Second-year WR Chaz Schilens (81) scores the tying touchdown on a 10-yard pass from QB JaMarcus Russell with 35 seconds left. K Sebastian Janikowski's extra point gave the Raiders a 20-19 lead.
The Oakland Raiders stunned the Denver Broncos 20-19 at INVESCO Field at Mile High in Denver in 2009 Regular Season Week 15 action. Charlie Frye got the start at quarterback for the Raiders in place of the injured Bruce Gradkowski. Frye was injured and JaMarcus Russell engineered a fourth quarter comeback for the win.
The Broncos won the opening coin toss and elected to defer to the second half. The Raiders elected to receive. RB Gary Russell fielded K Matt Prater's opening kickoff in the end zone and took a knee for the touchback and the Raiders started at their 20. The Raiders went three and out and P Shane Lechler's punt was returned by WR Eddie Royal to the Denver 35. Prater capped off the 10-play, 60-yard drive with a 23-yard field goal to give the Broncos a 3-0 lead with 8:40 to go in the first quarter.
Prater's kick went for another touchback and the Raiders offense took the field at their 20. The Raiders next possession ended when CB Champ Bailey intercepted a Frye pass intended for WR Johnnie Lee Higgins and returned the pick to the Oakland 41. The Broncos drove as far as the Raiders 12 but were pushed back and forced to settle for a 43-yard field goal attempt. The successful kick gave Denver a 6-0 lead with 4:10 left in the first quarter.
An intentional grounding penalty derailed the Raiders next possession and the Broncos returned Lechler's 65-yard punt to their 39. Denver drove to the Oakland 42 before the Raiders forced a P Mitch Berger punt. Berger's shanked punt landed out of bounds at the Oakland 34. RB Michael Bush finished off the 5-play, 66-yard drive with a 23-yard touchdown burst slashing through the Broncos defense. K Sebastian Janikowski's extra point was good and the Raiders took a 7-6 lead with 13:01 left in the 2nd quarter.
Janikowski's ensuing kickoff was downed in the end zone for a touchback and the Broncos took possession at their 20. The Raiders allowed one first down before forcing a punt. WR Johnnie Lee Higgins returned the 41-yard punt 15 yards to the Raiders 35. Janikowski capped the 8-play, 28-yard drive with the sixth 54-yard field goal of his career which increased the Raiders lead to 10-6 with 6:40 left in the second quarter.
The ensuing kickoff went for a touchback and the Broncos took over at their own 20 but they couldn't generate any points.
Janikowski increased the Raiders lead to 13-6 with 32 seconds left in the second quarter with a 28-yard field goal that culminated a 12-play, 62-yard drive.
Janikowski's ensuing kickoff sailed past the end line for a touchback and Denver took over at their 20. The Raiders forced a three-and-out and a Berger punt with 10 seconds left in the quarter. The punt bounced and was downed at the Raiders 27 as time expired. A penalty against Denver gave the Raiders one more play. A 12-yard RB Darren McFadden run ended the half.
The opening kickoff of the second half bounced through the end zone for a touchback and Denver started at their 20. Prater cut the Raiders lead to 13-9 with a 51-yard field goal that capped a 12-play, 47-yard drive.
The ensuing kickoff was fielded in the end zone for a touchback and the Raiders offense took the field for its first possession of the second half at the 20. The Raiders were on the move but LB D.J. Williams forced a McFadden fumble and Denver recovered at the 50. The Broncos took advantage when WR Brandon Marshall caught a 6-yard TD pass from QB Kyle Orton. After the extra point, the Broncos led 16-13 with 3:48 left in the 3rd quarter.
Gary Russell returned the ensuing kickoff but a penalty backed the Raiders up their 11. Explosive running from Bush and McFadden put the Raiders in position to reclaim the lead but the Broncos kept Bush out of the end zone on three straight runs. The Raiders went for it on 4th and goal at the 3 but McFadden was stopped short at the 1. Denver took over on downs.
The Raiders held the Broncos to a three-and-out and Berger came on to punt. Higgins returned the punt 14 yards to the Raiders 40. Frye was shaken up and JaMarcus Russell entered the game at quarterback. The Raiders were unable to convert a 3rd and 12 and after a delay of game call, Lechler came on to punt. Kenny McKinley returned the punt to the Denver 19.
Prater converted a 21-yard field goal to increase the Broncos lead to 19-13 with 5:54 left in the game. The drive went 78 yards in nine plays.
The Raiders went three-and-out and Lechler punted to the Broncos who took over at their 24 after the punt return. Thanks in part to a DE Greg Ellis sack, the Broncos went three and out and Berger came on to punt. Higgins returned the punt to the Raiders 38. A few plays later, Russell was shaken up and J.P. Losman entered the game at quarterback. Russell returned after sitting out one play. The Raiders drove deep into Broncos territory, converting a 4th and 10 along the way. Russell found WR Chaz Schilens over the middle. Schilens broke a tackle inside the 5 and ran it in for a 10-yard TD catch to tie the game. The extra point was good and the Raiders led 20-19 with 35 seconds left in the game.
McKinley returned the ensuing kickoff to the 22 where the Broncos took over with 29 seconds left. DE Greg Ellis logged his team-leading seventh sack and Denver took their last time out with 23 seconds left. An incomplete pass on second down left the Broncos with 3rd and 17 at the 15 with 19 seconds. FS Michael Huff dislodged Marshall from the ball with a devastating hit on a throw deep down the middle bringing up 4th and 17 with 13 ticks left. Orton completed a pass to midfield but the clock ran out and the Raiders won the game.
The Raiders improve to 5-9 and travel to Cleveland next week to face the Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium in 2009 Regular Season Week 16 action.
