Elam Helps Broncos Eke Out MNF Win

By
David Goldberg
January 7, 2006, 5:17 AM ET
3 min read

D E N V E R, Nov. 13, 2000 -- Somehow, the Denver Broncos almost always beat theOakland Raiders.

Denver did it for the second time this season Monday night,winning 27-24 on Jason Elam’s 41-yard field goal on the final play of the game after Oakland had rallied from two touchdowns down in the second half to tie it with a little over a minute left.

It was the second loss this season for the Raiders (8-2) anddropped them into a tie for the NFL’s best record with Tennessee, Miami, Minnesota and St. Louis. It ended a six-game winning streak that began after Denver beat them 33-24 in Oakland on Sept. 17.

Wild Card in Balance

The Broncos (6-4) are still two games behind the Raiders, whocould have just about wrapped up the AFC West with a win. ButDenver will have the tiebreaker if they can make up those games and the Broncos are in the thick of the AFC wild-card race.

Under coach Mike Shanahan, the Broncos have beaten Oakland in 11 of their last 12 meetings.

The Broncos took a 24-10 lead early in the fourth quarter on an11-yard TD pass to Byron Chamberlain from Brian Griese, who missed a little more than one series with a bruised shoulder.

That capped a string of 17 straight points by the Broncos, whobroke a 10-10 tie in the third quarter when rookie Ian Gold blockedShane Lechler’s punt and returned it 12 yards for a TD.

But the Raiders rallied for two TDs, the first on a 1-yard runby Zack Crockett, the second on a 22-yard pass from Rich Gannon toTim Brown with 1:06 left.

It was Broncos weather — the temperature fell into the teens inthe second half and the wind chill was near zero.

Oakland Took First Half

But the Raiders, playing without running back Tyrone Wheatleyand kicker Sebastian Janikowski, dominated the first half,outgaining the Broncos 216-100. Oakland managed to lead by just10-7 because of three turnovers and a plethora of penalties.

Denver took a 7-0 lead just 3:28 into the game on Terrell Davis’5-yard run after Ray Crockett intercepted a Gannon pass at theOakland 39 on the game’s third play from scrimmage.

A 19-yard field goal by Brett Conway — subbing for Janikowski,whose infected foot kept him out — cut it to 7-3. Then ZackCrockett went in from a yard away with just under three minutesleft in the half to give the Raiders a 10-7 lead.

The Broncos used the first 7:35 of the second half to drive 70yards to the Oakland 4-yard line. But Davis was stuffed for no gainon third down and Denver had to settle for Elam’s 23-yard fieldgoal that tied the game at 10.

Just over two minutes later, Gold, a rookie linebacker, broke upthe middle and blocked Lechler’s punt, then picked it up and raninto the end zone.

Then Griese directed a flawless 83-yard drive, going 6-for-6 for73 yards and throwing to Chamberlain for the score. And the defensestopped the Raiders on four downs from their 10 after a 49-yardcompletion from Gannon to Andre Rison.

But the Raiders scored on their next two possessions, settingthe stage for Elam.