Fake punt failure leads to frustration for King
DENVER — A fake punt by the Raiders late in the third quarter ended in a spectacular failure and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against flamboyant punter Marquette King.
The damaging sequence didn’t cost the Raiders (2-2) in terms of points, though, because Denver’s Brandon McManus missed the 29-yard field goal attempt that followed when his kick hit an upright and bounced away.
Raiders coach Jack Del Rio called for the fake punt with his team facing a fourth-and-11 at its own 33 in the 16-10 loss Sunday. King tried to sweep around right end but was met by the Broncos contain-man, wide receiver Jordan Taylor, who tackled him for a 3-yard loss at the Oakland 30.
A frustrated King, who celebrated an earlier 49-yard punt by riding an imaginary horse, threw the ball into the back of Broncos fullback Andy Janovich and was flagged, allowing Denver to tack on 15 more yards to the change of possession.
Del Rio said he called for the fake punt in a bid for a momentum swing because the Broncos (3-1) were dominating the line of scrimmage.
“We were looking for a spark and looking to take something that we thought we had and make it work, but it didn’t work,” Del Rio said. “We are very fortunate that it did not bite us.”
King may not be so lucky. He could be fined by the league for the taunting foul and figures to be on the receiving end of a stern talking to from his head coach.
“I have not said anything yet,” Del Rio said, “but you can be assured that I will.”
Other takeaways from the Broncos’ grind-it-out win that defensive end Derek Wolfe called a thing of beauty:
Run reversal: A year ago, Denver’s run defense was its weak link, defanging the “No Fly Zone” secondary and Von Miller’s harassment of QBs. So far, it’s their strength and the primary reason they’re 3-1 heading into their bye.
Melvin Gordon, Ezekiel Elliott, LeSean McCoy and now Marshawn Lynch have averaged a measly 1.9 yards a carry against the Broncos. Lynch gained 12 yards on nine carries Sunday and the Raiders managed only 12 more from its other rushers.