Broncos at Raiders: Third quarter recap

The Denver Broncos received the second half opening possession. They led with a Phillip Lindsay run that he somehow turned into a two yard gain despite having big men in his face when he took the hand off.

Joe Flacco went deep over the middle to Courtland Sutton for a big gain across midfield. Lindsay then fought hard for an eight yard gain on first down, then two plays later Lindsay made a huge block on Vontaze Burfict to give Flacco the time to hit Noah Fant down the seem for another big chunk of yards to the Raiders 22 yard line.

Two power runs inside by Royce Freeman set up a third and a short one that saw Lindsay take an outside pitch. He had outside and inside containment and it looked like the play would be blown up, but he burst through a small hole for a first down run to setup a first and goal at the six yard line.

Some odd-looking exotic formation came out on the next play that netted no gain. On second and goal, Flacco on play-action had his pass batted down. Flacco was brought down for the sack on the next play to end the drive to bring Brandon McManus out for the field goal attempt.

Raiders 14, Broncos 3.

Denver needed a stop on the next Raiders possession and did with a Derek Wolfe stop just a few inches short of the first down marker to get the ball back to Flacco and the offense.

Lindsay turned a sprint out for an eight yard gain on first down, but a busted play on second down ended with Flacco throwing it away. On third and two, Flacco hit Lindsay underneath for a first down to keep the drive alive.

Royce Freeman came in on the next two plays that he turned into back-to-back six yard runs and another first down near midfield. He took the next carry too that he broke through for a 26-yard gain deep into Raiders territory.

A personal foul on the defense tacked on another half the distance to the goal penalty to set the Broncos up at the Raiders 13. Lindsay ripped off a five yard gain on first down, then the Broncos hurried up to the next play with a another hand off to Lindsay for no gain.

Needing a touchdown on this drive, the Broncos were faced with a third and five with four minutes left in the third quarter. Flacco, from the shotgun, hit DaeSean Hamilton right in the numbers and he dropped it.

Raiders 14, Broncos 6.

Another stop was needed by the Broncos defense.

Derek Carr unloaded deep to Tyrell Williams on the very first play, but the Broncos defense was ready with Isaac Yiadom and Justin Simmons in coverage. A dump off to Darren Waller netted a quick eight yards on a screen pass to setup a third and two that Josh Jacobs easily punched through for the first down.

Waller came open again on the next play, but Kareem Jackson broke on the pass to break it up at the last minute. After a six yard run, Carr went towards Ryan Grant on a slant that Jackson broke up to force the Raiders punt.

A block in the back penalty on a fair catch, pinned the Broncos back to their own five yard line. Flacco rolled out and hit Noah Fant for a 9 yard gain, but the next run from Lindsay was knocked back for a three yard loss. The final play of the quarter saw Flacco throw it into the dirt to Fant.