Raiders Beat Broncos the Bronco Way

The Denver Broncos, who pride themselves on winning the tough ones and the overtimes, lost one of each Sunday. Afterward, Bronco owner Pat Bowlen was asked what had happened.

“Two words,” he said. “Marcus Allen.”

Said Joel Collier, the Bronco defensive coordinator, after watching Allen run for 173 yards and catch passes for 49 more against his troops: “I have a lot of respect for Marcus Allen. He’s not a hotdog. He plays the game seriously.”

The Raider defense was equally impressed. That Allen is a teammate doesn’t make this meaningless. When the defense was looking for ways to praise Marc Wilson recently, it was unable to do it without Rod Martin’s adding that he thought Wilson’s tenacity was caused by the presence of No. 3 quarterback Rusty Hilger. Or Howie Long’s assertion that he’d never previously considered Wilson mentally tough.

“If Marcus Allen isn’t the best running back in the NFL, I don’t know who is,” Long said. “I don’t think he gets the credit he deserves. I understand he doesn’t speak a lot.

“I hear a lot about Freeman McNeil. He’s a good back, but that offense is really geared to him. In this offense, our offensive line has started to block well, but we’re just re-establishing the run.

“Marcus does it all. He catches the ball, he throws the ball, he runs with the ball.

“That kid is probably one of the toughest people I’ve ever met. You see that hit he took in Seattle when he went up high for that ball? The guy hit him right in the knees. He got up and walked right back in the game. I mean, that guy takes a beating.”

Allen is the NFL’s total yardage leader, the AFC rushing leader and trails the NFL rushing leader, Atlanta’s Gerald Riggs, by 12 yards.

Allen played several games in the middle of the season with a bruised left shoulder. He limped off once Sunday for one play--a 37-yard pass completion to his backup, Kenny King--but came back a few plays later and went the distance.

Raider coaches have warned their players about carrying on too much, as they used to do, but Sunday’s game was a bitter one, with a lot of talking and shoving. Denver tight end Clarence Kay caught a touchdown pass and started to spike the ball, but Rod Martin tipped it out of his hands. The Raiders picked up several hands-to-the-face penalties.

“Stupid,” Matt Millen said. “I’m as bad as any of them in slapping somebody back, but you can’t do that with a team like Denver. They’re too opportunistic.”

The most penalized Raider was Lester Hayes, who has a highly competitive relationship with Denver’s Steve Watson. Hayes got several penalties for illegal use of hands, including two worth 20 yards in Denver’s 74-yard drive for its first touchdown. After the second call, Hayes was taken out and talked to on the sideline.

Hayes also had the distinction of getting called for two penalties on the same play, offside and illegal use of hands. You’d say it was unusual, but it’s the third time this season he’s done it.

Raider Notes The Raiders have signed defensive lineman Elvis Franks, a six-year man recently waived by the Cleveland Browns. The first man they tried after Lyle Alzado’s surgery, former Dallas Cowboy David Ponder, lasted one day. They again waived safety Ricky Williams. . . . Curt Marsh, who’s had his share of freak injuries, broke a bone in his right hand in pregame warmups, trading blocks with Matt Millen. He can play with this one. “I thought it was dislocated, so I pulled the finger and I felt the pain up higher,” he said. “I thought, ‘Oh, it’s broken.’ ” . . . Tom Flores, on running the ball into position for Chris Bahr’s winning field goal, the same thing he ordered last season that resulted in the fumble by Frank Hawkins: “To be honest, there were some memories of last year. It was almost the same spot on the field. I’m sure everyone on our team was thinking about it.” . . . Bahr said that on his successful onside kick, Denver kicker Rich Karlis started yelling: “Watch the onside kick! Watch the onside kick!” to his teammates. They didn’t and Bahr did. . . . Flores said: “Chris is as good at that kick as anyone you’ll ever see.” The play is similar to a soccer dribble. Bahr was once the North American Soccer League’s rookie of the year.