FLASH RECAP:
The curse is over. The Denver Broncos and coach Mike Shanahan no longer dominate the Raiders. For the first time since 1994, Oakland sweeps the home-and-home series from Denver with a hard-hitting victory over the Broncos before a revved-up announced crowd of 62,592 fans at Network Associates Coliseum on Dec. 22, 2002.
Most important, a Raiders victory combined with Kansas City's win over San Diego gives Oakland its third straight AFC West championship. The Raiders (10-5) become the first team to win three consecutive division titles since Green Bay and Pittsburgh accomplished the feat in 1995-97. Oakland also is the first AFC West team to threepeat since the San Diego Chargers 1979-81.
The Raiders' defense has a season-high six sacks and two interceptions against the Broncos (8-7), who suffer their fourth loss the past five games. Zack Crockett rushes for two touchdowns and Rich Gannon throws for another for Oakland, which builds a 21-0 lead in the game's first 17 minutes, 11 seconds.
Backup quarterback Steve Beuerlein and Clinton Portis rush for touchdowns in the second half as Denver narrows a three-touchdown deficit to 21-16. Beuerlein, who replaces starter Brian Griese in the second quarter after Griese suffers a knee injury, throws for 234 yards and one interception.
The Raiders win their second straight and three of the past four games against the Broncos. Under Shanahan, Denver won 11 of 12 games against Oakland from 1995 through 2000.
PRIME-TIME PLAYERS:
LB Bill Romanowksi - The former Bronco has six solo tackles and knocks Brian Griese out of the game with a second-quarter sack. After the Raiders' victory, Romo tells the media: "I don't think they're crazy about me, to tell you the truth. I don't think they like to play against me."
QB Rich Gannon - Throws for only 201 yards (second-lowest output of the season), but he engineers four touchdown drives. Gannon rushes for a 3-yard touchdown on third-and-goal to give Oakland a 14-0 lead late in the first quarter.
DE Trace Armstrong - Has three of Oakland's six sacks and makes the first interception of his 14-year career. He also has five tackles, a forced fumble and a pass defensed.
RB Charlie Garner - Has a game-high eight catches for 91 yards and rushes seven times for 61 yards. His 8-yard second-quarter touchdown reception is on a pass that Rich Gannon was trying to throw out of bounds. Gannon tells reporters after the game that Garner didn't hear an audible at the line of scrimmage. Garner makes a diving catch near the back of the end zone, giving Oakland a 21-0 advantage.
FS Rod Woodson - With his seventh interception of the season and 68th of his career, Woodson ties Dick "Night Train" Lane for third place on the NFL career list.
QB Steve Beuerlein - Passes for 234 yards and engineers two second-half touchdown drives.
TE Shannon Sharpe - Sets up a Clinton Portis 2-yard touchdown run with a 30-yard catch, but drops a 37-yard scoring pass from Beuerlein with 1:40 remaining.
WR Ashley Lelie - Has a game-high 106 receiving yards on four catches.
DT Monsanto Pope - Contributes two of the Broncos' four sacks against Rich Gannon.
PR Deltha O'Neal - His 44-yard punt return late in the third quarter sets up Denver's second touchdown.
KEY STAT:
Oakland rushes 37 times for 136 yards. The Raiders are 4-0 this season with 30 or more rushing attempts.
GOAT:
Denver QB Brian Griese. Before being sidelined because of a knee injury late in the second quarter, Griese completes only seven of 15 passes for a 48 yards and two interceptions for an abysmal efficiency rating of 14.7.
TURNING POINT:
Oakland bolts to a 21-0 lead in the game's first 17:11. Zack Crockett and Rich Gannon rush for touchdowns and Gannon throws an 8-yard scoring pass to Charlie Garner.
BY THE NUMBERS:
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2-0: Bill Callahan's record as Raiders coach against the Broncos' Mike Shanahan.
8.7: Average yards per rush for Oakland's Charlie Garner, who has 61 yards rushing on seven carries.
52: Yards rushing for Denver's Clinton Portis, who rushed for 159 yards, 103, and 130 the previous three games.
411: Completions by Oakland's Rich Gannon, breaking the NFL single-season record of 404 completions by Houston's Warren Moon in 1991.
THEY SAID IT:
Raiders LB Bill Romanowski
"We killed them, we swept them and it ain't over yet. It's just begun."
"This game could have helped us get to the playoffs, to reclaim what we've had in the past. That's what makes it hurt. We found a way to stink it up."
Broncos WR Rod Smith
DID YOU KNOW?:
Bill Callahan becomes the first rookie Raiders' coach to win a division title since John Madden in 1969.
The Raiders' Eric Barton (50) and teammates celebrate a sack on the Broncos' Steve Beuerlein.
By Associated Press
