National Football League

Raiders rout Broncos 59-14, set team scoring mark

Published Oct. 25, 2010 5:21 a.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

After a record-setting display, the Oakland Raiders rejoiced and the Denver Broncos repented.

Led by Darren McFadden's four touchdowns and a stunningly quick start, the Raiders rolled to a 59-14 beating of the Broncos, scoring the most points in their 51-year history Sunday.

It was only the second time the Broncos surrendered that many points.

Coming against their archrival, the blowout was that much sweeter for the Raiders (3-4), who departed Denver with renewed confidence.

''We're not going to let down,'' Raiders coach Tom Cable said. ''We're going to go after this.''

While the Raiders got the signature win they were looking for, the Broncos (2-5) were left soul-searching and apologizing.

''I apologize to (owner) Pat (Bowlen) and the organization, all the fans and everyone else,'' Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said after falling to 0-4 at home against AFC West opponents. ''It was awful.''

Especially early.

The Broncos found themselves down 21-0 after taking just two offensive snaps and turning the ball over on both.

After Jason Campbell hit a wide open Zach Miller for a 43-yard touchdown, cornerback Chris Johnson stepped in front of a Kyle Orton pass on Denver's first snap, returning it 30 yards for a touchdown that made it 14-0.

Then, on Denver's next snap, rookie receiver Demaryius Thomas fumbled Tim Tebow's pitch and defensive end Lamarr Houston recovered. Three plays later, McFadden trotted in untouched from 4 yards out.

Just like that, the route was on.

''You blinked and looked up and it was out of hand,'' defensive back Nate Jones said.

It only got worse.

Michael Bush's 1-yard TD run with 27 seconds left in the third quarter made it 59-14 and eclipsed the Raiders' franchise scoring record of 52 points. The fifth rushing TD tied a team record and their eight TDs overall established another mark.

Oakland, as expected, was rather upbeat afterward.

''You've got a lot of smiles,'' offensive lineman Langston Walker said. ''Everybody feels good. You come in Monday morning and feel that much better about yourself.''

Or, in Denver's case, that much worse.

''Everything disturbs me at this point,'' McDaniels said. ''It's not one thing over another and it starts with myself. I'm going to have to find a way to coach better, get our team more prepared, ready to go early in the game and we're going to have to play better and coach better.''

The offensive output by Oakland was a bit surprising, especially since Campbell came in with a sore knee and McFadden was hampered by a hamstring injury.

Neither showed any ill effects from the injuries.

Campbell was efficient all afternoon, throwing two TD passes and showing off his ability to scramble out of trouble. McFadden scored on a pair of 4-yard runs, a 19-yard reception in the first half, and again on a 57-yard scamper in the second.

''Most touchdowns I've had since college, so it felt great,'' said McFadden, a former standout at Arkansas. ''You love to go out there and have a big game and coming against a rival it's even better. It's a big rivalry game and it's something we looked at this week. We wanted to come out here and have a big game.''

The Raiders had Broncos fans booing early and often, then leaving before the lopsided loss was complete.

''This was an embarrassing performance,'' Jones said. ''We're going to try our hardest to never, ever, put a display like that out on the field ever again.''

The Raiders won for the third straight time at Invesco Field, paced by a 38-point onslaught to open the game that stunned the Broncos, who allowed 328 yards rushing.

''I expected this to be a street fight,'' Cable said. ''It started like that and we made sure it didn't go any further.''

The Broncos were without five defensive players, including their emotional leader Brian Dawkins (knee), cornerback Andre' Goodman (thigh) and linebacker Robert Ayers (foot). The team could've used them with McFadden rushing for 165 yards on 16 carries.

''We've got to just come together and try to find a way to dig deep,'' linebacker Jason Hunter said.

share

Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

National Football League