DENVER _ It wasn't satisfying in the least, but when the Raiders lost 16-15 to the host Denver Broncos Sunday, it was a fitting end to their 25-year-run after returning to Oakland from Los Angeles.
There wasn't going to be a playoff game, given that the Tennessee Titans took care of business and beat the Houston Texans to close the season. But the Raiders were denied in a bid to finish the season with a .500 record one year after going 4-12.
Instead, the Raiders, who at one point were 6-4 and tied with the Kansas City Chiefs in the loss column in the AFC West, won just one of their last six games to finish 7-9. Another losing season, something which was all too common over the past quarter century as the Raiders finished that span with a regular season record of 160-240.
The Raiders settled for three Daniel Carlson field goals (he also missed one) while the Broncos (7-9) scored on a 3-yard pass from Drew Lock to Andrew Beck and also got three field goals from distances of 43, 49 and 51 yards from Brandon McManus.
McManus missed from 57 yards out to give the Raiders one final possession starting at the Denver 47 with 1:41 left. Derek Carr was 29 of 46 for 391 yards but couldn't get the Raiders into the end zone until a 3-yard pass to Hunter Renfrow with 11 seconds to play. The Raiders went for two points and a chance at victory rather than a tie to force overtime. However, Carr's pass intended for Renfrow was knocked down at the line.
When the Raiders moved the ball at will in the first half but ended up trailing 10-3, they needed a big second half from the offense from Carr and didn't get anything close until the final drive.
Taking over with 2:45 to play at their own 21, the Raiders went three-and-out with Carr's deep attempt to Darren Waller falling incomplete on fourth-and-2.
Some studs and duds from a disappointing finale:
