Jake Plummer -- sore shoulder and all -- threw two first-quarter touchdown passes and ran for another Monday night as Denver improved its unbeaten record by routing Oakland 31-10.
Plummer also broke one of John 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.
PHOTO: AP
"That was a lot of fun," said Plummer, who spent his first six seasons with an Arizona team that was almost always weak. "I've had a lot of fun in the past, but the games didn't always come out the way I hoped they would."
PHOTO: AP
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 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," coach Mike Shanahan said. "But I thought Jake did a great job. He made some great moves out of the pocket. He made the big plays when we needed them."
Plummer, signed in the offseason after six seasons in Arizona, has been considered by some Denver fans to be the next Elway, although his career with the Cardinals hardly portends that -- he had 90 TDs and 114 interceptions in the desert, and his career passer rating of 69.1 was decidedly mediocre.
But on this night he was a reasonable facsimile, especially on the 40-yard scamper in which he evaded a rush, cut through a hole on the right side and ran out of bounds at the Oakland 15. He finished 14-of-21 for 197 yards and ran five times for 48 yards.
He got help from Clinton Portis, who had 43 yards rushing when he left in the second quarter with a sore chest. The defense chipped in with five sacks, 2 1/2 by Bertrand Berry and two by Reggie Hayward, and later held the Raiders on the 10 after they threatened to cut the lead to 14 points after a blocked punt with 11 minutes left.
"We have a lot to fix," said former Denver linebacker Bill Romanowski, one of five Oakland starters age 37 or over. "For every finger you have pointing at somebody, you have four pointing back at yourself. Everybody has to pick their game up."
Dolphins 17, Bills 7
At Miami, Ricky Williams carried a franchise-record 42 times for 153 yards and one score as Miami (2-1) moved into a tie for the division lead with Buffalo and New England.
The Dolphins made interceptions to end two early scoring threats by the Bills, whose only points came on Nate Clements' 54-yards interception return. Buffalo's Drew Bledsoe completed 10 of 25 passes for just 98 yards with two interceptions and four sacks.
ESPN?now has regular NFL coverage on every Monday and Tuesday.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely