FLASH RECAP:
Darren McFadden rushes for 150 yards and Sebastian Janikowski has a record-tying 63-yard field goal to lead visiting Oakland to a victory over Denver in their regular-season opener before an announced crowd of 74,793 at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on Sept. 12, 2011.
The Raiders get their first season-opening victory since 2002 (a 31-17 win over visiting Seattle). They also snap a streak of 11 consecutive defeats in prime time, with the last win coming in Denver in 2005.
Janikowski's historic field goal comes on the final play of the first half. He joins Tom Dempsey (1970) and Jason Elam (1998)as the only players in NFL history to make a 63-yard field goal.
Hue Jackson is the first Raiders coach to win his debut since Bill Callahan in 2002.
PRIME-TIME PLAYERS:
K Sebastian Janikowski — His 63-yard field goal on the final play of the first half equals the longest field goal in NFL history. The Polish Cannon is 3 for 3 on field goal tries and all five of his kickoffs are touchbacks.
RB Darren McFadden — Rushes for 150 yards on 22 carries, the best Week 1 performance in franchise history. His 47-yard run to the Denver 1 sets up Jason Campbell's 1-yard TD run, giving the Raiders a 23-13 lead early in the fourth period.
DT Richard Seymour — Has two sacks, two tackles for loss and two quarterback hits.
QB Kyle Orton — Throws for 304 yards and a TD, but his lost fumble early in the fourth quarter negates a promising Broncos drive.
WR Eric Decker — His 90-yard punt return for a TD early in the third quarter jumpstarts the Broncos, who trailed 16-3 after the first half.
WR Brandon Lloyd — Has six catches for 89 yards.
KEY STATS:
The Raiders limit the Broncos to 38 rushing yards on 13 carries (2.8 yards per rush). Oakland ranked 29th against the run in 2010.
The teams combine for 25 penalties for 222 yards. Oakland has 15 penalties for 131 yards while Denver has 10 penalties for 91 yards.
The Raiders’ starting defensive line of tackles Richard Seymour and Tommy Kelly and ends Lamarr Houston and Matt Shaughnessy has four sacks and contribute to four holding calls on the Broncos.
The Broncos self-destruct with two lost fumbles, an interception and blocked punt.
THEY SAID IT:
Raiders K Sebastian Janikowski
"To be honest, I didn’t hit it that good. It barely got over the bar.”
on his 63-yard field goal
"It’s very disappointing because we talk about having to stop Darren McFadden, and we don’t do everything to stop him."
Broncos CB Champ Bailey
BY THE NUMBERS:
4: Consecutive Raiders wins against the Broncos in Denver.
8: Consecutive Raiders wins against AFC West opposition.
15: Raiders penalties against the Broncos for 131 yards. Among the Oakland penalties: five false starts, two unnecessary roughness and one roughing the passer.
DID YOU KNOW?:
The Raiders improve to 37-25-1 on Monday night. They end a seven-game losing streak on Monday night with a fourth straight win over Denver. The Raiders last won a Monday night game in 2002 (a 26-20 win over the visiting New York Jets). Oakland won 14 straight Monday night games from 1975-81.
The Raiders hand the Broncos their first loss in a home season opener since 2000.
Oakland's Shane Lechler has a career-best 77-yard punt during the fourth quarter, equaling the franchise record set by Wayne Crow in 1961.
