Week 14: Oakland Raiders vs. Denver Broncos

[WHO-DEY-BENGALS_18]

[font="'Lucida Sans Unicode"]Week 15 - 12/19/2010[/font][font="arial]

[/font]TIME: 04:15 P.M. EST
VENUE: Oakland Coliseum
Oakland has played well against its own division, a fact the Denver Broncos are very aware of after the Raiders scored a franchise-record 59 points against them earlier this season.

The Raiders look to improve to 5-0 against the AFC West when they host the Broncos on Sunday.

Oakland (6-7) hasn't had at least six wins in a season since 2002, when it last won the division and reached the Super Bowl. The Raiders, however, aren't content with just finishing with a winning record - they are hoping to make the playoffs.

However, their chances seem slim after losing three of four to drop behind Kansas City and San Diego.

It's especially frustrating since Oakland is unbeaten against its division, including a 59-14 win in Denver on Oct. 24. The Raiders could finish the season perfect against the AFC West and still miss the playoffs. Since the 1970 merger, no team has finished undefeated against its division and not ended up in first place.

"The reality of it is we have to win out and we need a little help here," coach Tom Cable said, "but if that's the way it's supposed to turn out it will and we'll find a way to get it done."

Oakland's playoff hopes took a big hit after losing 38-31 at Jacksonville last Sunday. The Raiders blew a 10-point lead and gave up several big-yardage plays, including a 74-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter and a 30-yard rushing TD in the fourth.

The Raiders rank 14th in the NFL in overall defense, giving up 335.3 yards per game, but they're 29th in allowing 61 plays of 20 or more yards.

"Too many big plays defensively," Cable said. "You've got to finish the deal."

The breakdowns on defense against the Jaguars marred an exceptional day by the offense. Jason Campbell went 21 of 30 for 324 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions for a passer rating of 127.6 - the second-best of his career - while Darren McFadden had 209 yards of total offense, recording a 67-yard receiving touchdown and rushing scores of 51 and 36 yards.

McFadden became the first Raider to score on a run and catch of at least 50 yards in the same game since Clem Daniels in 1963. He recorded four touchdowns and 196 yards of offense against the Broncos in October.

Oakland may also not have to be so concerned with giving up big plays to Denver (3-10), which has lost four straight and scored less than 15 points in three of those games. The Broncos fell 43-13 at Arizona last Sunday in interim coach Eric Studesville's first game.

Denver began the week firing Josh McDaniels and without him calling plays, the offense suffered. The Broncos rushed for 132 yards but had six turnovers, including three interceptions by Kyle Orton.

Orton completed 46.3 percent of his passes for 166 yards and no touchdowns to finish with a 27.1 quarterback rating, the third-worst of his career.

Orton has gone 28 of 69 for 283 yards and no touchdowns in the last two games, but earlier this week Studesville said he will remain the starter over first-round draft pick Tim Tebow.

Tebow, though, got more snaps at practice Thursday with Orton nursing bruised ribs and the rookie might even get his first extended action of the season - if not his first start - Sunday.

"I think it went pretty good," Tebow said. "I think just getting more opportunities out there, more reps, that's a lot of fun for me. It's a chance to really work and improve and learn this offense even more."

Orton, who has also been sacked a career-high 34 times, had a difficult time against Oakland in October, completing 41.4 percent of his passes for 198 yards, two touchdowns and an interception while getting sacked four times.

"That guy gets the blunt of the blame, and that's what the position is," Studesville said. "There are a whole lot of other things that go into that. We have to protect him up front ... we have to run routes that get open ... it's 100 percent a team effort - to put it solely on him, I don't think is 100 percent right."

The Broncos have won their last two visits to Oakland, outscoring the Raiders 64-17. They are looking to avoid getting swept in the season series for the first time since 2002.



Copyright 2010 by STATS LLC and The Associated Press[font="arial]

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[font="arial]Post game day comments here! [/font]

 

[WHO-DEY-BENGALS_18]

The Tim Tebow era begins.......... With a loss. Too many things going on right now with the Denver Broncos, I don't see them winning this game.

- 23

- 16

 

[A.E]

Jacoby Ford scored on 1st play from scrimmage...71-yard reverse.

Broncos just snagged a pick tho. Vickerson with the leaping INT.

Tebow has yet to do jack.

 

[A.E]

3rd & 24...Tebow runs a QB draw 40-yards for a TD.

 

[DJT]

Holy crap. What crazy game.

 

[A.E]

That was an amazing throw and even better catch by Brandon Lloyd. Tebow is throwing a nice ball so far...using his legs to create plays. I wouldn't usually say this but Denver should abandon the run and spread it out right now. It's working against Oakland's defense.

 

[footballplaya52]

tebow couldnt have had a better start imo.

 

[A.E]

Damnit! I should've started Brandon Lloyd today...Tebow looks his way even more than Orton did.

 

[WHO-DEY-BENGALS_18]

Tebow is playing pretty well.

 

[Mooche]

Tebow has looked pretty good. I mean, this is what I thought he had the capability of doing.

 

[A.E]

Tebow looks nice today but I won't jump the gun. As good as his throws have been, he isn't being pressured very much in this game.

 

[A.E]

Uh oh...S A F E T Y

Raiders lead 32-23

 

[.GR]

Haha donkeys