Raiders Can't Close the Deal

The Oakland Raiders played one of their best games of the year this past Sunday, and still wound up with another loss.

The Raiders (2-7) hosted the Denver Broncos, and led most of the game before ultimately losing, 17-13. The Broncos scored 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to get the victory.

Oakland's offensive line rebounded nicely from a terrible game in Seattle last Monday. The Raiders dropped a 16-0 decision to the Seahawks and that was due in large part to the nine sacks allowed by the Oakland offensive line.

Raiders quarterback Andrew Walter was still sacked three times, but had one of his better games this year, completing 18-of-33 passes for 214 yards. It was just the second time in seven starts this year that the second-year player threw for over 200 yards. He also was able to complete passes to nine different receivers.

Walter still has a tendency to hold onto the ball too long and that led to him losing two fumbles in the fourth quarter. One of those miscues led to a field goal, and the other allowed the Broncos to run out the closing seconds of the game.

The former Arizona State QB may be headed back to the bench in the near future, as Aaron Brooks is close to making his return. Walter took over the quarterbacking duties when Brooks suffered a strained right pectoral against the Ravens in Week 2.

However, Brooks suited up for the first time since the ailment this Sunday, after getting upgraded to questionable on the injury report. Still, Raiders head coach Art Shell is reluctant to set a date for Brooks' return. Brooks was in uniform on the sideline this past Sunday, so one can only assume that his return is imminent.

Whoever is under center for the Raiders next week better hope the Raiders offensive line plays like they did against the Broncos, and not the way they did against the Seahawks.

DEFENSE SOLID AGAIN

The Raiders defense turned in a solid performance against the Broncos, allowing just 264 yards of total offense and forcing three turnovers.

Oakland seems to benefiting greatly from the switch from a 3-4 to a 4-3 defense, and is ranked seventh in the NFL in total yards allowed.

The team is also 12th in the league with an average of 20.1 points surrendered per contest. The Raiders gave up 113 points in the first four games of the year, and only 68 in the last five contests.

One player who seems to be re-energized by the formation switch is defensive tackle Warren Sapp, who seemed out of place in the 3-4 scheme. The 12-year veteran posted three tackles and two sacks this week against the Broncos. Sapp's six sacks this season marks his highest total since posting 7 1/2 with Tampa Bay in 2002.

Second-year cornerback Fabian Washington also had a strong game versus Denver, as he ended the game with two of Oakland's three interceptions.

WHERE'S PORTER?

Embattled wide receiver Jerry Porter returned to action three weeks ago against the Pittsburgh Steelers and has been basically non-existent since then.

Porter had been locked in a dispute with Shell since training camp and at one point demanded that the team trade him. The Raiders instead chose to bench the veteran receiver for the first four games of the season, and suspended him for two games for conduct detrimental to the team.

Since his return, Porter has played three games (no starts) and has just one catch for 19 yards in that span. This week against the Broncos, Porter played just two snaps. This is after posting 76 receptions for 942 yards in 2005.

This is a situation that doesn't make sense. The best decision would have been to trade Porter before the season began, when they could have landed a decent draft pick.

UP NEXT

The Raiders will play the next two weeks on the road against division rivals. They travel to Kansas City next Sunday, and will face the San Diego Chargers in two weeks.