FLASH RECAP:
Reeling Oakland (2-4) is dominated by visiting Denver (5-1) before an announced crowd 57,293 at Network Associates Coliseum on Oct. 17, 2004. Jake Plummer throws for three first-half touchdowns and Reuben Droughns rushes for 176 yards and a touchdown for the Broncos, who score 31 straight points after an early 3-0 deficit.
Oakland’s Kerry Collins, who throws for only 136 yards, is booed by fans throughout the final three quarters. Collins is winless in three starts and has thrown seven interceptions since taking over for an injured Rich Gannon.
The Raiders have only 145 total yards, surrender 254 rushing yards and commit nine penalties for 81 yards en route to their third straight loss.
One of the few highlights for the Raiders is when Bobby Hamilton and Danny Clark stop the Broncos’ Droughns for a 2-yard loss on fourth-and-1 from the Oakland 37-yard line early in the fourth quarter.
It’s the lowest scoring home game for the Raiders since their 6-3 loss to the Chicago Bears in Los Angeles on Dec. 27, 1987.
PRIME-TIME PLAYERS:
RB Reuben Droughns - Rushes for 176 yards on 38 carries and one touchdown. Droughns has 103 yards on 18 attempts in the first half as the Broncos build a 21-3 lead.
QB Jake Plummer - Completes 11 of 21 passes for 190 yards and three touchdowns. After opening the game with three incompletions and an interception, Plummer has a streak of 9-of-12 passing for 169 yards and the aforementioned three TDs.
Broncos O-Line - The unit puts on a blocking clinic as Denver has 444 total yards, allows no sacks and controls the football for 36:57.
TEs Jeb Putzier & Dwayne Carswell - Combine for five catches for 82 yards and two TDs.
FS John Lynch - His hit on Jerry Porter at the Denver 7-yard line late in the first half forces a fumble that is recovered by Kenoy Kennedy.
SS Marques Anderson - His first-quarter interception and 23-yard return sets up a field goal, but he also is burned for a 28-yard reception by Jeb Putzier on Denver’s second touchdown drive.
P Shane Lechler - Has a season-high 65-yard punt in the third quarter.
K Sebastian Janikowski - His 35-yard field goal in the first quarter accounts for Oakland’s only points.
GOAT:
Raiders QB Kerry Collins completes 15 of 31 passes for 136 yards with an interception for an efficiency rating of 47.2.
KEY STAT:
Broncos RB Reuben Droughns out-gains the Raiders, 176 yards to 145.
BY THE NUMBERS:
2: Broncos takeaways. Denver had only three takeaways in its previous five games.
31: Consecutive Broncos points.
96: Oakland points allowed the past three games.
369: Rushing yards by Denver’s Reuben Droughns the past two games.
THEY SAID IT:
Raiders G Frank Middleton
"We can’t get any worse. We’re at the bottom. We can’t get any lower."
"If you get them down early, we knew they would quit. That’s one thing Mike (Shanahan) talked about when we had the first meeting about them (Oct. 12)."
Broncos SS Kenoy Kennedy
DID YOU KNOW?:
The 28-point victory is the Broncos' largest winning margin in a road game against the Raiders. The previous largest margin was a 30-7 Denver win at Oakland on Oct. 16, 1977.
Broncos QB Jake Plummer (16) eludes Raiders defenders.
