GAMEDAY Open Thread/Live Blog: Broncos at Raiders | Week 1
The Denver Broncos are finally taking the field for the regular season opener. In the Black Hole, the Broncos will do battle with the Oakland Raiders.
Denver needs to start hot, as both the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers won their respective Week 1 matchups. The Broncos need to keep pace in the AFC West, but this team also needs to make a statement with a new head coach and starting quarterback.
Join us as we live-blog and discuss DENvsOAK here in our weekly GAMEDAY Open Thread. Join the conversation — it's easy — by simply going to the top of the site and in the bottom righthand corner of the Mile High Huddle logo, click the follow button.
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Inactives
Analysis: We knew that Todd Davis was doubtful but with Bryce Callahan being classified as questionable on the injury report, there was hope he could play on that foot that's been bothering him for six weeks, the same one that ended his final season in Chicago in mid-December. It's also a bit of a surprise to see rookie third-round DL Dre'Mont Jones inactive but with the rise of DeMarcus Walker and Mike Purcell, the Broncos have what they need to compete.
First quarter
Raiders receive.
Derek Carr orchestrates a 10-play, 72-yard scoring drive. Carr to Tyrell Williams in the red zone for six. Extra point is good.
7-0 Raiders.
Scangarello with a jet-sweep to...the rookie TE? Noah Fant has -5 career rush yards.
Broncos go three-and-out. Lindsay with two of the three touches.
Denver defense getting picked apart by Carr.
Broncos get a break with Raiders OL getting called for holding, stalling the drive.
Scangarello needs to dial it in and stop over-thinking it.
Noah Fant negates 10 yards of Courtland Sutton's 30-yard catch and run. Block in the back.
Flacco with a beautiful throw over the middle to Sutton. Sutton with two receptions for 48 yards now.
End of quarter. Broncos trail 7-0.
Second quarter
Broncos start 2nd-&-8 from Oakland's 36-yard line.
Flacco sacked but Johnathan Abrams called for illegal contact.
Two plays later, Ron Leary called for holding. And Ja'Wuan James is down. 1st-&-20 on the Oakland 41.
Eli Wilkinson in at RT. Three plays later, burned by Mayowa for a strip-sack on third down.
Broncos have to punt.
Raiders get two false starts inside the five-yard line, Broncos still can't stop them.
On 3rd-&-short, Raiders run play-action, Broncos bite HARD, Carr hits Williams deep over the top in man-to-man coverage, no safety help for a 40-plus yarder.
Raiders threatening in red zone. Yikes.
Josh Jacobs goes over the top for six. Raiders are trucking the Broncos' defense.
14-0 Raiders lead with 3:30 left in second quarter.
Leary called for his second holding penalty.
McManus' field goal is short. Broncos shut out in first half.
End of half.
Third quarter
Broncos offense moving the ball.
Broncos stall in the red zone after Scangarello gets cute. McManus hits field goal. Broncos break the ice.
Raiders lead 14-3.
Broncos' defense finally forces a three-and-out by the skin of their teeth, thanks to a Derek Wolfe hustle play downfield.
CB Gareon Conley injured badly by his own teammate, Abram, after a big Royce Freeman run.
Following the injury, Lindsay takes two carries, picks up about five.
Then Hamilton drops a TD on third down. McManus has to pound in another FG. Yikes.
Broncos narrow the margin. Raiders lead 14-6.
Kareem Jackson with back-to-back pass break-ups to get the Raiders of the field. Oakland punts.
Flag on the return. Fair-catch by Diontae Spencer. Illegal block in the back on De'Vante Bausby.
Broncos backed up on their own five-yard line.
On 3rd-&-3, Flacco throws it at Fant's feet. Incomplete. Broncos to punt. Need Wadman to boom one here.
Fourth quarter
Wadman's punt goes 48 yards.
To open the fourth quarter, the Raiders have been penalized nine times for -62 yards, the Broncos have been penalized six times for -44 yards.
Williams with another 24-yard reception to Harris in coverage. Beautiful throw by Carr. No pass rush pressure.
Jacobs pounds it in from four yards out. Raiders extend lead 21-6. Ugly, ugly football by the Broncos.
Raiders 3/3 in the red zone. Broncos 0/2.
Flacco goes deep to Sanders for 53 yards. Great pass. Sanders scores if he can keep his feet.
Broncos' O-line buys Flacco all time in the world. Raiders with great coverage. Flacco holds onto the ball on 3rd-&-2, gets sacked.
McManus' fourth field goal attempt is true. Broncos trail 21-9. McManus 3-of-4 on the night on FGs.
8:39 to go in what is still a two-score game.
No reason for Denver to go for a FG there. Four-down territory. Field goal still makes a two-score game.
Dwayne Harris returns ensuing kickoff 72 yards. Gives Raiders the ball on the Broncos' 30-yard line.
Jacobs gashes Broncos for eight yards on first down. Ugly football.
Unbelievable that through 3.5 quarters, the Broncos have zero sacks.
Raiders kick a FG. Extend lead 24-9.
Sutton with a great catch. Goes over the century mark. Five receptions, 102 yards.
Flacco on the QB sneak from the two? C'mon, Scangs.
Next play, Flacco hits Sanders for six. Broncos finally score a TD.
Raiders lead 24-16 with 2:15 left.
Raiders with two consecutive dives for not much on first and second down. Broncos' D with a big 3rd-&-8. Two-minute warning.
Broncos allow inexcusable conversion on 3rd-&-8. Ball game.
