Raiders K Sebastian Janikowski tied an NFL record with a 63-yard field goal. AP Photo.
K Sebastian Janikowski and P Shane Lechler combined to tie records and RB Darren Mcfadden for 150 yards as the Raiders defeated the Broncos 23-20 at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver in 2011 Regular Season Week 1 action.
The Broncos won the opening coin toss and elected to receive. K Sebastian Janikowski's opening kickoff flew out of the end zone for a touchback and the Broncos took the field at their own 20 with Kyle Orton at quarterback. After allowing one first dwn, the Raiders defense forced the Broncos to punt.
After a touchback and a penalty on Oakland the Raiders took over at their own 10 with Jason Campbell at quarterback. The Raiders fumbled the ball on their first play and the Broncos recovered at the Raiders 15. The Raiders held Denver to a 28-yard FG attempt. K Matt Pater's kick was good and Denver took at 3-0 lead with 9:55 left in the 1st quarter.
The ensuing kickoff went through the end zone for a touchback and the Raiders took over at their own 20. The Raiders managed one first down before the Broncos forced a punt. P Shane Lechler's 54-yard punt was returned by Eric Decker to the Denver 20.
The Raiders forced a punt on 4th and 15 which LB Darryl Blackstock blocked. The Raiders took over at the Denver 42. The Raiders capitalized when Campbell found FB Marcel Reece for a 3-yard TD pass. The extra point was good and the Raiders took a 7-3 lead with 13:18 left in the 2nd quarter.
The Raiders got the ball back when LB Quentin Groves forced a fumble and the Raiders recovered at the Denver 23. Janikowski capped the drive with a 37-yard field goal which gave the Raiders a 10-3 lead with 11:14 left in the 2nd quarter.
The Raiders defense kept the Broncos from mounting a drive and Colquitt's punt was downed at the Raiders 1. The Broncos took over at their own 28 after a Lechler punt, the return and a penalty. The Broncos drove into Raiders territory before the Silver and Black forced a 56-yard Prater FG attempt. The kick was no good and the Raiders took over at their own 46.
The Raiders added to their lead when Janikowski capped an 11-play, 51-yard drive with a 21-yard field goal. The score was 13-3 Oakland with 1:27 to go in the second quarter.
The ensuing kickoff went through the end zone for a touchback. The Raiders got the ball back when safety Matt Giordano picked off an Orton pass in Raiders territory at the 24. Janikowski gave the Raiders a 16-3 halftime lead with an NFL record-tying 63-yard field goal.
The opening kickoff of the second half sailed out of the end zone and the Raiders started the 3rd quarter at their own 20. The Raiders drive stalled and Decker returned the punt 90 yards for a touchdown to cut the Raiders lead to 16-10 with 12:31 left in the 3rd.
The ensuing kickoff went through the end zone for a touchback and the Raiders took over at their own 20. The Raiders drive stalled and Lechler punted the ball back to the Broncos who took over at their own 11 after the punt and a short return.
The Broncos took advantage of Raiders penalties and cut the Silver and Black's lead to 16-13 with 1:55 left in the 3rd quarter with a 30-yard Prater field goal.
The ensuing kickoff went through the end zone for a touchback and the Raiders took over at their own 20. The Broncos held the Raiders to a three-and-out and Decker returned Lechler's 50-yard punt to the Denver 42.
The Raiders got the ball back when DE Lamarr Houston recovered an Orton fumble at the Oakland 35. The Raiders capitalized when Campbell crashed in from a yard out to cap a 3-play, 65-yard drive. Janikowski's extra point was good and the Raiders led 23-13 with 12:33 left in the 4th.
After another Janikowski touchback, the Broncos took over at their own 20. The Broncos drive stalled and the Raiders took over at their own 20 after Colquitt's punt went into the end zone for a touchback.
The Raiders went three and out and Lechler crushed a 77-yard punt which tied the team record for the longest punt in Raiders history.
Denver continued to put pressure on the Raiders as Orton engineered a touchdown drive that he capped with a 9-yard TD pass. The extra point was good and the Raiders lead was cut to 23-20 with 3:43 left in the game.
Prater's kickoff went for a touchback and the Raiders took over at their own 20. The Raiders managed to run out the clock and secure the victory.
The Raiders kick off the 2011 regular season 1-0 and travel to Buffalo next week to take on the 1-0 Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park.
