sfgate.com photo: Oakland Raider quarterback Derek Carr (4) after he tried to throw for a two point conversion in the fourth quarter
By Jeremy Kahn
With their playoff hopes on the line, the Oakland Raiders went for two points and the win instead of one point and the chance at overtime.
Shelby Harris knocked down Derek Carrs pass attempt to Hunter Renfrow, as the Denver Broncos held on to defeat the Raiders 16-15 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Carr and Renfrow hooked up for a three-yard touchdown pass on 2-and-goal, and gave the Raiders their first red zone touchdown in five trips on the afternoon.
On the other side of things, Drew Lock won for the fourth time in five starts, as the Broncos and Raiders tied for second place in the AFC West, five games behind AFC Western Division Champion Kansas City Chiefs.
Like the Broncos, the Raiders season comes to an end, as they lost five of their last six games and missed the playoffs for the second time in as many years in the second stint with Jon Gruden as head coach of the Raiders.
This is the fourth straight season that the Broncos will miss the playoffs with their playoff win coming in Super Bowl 50 at Levis Stadium on February 7, 2016.
Daniel Carlson saw the Raiders first drive come to an end, as he missed a 39-yard field goal that went left.
Carlson did get the Raiders on the board when the Broncos held them in tact at the five-yard line, and Carlson hit a 23-yard field goal to get the Raiders on the board.
Brandon McManus tied up the game, as he hit a 43-yard field goal.
It looked like the Raiders took the lead on their next series, as Carr found Renfrow for a five-yard touchdown; however, like scoring plays, the play was reviewed and reversed by instant replay and the ball was about a yard shy of the goal line.
Von Miller then stopped Alec Ingold on fourth-and-goal, and Gruden continued to steam after his challenge was denied.
This was the first time that the Broncos completed a fourth-and-goal for the first time since October 22, 2017 against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium.
Lock gave the Broncos the lead for good, as he found Andrew Beck for a 1-yard touchdown pass and the Broncos went into the locker room with a 10-3 lead.
McManus gave the Broncos a 10-point lead, as he kicked a 49-yard field goal for the only points of the third quarter. He then extended the lead up to 13 points when he nailed a 51-yarder with just four seconds gone in the fourth quarter.
Carlson then got the Raiders within striking range, as he hit a 33-yarder and a 28-yarder to get the Raiders within seven.
The biggest play of the game came when the Broncos were called for Unnecessary Roughness penalty, and McManus missed a 57-yard field goal wide right that would have essentially clinched the game.
Carr then drove the Raiders down the field, as he found Renfrow for the touchdown; however, the two-point conversion was batted down.
NOTES: Josh Jacobs missed the season finale due to a shoulder injury and an illness.
UP NEXT: When the 2020 season begins, the Oakland Raiders will be no more and they will be known as the Las Vegas Raiders.
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