Game ball
Rookie WR Eddie Royal, getting the start because of Brandon Marshall's one-game suspension, was nearly unstoppable. He repeatedly burned former Pro Bowl cornerback DeAngelo Hall and wound up with nine catches for 146 yards and a touchdown. He also had two carries for 9 yards and added 18 punt return yards.
Key stat
Broncos QB Jay Cutler connected on only 16 passes, but made those completions count, averaging 18.7 yards per completion. To put that astonishing number in perspective, Tom Brady averaged only 12.1 yards per completion during his record-setting 2007 season.
Noteworthy
Raiders RB Darren McFadden went back to the locker room with an unspecified injury and did not return. ... Despite his team's blowout loss, Russell played relatively well in only his second career start, throwing for 180 yards and two touchdowns. ... Six different Broncos rushed the ball, with Andre Hall getting the most carries (10) and yards (61). ... In his first game with Denver, veteran WR Darrell Jackson had a 48-yard TD reception -- his only catch of the game.
