Tag: Raiders vs. Broncos

Raiders, Broncos Week 18 final injury report: Josh Jacobs, Michael Mayer both OUT

Josh Jacobs, Michael Mayer both OUT on Raiders final injury report

The final final injury report of the Raiders 2023 season is out. And so too are RB Josh Jacobs and TE Michael Mayer.

Jacobs was lost to a quad injury against the Vikings in Week 14 and hasn’t played since. Mayer was lost the following week against the Chargers to a toe injury and also hasn’t played since.

The Broncos ruled out two players — TE Chris Manhertz (illness) and T Mike McGlinchey (Ribs).

Raiders winners and losers in 17-16 victory vs. Broncos

Raiders winners and losers in 17-16 victory vs. Broncos

The Jimmy Garoppolo era in Las Vegas started with a win, as the Raiders beat the Broncos 17-16 to open the 2023 campaign. Garoppolo threw two touchdown passes and sealed the game late with a first-down run from the pocket.

Overall, the game wasn’t pretty; the teams combined for 20 penalties, and Garoppolo threw an interception in the end zone. But this opening win for the Raiders will boost their confidence as they look to surpass low expectations league-wide.

Despite the win, some players performed better than others. Here are this week’s winners and losers as the Raiders bask in their 1-0 record.

Winner: QB Jimmy Garoppolo

Garoppolo and the Raiders offense started hot, notching a touchdown on their first possession. Broncos coach Sean Payton tried an onside kick to start the game, but after a penalty on Denver gave the Raiders the ball, Garoppolo took advantage of the short field and found wide receiver Jakobi Meyers for a touchdown.

An interception in the end zone by Garoppolo late in the third quarter threatened to put him on the loser list. But the Raiders defense kept the damage to a minimum, holding Denver to a field goal and a 16-10 lead midway through the fourth quarter.

Garoppolo threw another touchdown to Meyers on the ensuing drive, giving the Raiders the lead for good at 17-16. His late scramble for a first down sealed the win for Las Vegas. It was a welcome sight for coach Josh McDaniels, especially considering Garoppolo briefly left the game after a big hit early. The oft-injured Garoppolo returned and earned the victory.

Winner: WR Jakobi Meyers

The Raiders’ new weapon on offense made a big splash in his first game for Las Vegas. Meyers caught both of Garoppolo’s touchdown throws and had 81 yards on nine receptions, leading his team in both categories.

He left the game late after a crushing hit on the Raiders’ game-sealing drive. The play drew a penalty on Denver and handed Las Vegas a first down. Meyers walked off the field on his own, a good sign for the Raiders, as he and Garoppolo displayed great chemistry out of the gate.

Winner: DE Maxx Crosby

Defensive end Maxx Crosby looked every bit of himself to start the season, notching five tackles, a QB sack, a tackle for loss, and two QB hits.

As the Raiders nursed a 10-6 lead in the second quarter, Crosby single-handedly ruined a promising Denver drive. He drew a holding call on the Broncos and followed that play up with a sack, forcing a 2nd-and-27 situation that led to an eventual punt.

Like Garoppolo’s performance, it wasn’t always pretty, but Crosby led a Raiders defense that got the job done in Week 1. The Broncos were just short of 100 yards rushing and tallied only 260 yards overall.

Loser: LB Luke Masterson

After Garoppolo’s interception, it appeared the Raiders stopped the Broncos when DE Jerry Tillery sacked Broncos QB Russell Wilson, forcing a punt. On 4th-and-14, linebacker Luke Masterson roughed the punter, handing Denver a first down.

The rest of the Raiders defense stepped up after Masterson’s mistake, holding the Broncos to a field goal and a 16-10 lead. But for a minute, it appeared the Raiders’ opening game would be ruined by a special teams blunder.

Loser: CB Jakorian Bennett

Rookie cornerback Jakorian Bennett had his moments in his debut as an NFL pro, notably his seven tackles. He also had a couple of learning moments.

He got beat on a big third-down conversion on the Broncos’ first drive of the game, which ended in a touchdown. Bennett also drew a pass interference flag on a 3rd-and-6 play late in the first half, another Denver touchdown drive.

Overall, Bennett kept battling and showed his potential. The Raiders will need him to keep learning and growing this season.

Loser: WR Hunter Renfrow

Wide receiver Hunter Renfrow seemed primed to bounce back from an unproductive, injury-riddled campaign in 2022. That notion is still on hold, as Renfrow went catchless on Sunday.

In fact, Renfrow wasn’t targeted a single time. Unlike Meyers, Renfrow wasn’t able to capitalize on the added attention paid to teammate Davante Adams. Perhaps Renfrow will still emerge this season as the offense matures under Garoppolo, but Renfrow appeared to be an afterthought on Sunday.

McDaniels gets an honorary mention on the winner list, mostly because he went for a key 4th-and-1 opportunity on the Raiders’ first drive. After Payton’s onside kick to start the game, it was important to make the Broncos pay with a touchdown and set the tone for the game.

Garoppolo hit Adams for 13 yards to convert on short yardage, and the Raiders were up 7-0 minutes later. Las Vegas played uneven football the rest of the way but won despite falling behind late. That’s a reversal of last season when McDaniels’ bunch blew plenty of late leads.

The Raiders will play the Bills in Buffalo next week, in an early-season test against an AFC contender. It’s still unclear how good this bunch is, but confidence should be sky-high as the Raiders travel to the East Coast with a 1-0 record.

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Raiders winners and losers in 32-23 victory vs. Broncos

Raiders winners and losers in 32-23 victory vs. Broncos

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The Raiders almost let their first win of the season slip away on Sunday after the Broncos pulled within two points late, but a touchdown from running back Josh Jacobs closed the door on Denver, and Las Vegas won, 32-23.

After being a pass-happy squad for most of the season thus far, the Raiders featured a balanced attack on offense and had more rushing yards than passing yards. Star wide receiver Davante Adams had a good day anyway, racking up nine catches for 101 yards.

So which players made the largest impact? Here are the winners and losers this week for the Raiders.

Winner: RB Josh Jacobs

This column called for more touches for running back Josh Jacobs last week, and against the Broncos, Jacobs proved he’s up to the task. He finished with a career-high 144 yards rushing on 28 carries and two touchdowns. He also added five catches for 31 yards.

He busted loose for a sensational 43-yard run in the second half, proving to coach Josh McDaniels that run plays can become big plays with Jacobs in the backfield, so he doesn’t always have to pass to be aggressive.

Here’s Jacobs’ late touchdown that put an end to the Broncos’ hopes. Time will tell if McDaniels continues to balance his play-calling, but it made all the difference in getting his first win as Raiders coach.

Winner: QB Derek Carr

Quarterback Derek Carr had some rough moments against the Broncos, and didn’t throw a touchdown or even surpass 200 yards through the air. In fact, he earned heavy consideration for the loser list this week.

But after the Broncos easily marched downfield late in the fourth quarter to make the score 25-23, Carr scrambled from the pocket and converted a key third-down on the ensuing drive.

Carr broke from the pocket several times and ended with 40 rushing yards. It’s the type of play Carr didn’t make in the first three weeks of the season, and perhaps he’ll be willing to scramble more in the future when needed.

Winner: Maxx Crosby

Defensive end Maxx Crosby continues to be a beast on the edge for the Raiders. He had two sacks, two tackles for loss, and two quarterback hits on the day, including a no-contest takedown of Broncos QB Russell Wilson.

Crosby got a little more help from his fellow edge rusher Chander Jones, as Jones forced a holding penalty and was more noticeable on the field. If Crosby can get more help form his fellow defensive ends, he could he in line for a career year.

Winner: Amik Robertson

Cornerback Amik Robertson had a rough start to his day, falling down on a long completion to WR Jerry Jeudy. But he recovered in a big way, mostly by scooping up a fumble caused by safety Duron Harmon and taking it to the house for six points.

Jeudy appeared to mock Robertson’s height after his early catch, but Robertson didn’t back down and made perhaps the largest impact for the Raiders on a day they were without starting CB Rock Ya-Sin.

Loser: G Dylan Parham

The Raiders rotating offensive line continues to be a story. This week, rookie lineman Dylan Parham started at right guard. In the first half, he allowed a sack on a stunt from the defensive line that pinned the Raiders back on their own 2-yard line.

Parham is a promising rookie, and his place on the loser list this week is partially credited to coach McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler for neglecting the offensive line in the offseason.

Loser: OL Jermaine Eluemunor

Before Parham allowed his sack, offensive tackle Jermaine Eluemunor (who has also played guard), committed a false start, backing the Raiders up in their own territory.

After the ensuing sack, the Raiders punted and the Broncos had a nice return to set up an easy touchdown to go ahead 7-3. Once again, the rotating line continues to be an issue and McDaniels would do well to choose one combination so they can settle in and grow as a group.

McDaniels is still an honorable mention for the winner list, as he earned his first victory as Raiders coach. But he has a lot of work to do, as does the entire team.

Perhaps they found something against the Broncos though, especially with their balanced offense. The Raiders’ next chance for victory is Monday night, Week 5 against the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.

Raiders winners and losers in home victory vs. Broncos

Raiders winners and losers in home victory vs. Broncos

The Raiders and Broncos battled for AFC relevancy on Sunday, and Las Vegas came out on top, overcoming turnovers and a near injury to quarterback Derek Carr to win, 17-13.

After a fumble from running back Josh Jacobs and an interception from Carr led to 10 Denver points just before halftime, the Broncos took a 13-7 lead into the locker room. But the Las Vegas defense didn’t allow any more points and the Raiders run game came alive.

Now, their record sits at 8-7, and Las Vegas is still in playoff contention after its second straight win. Here are the winners and losers from this big home victory for the Raiders.

Winners

Josh Jacobs

Jacobs recovered from his silly second-quarter fumble in a big way. At the end of the day, he tied his career-high in rushing with 129 yards on 27 carries.

His fumble was inexcusable — he carried the football with just one hand as he ran in the open field after a desperation shovel pass from Carr was successful. But after the Raiders fell behind at halftime, they turned to Jacobs on the first drive of the second half and the run game delivered, leading to a red-zone rushing TD from RB Peyton Barber.

But it was Jacobs’ day. It was his first 100-yard rushing performance of the season. Plus, he helped run the clock out late, putting an exclamation point on his performance.

Hunter Renfrow

Wide receiver Hunter Renfrow had an incredible touchdown to start the day’s scoring for the Raiders, and he also made some franchise history.

First, here’s the touchdown, with the chemistry between Carr and Renfrow on full display.

That was a sensational grab. Plus, Renfrow crossed the 90-reception mark. He joins Hall of Fame wide receivers Tim Brown and Jerry Rice as the only wideouts to have 90 or more catches in a season for the Raiders. Not a bad day of work for Las Vegas’ most reliable pass-catcher down the stretch.

Maxx Crosby

Defensive end Maxx Crosby hadn’t notched a QB sack since Week 6. That changed on Sunday with this takedown of Broncos QB Drew Lock.

Crosby led a defense that only allowed eight first downs and 158 total yards on the day, including just 18 rushing yards. Defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson also tallied a QB sack, and linebacker Denzel Perryman returned from injury and made a positive impact for Las Vegas, as he has in every game he’s played his season.

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Raiders winners and losers in monumental Week 6 win vs. Broncos

Raiders winners and losers in monumental Week 6 win vs. Broncos

In a sudden shift of fortune, all appears very, very well with the Las Vegas Raiders.

After a week of turmoil due to the surprise resignation of coach Jon Gruden, the Raiders traveled to Denver and beat the Broncos soundly, 34-24. The offense gained yardage in large chunks early and often, and the Las Vegas defense produced a pass rush that kept the Broncos on edge all afternoon, resulting in four turnovers along the way.

Interim coach Rich Bisaccia clearly prepared Las Vegas well, with every player on the Raiders seeming to distill their emotions into turbo fuel for the football field.

As always, some players fared better than others. But looking at the various performances from the Raiders this week, there are no losers (well, almost none) to choose from. Here are this week’s standout players, divided into offense and defense, with due respect to the Bisaccia’s special teams.

Winners on offense

Derek Carr/Greg Olson

The Raiders offense used to be Gruden’s baby. Now, quarterback Derek Carr is fully behind the wheel. His co-piot? Offensive coordinator, Greg Olson. Together, they produced 34 points, Las Vegas’ highest point total this season, including its two overtime wins.

It started early, when the Raiders broke their streak of scoreless first drives, cashing in on a 48-yard touchdown toss from Carr to wide receiver Henry Ruggs III to take a 7-0 lead. And the offense kept churning out big plays and steady gains all game long, ending up with 426 yards on an incredible 8.2 yards per play.

Carr had 341 yards through the air with two touchdowns, earning a 134.4 QB rating. He spread the ball around nicely and apparently didn’t miss Gruden one bit. He even threw a touchdown to one player that was an afterthought heading into Sunday’s game.

Kenyan Drake

Running back Kenyan Drake was supposed to be one of Gruden’s new weapons this season. Instead, Drake waited until Gruden’s departure to put on a show.

After receiving very few touches during the Raiders’ previous two games, Drake scored two touchdowns Sunday, one on a skillful 31-yard connection with Carr near the end of the first half. The play gave the Raiders a 17-7 edge at the break.

He also had an 18-yard run in the second half that handed Las Vegas a 24-7 edge.

Drake’s second score was set up by a nice catch and run by RB Josh Jacobs, and the two finally formed a formidable pair, just as Gruden envisioned. All it took, ironically, was Gruden’s resignation.

Henry Ruggs III

Ruggs’ 48-yard touchdown grab to start the game set the tone. But he didn’t stop there. He also hauled in a 40-yard catch in the second half — on a crucial third-down, with Carr facing intense pressure in the pocket — that set up a Jacobs rushing TD, giving the Raiders a 31-10 lead. On the day, Ruggs had three catches for 97 yards and his one touchdown.

Ruggs’ fellow young starter at WR, Bryan Edwards, also gets a nod this week. He had his own 51-yard catch (with one hand) late in the fourth quarter, leading to a Daniel Carlson field goal and a 34-17 Raiders advantage.

But this was one of Ruggs’ finest games. He is the playmaker that general manager Mike Mayock — and Gruden, of course — said he was.

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Raiders coach Jon Gruden: LB Nicholas Morrow had his ‘best game as a Raider’ in win vs. Broncos

Raiders linebacker Nicholas Morrow got the start in place of LB Cory Littleton and caused havoc against Denver.

The Raiders rode the strength of their defense and its five forced turnovers in beating the Broncos, 37-12 on Sunday, moving to 6-3 on the campaign, and there’s plenty of credit to go around.

Safety Jeff Heath got the party started with the first of his two interceptions, and cornerback Nevin Lawson forced a fumble and recovered the football on the same play. Incredibly, defensive end Carl Nassib also picked off Broncos quarterback Drew Lock, as did linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski.

And though LB Nicholas Morrow didn’t notch a turnover, he was impossible to miss as he started in place of LB Cory Littleton, who is on the Reserve/COVID-19 list.  Morrow made his presence felt, most notably when he sacked Lock and forced a fumble, which Denver recovered, and on a vicious pass break up in the second half.

In total, he had five tackles, a quarterback sack, two passes defensed, two QB hits and his forced fumble. Morrow’s performance prompted coach Jon Gruden to say that it was the linebackers’s best game as a pro, though he wasn’t surprised by what he saw.

“He’s the same Nicholas Morrow he was last year. He’s a really good player,” Gruden said to reporters after the game. “At this point in his career, I think his experience in the system shows. I think his confidence in himself is showing. And I thought he cut it loose today and really had his best game as a Raider. I can’t wait to see this film.

“He’s such a great kid, coming from a real small school. Quite a transition for him, changing coaches, changing systems. I think he’s going to be a really good linebacker in this league for a while.”

Since defensive coordinator Paul Guenter’s defense has a notoriously long learning curve, it benefits the Raiders to have a backup that has soaked up the scheme for the last two-plus years, as Gruden hit on. Morrow, who was undrafted out of Greenville University, could cut it loose and rely on his instinct, resulting in perhaps his best game when the Raiders needed him to step up.

The ability to cut it loose, or lack thereof, could be part of Littleton’s problem. He’s struggled in his first year with Guenther and the Raiders. With today’s performance and the postgame praise from Gruden, playing time at LB next to Kwiatkoski is something to keep an eye on. In any event, the Raiders are lucky to have Morrow, who will look to make an impact as Las Vegas attempts to make the playoffs.

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Back to back replays stop Raiders’ drive of the game against the Broncos

On back to back plays, it appeared the Raiders scored the first touchdown of the day against the Broncos.

The Raiders’ offense had a great day in terms of total yardage but didn’t capitalize in the red zone against the Broncos on their way to a 16-15 loss.

On six tries from inside Denver’s 20-yard line, the Raiders scored a single touchdown, which tied the score late before Oakland missed a two-point conversion, sealing their fate.

On this week’s drive of the game, it appeared the Raiders scored an early touchdown, the game’s first. But two consecutive official replays stymied their second-quarter effort.

On 3rd and goal from the 5-yard line, quarterback Derek Carr hit wide receiver Hunter Renfrow at the goal line, and officials on the field signaled for a touchdown. The replay official overruled the call, though video evidence wasn’t overwhelming.

The Raiders elected to go for it on fourth and short, handing the ball off to fullback Alec Ingold. Officials ruled him short of the goal line. The video showed Ingold appear to cross the plane, but it was hard to see the ball and after a Gruden challenge, the call stood.

Coach Jon Gruden’s offense outgained the Broncos 477 to 238 but failed time and again when near the end zone. The Raiders must do a much better job of converting in Las Vegas next season so they can overcome rough breaks from the officiating crew that are bound to happen.

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