FB Marcel Reece ranks third among NFL running backs, and first among fullbacks, with 46 receptions. Photo by Tony Gonzales.
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Complete Press Release | Statistics | Updated Bios | Supplemental Bios
THIS WEEK'S NOTABLE STORYLINES:
- The Raiders host the Denver Broncos at O.co Coliseum on Thursday night, marking the first Thursday contest in Oakland since 1979.
- Oakland will be looking to snap a five-game skid, the longest losing streak for the Raiders since the 2007 season.
- K Sebastian Janikowski booted a 51-yard field goal vs. Cleveland last week, marking his 40th career field goal of 50-or-more yards. Janikowski moved into a tie with Morten Anderson for third place all-time for field goals of 50 or more yards.
- TE Brandon Myers tied a franchise record with 14 receptions vs. Cleveland last week. Myers ranks third among NFL tight ends with 69 catches, most by a Raider tight end since Todd Christensen hauled in 95 passes in 1986.
- FB Marcel Reece ranks third among NFL running backs, and first among fullbacks, with 46 receptions.
- Head Coach Dennis Allen and Broncos head coach John Fox have each spent time with their respective AFC West rivals as defensive coordinators. Allen served as defensive coordinator on Fox's staff with the Broncos last season, while Fox was the Raiders' defensive coordinator for two seasons from 1994-95.
- The Raiders are 7-7 all-time in games played on Thursdays.
RAIDERS TAKE ON BRONCOS IN THURSDAY NIGHT CONTEST:The Raiders take on AFC West rival Denver in a Thursday night contest, televised on NFL Network. It marks the first time that the franchise has hosted a Thursday game since Oct. 25, 1979, vs. San Diego. Thursday night's tilt is the second in a three-game home stretch for the Silver and Black. The Raiders host Kansas City on Dec. 16, before closing out the regular season with two straight road games, playing at Carolina (Dec. 23) and at San Diego (Dec. 30).
THE SERIES:The Raiders and Broncos own a rivalry that dates back to the formation of the American Football League (AFL) in 1960. The Raiders lead the all-time regular-season series, 59-43-2, and the two teams have met twice in the playoffs, with each team winning once. The series has been evenly matched as of late, with the Raiders posting a 6-4 record over their last 10 games against Denver.
RAIDER THURSDAYS:The Raiders have played 14 Thursday games in team history, posting a 7-7 record. Oakland won its last Thursday contest, recording a 24-17 victory at San Diego last season.
FAMILIAR PLACES:Head Coach Dennis Allen and Broncos head coach John Fox have each spent time with their respective AFC West rivals as defensive coordinators. Allen served as defensive coordinator on Fox's staff with the Broncos last season, guiding a highly regarded defensive unit that improved 12 spots over 2010 in overall defensive ranking (32nd to 20th). Fox was the Raiders' defensive coordinator for two seasons from 1994-95, leading an overall defense that ranked 10th in the NFL in 1994 (308.9 ypg) and 11th in 1995 (319.0 ypg).
CARSON AT THE COLISEUM:QB Carson Palmer has produced some prolific passing performances at O.co Coliseum this season, notching his fourth 300-yard passing game in six contests with 351 yards vs. Cleveland last week. Palmer is averaging 313.5 passing yards per game at the Coliseum this season.
MYERS TIES MARK:TE Brandon Myers tied a franchise record with 14 receptions vs. Cleveland on Sunday. The total is the most for a Raider tight end, eclipsing Pro Football Hall of Famer Dave Casper, who recorded 12 catches in a 1976 contest. Two of the top three single-game receiving games in franchise history have been posted this season, with Myers following RB Darren McFadden's 13 catches in the season opener vs. San Diego.
LATE-SCORE LEADERS:The Raiders are tied for first in the NFL in scoring at the end of the half with 72 points.
B-MYERS FINISHES STRONG:With seven fourth-quarter catches vs. Cleveland last week, TE Brandon Myers moved into the NFL lead with 33 receptions in the final period so far this season.
ACCURATE FOR 200 AND COUNTING:K Sebastian Janikowski has converted 80.5 percent of his career field-goal attempts, a figure that ranks 12th among NFL kickers that have played 200 or more games.
DIALING LONG DISTANCE:K Sebastian Janikowski booted a 51-yard field goal vs. Cleveland last week, marking his 40th career field goal of 50-or-more yards. His total is tied for third in NFL history with Morten Andersen and trails only Jason Hanson's 51 career field goals of 50-or-more yards among active players.
BURRIS ON THE STOP:LB Miles Burris has racked up 105 tackles (66 solo) through 12 games this season, which ranks third on the team. With eight tackles vs. Cleveland on Sunday, Burris became the first Raider rookie to crack the century mark since Thomas Howard in 2006. His tackle total ranks third among Raider rookies since at least 1994.
REEECE OUT OF THE BACKFIELD:FB Marcel Reece ranks third among NFL running backs, and first among fullbacks, with 46 receptions.
NOTABLE CONNECTIONS:Raiders Head Coach Dennis Allen served as defense coordinator for the Broncos in 2011...Broncos head coach John Fox served as defensive coordinator for the Silver and Black from 1994-95...G Cooper Carlisle was Denver's fourth-round draft pick in 2000 and played for the Broncos from 2000-06...QB Carson Palmer lived in Colorado Springs, Colo., during junior high school...G Mike Brisiel attended Colorado State, where he was teammates with Broncos TE Joel Dreesen...DE Lamarr Houston is from Colorado Springs, Colo., and attended Thomas B. Doherty High School...DT Richard Seymour played with Broncos CB Champ Bailey at the University of Georgia...LB Miles Burris played with Broncos LS Aaron Brewer and RB Ronnie Hillman at San Diego State...TE Richard Gordon played at Miami with Broncos T Orlando Franklin...WR Juron Criner played with Broncos RB Chris Gronkowski at Arizona...WR Denarius Moore played with Broncos P Britton Colquitt and DE Robert Ayers at Tennessee...WR Darrius Heyward-Bey was teammates with Broncos RB Lance Ball at Maryland...LB Philip Wheeler was teammates with Broncos WR Damaryius Thomas at Georgia Tech...Defensive line coach Terrell Williams coached at Texas A&M while RB Mike Goodson and Broncos LB Von Miller played in College Station...Broncos TE Julius Thomas is from Stockton and attended Tokay High School in Lodi...LB D.J. Williams is from Concord and played at De La Salle High School...TE Virgil Green is from Tulare, and attended Tulare Union High School...Broncos defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio is from Hayward and attended Hayward High School...Broncos tight ends coach Clancy Barrone is from Red Bluff and served as an assistant at American River Junior College and Sacramento State...Raiders defensive assistant Travis Smith was an offensive technical intern at Colorado last year...Smith's father, Richard, is the Broncos' linebackers coach...Raiders offensive assistant Nick Holz played at Colorado.
INDIVIDUAL HIGHLIGHTS vs. DENVER:T Khalif Barnes made his NFL debut against Denver as a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars on Oct. 2, 2005...S Tyvon Branch made his NFL debut against Denver on Sept. 8, 2008...Branch has two career fumble recoveries against Denver, both coming in Raider wins...S Matt Giordano recorded an interception at Denver on Sept. 12, 2011...TE Richard Gordon made his NFL debut at Denver on Sept. 12, 2011...DE Lamarr Houston recovered a fourth-quarter fumble by QB Kyle Orton to set up a touchdown at Denver on Sept. 12, 2011...S Michael Huff recorded his first career sack at Denver on Sept. 16, 2007...K Sebastian Janikowski tied the NFL record with a 63-yard field goal at Denver on Sept. 12, 2011...Janikowski tied NFL records with eight PATs and eight touchbacks on kickoffs at Denver at Oct. 24, 2010...RB Taiwan Jones made his NFL debut at Denver on Sept. 12, 2011...DT Tommy Kelly recorded sacks against Denver on Oct. 24, 2010, Dec. 19, 2010 and Sept. 12, 2011...P Shane Lechler tied the Raiders' franchise record (later broken) with a 77- yard punt at Denver on Sept. 12, 2011...RB Darren McFadden made his NFL debut against Denver on Sept. 8, 2008...McFadden rushed for a career-high 165 yards and tied a franchise record with four total touchdowns on Oct. 24, 2010...WR Denarius Moore made his NFL debut at Denver on Sept. 12, 2011...QB Carson Palmer posted his first 300-yard passing game (332) as a Raider against Denver on Nov. 6, 2011...FB Marcel Reece rushed a then-career-high seven times and scored his first career rushing touchdown at Denver on Oct. 24, 2010...Reece had a career-long 73-yard touchdown reception against Denver on Dec. 29, 2010...DT Richard Seymour tied a career high with two sacks at Denver on Sept. 12, 2011...DE Matt Shaughnessy had 1.5 sacks against Denver on Dec. 19, 2010...In six career games against the Broncos, Shaughnessy has totaled 3.5 sacks...LB Philip Wheeler had a career-high 14 tackles at Denver on Sept. 30, 2012...C/G Stefen Wisniewski made his NFL debut at Denver on Sept. 12, 2011.
