Nov 12, 2006 7:38 pm US/Pacific
Broncos Escape Upset By Raiders
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) ―
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Jake Plummer #16 of the Denver Broncos passes the ball during the NFL game against the Oakland Raiders at McAfee Coliseum on November 12, 2006 in Oakland, California.
(Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
Jake Plummer capitalized on Denver's one big break to overcome an otherwise poor performance.
Plummer threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Johnson early in the fourth quarter after a fumble by the Broncos was negated by a penalty, giving Denver a 17-13 victory over the Oakland Raiders on Sunday.
Plummer threw three interceptions and had done little positive other than throwing a 39-yard touchdown pass to Javon Walker late in the first quarter. But he led the key drive that helped the Broncos (7-2) win a fourth straight in Oakland and remained tied with San Diego atop the AFC West.
The Raiders (2-7) appeared in control when they recovered a fumbled punt by David Kircus at the Denver 20. But instead of adding to a 13-7 lead, Oakland was forced to punt again when Chris Carr was called for a personal foul for running out of bounds on the coverage.
After the second punt, Denver started its drive on its 40. Plummer completed seven straight passes and gave the Broncos a 14-13 lead on a fourth-down pass to Johnson with 11:06 to play.
The Raiders went three-and-out on the next drive and backed Denver down to the 2 on a 55-yard punt by Shane Lechler. But when Oakland needed a stop most, Plummer was able to get three first downs and move the ball into Raiders territory.
Oakland took over at its 17 with 4:03 remaining, but Kenard Lang beat backup left tackle Chad Slaughter, sacked Andrew Walter and forced a fumble that John Engelberger recovered for the Broncos at the 12. That set up Jason Elam's 24-yard field goal with 1:56 to go.
Walter fumbled the snap to start the next drive -- his second lost fumble in as many plays -- sending Oakland to its 11th straight loss against AFC opponents.
The Broncos have won five straight in the division heading into next week's first-place showdown against San Diego.
Plummer finished 21-for-30 for 210 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. Tatum Bell had only 37 yards on 14 carries as Denver finished with just 66 yards on the ground.
Walter was 18-for-33 for 214 yards and the two fumbles and completed only one pass to Randy Moss. Oakland finished with just 46 yards rushing.
Oakland's moribund offense finally got the help it needed early in the first quarter when Plummer threw a pass behind Walker that was intercepted by Nnamdi Asomugha, who returned it to the Denver 15.
After a holding penalty by D.J. Williams on third-and-goal from the 1 gave Oakland a first down, LaMont Jordan ran in on the next play, ending a streak of 34 straight possessions without an offensive touchdown for Oakland.
Plummer was intercepted by Fabian Washington on fourth-and-1 from Denver's 49 on the next possession, but Oakland couldn't capitalize.
Denver's offense couldn't move the ball at all for most of the first quarter before a 42-yard punt return by Kircus got the ball to Oakland's 41.
Plummer hit Walker on a slant on third down, Walker eluded Stuart Schweigert near the 20 and raced in for his fifth TD in the last three games. Before that, Plummer was just 1-for-7 with two interceptions.
Sebastian Janikowski kicked two field goals to give Oakland a 13-7 halftime lead, including a 55-yarder that tied his own franchise record.
(© 2006 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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