You may have watched the televised broadcast of the Oakland Raiders' 59-14 execution-style blowout of the Denver Broncos Sunday. In fact, you may have DVR'ed it and be on your sixth or seventh viewing of it at this point.
But to really appreciate that historic victory, one should stop and consider the many, many Oakland Raiders and NFL all-time records the Raiders set at Mile High.
It has often been mentioned that 59 points is the most points ever scored by the Raiders in a single game in their 50-plus years as a franchise. It should also be mentioned that 59 points ties the all-time record for most points scored against the Broncos in a Denver home game.
It is no secret that from Al Davis on down to Oakland-Alameda Coliseum veggie dog vendors, the Denver Broncos are the Raider football organization's most-despised rivals. To hang 59 on them in Denver is kind of like if St. Mary's beat Duke by 159 during March Madness.
Running back Darren McFadden, whose 5.5 yards-per-carry average ties him for first place among NFL running backs, had a career-high rushing day for yards and scoring. His 165 yards are his most ever in a single game, his four touchdowns are the most he's scored in a single game, and his 57-yard run touchdown run was the longest of his career.
Not bad for a guy listed as Questionable right before kickoff.
The Raiders' 24 points scored in the first quarter also break an all-time Raiders record. The most they'd ever scored in a first quarter is 21.
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To really put this in perspective, compare Sunday's freakishly high-scoring Raiders to last season's JaMarcus Russell team.
This past Sunday, the Raiders scored 59 points in one game.
At this point last season, the Raiders were in a stretch where they scored 55 points total over a seven-game period.
At 3-4, the Raiders are now only a game-and-a-half out of first place in the AFC West.
Joe Kukura is a freelance writer who wonders why the police are giving him suspicious looks in his Raiders sweatshirt.
