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Lamarr Houston
For the second week in a row, Lamarr takes the top Baller position. He is looking very much like the best defender on this team and perhaps the best player. It is his passion and energy that push him over the top. That passion and energy showed up big time when he ended the Broncos second drive by sacking Peyton Manning for an 11-yard loss. He got into the backfield again in the third quarter with the Broncos lined up at the one yard line. It resulted in a tackle for loss and led to another stalled Broncos drive.
On the Broncos second to last drive, he had a run stuff to set up third and 11, at which point he beat his man again and had to be held to keep him from hitting Manning again. The Raiders then got the ball back with enough time to score.
Phillip Adams
Might the Raiders have found a new starting corner in Adams? If the last two games are any indication, they have. He play much of this game after Michael Huff left with a wrist injury. And just like last week in relief of the benched Ron Bartell, Adams was superb. He got things really going in the second quarter when he intercepted Manning for a touchback. The offense fed off energy from the interception and drove 80 yards for a touchdown.
The next Broncos drive, he nearly had another interception but he at least defended the pass and it ended their drive. He would end a third consecutive drive as well when he jammed his receiver at the line and stayed in tight coverage to force the incompletion. Then after the Broncos forced a fumble and scored a touchdown, Adams stopped yet another drive by tackling his receiver for a one yard catch on third and five.
Mike Mitchell
His first impact in this game came on special teams. That's where he has always excelled. He hit the return man as soon as he fielded the ball to force a fumble (Denver recovered). In the second quarter, he was put in on defense as well and he contributed with a run stuff and, just before halftime, a sack. Then on the Broncos' final drive, he had a tackle for loss to set up a third and long of which the Broncos were unable to convert.
Honorable mention
Rod Streater - Led the team in receiving with four catches for 100 yards. One of those catches went for 58 yards
Darrius Heyward-Bey - Lead the team in catches with 5 on 6 targets for 82 yards - 56 yards on a catch and run for a touchdown.
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