Scoring wasn’t the Oakland Raiders’ only problem Saturday.
They didn’t defend well in a disheartening 22-3 loss to the Broncos that assured the Silver and Black of failing to win six games for the third consecutive season.
Despite limiting Denver to two touchdowns, the Raiders’ defense didn’t force the Broncos to punt until 6:55 was left in the game. Before that, Denver failed to score on only three drives, including a missed field-goal attempt by Jason Elam and running out the clock for halftime.
“This is a sad moment right now. I know I’m tired of losing,” Raiders defensive end Bobby Hamilton said. “I ain’t won but nine games in two years here. It’s hard, and I’m not happy.”
The Raiders (4-11), who trailed 16-0 at halftime and produced only 248 yards of offense for the game, finish the season Saturday at home against the New York Giants.
Fingers were pointed after Oakland’s fifth straight loss. Outspoken safety Stuart Schweigert said his team’s offensive woes are bringing the defense down.
The Raiders put their only points on the board early in the fourth quarter after trailing 22-0.
“Defensively, when you’re looking at zeros on the scoreboard, that’s tough business, that’s tough duty,” Schweigert said. “Even seeing 16-3 (or) 10-3, that gives you just a little extra to go out there. But when it’s 16-0, 22-0, it’s tough.”
Schweigert made one of the game’s two interceptions, halting a Broncos drive early in the second quarter. Denver safety Nick Ferguson made the other interception in the end zone, killing Oakland’s best drive with 48 seconds to play before halftime.
Raiders quarterback Kerry Collins said he was trying to throw the ball away after realizing his intended receiver, tailback Zack Crockett, was covered.
“They ran blitz. … I was really trying to throw it away, but just didn’t get enough on it, high enough,” Collins said. “So that one’s on me.”
The interception came one play after Collins missed Randy Moss from Denver’s 4-yard line.
“You get a touchdown there, and you are in a much closer game,” Raiders coach Norv Turner said.
Turner said he was glad to see his team play hard in the fourth quarter.
“This is an awfully physical game and we have all seen teams that, when they get in the situation our team has been in, they don’t lay it on the line physically,” he said. “These guys have not backed off.”
Mike Chambers can be reached at 303-820-5453 or mchambers@denverpost.com.
