but then we kind of hit a wall after that where we couldn't get anything going. By the time we did get a little something going, it was too late."
Broncos OT Matt Lepsis
"I tried to tell myself just to relax. It's same thing that you do each and every day in practice. That's exactly what it felt like."
Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell
BY THE NUMBERS:
6-20: Raiders record against the Broncos since Mike Shanahan became Denver coach in 1995.
24: Raiders points off of four Broncos turnovers.
86: Broncos rushing yards. The Raiders enter the game ranked last in the league in rush defense, averaging 153.6 yards per game.
DID YOU KNOW?:
Josh McCown's 15-yard scoring pass to Tim Dwight on the Raiders' opening drive is Oakland's first TD on an opening drive in 36 games.
The Broncos lose a regular-season game against the Raiders in Oakland for only the fourth time since 1995. They're 9-4 over that span.
Denver's four turnovers are the most against the Raiders since also having four during a 14-9 loss on Sept. 9, 1990.
Raiders RB Justin Fargas, left, trys to break
the grasp of Broncos LB D.J. Williams.
