NFL leagues offices decided to match the Raiders with the defending Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos in a prime-time slot. Some analysts predicted a Raiders’ victory, but most didn’t see the Silver and Black dominating a team that’s won the division five consecutive seasons.
The Broncos field one of the best defenses in the league. Even without cornerback Aqib Talib, Denver limited the San Diego Chargers' top-three scoring offense to 19 points last week.
However, the Raiders accomplished something no other team has done against the Broncos this season: 200-plus rushing yards.
The coaching staff put together a flawless run-oriented game plan which controlled the entire contest from start to finish. Excluding quarterback scrambles, Oakland ran the ball 39 times for 215 yards.
Typically, most analysts attribute the Raiders’ offensive growth to the passing offense. In Week 9, Oakland switched gears and played bully ball en route to victory. The Raiders simply put their offensive line against the Broncos’ defensive line and won most of the battles. The aerial attack became an afterthought.
Oakland never struggled for first downs, notching 30 throughout the contest.
Defensively, the Raiders held the Broncos to fewer than 300 total yards and forced two crucial turnovers in the final quarter. Defensive end Khalil Mack strip-sacked quarterback Trevor Siemian and recovered the fumble. On the final drive, safety Reggie Nelson sealed the victory with an interception.
The Raiders walked off the field as the better team and a legitimate contender in the AFC, and on national television. How did each positional group perform in the Week 9 victory?
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Article Source: Bleacher Report - Oakland Raiders
