It wasn't pretty and had a 'here we go again' vibe for much of the game. But the Raiders found a way to win Game 1 on their regular season schedule. They did it in the mile-high city of Denver against a team revitalized by arrival of new coach Sean Payton.
Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson scrambled around and found open targets, but the Raiders defense stepped up when it mattered most and put the clamps on their division rival. It would be Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo scrambling eight yards for a game clinching first down in the final minutes.
To look at the stats of the game the two teams seemed just about even. Yet, it was Raiders penalties and miscues that almost tilted this game in favor of the home team.
An endzone interception thrown by Jimmy G, a roughing the punter penalty on special teams, false starts, pass interference, and of course the good'ol face mask penalty were all indications of a Raiders team taking two steps back to every step forward. And yet, they muscled out a 17-16 win, thanks in part to a Broncos missed point-after-attempt early in the game.
Meanwhile, the Chargers loss combined with a Chiefs loss on NFL's opening Thursday Night game against those Mighty Lions, gives the Raiders the AFC West division lead with a 1-0 record. Yes, Raider Nation, week one of the season finds our Silver & Black soldiers atop the mountain of our division.
Now let's not get carried away with it all. But no reason why we shouldn't feel as mighty as those Lions strutting around Detroit since Thursday night. I say we head on up to Buffalo for game two like the renegade Raiders of old, Swaggering Boisterously!
After all, the Autumn Winds are only a few weeks away from blustering in. And the Buffalo Bills know we're coming. Why not swagger on into town, knock them round and upside down, and laugh when we've conquered and won.
Win, Lose or Tie!!!
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