The Raider Ramble continues to highlight memorable games in Las Vegas Raiders history. In this edition, we go back to 2004, when wide receiver Jerry Porter went off against AFC West rival the Denver Broncos.
Spiraling downwards since the Super Bowl loss in 2002, Porter gave Raider Nation something to smile about on November 28, 2004. The 2002 Broncos featured one of the NFL’s greatest cornerbacks, Champ Bailey. Yet, it wasn’t enough to stop Porter. Instead, the Raiders wide receiver went on to have one of the best individual games in team history.
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Raiders: Porter’s Shining Moment
In this matchup, Porter was the Raiders’ top receiver as Tim Brown and Jerry Rice were long gone. In fact, there were hardly any remnants of that Super Bowl squad, except for stalwarts such as Sebastian Janikowski and Charles Woodson. Quarterback Kerry Collins connected with Porter a total of six times. Three of those receptions went for touchdowns. Moreover, totaling 135 receiving yards against Bailey was no small feat. The Broncos’ corner was a perennial Pro Bowler and defensive cornerstone for years. Porter, on the other hand, peaked that season. That year, he scored nine touchdowns off of 64 receptions, falling short of the 1,000 mark with 998 yards.
Porter’s legacy is a mixed bag. Back then, he was remembered as a diva for feuding with Raiders legend Art Shell. That notwithstanding, the wide receiver cemented his place in Raiders’ lore with this performance against one of the team’s most hated rivals.
Raider Nation, how do you remember Jerry Porter? What Raiders’ moment would you like covered in our Raiders Vault section?
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*Top Photo: Robert Stanton/NFL Photo Library