Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Raiders Top Broncos 23-20


Sebastian Janikowski figures his celebration over his long field goal will be short-lived.

After all, Matt Prater kicks at this altitude eight times a year to Janikowki's one.

"He's the only guy I've got to worry about if he's going to break the record," Janikowski said after his record-tying 63-yarder helped the Oakland Raiders beat the Denver Broncos 23-20 Monday night.

Janikowski said he dreamt of just such a historic field goal Saturday night and nailed a kick from 70 yards out during warmups.

His 63-yard kick tumbled above the crossbar near the left upright as the first half expired, giving Oakland a 16-3 lead.

"To be honest, I didn't hit it that good," said Janikowski, ever the perfectionist. "It barely got over the bar."

Janikowski also was true from 37 and 21 yards. Prater made a 28- and a 30-yarder but was wide right on a 56-yard attempt in the first half, just his fourth miss from 50-plus yards in 13 career tries.

That was the difference in a foul- and fist-filled night between the AFC West archrivals.

The Raiders (1-0) won in Denver for the fourth straight season in coach Hue Jackson's NFL head coaching debut, and handed the Broncos (0-1) their first loss in a home opener since 2000. John Fox lost his debut as Denver's coach, and he lost at least two playmakers in the process.

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