Broncos vs. Raiders: Best Games at Mile High
By Tylor Walden
Dec 22, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; General view of a Denver Broncos helmet on the sidelines against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
#4- September 7th, 1986
One of the greatest shootouts in the history of this series happened on this date. The Broncos and Raiders met in the 1986 regular season opener at Mile High Stadium.
Both teams would trade huge blows quarter by quarter. Despite the Broncos getting out to the 7-0 lead in the first quarter, the Raiders would score 16 points in that quarter thanks to two Marc Wilson touchdown passes to Marcus Allen and Todd Christensen. A safety would be added to end the scoring in the first quarter.
The Raiders would continue their first quarter momentum by converting a field goal to make it 19-7. It was then that the Broncos took action thanks to a little bit of trickery. Broncos wide out Steve Sewell threw a pass 23 yards to John Elway for a touchdown! Yes, you read that right. Elway caught a touchdown pass.
The Raiders would kick a field goal and the Broncos would score one more touchdown before the half. The Raiders led the Broncos 22-21 at the half.
In the third quarter, the teams would trade touchdowns as Marcus Allen would get into the end zone for the second time. That would follow with one of the three turnovers the Broncos forced in this game as Ken Woodard would recover a fumble and return it 16 yards for a touchdown.
The Raiders would respond back with Marc Wilson’s third touchdown pass of the game on a 57 yard strike to Rod Barksdale. The third quarter would end with the Raiders up 36-28.
The Broncos would dominate the fourth quarter as they scored ten unanswered points. First, Rich Karlis would connect on a 51 yard field goal to make the score 36-31. Elway would then make some Mile High Magic work as he drove the Broncos down the field and ended the drive with a game winning seven yard touchdown pass to Gene Lane.
The Broncos would go on to win the season opener by a score of 38-36.
Next: The Broncos Shut Out the Raiders at Home