Raiders respond after Broncos yank their chain
MOAKLAND, Calif. those must be some pretty sweet chains. We’ve seen this act before, Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib ripping a necklace from Raiders wide receiver Michael Crabtree in a fit of anger, bitter individual competitors in a contentious AFC West rivalry.
Things got chippy real fast Sunday. The result: There is still some serious fight in the Raiders, both when defending their teammate and trying to remain in the hunt for a division title.
The Raiders returned to Oakland-alameda County Coliseum for the first
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after swapping punches with cornerback Aqib Talib, who ripped a chain off Crabtree’s neck during a game for the second time since Jan. 1. Amari Cooper exited with a second-quarter concussion. That left Patterson, Seth Roberts and Johnny Holton to close out the action.
For three quarters, no help seemed needed.
The Raiders’ defense was in control.
The unit hadn’t recorded an interception in its first 10 games of the season. This was despite its best efforts of running and jumping after chances. Go figure. In the second quarter, linebacker Navorro Bowman was lying down when he caught his.
He initially deflected a Paxton Lynch end-zone throw, which then bounced off safety Reggie Nelson, before falling back to Bowman. Oakland previously had allowed 331 passes without a pick.
No NFL team ever started a season with more than six games without an interception before the Raiders went 10.
Bowman said he was in “panic mode,” reacting to a play-action pass on second-and-goal from the 1-yard line.
“That wasn’t my man,” Bowman said of the intended target, tight end Virgil Green. “I just dove to break it up and landed on my back, and the ball was there. It was one of those crazy plays, but as Coach says, ‘Just run to the ball and great things will happen.’ ”
Carr punctuated the ensuing drive with a 9-yard touchdown to Cooper for the game’s first score. What could’ve been a 7-0 deficit now was a 7-0 lead.
A narrative from Sunday could be how the Raiders defense dominated. And it largely did.
The team fired defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. on Tuesday. John Pagano, assistant head coach/defense, took over play-calling duties and deserves credit on a day the Raiders moved defensive end Khalil Mack around the line of scrimmage. Mack had one sack. Outside linebacker Bruce Irvin and defensive lineman Denico Autry had two apiece.
A season-high six three-andouts were forced. By the start of the fourth quarter, Oakland had allowed 42 passing yards and was up 21-0.
But there is a reason the Broncos fell to 3-7 on Sunday. Their offense was atrocious.
Lynch completed nine of 14 passes for 41 yards and the interception in his season debut. He exited early in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury and did not return. Trevor Siemian stepped in with 149 passing yards and two touchdowns to tighten the game.
“For three quarters it was pretty good,” coach Jack Del Rio said of his defense.
Hence, the Raiders needed Patterson’s late theatrics against a cover-zero blitz. His long reception converted a third-and-8 and drained the game clock to the two-minute warning. Patterson basked in the moment. Carr followed with three kneel-downs.
“I’m always smiling,” Patterson said. “That’s what I do. I bring the joy to the team. I’m like Draymond Green on the (Golden State) Warriors. He brings that excitement, having fun.”
The Broncos couldn’t snatch that. Contact reporter Michael Gehlken at mgehlken@reviewjournal.com. Follow @Gehlkennfl on Twitter.