Denver Broncos quarterback Joe Flacco looks for an open receiver in Monday night's 24-16 loss to the Oakland Raiders. (Photo: Robert Reiners/Getty Images)
It was not the start the Denver Broncos wanted at all.
They started slowly and could not recover. The result was a 24-16 loss to the Oakland Raiders in the regular season opener Monday night at the Oakland-Alameda County Colisem.
The Broncos trailed 14-0 at halftime, giving up Derek Carr's eight-yard touchdown pass to Tyrell Williams and Josh Jacobs' two-yard touchdown run.
The Broncos offense finally came alive in the second half. They got into the red zone but had to settle for field goals. Brandon McManus hit two from 26 yards out and one from 39 yards.
But each time the Broncos drew closer, the Raiders answered. Josh Jacobs scored on a two-yard touchdown run and Daniel Carlson hit a 29-yard field goal to help keep the Broncos at bay.
In his Broncos debut, Flacco finished 21-of-31 for 268 yards and a touchdown pass to Emmanuel Sanders, who caught five passes for 86 yards.
Courtland Sutton had seven catches for 120 yards.
The Broncos start the season 0-1 and host the Bears on Sunday, September 15. Coverage starts at 8 a.m. MDT on KOA 850 AM and 94.1 FM.
Check out the KOA postgame interviews with head coach Vic Fangio, quarterback Joe Flacco, wide receiver Courtland Sutton, safety Justin Simmons and linebacker Josey Jewell.