Posted on: Tuesday, September 23, 2003
Broncos trample Raiders, 31-10
By Dave Goldberg
Associated Press
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| Denver wide receiver Ashley Lelie is tackled in the end zone by Oakland's Rod Woodson at the end of a 44-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter. Lelie played at Radford High School and the University of Hawai'i.
Associated Press |
Plummer threw two first-quarter touchdown passes and ran for another last night as Denver improved its unbeaten record by routing Oakland, 31-10.
Plummer also broke one of Elway's team records with a 40-yard scramble that set up a field goal. Elway's longest run of his 16-year career was 34 yards.
This game was all but over by the end of a first period in which the Broncos (3-0) took a 21-0 lead, outgaining the Raiders 170 yards to seven and scoring on all three of their possessions.
The scores came on an 18-yard pass from Plummer to Shannon Sharpe; a 44-yard pass to Ashley Lelie, a former University of Hawai'i receiver; and a 6-yard scramble set up by another 44-yard pass to Lelie. The first TD was a short flip, but the two 44-yarders were both long strikes — proof that the right shoulder that Plummer separated in San Diego last week is healthy.
"There's always room for improvement — nobody can be perfect," Denver coach Mike Shanahan said. "But I thought Jake did a great job."
Plummer finished 14 of 21 for 197 yards, while Lelie had three catches for 108 yards.
