Sports: Broncos nip Raiders

Broncos nip Raiders

Jason Elam's field goal as time runs out gives Denver its second win over Oakland.

©Associated Press

DENVER -- Jason Elam kicked a 40-yard field goal as time ran out, leading the Broncos to a 27-24 win over the Oakland Raiders on Monday night.

With Denver up 24-17, quarterback Rich Gannon marched the Raiders downfield from their 14, hitting Tim Brown for 4 yards on fourth and 2 from the Denver 26 with 1:12 left. On the next play, Brown got behind cornerback Terrell Buckley and was all alone when Gannon hit him for a 22-yard touchdown, tying the score at 24.

Deltha O'Neal took the ensuing kickoff to the Raiders 45. Three passes and a quarterback sneak brought the Broncos to the 23, setting up Elam's winning kick.

In what was expected to be an offensive showdown, neither team could move consistently.

Oakland went into the game with the second-best run offense in the NFL, but with leading rusher Tyrone Wheatley out with two sprained ankles, the Raiders were held to 38 yards on the ground. Denver went in with the fourth-best passing attack and Brian Griese as the AFC's top-rated passer, but Griese mostly was held in check, going 21-for-32 for 220 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

Jason Elam's 23-yard field goal and rookie Ian Gold's 12-yard return of his blocked punt in the third quarter enabled the Broncos to erase a 10-7 halftime deficit. Griese threw an 11-yard touchdown to tight end Byron Chamberlain with 13:03 left to put the Broncos up 24-10.

The Raiders drove to the Broncos 11 but stalled. Passing up a field-goal opportunity, Gannon's pass on fourth and 10 was tipped and went in and out of the hands of a sprawling Brown in the end zone.

Oakland got the ball back with just over nine minutes left, and Gannon drove the team downfield to set up Zack Crockett's 1-yard touchdown plunge.

After the Broncos again failed to move the ball,

Crockett capped a 75-yard scoring drive with a 1-yard run late in the first half.

Terrell Davis scored on a 5-yard run less than four minutes into the game to give the Broncos the early lead.

Denver scored on its first possession, after a Raiders turnover, in the final Monday night game at 52-year-old Mile High Stadium, which will be replaced in 2001.

The Broncos momentarily lost Griese midway through the first quarter with a bruised throwing shoulder. Griese was tackled by two Raiders after throwing the ball away and then, on the next play, was tackled on a scramble.

After being replaced by Gus Frerotte for five plays, Griese returned early in the second quarter. Griese already was playing with torn cartilage in his throwing shoulder.

Cornerback Ray Crockett's interception at the Oakland 39 on the third play from scrimmage set up Denver's first score. Griese passed 23 yards to tight end Dwayne Carswell and 10 yards to Chamberlain. Davis gained 2 yards on fourth and inches, then went 5 yards off the right side for the touchdown with 11:32 left in the first quarter.