Time for the second-half blog …
4:03 P.M. MDT: The 25-minute first-half delay has a Broncos second half starting after 4 p.m. local time for the first time in recent memory.
4:04 P.M. MDT: Jay Cutler finds Javon Walker for 9 yards on the second play of the half; Denver has third-and-about-an-inch. The Broncos began at their 20 after — what else? — a touchback on the kickoff.
4:05 P.M. MDT: Cecil Sapp adds to his big day with 16 yards on the short pass from Cutler.
4:06 P.M. MDT: Great awareness by Cutler to feel Michael Huff’s second-and-8 blitz … he ends up settling for a 1-yard pass, but it’s a good play, considering what could have happened. In his first few starts, Cutler probably gets sacked, but he’s growing like kudzu down south.
4:07 P.M. MDT: Cutler has seven straight completions now and the Broncos are at the Oakland 36 after a third-and-7 pass to Brandon Marshall.
4:08 P.M. MDT: Sixteen yards for Travis Henry as he begins to creep closer to 100 yards for the day … and as the Broncos creep closer to the end zone. Now at the Oakland 20.
4:09 P.M. MDT: Montrae Holland takes a false start; Denver back at the Raiders 25.
4:10 P.M. MDT: Broncos now face third-and-14 … Cutler finds Marshall for the score … it’s coming back, though, as Marshall pushed off on Nnamdi Asomugha to get space for the play. I’m always saying that offensive interference should be called more often … but I think the fans here wish that would have happened another time.
4:12 P.M. MDT: Jason Elam onto the field for a 45-yard field-goal attempt … it’s wide right. Elam now 3-of-6 this year; he’s missed more attempts in a game and three-fifths than he did all of last year.
4:16 P.M. MDT: Granted, I’m the panicky sort, but you start looking at the penalties on the last series and wondering if they’ve given the Raiders an opening to get back into the game. Oakland is now at the Denver 45 after getting a first down; Denver just took its first timeout of the second half.
4:18 P.M. MDT: Broncos now challenging the spot after the Raiders ran for a first down. If unsuccessful, the Broncos will be down to one timeout.
4:20 P.M. MDT: The challenge succeeds, and Oakland will have fourth-and-1 after Lamont Jordan was ruled down at the Oakland 44. LATER NOTE — THE BRONCOS WERE NOT CHARGED A TIMEOUT ON THE PLAY; THE OFFICIALS SIMPLY ACCEPTED DENVER’S CHALLENGE, AND THE ANNOUNCED TIMEOUT WAS NOT ISSUED.
4:21 P.M. MDT: Oakland goes for it … and Jordan gets 10 yards to the right side to keep Oakland’s drive alive.
4:22 P.M. MDT: Josh McCown goes deep for Ronald Curry … the pass goes too far. Curry’s college teammate, Dre’ Bly, was in coverage … Champ Bailey had the pressure on McCown.
4:23 P.M. MDT: If at first you don’t succeed … McCown pump-fakes on third down, and Bly bites on it, allowing the passer to find Jerry Porter for a 46-yard touchdown. Denver’s lead is now 17-10.
4:26 P.M. MDT: CBS’ Kevin Harlan reports that the Raiders had not successfully converted an on-side kickoff in 11 years … until now. No Bronco was close to the football, which Chris Carr easily fielded at the Raiders 42.
4:28 P.M. MDT: What’s interesting there is that Lane Kiffin’s father, Monte, made a similar call when he was head coach of North Carolina State against arch-rival North Carolina during a 1981 game. That on-side kickoff failed, and the Tar Heels went on to rout the Wolfpack. Twenty-six years later, the son’s call succeeds where the father’s did not.
4:30 P.M. MDT: Everything working for Oakland now. Pressure on McCown forced him to roam outside, but he finds Zach Miller for 10 yards in front of Champ Bailey and a first down at the Denver 42.
4:33 P.M. MDT: Now Oakland going backwards — two 5-yard penalties have them back at their 48 with second-and-10.
4:35 P.M. MDT: Elvis Dumervil stops Oakland’s momentum, sacking McCown on third-and-8 … Denver will take over at its 8-yard-line following Domenik Hixon’s fair catch of Shane Lechler’s punt.
4:38 P.M. MDT: Montrae Holland is having a rough day; the holding penalty he draws nullified a Cutler completion and forces the Broncos back into second-and-14 at their 4-yard-line … where they will be as the final quarter begins.
Tags: Oakland Raiders
Bummer! Got to get points in the redzone
They are scared to throw the ball 5 passes midway through the third…damn
Who was covering Porter?
Bly! – I just saw the highlight
This is getting out of hand.. Bad special teams play means not only that the Raiders score in the first place, but that they get the ball back afterword. We have some work to do.
Also, anyone seen that new kicker Pace? is he any good?
Time to dig in the heals!!! I’m not ready to throw in the towel on Elam quite yet – but it would be nice if he got it right.
Elam has to adjust himself with Sauerbrun. Jason and Jake where the finniest pair in league (imho).
To prove this, just remember the best pass ever that Jake throw to Elam during Seahawks game last year.