Sunday, November 9, 2014

RAIDERS vs. Broncos Halftime Post

Score: DEN 20 OAK 10

Alright welcome in to the halftime post of the Raiders' Week 10 divisional matchup vs. the Denver Broncos where the Broncos take a 10 point lead heading into the locker room.

The Positives

Turnovers. I'm not going to mention too much of the defense after that sequence of events late in the 2nd quarter, but I was riding high that hey maybe we have a chance. The Raiders managed to generate two turnovers, both of them from Peyton Manning. The first turnover, an interception by D.J. Hayden, leading to a Janikowski field goal, the 2nd on a tipped ball by Justin Tuck, setting up a Carr TD pass to Brice Butler. Those were basically the two highlights of that first half and it looked like Raiders were in it to compete.

The Negatives

Momentum killing plays. And then this happened. Leading by 4, Carr throws an INT near midfield. The defense was still doing a good job and it looked like they were gonna get Manning and the Broncos off the field again. On 3rd down, Manning screen passes to C.J. Anderson and takes it all the way to the house for a 51 yard TD catch and run. The Raiders can't let those plays happen nor can they give a good team any chance to shift the momentum and the Raiders are giving it to them and that's how bad teams find ways to lose.

Bottom Line

You just have that feeling the Broncos are gonna come out of the gate early on in the 2nd half. The Raiders can't be demoralized just yet after a poor effort of taking care of the lead before the half. They have to continue to play inspired football like they did early on. The offense, that has to get going. Greg Olson, what do you have to lose? We're 0-8, would it be too much to ask a little more creativity on the playcalling?

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