On Sunday, not so much.

Cutler repeatedly tried to go long, challenging Raiders cornerback Chris Johnson and the right side of Oakland's defensive backfield, and he repeatedly came up short.

The 31-10 loss Sunday was the first time this season Cutler failed to throw a touchdown pass.

"We just couldn't hook up," Cutler said. "We took our shots. We just didn't make the plays when we needed to. They rolled the safety over the top. They were smart."

Although he surpassed the 3,000-yard passing mark for the season (3,036), his statistics were his poorest of the year: 16-for-37, 204 yards and a lowly 49.8 quarterback rating.

Cutler and the Broncos offense never seemed to find a rhythm after the first drive came up empty.

The Broncos had moved to the Raiders 7-yard line on their opening drive, with Cutler completing 4-of-5 passes for 52 yards to get into scoring position.

But his handoff to Peyton Hillis on first-and-goal never was received by the Broncos fullback. It bounced off Hillis' chest and Raiders safety Gibril Wilson recovered.

"It was my fault," Cutler said of the fumble. "My fault."

"That just kills the offense," Broncos tight end Daniel

Graham said. "We moved the ball pretty well, and to give up the ball like that just kills the momentum."

With the Broncos avoiding Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, Cutler's field of vision was limited. Rookie Eddie Royal, who torched the Raiders for nine receptions for 146 yards in the Broncos' Week 1 victory, hardly was a factor Sunday, with two receptions for 14 yards.

Royal said the Broncos did not take their AFC West rival lightly after their easy victory against the Raiders to start the season.

"We didn't look past them," he said. "We came out and fought hard, and so did they. We have to give them credit. They played well. But we have to find a way to win."

Denver trailed 24-10 early in the fourth quarter after former Broncos receiver Ashley Lelie's 4-yard touchdown reception for the Raiders. On the Broncos' next possession, Cutler threw a pass intended for Tony Scheffler that was intercepted along the sideline by Raiders linebacker

Thomas Howard.

The game was the first time Cutler did not throw a touchdown pass since a 23-3 loss at San Diego on Dec. 24.

"They played good defensively," Cutler said. "They have the best cornerback in the game. He took away half the field. They have a good defensive line and linebackers and they came out to play."