Back in July, Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio said he was confident his team would have what it takes to win the AFC West.
“Goal No. 1 is to win our division, and I don’t see why not,” he said. His offensive line coach, Mike Tice, backed him up, saying, “We’re going to be a championship football team.”
On Sunday night at O.co Coliseum, those predictions certainly looked accurate.
In a battle for the division lead against the Denver Broncos, the Raiders were dominant in handing the defending Super Bowl champions a 30-20 defeat.
One game into the second half of this season, the Raiders now sit atop the AFC West at 7-2. The Broncos are at 6-3, just behind the 6-2 Chiefs.
The Raiders offense took control early, driving deep into Denver territory twice in the first period, but settled for short Sebastian Janikowski field goals both times to go up 6-0. Oakland extended its lead to 13-0 early in the second quarter, driving 57 yards in nine plays to score on Latavius Murray’s 1-yard TD – the first of three Murray TDs in the game. He capped a six-play, 75-yard drive later that quarter with a 1-yard run, and Oakland took a 20-10 lead into halftime.
After a scoreless third period and Denver and Oakland field goals to open the final period and make the score 23-13, Khalil Mack made a huge play, sacking Trover Siemian and forcing a fumble, which he recovered at the Denver 39. Oakland then drove for the third Murray TD to go up 30-13.
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The Broncos’ Kapri Bibbs then quickly scored on a 69-yard pass from Simien to get Denver to within a touchdown at 27-20.
With just over two minutes remaining on their final posession, the Broncos went for it on fourth-and-10 from their own 28, but Siemian’s pass was picked off by safety Reggie Nelson, and the Raiders were able to run out the clock for the win.
Murray was a difference-maker Sunday, carrying 20 times for 114 yards and the three scores, running behind an offensive line that controlled the Denver front seven. Also, Carr was 20-of-31 for 184 yards and no interceptions. His No. 1 target was Amari Cooper, who had six catches for 56 yards.
On defense, Mack had two sacks and now has seven in his past six games.
The Raiders now enter their bye week. They resume play on Monday night, Nov. 21, against the visiting Texans.
