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Oakland Raiders grades during win over Denver Broncos
By Jerry McDonald


jmcdonald@bayareanewsgroup.com

Posted: 09/13/2011 08:06:14 PM PDT
Updated: 09/13/2011 10:41:09 PM PDT


MAKING THE GRADE

Pass offense: Jason Campbell's passer rating of 86.4 is right around his career mark, but he was a big factor in the win. He completed 13 of 22 passes for 105 yards and a touchdown, didn't throw an interception and took just one sack. He made all the right decisions. Grade: B

Run offense: Darren McFadden rushed for 150 yards on 22 carries, the best Week 1 effort in franchise history. He had two 20-yard runs and a 47-yard run to the 1 that set up a touchdown. Michael Bush closed it out in the four-minute drill, and Oakland finished with 190 yards on 39 attempts. Grade: B+

Pass defense: Kyle Orton threw for 304 yards but was sacked five times, and his interception late in the first half to Matt Giordano helped set the stage for Sebastian Janikowski's 63-yard field goal. The Raiders tackled well after completions, and coverage in the red zone was very good. Grade: B

Run defense: The Raiders stuffed Denver from the outset. The Broncos had just 38 yards on 13 carries, averaging 2.9 yards per attempt, with two rushing first downs. Knowing the Broncos would want to establish the run, the Raiders went with a five-man line and two linebackers to start, inserting John Henderson. Grade: A

Special teams: Janikowski was 3 for 3 on field goal attempts and tied the NFL record with a 63-yard field goal. Darryl Blackstock blocked a punt that led to a touchdown drive. Shane Lechler averaged
58.3 yards on six punts and tied a franchise record with a 77-yarder. His net (33.5) was ruined when Broncos punt returner Eric Decker raced 90 yards for a touchdown. Grade: B-

Coaching: Hard to find fault with any of the strategy. The five-man line to start on defense, the persistence with the run to slow the pass rush, the play-calling that helped lead to Janikowski's field goal late in the first half. Hue Jackson and Co. out-coached the Broncos far more than the score indicated. Grade: B+

-- JERRY MCDONALD

Cut the penalties in half (or better) and this would've been a cake win for us.

And I just have to mention: McFabulous is a vicious beast. Sure hope he's on the field in all 16 games (and then some).

I give the raiders o LINE a c, the run d an A. The passing game D. overall C+