FLASH RECAP:
Oakland flounders against a Denver team coming off its first losing season since 1999.
Jay Cutler throws for 299 yards and two touchdowns as the Broncos (1-0) defeat the deflated Raiders (0-1) before an announced crowd of 62,762 at McAfee Coliseum on Sept. 8 in their 2008 season opener.
Broncos coach Mike Shanahan improves to 21-6 against the Raiders.
Former Falcons cornerback DeAngelo Hall and ex-Giants strong safety Gibril Wilson — Oakland's top two free-agent acquisitions from the 2008 offseason — struggle in their Raiders debuts.
Hall, who signed a reported $70 million contract with Oakland, is beaten repeatedly by Broncos' rookie wide receiver Eddie Royal. Two Hall personal foul penalties aid a Denver touchdown drive late in the first half as the Broncos build a 17-0 lead.
Wilson is burned by Royal on a 26-yard touchdown pass from Cutler on the game's opening possession. A personal foul penalty on Wilson helps Denver score the first of two fourth-quarter touchdowns.
If you're counting, the Raiders open a season with a loss for the sixth straight season.
PRIME-TIME PLAYERS:
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Broncos coach Mike Shanahan — His team dominates a division opponent on the road in their season opener. Credit Shanahan with a strong game plan and having his players motivated in a venue where they lost (34-20) in 2007.
QB Jay Cutler — Is 16-of-24 passing for 299 yards and two TDs with no INTs.
WR Eddie Royal — The rookie from Virginia Tech has nine catches for 146 yards and a touchdown. Royal burns Raiders SS Gibril Wilson on a 26-yard touchdown pass on the game's opening drive.
RB Justin Fargas — Has a game-high 97 rushing yards on 19 carries.
QB JaMarcus Russell — Is 17-of-26 passing for 180 yards and two TDs with no INTs. His lost fumble on third-and-goal from the Denver 7 ends a promising drive after a 58-yard kickoff return by Johnnie Lee Higgins.
WR Ashley Lelie — Former Bronco has three catches for 37 yards, including an 8-yard TD catch early in the fourth quarter.
GOAT:
Raiders CB DeAngelo Hall. Twice in a three-play span, Hall is penalized for a personal foul on Broncos wide receiver Eddie Royal during the second quarter. The penalties aid a Denver touchdown drive that increases the lead to 17-0.
KEY STAT(S):
Jay Cutler is 12-of-18 passing for 202 yards and a touchdown in the first half as the Broncos build a 17-0 lead
THEY SAID IT:
Raiders
CB Nnamdi Asomugha
“It’s a young team, and you never know how guys are going react to a loss. It’s the first game of the season. But if we don’t fix it right now, then we’re going to be in trouble.”
"We just didn’t play well. We didn’t rise to the occasion. We had a terrible showing on national TV."
Raiders
CB DeAngelo Hall
"They've got their high-paid secondary, but we feel good about the guys we've got. We're not trying to get in a war of words with those guys."
Broncos CB Dre Bly
BY THE NUMBERS:
0: Forced turnovers and sacks by Oakland.
5: Raiders personal fouls, including two on CB DeAngelo Hall.
68: Raiders points allowed the past two Monday night games, home losses to San Diego (27-0 in 2006) and Denver (41-14 in 2008).
DID YOU KNOW?:
Eddie Royal’s 146 receiving yards against Oakland is the sixth highest by a player in his NFL debut since 1960. It's the best debut by a Broncos’ rookie receiver since Rick Upchurch’s 153-yard performance against Kansas City in 1975. Royal becomes the first rookie receiver to exceed 100 receiving yards since Anquan Boldin’s NFL record 217-yard performance in 2003.
Raiders WR Ashley Lelie (87) catches a
TD pass over Broncos CB Karl Paymagh.
