FLASH RECAP:
For the first time in the Al Davis era, the Raiders are winless against
division opposition.
Jake Plummer and Mike Anderson rush for touchdowns and Denver’s defense holds Oakland to 248 total yards as the Broncos (12-3) pummel the Raiders (4-11) before an announced crowd of 76,212 at Invesco Field at Mile High on Dec. 24, 2005.
With the lopsided loss, Oakland finishes 0-6 against AFC West opposition, equaling a franchise record.
In 1962, — one year before the patriarch Davis joined the franchise as coach/general manager — the Raiders went 0-6 against American Football League Western Division opposition en route to a 1-13 record.
The current edition of the Raiders isn't much better. Oakland has recorded three straight losing seasons, also a first for Davis in his 43 years with the franchise.
The Raiders are an abysmal 13-34 since playing in Super Bowl XXXVII in January 2003.
"This is a sad moment right now. I know I'm tired of losing," Raiders defensive end Bobby Hamilton tells reporters after Oakland's fourth straight loss to rival Denver. "I ain't won but nine games in two years here. It's hard, and I'm not happy."
The Broncos and their revved-up fans celebrate one of the franchise's greatest moments. Denver wins its first AFC West title since 1998, earns the No. 2 seed in the upcoming AFC playoffs and gives coach Mike Shanahan another victory over the Raiders.
Shanahan, fired by Davis in 1989 after an 8-12 record as Raiders coach, improves to 17-5 as Broncos coach against Oakland.
The Raiders lose their eighth straight game against AFC West opposition and are 2-16 in the division since 2003.
PRIME-TIME PLAYERS:
QB Jake Plummer — Is 15-of-18 passes for 209 yards in setting up three
first-half scores (including his 1-yard run for the Broncos’ first TD).
Plummer improves to 5-1 in Denver starts against Oakland.
S Nick Ferguson — His end-zone interception with 42 seconds left in the first half preserves a 16-0 Broncos lead.
WRs Ashley Lelie & Rod Smith — They combine for 11 catches and 201
yards. Lelie (6 catches for 110 yards) and Smith (5 catches for 91 yards) give a clinic on getting open against the Raiders' matador pass defense.
RB Mike Anderson — His 46 rushing yards gives him 1,014 yards on the
season. Anderson's 2-yard TD run with 2:17 left in the second quarter gives the Broncos a 16-0 advantage.
DE Derrick Burgess — His third-quarter sack gives him 15 for the
season.
K Sebastian Janikowski — His 43-yard field goal 50 seconds into the the fourth quarter
prevents the Raiders from suffering their first shutout since 1997.
S Stuart Schweigert — His second-quarter interception gives him a
team-high
two interceptions for the season.
TURNING POINT:
The Broncos build a 22-0 lead in the first three quarters on touchdown runs by Jake Plummer and Mike Anderson and three Jason Elam field goals.
KEY STAT (S):
The Raiders don’t score against the Broncos in the first three quarters
of
each of their two games this season. The Broncos out-score the Raiders a combined 55-0 through three quarters of the two games.
BY THE NUMBERS:
0-6:Raiders record against AFC West opposition this season, equaling a franchise record. Oakland is
8-0: Broncos record at home this season. It’s Denver’s first unbeaten
home
season since 1998, when the Broncos won their second straight Super
Bowl.
15: Sacks by Raiders DE Derrick Burgess, one-half sack shy of equaling
Sean
Jones’ franchise record of 15.5 sacks in 1986.
27: Raiders points the past four games, all losses. The opposition (San
Diego, New York Jets, Cleveland and Denver) has combined for 91 points
over
the same stretch.
THEY SAID IT:
Broncos punter Todd Sauerbrun
"This one was all for Mike. We owed him this. It was the least we could do. What a great day. We win the game, win the division, get the No. 2 seed and get rid of the Raiders for Mike. It's awesome."
"Defensively, when you're looking at zeros on the scoreboard, that's tough business, that's tough duty. Even seeing 16-3 (or) 10-3, that gives you just a little extra to go out there. But when it's 16-0, 22-0, it's tough."
Raiders S Stuart Schweigert
DID YOU KNOW?:
With their fifth straight defeat, the 4-11 Raiders are one loss away from
equaling the franchise’s worst record since 1962. The 1997 and 2003
teams
also went 4-12. The 1962 Raiders went a franchise-worst 1-13.
Broncos QB Jake Plummer (16)
is drilled by Raiders LB Danny Clark.
