FLASH RECAP:
JaMarcus Russell's 10-yard touchdown pass to Chaz Schilens with 35 seconds left gives Oakland (5-9) a stunning victory over Denver (8-6) before an announced crowd of 74,502 at Invesco Field at Mile High on Dec. 20, 2009.
The oft-maligned Russell enters the game early in the fourth quarter after starter Charlie Frye is sidelined because of a concussion.
Russell, who finishes 5-of-11 passing for 47 yards, hits two key completions on the Raiders' 62-yard, 10-play game-winning drive. Russell's 11-yard completion to tight end Tony Stewart on fourth-and-10 helps set up the aforementioned TD pass to Schilens, who breaks away from Broncos CB Alphonso Smith after the catch at the 2.
"They're all special, but this one's pretty high," Russell tells reporters after Oakland gets consecutive wins at Denver for the first time since 1993-94.
The Raiders rally for victory after the rival Broncos can't score a touchdown following a first-and-goal from the 2 in the closing minutes. Oakland cornerback Stanford Routt saves a touchdown when he horse-collars Denver's Brandon Stokley at the end of a 63-yard reception. The horse collar penalty on Routt moves the ball only two yards.
"You get down there you've got to score a touchdown," Stokley tells reporters after the Broncos suffer their sixth loss in eight games. "Those end up coming back and costing you the game."
Routt said: "I just had to go get him. You never let somebody just run into the end zone, you know what I mean? You never do that. I just grabbed him and tried to bring him down. I didn't know it was illegal. I mean I didn't hurt him or nothing. I grabbed his neck and he came down."
Frye, starting his first game since October 2008, is 9-of-17 passing for 68 yards with and an interception.
Michael Bush (133 rushing yards) and Darren McFadden (74) combine for 207 of Oakland's season-high 241 rushing yards.
PRIME-TIME PLAYERS:
RB Michael Bush � Has 133 rushing yards on 18 carries and a TD. His 23-yard scoring run early in the second quarter erases a 6-0 deficit.
WR Chaz Schilens � Catches a 10-yard scoring pass from JaMarcus Russell on a crossing pattern with 35 seconds left fo the game-winner. He finishes with 5 catches for 37 yards.
QB JaMarcus Russell � Throws a 10-yard TD pass to Chaz Schilens and completes an 11-yard pass to Tony Stewart on fourth-and-10 on the game-turning drive. Russell is 4-of-8 passing for 43 yards on the go-ahead drive.
QB Kyle Orton � Is 19-of-34 passing for 278 yards and a TD.
WR Brandon Marshall � Has 7 receptions for 74 yards and a TD after his NFL-record 21-catch performance the previous week. Marshall catches three passes for 32 yards, including a touchdown, on a Broncos touchdown drive late in the third quarter.
K Matt Prater � Is 4-for-4 on field goal attempts.
KEY STATS:
Led by Michael Bush's 133 rushing yards, the Raiders rush for a season-high 241 yards. Their previous best was 182 rushing yards against Kansas City on Nov. 15.
The Broncos are held to 80 rushing yards on 28 attempts, including 15 rushing yards during the second half. In their previous meeting, the Broncos had 215 rushing yards in a 23-3 win at Oakland on Sept. 27.
The Raiders force a Denver field goal with 5:54 left after the Broncos have a first-and-goal at the 2. Denver is 11-for-22 in goal-to-goal situations this season.
THEY SAID IT:
Raiders TE Tony Stewart
"You can only imagine. The man has been freaking dragged through the mud, and people have been taking shots at him, and the man has been just standing tall. He still has a lot of growing to do but, when it came time, he stepped up and did his job.�
on QB JaMarcus Russell
"It�s really (satisfying) to come in, and the guys support you, and be around. I always say everybody has their opinion. As long as my teammates have faith (in me), and what I have faith in those guys. There�s always going to be tough times. It�s how you come up from behind and fight those tough times off.
Russell
Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell
"We have no margin for error. The sense of urgency was supposed to be today. And unfortunately it wasn't."
Broncos DE Vonnie Holiday
BY THE NUMBERS:
2: Sacks by Raiders DE Greg Ellis. His 84 career sacks rank sixth-highest among active players.
3: Raiders' comeback victories in the final minute in three of the past five games.
7.4: Average yards per rush on 18 carries for Oakland's Michael Bush, who finishes with 133 rushing yards.
19-5: Raiders record against the Broncos in December.
DID YOU KNOW?:
The Raiders beat the Broncos in Denver for the second straight season after losing 11 of the previous 13 road games against the Broncos.
