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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Joe Nedney said he didn't want payback.
He got it anyway.
|  | | Rarely does a kicker become the center of attention, but Joe Nedney managed the feat Sunday when his three second-half field goals lifted Denver past Oakland. |
Nedney, cut by Oakland late in the preseason when Sebastian
Janikowski won the kicking job, had four field goals and was
responsible for all of Denver's second-half points as the Broncos
beat the Raiders 33-24.
While insisting he didn't want vindication, Nedney said Sunday's
performance was "mission accomplished."
"It's a good way to start my career with the Broncos," he
said.
Signed by the Broncos on Tuesday to cover for an injured Jason
Elam, Nedney kicked field goals of 24, 32, 22 and 21 yards. He was
responsible for all nine second-half points after the two teams
emerged from halftime tied at 24.
Although he didn't hit one to end the game, "I got four winning
kicks," he said.
Janikowski kicked a 19-yard field goal, but missed a 49-yard
attempt wide left midway through the fourth quarter that would have
brought the Raiders within three points.
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TOM DONAHOE'S BREAKDOWN |
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Denver jumped out to a big lead (24-7 in the first half), but Oakland clawed its way back to make it a game.
Denver was impressive running the football. It had been rumored that Terrell Davis was likely to play. He didn't, but rookie Mike Anderson carried the load for the Broncos and excelled for a second straight week, gaining 187 yards.
Anderson started the season as Denver's third-string running back, and is the backup now because Olandis Gary is on injured reserve. For a rookie to gain over 300 yards in his first two NFL starts is pretty impressive.
An interesting sidelight in this game is that when Mike Shanahan was the Raiders head coach, his record was 8-12. Since he became the Broncos head coach, his record against the Raiders is 10-1. It appeared this week that Shanahan put together a good game plan once again.
Oakland had difficulty with turnovers, and after last week's impressive win at Indianapolis, it's disappointing for the Raiders to come home and lose to an AFC West rival.
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"I know what I did wrong," he said. "I just have to go home
and think about it."
The Broncos (2-1) have a five-game winning streak over the
Raiders (2-1), dating back to the 1997 season.
For much of the first quarter, the Broncos taunted the Raiders
fans, lofting the ball after touchdowns and pointing at the crowd
just beyond the goalposts. But the gibes were quickly stifled by
Oakland, which came back to tie it at the half.
Brian Griese, who has not thrown an interception this season,
was 21-for-31 for 213 yards and two touchdowns: a 10-yard pass to
Ed McCaffrey and a 1-yarder to Howard Griffith. Trevor Pryce
returned a fumble for another touchdown.
Mike Anderson, subbing for Terrell Davis, rushed for 187 yards
on 32 carries.
Oakland's Rich Gannon threw a pair of touchdown passes to Tim
Brown and Randy Jordan returned a blocked punt for another score.
Gannon finished 13-of-21 for 159 yards and was intercepted twice.
"I'm pretty disappointed in myself and the rest of us," Gannon
said. "We just didn't do a very good job."
Griese's touchdown pass to McCaffrey in the first quarter was
challenged by Raiders coach Jon Gruden because it appeared
McCaffrey might have been beyond the end zone. But the score stood.
Gannon's fumble on the Raiders' first possession was picked up
by Pryce, who ran it back 28 yards for a touchdown to put the
Broncos up 14-0.
On the ensuing series, Bill Romanowski forced Tyrone Wheatley's
fumble on Oakland's 21-yard line, and Nedney kicked a 24-yard field
goal.
Gannon answered by marching the Raiders down field and found
Brown with an 11-yard scoring pass to narrow the gap.
Griese opened the second quarter with his touchdown pass to
Griffith.
Napoleon Kaufman's 60-yard run put the Raiders on Denver's
2-yard line, but they settled for Janikowski's 19-yard field goal.
Gannon hit Brown again midway through the second quarter with a
9-yard scoring pass. It was Brown's 77th touchdown reception for
the Raiders, surpassing Hall of Famer Fred Biletnikoff for the
franchise record.
The Raiders tied it at 24 when Jordan scooped up a blocked punt
and ran it back three yards for the touchdown.
Gannon got the Raiders to first-and-goal to open the second
half, but his pass to Andre Rison in the end zone was intercepted
by John Mobley.
Nedney hit a 32-yard field goal despite loud boos from the crowd
with 3:53 left in the third quarter to give the Broncos a 27-24
lead. Nedney added 22- and 21-yarders in the final quarter.
Nedney, picked up when Elam broke bones in his lower back, said
he would savor smiling at Gruden on the sidelines and letting
"actions speak for themselves."
He was less vindictive Sunday, and even chatted with Raiders
owner Al Davis before the game to apologize for comments he said
were taken out of context.
Nedney said he wanted to shake Gruden's hand after the game, but
the Raiders coach left the field too quickly.
Janikowski, the 17th overall pick in the draft and the first
kicker taken in the first round in 21 years, boasted that he can
make a 65-yarder -- which would beat Elam's record 63-yard field
goal.
Game notes
Denver's Terrell Davis was listed as questionable for the
game, but still expected to start. However, he went out for pregame
warmups and it was decided his sprained left ankle wasn't ready for
a game. "It got worse as warmups went on," Broncos coach Mike
Shanahan said. ... Microsoft WebTV Networks bought the final 1,000
tickets needed to ensure Sunday's game would be seen on local
television. Raiders' games were blacked out on local TV for the
past three seasons, 24 straight games. The 1,000 tickets were
distributed for free to children from the Oakland Recreation and
Parks District. ... Shanahan was Raiders coach from 1988-89, when
the team was in Los Angeles. ... Former Raiders defensive lineman
Howie Long received his Hall of Fame ring at a halftime ceremony.
The crowd chanted "Howie! Howie!" nearly drowning out Long.
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ALSO SEE
NFL Scoreboard
Denver Clubhouse
Oakland Clubhouse
Clayton: Broncos' unknown soldier marches on
After miss, Janikowski could kick himself
Week 3 wrap-ups
Week 3 infirmary report
TJ's Take on Week 3
Week 3 stats leaders
Prime Time Players
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