TE Mychal Rivera catches a touchdown pass in the 4th quarter. Photo by Tony Gonzales
With today's 41-17 loss to the Denver Broncos (7-2), the Oakland Raiders fall to 0-9 on the season and 0-5 under Interim Head Coach Tony Sparano (29-37). The Raiders are now 0-2 in divisional play this season and will travel to San Diego next week to take on the Chargers.
The loss brings the all-time series to 59-47-2 (1-1 in postseason) and 31-24 at home in the Raiders' favor.
The offensive line remains the best pass-protecting unit in franchise history, establishing a team record with just nine sacks allowed through nine games, beating the previous best of 10 allowed in nine contests in 1969.
Today's game also marks the fourth time this season the Raiders offensive line did not allow a sack in the contest, tying the second-best mark in franchise history (seven times, last: 2012). The Raiders need just one more game without allowing a sack to tie the franchise record of five games (1969).
The Raiders' offense finished the job on both trips to the red zone in the game, scoring their 12th touchdown in 15 red zone possessions (80.0 percent). Oakland entered Week 10 in second place in the NFL in red-zone touchdown percentage, trailing the Broncos who have dropped to 24-for-31 (77.4 percent) after today's game.
The Raiders' defense picked off Peyton Manning twice in the game, marking Manning's fourth-career multi-interception game against the Raiders and his first as a Bronco. The last time Manning threw two picks against the Raiders was on Dec. 26, 2010. Oakland is now 2-2 against Manning-led teams when he throws multiple picks. Oakland's defense stood firm in the red zone again today, keeping the Broncos out of the end zone on two of their four trips inside Oakland's 20-yard line. Opponents have scored touchdowns on just 20 of their 39 trips (51.3 percent) inside the Raiders' 20-yard line.
The Raiders turned an opening-drive interception by CB DJ Hayden into three points as K Sebastian Janikowski converted a 41-yard field goal to put Oakland ahead early in the first quarter. The Raiders have now scored on four of nine opening possessions this season.
The Raiders' defensive front batted down four Peyton Manning passes at the line of scrimmage in the second quarter, including three on one drive. DT Pat Sims, rookies LB Khalil Mack and DE Justin Ellis, and DE Justin Tuck each got their hands on Manning passes in the period, with Tuck catching his deflection on the fly for his third career pick.
Individual Notes: Offense
QB Derek Carr threw his 12th touchdown pass of the season to WR Brice Butler for a 5-yard score, giving the Raiders a 10-6 lead over Denver early in the second quarter. He completed his 13th touchdown pass of the season to TE Mychal Rivera, the most touchdowns thrown by a first-year Raider.
WR Brice Butler hauled in the second receiving touchdown of his career, a 5-yard strike from Carr in the back of the end zone, to put Oakland ahead 10-6 in the second quarter.
WR James Jones led the Raiders in receptions, catching eight passes for 20 yards. Jones' eight receptions are his second-highest total of the season.
With his second rush of the game, RB Darren McFadden became just the second Raider (Marcus Allen, 1982-88) with at least 100 rushing attempts in seven straight seasons. He is also just one of four active players (Frank Gore – 10; Marshawn Lynch – 8; and Matt Forte – 7) with a streak of at least seven seasons.
McFadden's four receptions for 22 yards move him ahead of Clem Daniels (201) for the third-most receptions by a running back in franchise history.
WR Denarius Moore made a leaping catch over Broncos CB Bradley Roby in the fourth quarter for a 28-yard gain, the Raiders' longest play of the contest and Moore's longest gain of the season.
TE Mychal Rivera finished the game with six receptions for 64 yards and one touchdown. His six catches move him ahead of Raymond Chester (70) for third most receptions by a Raider TE in their first two seasons. His 693 career receiving yards move him past Doug Jolley for the fifth most receiving yards by a Raider TE in their first two seasons.
Individual Notes: Defense
CB DJ Hayden intercepted Peyton Manning on the Broncos' second play from scrimmage for his second career interception and first since a game-clinching pick vs. San Diego on Oct. 6, 2013. The interception is the first Peyton Manning has thrown against the Raiders since Dec. 6, 2012.
Hayden made another excellent break on the ball in the second quarter, diving to deflect a Manning pass along the right sideline, forcing a fourth down and a Broncos punt. Hayden added another crucial stop when he broke up a deep pass in the end zone in the fourth quarter.
DE Justin Tuck batted a Manning pass straight into the air and made a diving interception, the Raiders' second of the game. Tuck now has three career interceptions and his first since Dec. 22, 2013.
DE Justin Ellis got his hands on a Manning pass at the line of scrimmage in the second quarter to force a Broncos' third-and-long. That marks Ellis's first career pass defensed.
LB Khalil Mack was one of four Raiders to knock down a Manning pass at the line in the second quarter alone, marking his third career pass defensed, according to coach's statistics.
LB Sio Moore was a disruptive force for much of the game, recording seven tackles (five solo), according to press box statistics. In the third quarter, Moore broke through the line to drop Ronnie Hillman for a 3-yard loss.
S Larry Asante made his first career start, tying for the team lead with 10 tackles and leading the unit with eight solo.
DT Pat Sims batted down a Manning pass at the line of scrimmage in the second quarter, giving him his third career pass defensed and his first since Nov. 11, 2012 while with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Individual Notes: Special Teams
K Sebastian Janikowski converted a 41-yard field goal in the first quarter to put the Raiders in front 3-0.
Janikowski converted both extra-point attempts in the game, extending his streak to 182 straight.
P Marquette King tied his season high with nine punts, averaging 43.2 yards per punt.
King punted for 389 yards today, passing Shane Lechler's mark (6,359 from 2000-01) for punting yards by a Raider in their first two seasons. King now has 6,548 punting yards in his first two seaons.
