FLASH RECAP:
Rich Gannon throws for 242 yards and three touchdowns to propel Oakland (6-1) to a victory over Denver before an announced crowd of 62,637 fans at Network Associates Coliseum on Nov. 5, 2001. Tim Brown and Zack Crockett each score two touchdowns to help the Raiders end a seven-game losing streak to the Broncos (4-4). Oakland had dropped 11 of the past 12 meetings to Denver. Rod Smith has two touchdown catches and Jason Elam kicks two field goals for the Broncos. The Raiders hadn't beaten the Broncos since a 28-25 win at Oakland on Oct. 19, 1997. Raiders coach Jon Gruden gets his first win over Mike Shanahan in seven games. Oakland improves to 34-18-1 on Monday night (fourth best winning percentage).
PRIME-TIME PLAYERS:
QB Rich Gannon -- Completes 20 of his first 25 passes for 183 yards and two touchdowns as the Raiders build a 21-6 lead. He finishes the game with 25 completions in 34 attempts for three scores and no interceptions. In four previous Oakland starts against Denver (all Broncos wins), Gannon had seven interceptions and only six touchdowns.
WR Tim Brown -- Has nine catches (eight in the first half) for 95 yards and two touchdowns. He also gains 10 yards on an end-around on Oakland's third touchdown drive.
LB William Thomas -- Returns a Brian Griese interception 33 yards to set up a game-clinching touchdown.
RB Zack Crockett -- Rushes for 1- and 3-yard touchdowns.
LB Travian Smith -- Contributes two first-half sacks in only his second NFL start.
WR Rod Smith -- Has a game-high 10 catches for 91 yards and two touchdowns.
QB Brian Griese -- Throws for 221 yards and two touchdowns but suffers a pair of fourth-quarter interceptions.
TE Desmond Clark -- Has seven receptions for 74 yards and a touchdown.
K Jason Elam -- Makes field goals of 39 and 21 yards. He becomes the 30th player -- and 29th kicker -- to reach 1,000 career points.
CHEAP SHOT OF THE WEEK:
Denver strong safety Kenoy Kennedy puts a helmet-to-helmet hit on Rich Gannon after the Oakland quarterback is forced out of bounds at the end of a 6-yard run in the second quarter. No penalty is called, and Gannon leaves the game temporarily.
GOAT(S) OF THE GAME:
Denver starting cornerbacks Deltha O'Neal and Denard Walker. Oakland wide receivers Tim Brown, Jerry Rice and Jerry Porter combine for 15 catches for 166 yards and two touchdowns. O'Neal, who entered the game with an NFL-best six interceptions, is burned repeatedly (mostly by Brown) for Raiders receptions.
TURNING POINT:
Oakland scores touchdowns on three of its first four possessions for a 21-6 advantage. Rich Gannon throws for touchdowns to Tim Brown (11 yards) and Jon Ritchie (4 yards), and Zack Crockett runs (1 yard) for another.
KEY DRIVE:
The Raiders move 83 yards in eight plays to score a touchdown for a 21-6 lead with 1:10 left in the second quarter. Returning to the lineup after taking a hit to the head from Denver's Kenoy Kennedy, Rich Gannon is 6-for-6 passing for 46 yards. On second-and-goal from the four, Gannon hits a wide-open Jon Ritchie for a touchdown.
BY THE NUMBERS:
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2: Touchdowns each by Oakland's Tim Brown and Zack Crockett.
4: Denver losses in its past six games.
9: Consecutive regular-season Raiders victories at Network Associates Coliseum.
215: Passes thrown without an interception by Oakland's Rich Gannon.
THEY SAID IT:
Raiders CB Eric Allen
"Everybody who plays on Monday night gets excited. It was very important to have a good showing. Not just because the nation saw it but because the people of Oakland did, too. We showed we're for real."
"In the past, the Raiders would find a way to screw it up. But they don't make mistakes anymore. That's the best Raiders team I've seen, for sure."
Broncos LB Bill Romanowski
DID YOU KNOW?:
Oakland builds a 38-20 lead on Zack Crockett's 3-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter. It's the largest lead for the Raiders in the 13 Oakland-Denver games since Mike Shanahan was named Broncos coach in 1995.
Oakland WR Tim Brown makes one of his nine catches as Denver CB Deltha O'Neal defends.
By Associated Press
