Raiders continue losing streak

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It’s been a tough season for the Oakland Raiders. They haven’t won a game yet, which means with nine losses they will not have a winning season, even if they win every game from here. It’s probably their worst start ever.

All across the NFL the teams were saluting our troops and veterans and in Oakland the the Raiderettes did their part.
All across the NFL the teams were saluting our troops and veterans and in Oakland the the Raiderettes did their part.

Yesterday they played the Denver Broncos, a division rival with a 6-2 record going into the game. On top of that the NFL’s best active quarterback, Peyton Manning, took the field calling plays for the Broncos. Before the game Manning averaged 283 yards passing against the Raiders and has won seven of the nine games he had played against them, with the Broncos and the Indianapolis Colts.

It wasn’t all bad news for the Raiders. The Oakland Defense made a big impression on the Broncos in the first half. Instead of rushing Manning, they put a blanket over his receivers, getting a crucial interception by Justin Tuck in the second quarter that led to the Raiders only touchdown. For a brief moment in the second quarter, the Raiders were in the lead, 10-6.

That would be the only time the Raiders would have the lead. From the opening kickoff in the second half the Broncos ruled the field, both offense and defense. Denver scored 21 points in the third quarter and the Raiders barely looked like they were on the field. Manning and the offense picked a part the Oakland defense and the Denver defense crushed the Raider offense, allowing only one score in the second half, an 18-yard touchdown pass from Carr to Mychal Rivera. But, the Raiders defense rallied in the fourth, preventing the Broncos from scoring again.

Rookie Raiders quarterback Derek Carr
Rookie Raiders quarterback Derek Carr

When the game ended the score was 41-17, Broncos.

The Raiders will meet the Chargers next week in San Diego, so their schedule isn’t getting any easier. After the game rookie Raiders quarterback Derek Carr said, “I’m continuing to go out there and read defenses, try and complete as many passes as I can. Again, as I said, as a rookie, nine games into it, I’m learning. I’m learning. You know, it doesn’t matter what happens, whether I throw four touchdowns or two picks, whatever — I’m learning, I’m growing.”

He’s a young quarterback. He threw two touchdowns, but also gave up two interceptions, but the team has confidence he will be the future of the Oakland franchise.

The Broncos are the top team in the AFC West, one game ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs, who they meet in three weeks. The division team they really have trouble with is the San Diego Chargers. The will play meet in San Diego on December 14.

Denver Broncos Head Coach John Fox
Denver Broncos Head Coach John Fox

Denver’s head coach John Fox told reporters after the game, “This game is a game of momentum, especially on the road. It’s you against the whole stadium. We had a couple things go against us early, and they got a lead, but our guys hung in there and kept battling. It took some performances to turn the tide and that’s typical of most NFL games.”

The Broncos meet the St. Louis Rams next. Although St. Louis has a record of 3-6, they did beat the San Francisco 49er’s and the Seattle Seahawks, so the Broncos shouldn’t take them for granted.

After the game wide receiver Wes Welker said that what the Broncos need to do is, “…settle down and make sure we’re all on the same page.”

What the Raiders need to do is find a new page, one with a winning game plan. So far they haven’t found it.

All photos by Claudia Gestro