OAKLAND RAIDERS RAP
FLASH RECAP:
Jason Elam kicks a 41-yard field goal as time expires to give Denver a dramatic victory over Oakland before an announced crowd of 75,951 fans at Mile High Stadium on Nov. 13, 2000. Quarterback Brian Griese moves the Broncos 44 yards in 62 seconds to set up Elam's winning kick after the Raiders erase a 24-10 deficit. Oakland has dropped seven straight and 11 of the past 12 games to Denver. The loss snaps Oakland's six-game winning streak. The Broncos have swept the Raiders in five of the last six seasons.
PRIME-TIME PLAYERS:
QB Brian Griese -- Completes 25 of 37 passes for 262 yards and one touchdown. A gritty performance considering he played the majority of the game with a partially separated shoulder. He hits 17 of 22 passes for 177 yards in the second half.
PK Jason Elam -- Makes 23- and 41-yard field goal attempts. Arguably the best clutch kicker in the NFL.
LB Ian Gold -- Blocks a Shane Lechler punt and returns it 12 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter.
DT Trevor Pryce -- Has five tackles and one of Denver's four sacks.
WR Rod Smith -- Has six catches for 76 yards, including a 22-yard reception to the Oakland 45 on Denver's game-winning drive.
WR Tim Brown -- Has 10 catches for 122 yards. Late in the fourth quarter, he makes a 4-yard reception on fourth-and-two to the Denver 22. On the next play, Brown hauls in a 22-yard touchdown pass from Rich Gannon to narrow Oakland's deficit to 24-23 with 1:06 remaining.
QB Rich Gannon -- Completes 30 of 53 passes for 382 yards and one touchdown, but he also throws two interceptions.
WR Andre Rison -- Has six catches for 117 yards.
OLB William Thomas -- Contributes an interception and four tackles.
GOAT OF THE GAME:
The Oakland defense can't stop quarterback Brian Griese on Denver's game-winning drive. Despite playing with a partially separated shoulder, Griese hits four passes for 42 yards and also runs for a first down on third-and-one.
TURNING POINT:
Denver scores 17 unanswered points in the first 17 minutes of the second half to build a 24-10 advantage. Jason Elam kicks a 23-yard field goal, Ian Gold returns a blocked punt 12 yards for a touchdown and Brian Griese throws an 11-yard scoring pass to Byron Chamberlain.
KEY DRIVE:
Denver moves 44 yards in seven plays, culminated by Jason Elam's 41-yard field goal as time expires.
BY THE NUMBERS:
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0: Tackles by Oakland defensive tackle Darrell Russell.
2: Rushing touchdowns by Oakland's Zack Crockett.
7: Turnovers by Oakland in two games against Denver this season.
21: Years since Denver returned a blocked punt for a touchdown before LB Ian Gold accomplished the feat against the Raiders. Denver's Rob Nairne returned a blocked punt 22 yards for a score against New England on Nov. 11, 1979.
THEY SAID IT:
Oakland coach Jon Gruden
"We can make all the excuses we want. I'm not going to sit here and cry sour grapes."
DID YOU KNOW?:
Rich Gannon has an 0-4 record against Denver as Oakland's starting quarterback. Brian Griese, Denver's third-year quarterback, is 4-0 against Oakland.
Denver's Jason Elam celebrates his winning field goal.
By The Associated Press
