New-Look Raiders Don't Quit, Down Broncos, 17-16
DENVER, Colo.--Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo helped the Las Vegas Raiders keep their domination of the AFC Denver Broncos going.
Jimmy G threw his second touchdown pass of the game to wide receiver Jakobi Meyers with 6:38 left in the fourth quarter and then made a key eight-yard run for a first down in the final two minutes to clinch the Raiders’ seventh consecutive victory over the Broncos at Empower Field at Mile in Denver.
The Raiders, who have dominated the series, 72-54-2, won in Denver for the fourth straight time in the Broncos' debut of highly-respected Coach Sean Payton, who made a crucial mistake by trying an onside kick to start the game.
The ball didn’t go 10 yards, so the Raiders drove only 44 yards in 10 plays to Garoppolo’s first touchdown pass, a three-yarder to Meyers to make it 7-0 with 9:28 left in the first quarter.
Veteran quarterback Russell Wilson threw a five-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey with 44 seconds left in the first quarter, but in another thing that proved to be crucial in the end, kicker Wil Lutz missed the extra point wide to the right.
Not only that, Lutz missed a 55-yard field goal attempt also to the right with 9:32 left in the third quarter.
After the Raiders’ go-ahead touchdown in the final quarter, the Las Vegas defense forced a three-and-out before Garoppolo drove the Raiders 41 yards in the final 5:08 to run out the clock and clinch the latest victory over the Broncos.
One essential play, Garoppolo’s six-yard pass on third down to Meyers, left the Raiders one yard short of a first down. But safety Kareem Jackson hit the defenseless Meyers helmet-to-helmet for a 15-yard unnecessary roughness call.
Meyers left with a concussion, and the Raiders had a first down at Denver’s 35-yard-line. Three plays later, Garoppolo scrambled eight yards for a first down with 1:42 remaining and allowed the Silver and Black to run out the clock with three kneel-downs by Jimmy G.
Garoppolo, who signed as a free agent after playing out his option with the San Francisco 49ers, completed 20-of-26 passes for 200 yards and the two touchdowns with one interception while being protected well by his offensive line, as Denver did not have a sack.
Jimmy G had one lousy series, first when he fumbled on the Denver one-yard-line while trying a quarterback sneak, and three plays later, after a five-yard penalty, he threw an interception in the end zone to Jackson from the six-yard-line.
Meyers led the Raiders with nine catches on 10 targets for 81 yards and two touchdowns, while All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams had six receptions for 66 yards.
The Broncos were waiting for running back Josh Jacobs, the NFL’s leading rusher last season, and held him 48 yards on 19 carries, and he also finished with two catches for 23 yards.
Wilson completed 27-of-34 passes for 177 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. Tight end Adam Trautman led the Broncos with five receptions for 34 yards, and running back Javonte Williams had 13 rushes for 52 in his first game since sustaining a knee injury against the Raiders last season.
Cornerback Nate Hobbs led the Raiders with 12 tackles, two for losses, and a quarterback hit; linebacker Divine Deablo made nine stops, one for loss, and had a pass defensed, while linebacker Robert Spillane and rookie cornerback Jakorian Bennett both had seven tackles.
Pro Bowl defensive end Maxx Crosby had five tackles, one for a loss, two quarterback hits, and a sack, while defensive lineman Jerry Tillery had three tackles, one for a loss, a quarterback hit, and a sack. The Raiders made seven tackles for losses.
The Broncos had only 260 total yards, while the Raiders totaled 261.
The Raiders will play three of their first four games this season on the road, including next Sunday against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium, known for years as Rich Stadium, in Orchard Park, N.Y.
In Week 3, the Silver and Black will play their home opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Sunday, Sept. 24, before going on the road again the next Sunday to face the Los Angeles Chargers at Sofi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.
Then the Raiders have two straight home games against the Green Bay and New England Patriots.
The Silver and Black remain on the road next week as they travel to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Sept. 17, at 1:05 p.m. EDT/10:05 a.m. PDT.
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