FLASH RECAP:
Kerry Collins throws for 339 yards and four touchdowns to lead Oakland to a stunning victory over Denver in the snow before an announced crowd of 75,936 at Invesco Field at Mile High on Nov. 28, 2004.
Jerry Porter catches three TD passes -- including the game-winner on fourth-and-goal from the five with 1 minute, 49 seconds left -- to help the Raiders (4-7) beat the rival Broncos (7-4) for only the second time in Denver since 1995.
After Collins' second TD pass of the fourth quarter gives Oakland a 25-24 lead, Jake Plummer drives the Broncos to the Raiders' 24-yard line. On fourth-and-8 with 31 seconds left, Jason Elam's 43-yard field goal attempt is blocked by Oakland's Langston Walker.
Porter has six catches for 135 yards and four TDs, and teammate Ronald Curry contributes six catches for 110 yards and a TD.
The Broncos score 14 points in a 60-second span early in the fourth quarter to build a commanding 24-13 advantage. Reuben Droughns makes up for two lost fumbles with a 3-yard TD run to erase a 13-10 Raiders lead. Two plays after the Denver kickoff, DT Ellis Johnson returns a Collins interception (off of a tipped pass by DT Monsanto Pope) 32 yards for what appears to be a victory-clinching score.
Not so fast.
Curry's one-handed, 6-yard catch for a touchdown narrows the Oakland deficit to 24-19 with 6:11 left. After the Broncos are forced to punt, Curry hauls in a Collins pass over the middle and races 63 yards to the Broncos' 10-yard line to set up Porter's game-winning TD.
Oakland's maligned defense, despite surrendering pass plays of 85 and 57 yards, has a key role in the victory. The Raiders have three takeaways (two fumble recoveries and a Phillip Buchanon interception) and force the Broncos to punt on successive possessions in the fourth quarter after Denver builds the aforementioned 24-13 lead.
The Raiders conquer the elements as well as the Broncos, as Oakland overcomes 10- and 11-point deficits for its second straight road win. At kickoff, the temperature is 18 degrees with a wind chill of 9, and the playing field is covered with snow.
PRIME-TIME PLAYERS:
QB Kerry Collins -- Completes 26 of 45 passes for 339 yards and 4 TDs with 2 interceptions. Throws 2 TD passes in the final 6:11 to rally Oakland from an 11-point deficit.
WR Jerry Porter -- Catches 6 passes for 135 yards and 3 TDs. Porter abuses Denver's Champ Bailey, arguably the league's top cover cornerback, for two TD catches and a 52-yard reception.
WR Ronald Curry -- His spectacular right-handed, leaping catch for a 6-yard touchdown launches Oakland's fourth-quarter comeback. On the Raiders' next possession, Curry's 63-yard catch and run to the Broncos 10-yard line sets up the game-winning TD. The former North Carolina point guard finishes with 6 catches for 110 yards and a TD.
SS Marques Anderson -- Tackles Reuben Droughns for no gain on third-and-1 from Denver's 40-yard line with under four minutes remaining. Anderson also forces a third-quarter fumble that leads to a go-ahead Raiders TD and recovers a first-quarter fumble at the Oakland 30-yard line that stops a promising Broncos drive.
QB Jake Plummer -- Throws for 245 yards and a TD, but his one interception prevents the Broncos from regaining the lead or at least tying the game on a field goal late in the third quarter.
DT Ellis Johnson -- Returns a Kerry Collins interception 32 yards for a touchdown, giving the Broncos a 24-13 lead with 13:26 remaining.
RB Reuben Droughns -- Rushes for 102 yards and a TD, but his second of two lost fumbles leads to an Oakland go-ahead TD early in the third quarter.
WR Rod Smith -- His 85-yard TD catch with 44 seconds left in the first half gives the Broncos a 10-0 advantage.
LB Al Wilson -- Stops RB Tyrone Wheately for no gain with a bone-crunching hit on fourth-and-1 from the Denver 40-yard line.
GOAT:
Broncos CB Champ Bailey is beaten on two of Jerry Porter's three TDs and a 52-yard reception by Porter.
KEY STAT:
Raiders QB Kerry Collins throws 4 TD passes in the game's final 31 minutes.
BY THE NUMBERS:
2: Raiders victories in Denver the past 10 games.
3: Raiders takeaways. Oakland had only eight takeaways during the season's first 10 games.
12: Oakland unanswered points in the game's final 6:11.
22.5: Yards per catch for Oakland's Jerry Porter on six receptions for 135 yards.
THEY SAID IT:
Raiders OT Langston Walker
"I put my hands up and hoped the stars were aligned right and gravity was on our side, and it just brought the ball to my hand."
"This one stings, just 'cause we had a chance to put them away, but we didn't."
Broncos QB Jake Plummer
DID YOU KNOW?:
The Broncos and Raiders split the season series for only the fifth time in the past 26 seasons.
Raiders WR Jerry Porter (84) burns Broncos
CB Champ Bailey for one of Porter's six catches.
