Raiders Overcome Miscues, Defeat Broncos, 17-13, Back In Playoff Hunt With Baltimore, Chargers Dropping To Same 8-7 Record
By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz
Look who made a Christmas time visit.
The Las Vegas Raiders running game, led by Josh Jacobs.
Raiders quarterback Derek Carr has carried the team this season, But Jacobs enjoyed a breakthrough game this season by rushing for 129 yards against the Denver Broncos at Allegiant Stadium Sunday and leading the never-say-die Raiders to a hard-fought, rugged 17-13 win over their longtime rival. Attendance was announced at 60,972.
“We had a good halftime adjustment,” Raiders interim coach Rich Bisaccia said.
The Raiders improved to 8-7 during this wacky, crazy, up-and-down season and are back in the hunt for a playoff spot.
Bisaccia could not laud the Raiders defense enough after the game. The D limited Denver to 158 total yards, including only 18 rushing yards. Meanwhile, the Raiders offense had some balance — 182 yards passing and 160 running for a total of 342.
“It was electric on the sideline and exciting for us to get the crowd back in it,” Bisaccia said.
We kept them in the game early. They were excited for us, certainly, their towels were waiving. Then we dulled their spirits a little bit right before the half. It was exciting to feel the second half when we started to run the ball like that, they started to come back to life. It was electric we thought on the sideline. I think you saw Maxx [Crosby], Yannick [Ngakoue] and those guys working the crowd. It was exciting for us to do a good enough job to get them back in, the crowd, and make them be a part of the game on the plus side for us. We were excited to finally get a win at home and for our crowd to be behind us. It was exciting to hear Raider Nation. They were loud, they were really loud at the end. — Raiders interim coach Rich Bisaccia
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With so much at stake, old rivals Raiders and Denver played smash mouth football for the first half as the Raiders suffered a disastrous turnover in the final minute of the second quarter and trailed, 13-7, at the half.
Las Vegas scored its only touchdown on a 10-yard TD pass from Carr to wide receiver Hunter Renfrow.
Denver’s Brandon McManus kicked two long FGs (49, 55) in the second quarter.
But then Carr was picked off on a screen pass with less than 30 seconds left in the half and Denver running back Javonte Williams scored from a yard out to cash in on the interception.
“Poor execution there,” Bisaccia said of the Denver pick off Carr.
The Raiders defense held Denver to only 96 net yards of total offense, while Las Vegas generated 140 yards of offense.
With both the LA Chargers and Baltimore Ravens losing and each falling to 8-7, the winner of the Raiders (7-7) vs Broncos (7-7) game is in the hunt for an AFC playoff spot.
ADD: The Raiders are now 8-7.
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The Raiders responded to the Carr interception late in the first half with a touchdown drive thanks to nice runs by under-performing Josh Jacobs and a TD run/vault by backup running back Peyton Barber.
Carr was sacked and he fumbled with Denver recovering late in the third quarter. But McManus missed another long field goal.
After three quarters, Raiders 14 Broncos 13. Las Vegas had outgained Denver, 263-139, after 45 minutes.
The Raiders had come out angry after halftime.
We fumble it and then we got to throw a screen, which is going to be huge, and the guy is falling down and trying throw it, and he jumps up one handed. Like not today. The whole game we were getting the things that we wanted in the pass game and the run game. The looks that we like, all those things. It’s more like we were just mad. The confidence that we knew that we were going to come out strong because we were running efficiently, we were throwing it efficiently, the play action game was awesome for us. It was a lot of confidence, but more of just the sense of urgency coming out like ‘Hey let’s get this taste out of our mouths.’ — Raiders quarterback Derek Carr
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How much is a Raiders vs Broncos ticket worth?
How does 90 bucks and proof of vaccination sound?
The Ticketmaster site is showing a $90 ticket, while Vivid Seats starts at $104 about two hours before kickoff between these two longtime rivals.
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With 90 minutes to go before kickoff, there’s already a strong Broncos fan presence inside the building with lots of orange-clad fans in Allegiant Stadium.
I also saw a lot of fans wearing masks outside the stadium. The Raiders were the first team to require proof of vaccinations for fans to attend home games in Allegiant Stadium. Fans then are allowed to not wear masks at Raiders home games. That policy contrasts with the Vegas Golden Knights’ guidelines, which do not require proof of vaccination. The Golden Knights have not expelled a single fan from T-Mobile Arena for violating the state’s indoor mask mandate. Most Knights fans do not wear masks at VGK games at T-Mobile Arena.
The Raiders are missing a bunch of players. Outstanding tight end Darren Waller on inactive list for Raiders so is defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins. Meanwhile, receiver Bryan Edwards and backup quarterback Marcus Mariota are on Reserve/COVID-19.
Waller did receive the Raiders’ Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee award before the game and iconic singer Dionne Warwick sang to honor all 32 NFL team nominees.
The local Las Vegas chambers of commerce lit the Al Davis torch led by Peter Guzman of the Latin Chamber. Take a look:
QB Nathan Peterman was activated from practice squad to back up Carr. And safety Johnathan Abram is on Reserve/Injured list, but cornerback Nate Hobbs was activated from Reserve/COVID-19.
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The Raiders and Broncos are both 7-7, with the Raiders coming off a dramatic last-second 16-14 win over the Browns on Monday. The Raiders have won the last three games against the Broncos in the series, including a 34-24 win in Denver Oct. 17. The Raiders lead the regular season rivalry, 67-53-2, over Denver.
The Raiders rank 10th overall in the NFL in yards per game, but a lowly 29th out of 32 teams in rushing offense. The Raiders rank 17th in total defense, including last in red zone defense. The Broncos enter the game fifth in overall total defense, including seventh against the pass — which the Raiders’ strength.
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The Raiders move on to play the Colts in Indy and the Chargers here in Las Vegas.
“You can tell the guys want it,” Jacobs said. “We know what’s at stake.”
Check out the standings. The Raiders are plus one in wins and losses and minus 71 in points for and against.
