For the time being, the Denver Broncos no longer sit in the AFC West’s driver seat. In a primetime game against the Oakland Raiders, the Broncos were outmatched, outplayed, and outcoached, in a contest the team will soon want to forget and move on from.

In Oakland, on Sunday night football the offense sputtered mightily early, settling for four consecutive three-and-outs for the first time since Tim Tebow was the quarterback. But the offense was far from the only problem, particularly early on, as special teams were losing the position battle and the defense was in disarray.

While settling for field goals on their first two drives Oakland showed a maturity early on offensively that we haven’t seen before from this group and that few offenses have been able to muster against this defense. There weren’t big plays but methodical drives; Derek Carr made quick smart throws, Raiders receivers made tough catches and Broncos defenders missed tackles on the outside, while the running  game began to slowly gash the defense.

After holding the opposition to 6-0, the NFL’s best defense suffered being on the field so long with all the three and outs. On the Raiders third offensive drive, the ‘D’ couldn’t hold on anymore. Carr found some key passes and Jack Del Rio inserted a crucial wrinkle into his offense with the addition of a sixth offensive lineman in Denver Kirkland. With the bigger personnel, the Raiders were both able to protect Carr better – maybe better than any team has been able to protect their quarterbacks against Wade Phillips’ group – while also at times imposing themselves physically in the trenches.

At 13-0 with 14:07 left in the second quarter, after a Latavius Murray touchdown, the Broncos didn’t look like themselves. Trevor Siemian got the offense engaged with a splendid throw-and-catch to Demaryius Thomas down the sideline, followed by a bootleg play action 36-yard touchdown to Jordan Norwood to close the gap 13-7.

Despite a missed Raiders field goal on the subsequent drive to save the Broncos from letting things get out of hand, Denver couldn’t capitalize on offense nor defense.

Another Murray run, this time for 42 yards, got the Raiders in good position while Carr kept picking on injured Aqib Talib’s replacement, Bradley Roby, who did not have his best half of football. Roby got flagged for a pass interference in the end zone on Amari Cooper leading to set up yet another Raider score. Murray would punch it in several snaps later putting Oakland up 20-7 with 1:25 left in the half.

The second half was better with Denver showing adjustments but the Broncos never managed to find that breakthrough play to get them back. While the defense managed to keep things close and the offense was able to find more first downs, they had to settle for field goals and the ‘D’ seemed to be just barely holding on as opposed to dominating and imposing themselves.

13-20 would be as close as the Broncos could make it. A Trevor Siemian fumble forced by Bruce Irving would break the Broncos back. While T.J. Ward almost rescued the game back, his interception was overturned. After that, the defense couldn’t hold on much longer, especially with the lack of depth at cornerback. Three consecutive penalties on DB’s would set up another Murray 1-yard score making it 30-13 Oakland.

Even with a Kapri Bibbs 69-yard touchdown, the game was over right then and there. Time for the Broncos to regroup and make the necessary adjustments.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

The Raiders are still very much a team that’s coming of age and still having to earn their respect and so is their young quarterback. As much as last week’s game heightened Derek Carr for his statistical prowess this performance is much more of a coming of age stage.

Carr made big tough throws the few times he was asked to. But most of all he was composed and ran the attack like a veteran.

An honorable mention to the Raiders coaching staff that threw in a big wrinkle with the sixth offensive lineman should also be in order.

PLAY OF THE GAME

This was an exciting game and an intense match but there weren’t too many big plays. Rather several small but important plays that built upon themselves. However, the true game changer was this forced sack by Oakland’s pass rushing duo of Khalil Mack and Bruce Irving.

.@52Mack_ & @BIrvin_WVU11 coming off the edge?

No chance. FUMBLE! #DENvsOAK https://t.co/hFI32pVwVC

— NFL (@NFL) November 7, 2016

 

TURNING POINT

There were a few big turning points for the Broncos in this game. One was the Roby pass interference in the end zone, which was a fair call but seemed like an avoidable flag. Denver could have held the Raiders to a third field goal in a row making the game 9–0 instead of 13-0.

Another big turning point was at the very end of the first half when Trevor Siemain hit Emmanuel Sanders deep and the two almost connected but Sanders was unable to secure the pass as he fell to the ground. Again that could have mad the game 14-20 going into the half instead of 10-20.

Finally, the biggest turning point from the Denver perspective is likely the T.J. Ward interception immediately following the Siemian forced fumble. However, much like Sanders Ward was unable to secure the ball going to the ground and his pick was overturned leading to a Raiders touchdown on that drive.

BY THE NUMBERS

33 – The Broncos rushed for a paltry 2.8 yards per carry and 33 yards overall. Without C.J. Anderson, the ground attack hasn’t reached 100 yards in two games combined. That’s not what you want with a young and inexperienced quarterback in this offense.

218 – The Raiders ran ragged on the Broncos with the added lineman and by dominated possession to the tune of 41 minutes to 18. The Oakland run game slowly ground Denver to a pulp in ways we haven’t seen since Wade Phillips became defensive coordinator.

1 & 0 – This team is predicated on defense. It’s known the offense can’t do the heavy lifting so the ‘D’ has to create pressure (only 1 QB hit) and turnovers. There was very few of either today.

LASTING IMPACT

All of a sudden the Broncos have some ground to make up on the Kansas City Chiefs and the Raiders as they’re third in the West. Luckily, the schedule ahead allows them to even the score with Oakland and both games with the Chiefs still remain. Denver remains very much in control of their chances but the tone has been set tonight.

Furthermore, this team has been exposed in a few areas. The interior defensive line had little impact both stopping the run and creating pressure, some important adjustments will have to be made to strengthen that area of the field. Also, Kayvon Webster and Talib’s absences were very much felt. The Broncos are greatly strengthened by their depth at cornerback but without two of their main guys they suffered mightly as Roby, Lorenzo Doss, and even Chris Harris Jr. didn’t play their best.

Offensively, the run game needs to find some answers as does the passing game, particularly in getting in rhythm earlier and finding some quick easy plays.

WHAT’S NEXT

With the NFL season, there aren’t many breaks and Denver’s ability to fix its defensive issues will be tested next week  against the New Orleans Saints.