Raiders’ Victory Leaves a Shroud Over Denver Hopes

This city woke up under three inches of snow Monday with more falling. Stapleton Airport closed at mid-morning, but it was just as well.

In the home of Broncomania, they just want to be alone.

“Black (and silver) Sunday,” read a Rocky Mountain News headline, referring to the home team’s 17-14 loss to the Raiders.

The loss raises several questions about the wave of the future in the AFC West:

--Whither John Elway?

The most gifted, highest-priced quarterback of his time was supposedly coming of age this season, his third in the NFL, even if he did start the game with 15 interceptions to go with his 19 touchdown passes.

The first drive he quarterbacked was magic, including four straight third-down conversions.

On third and nine, he threw to Vance Johnson for 15 yards. On third and two, he scrambled, was hit by Jeff Barnes a yard past the line of scrimmage and fought him for three more yards. On third and 10, he hit Clint Sampson for 15. On third and goal at the five, he threw to James Wright for the touchdown.

“Every way there was,” said Rod Martin, shaking his head.

After that, Elway got a lot younger, throwing enough ill advised passes to get three intercepted and the Raiders back into the game.

One theory is that Elway remains a mixed blessing, as he was at Stanford. He is so physically talented that he cannot or will not allow himself to be remolded. He has too much experience in doing things his way and succeeding.

Denver Coach Dan Reeves, who complained about Elway’s scrambling a year ago, approves now. Elway will do things his way, for better and worse. He’ll win some games and help lose others.

Obviously, he’s not bad now. How far he goes depends on how much he refines his game. Sunday he needed to pull some of those passes back down.

--Whither the Broncos?

The Raiders held the Broncos to 130 yards after that opening drive, and 54 after halftime.

There is some feeling among the Denver press corps that there was more at work here than the Raider defense, that the Broncos realized how ruinous a loss would be and didn’t handle the pressure extremely well.

Also, the Raiders controlled both lines of scrimmage, handily. When you’re good enough to run for 181 yards, and they’re just good enough to run for 87, they’re in trouble.

This is the first time all season the Raiders have held first place in the AFC West by themselves, and it’s a good time for it.

They need one win in their last two games--Seattle in the Coliseum, the Rams at Anaheim--to clinch the AFC West title. That would give them the wild-card week off and guarantee them one playoff game at home.

Should the Raiders win both of their remaining games, they will have the home field all the way through the playoffs, no matter what else happens.

Three other AFC teams, the Miami Dolphins, New York Jets and New England Patriots, also have 10-4 records, but the Patriots will play at Miami next Monday night.

Should the Raiders and Dolphins tie at 12-4, they will go to the third tiebreaker, record against common opponents. The Raiders went 5-1 against the Jets, Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs and Broncos. The Dolphins are 3-2, with the Patriot game remaining.

Should the Raiders and Jets tie at 12-4, they will go to the first tiebreaker, head-to-head meetings. The Raiders beat the Jets in the Coliseum in the season opener, 31-0.

Should the Raiders and Patriots tie at 12-4, they will go to head-to-head meetings. The Raiders beat the Patriots at Foxboro, Mass., 35-20.

Raider Notes

Raider Coach Tom Flores, on the 15-yard bench penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct with which the Raiders started the second half: “I didn’t know about it at halftime. The official came up to me after we came out and said, ‘We’re going to penalize you.’ I said, ‘What? We just got here.’ ” Flores said the flag was thrown on a non-uniformed member of the Raiders, for verbally abusing an official. The culprit is thought to be coaches’ aide Terry Robiskie. . . . The Raider offensive line, which allowed 33 sacks in the first nine games, has allowed seven in the last five. It has been aided by Marc Wilson, who has begun to scramble lately. . . . Todd Christensen, on his fourth-quarter drop: “The thing is, not to sound arrogant, but I’ve come through so many times in that situation. It felt strange. I went back to the sideline and said to Trey Junkin, ‘I didn’t know what it felt like before to be the goat.’ Trey said, ‘Don’t worry, there’s still time.’ Thank God for Chris Bahr and the defense.” . . . Flores on Jim Plunkett, who has been out for eight weeks with a dislocated shoulder: “Jim is available. If something happens and we need him, we could activate him. As far as his injury goes, I think he could play if needed. Right now I’m not leaning that way. That might change once we get into the playoffs.”