OAKLAND, Calif. — With the Broncos off to a quick 10-0 lead in the first quarter Thursday night, the Raiders had found a little offensive rhythm and moved the ball to the Broncos' 22-yard line.

On first-and-10, quarterback Carson Palmer tried to squeeze a throw in to tight end Brandon Myers when Champ Bailey cut in front for his 52nd career interception.

"That was a big moment," Bailey said. "They were starting to move the ball a little bit, but we kept our poise and I was able just to jump in there and get the pick."

It was his 34th interception as a Bronco, tying him with Tyrone Braxton for fourth all-time with the team. Steve Foley holds the franchise record (44).


After scoring a touchdown to pull within 26-13, the Raiders were clinging to hope for some final-minute magic.

Then Knowshon Moreno played ball hog. In an incredible final drive that chewed up the game's final five minutes and 35 seconds, Moreno carried the ball on eight of the Broncos' next nine plays (counting a holding penalty).

Along the way, the Raiders used up all three of their timeouts. He carried the ball from the Raiders' 49 to their 8, at which point quarterback Peyton Manning took three kneel-downs.

Ballgame. Moreno finished with 119 yards rushing on 32 carries.

"I was really proud of that last drive," Manning said. "That was really something special. That was a line coach's dream. It was probably not exciting for anybody doing fantasy (league), but when you can run the ball and make them use their timeouts and run the clock and end the game with a kneel-down."

Too many 3s.

Certainly the Broncos will gladly take 13-point victories on the road, but it is what might have been Thursday that will frustrate them.

The Broncos ended four drives with field goals as Matt Prater made kicks of 43, 34, 20 and 33 yards in the game. Denver had three 10-play field-goal drives.

"It was frustrating, moving the ball like we did and not get touchdowns," wide receiver Demaryius Thomas said. "We got some things to work on and a great team coming up in Baltimore. We're going to have to work on it a lot because against good teams, three points won't cut it. We need touchdowns."

Elway to Jones.

During the University of Colorado's recruitment of Butch Jones, a person involved in the process asked Broncos front-office boss and former quarterback John Elway to reach out to the football coach.

"I sent him a text basically saying good luck with your decision," Elway said. Jones withdrew his name from the CU job opening.

Kuper, Woodyard sit.


"You're always concerned when you have guys who help you out as much as those guys do," Elway said. "But it's a short week, so you don't want to take any chances."