Worst statistics
The worst statistic and one that often determines the game is the turnover battle. The Broncos second half included turnovers via three fumbles. Two were lost and the third was recovered but for a safety. The Broncos also turned the ball over twice on downs to end the game. Conversely, the Raiders, regardless of their poor play on offense, did not turn the ball over. They fumbled three times but recovered each of them.
The Broncos finished 4 of 18 on third down for a measly 22 percent, well below their already worrisome 34.1 percent season average. Their offense began much like last week. They used a mixture of pass and run to gain 224 yards in the first half but added only added 86 yards in the second half.
The ultimate undoing of the team was thier successful drives in quarters one and two. Little did they know that things would unravel so poorly in the second half and really should have converted in the red zone. Their failure on all three trips near the end zone cost them the game. After the loss Osweiler took responsibility for the miscues in the red zone.
“The biggest thing is, as an offense, that it all starts and it stops with me. I have to find a way to get our offense into the end zone and scoring touchdowns. Anytime a defense holds a team to 15 points, I believe that you should win the football game. It’s your job as an offense and as a quarterback–I’ll take full responsibility for it, but it’s your job to not kick field goals and score touchdowns in the red area.”
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