Looking Ahead to Week 14: Broncos at Raiders

Now that things have settled down a bit after the draft, let’s get back to looking ahead at the Broncos 2012 schedule. We will continue to take a game-by-game look at the season that the team has in front of them. 

The Broncos take to the road in week 14 to play their last primetime game of the regular season against the Oakland Raiders. It’s a short week for both teams since they play Sunday and then turn around to play again on Thursday night.

The Broncos and Raiders will have met in week 4. The two teams split games in 2011.

The Raiders ranked 16th in points (22.4 per game), 7th in rushing, and 11th in passing. Defensively, they were ranked 29th in points allowed (27.1 per game), and they were 27th in rushing and passing defense.

The Raiders lost some key players in free agency. They let Michael Bush, Kevin Boss, and Kamerion Wimberly walk.

The Raiders did well in the draft considering they didn’t have their first pick until the third round. It was there that they selected guard Tony Bergstrom out of Utah. They selected four defensive players and three offensive players.

It will be very interesting to see how Dennis Allen does in his first season as head coach. He’s a game changer holding the clipboard and knows the Broncos all too well. This one certainly isn’t a lock.

Early Prediction: Broncos – 20 Raiders – 17 in overtime.

Raiders Leaders in 2011:

Carson Palmer – 199-for-328 (60.7%), 2,753 passing yards, 13 TDs, 16 INTs. 

Michael Bush – 977 yards (61.1 yards per game), 7 TDs, 1 Fumble

Darrius Heyward-Bey – 64 receptions, 975 yards, 4 TDs, 1 Fumble

Tyvon Branch – 109 tackles

Matt Giordano – 5 INTs, 70 tackles

Tommy Kelly – 7.5 sacks

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