gives up about 90 pounds to Oakland left tackle Donald Penn. But in the first quarter Sunday, the Broncos’ star linebacker steamrolled Penn like a cardboard cutout, knocking him backward to the ground in a straight-forward rush to the quarterback.
The Denver defense, leaned on so heavily in a run in 2015, failed to hold up the team again this season. But it remained a fearsome side through the final week in a 24-6 shutdown of the Raiders.
The Broncos held Oakland to just 50 yards and no points in the first half in building a 17-0 lead. and Dekoda Watson each sacked third-string Raiders quarterback Connor Cook. And Justin Simmons intercepted a pass in the fourth quarter.
In their first meeting, on Nov. 6 in Oakland, the Raiders gained 399 yards, rolling to a 30-20 victory. The Broncos went 2-5 since then before Sunday.
“Why haven’t we been playing like that all year?” Miller said. “It’s crazy, right? We had a complete game. That’s the type of game we were looking for all season.”
Injury list long. Broncos inside linebacker Zaire Anderson was carted off and immediately taken to the hospital by ambulance after he suffered a neck injury on a Raiders punt return in the third quarter. Anderson lay face down for several minutes after the hit before being strapped onto a backboard and loaded onto the cart. The Broncos said shortly after that Anderson was able to move his legs and arms, and was being further evaluated at the hospital.
Anderson was released from the hospital Sunday evening after all tests came back normal.
Receiver Emmanuel Sanders said he suffered a left foot sprain. It was positive news given the possible alternatives after Sanders left early in the first quarter.
Sanders said X-rays were negative and it was “nothing major.”
Several other key players did not suit up against the Raiders, as Denver’s injury list remained severe to end the season. Safety (concussion), linebacker (thigh), defensive lineman (neck) and tight end A.J. Derby (concussion) did not play, as expected.
O-line questions linger. The Broncos carried their offensive line issues to the very end, placing right tackle on the inactive list.
Sambrailo, a second-round draft pick out of Colorado State in 2015, started at right tackle earlier this season, replacing Donald Stephenson, who at the time was struggling. But Stephenson was soon put back on the starting line. Since his start against Kansas City at right tackle Nov. 27, Sambrailo has not been in the starting lineup. And he did not play at all against New England three weeks ago.
The Broncos instead made Billy Turner active as a backup against the Raiders. Conor McGovern, a guard, was also ruled inactive.
Bettering 1st Q woes. The Broncos scored on their opening offensive possession for the first time since their Nov. 13 win over New Orleans. Denver came into the game with one of the worst first-quarter differentials in the NFL, but finished with a 7-0 lead.
Denver’s 17-0 first-half lead was its biggest at halftime since the 2014 season opener against the Colts.
Schedule complete. The Broncos 2017 opponents were completed shortly before their season finale against the Raiders. The Titans win clinched second place in the AFC South and assured the Colts third place. As a result, Denver will travel to Indianapolis in 2017 instead of Tennessee.
Broncos 2017 opponents: Raiders, Chiefs, Chargers, Patriots, Jets, Cowboys, Giants, Bengals, at Raiders, at Chiefs, at Chargers, at Bills, at Dolphins, at Eagles, at Redskins, at Colts.
Draft update. Denver will select at pick No. 20 in the NFL Draft, the lowest-possible selection of a non-playoff team. The Broncos’ 9-7 record was tied with three other non-playoff teams, but their difficult strength of schedule put them at the back of the order.
The Snake Tailgates. There was a familiar face among tailgaters outside Sports Authority Field. Former Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer was joined by dozens of fans as part of game-day experience he auctioned off to raise money for cannabinoid research and his namesake foundation that focuses on Alzheimer’s research. The event, hosted in part by Colorado nonprofit Realm of Caring, raised more than $14,000 for both causes.
McCaffrey honored. Valor Christian quarterback Dylan McCaffrey was awarded The Denver Post’s Gold Helmet Award during halftime. He joined by his father and former Broncos receiver Ed McCaffrey, as well his mother, Lisa McCaffrey. He was also surrounded by state championship teams and many other Gold Helmet Award winners, including Raiders offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave (1985, Grand Junction) and play-by-play announcer Dave Logan (1971, Wheat Ridge).
Dylan’s older brother and 2017 draft prospect Christian McCaffrey was the 2013 winner.
