OAKLAND, Calif. – Jake Plummer worked tirelessly to eliminate all the mistakes that plagued him last season. Now, he’s near perfect and his Denver Broncos are in command of the AFC West.

Plummer passed for 205 yards and a touchdown, had no interceptions and wasn’t sacked all day, and Jason Elam kicked three field goals to lead Denver past the Oakland Raiders 31-17.

Darrent Williams had a 52-yard punt return to set up Denver’s first touchdown, then made an 80-yard interception return for a fourth-quarter score that ended Oakland’s chance at a comeback.

Ashley Lelie caught passes of 41 and 38 yards as the Broncos (7-2) took a two-game division lead after the Kansas City Chiefs lost 14-3 at Buffalo. Mike Anderson ran for a 1-yard score and Denver looked sharp coming off its bye week, methodically handling the Raiders (3-6) on both sides of the ball.

Plummer completed 10 of 13 passes in the first half and had plenty of time to throw on most of his chances thanks to the strong play of his offensive line.

Randy Moss had a 29-yard touchdown among his six receptions, his most catches since joining the Raiders from Minnesota in March. He now has five TDs.

But quarterback Kerry Collins couldn’t do much right in his worst game of the year. He completed 26 of 50 passes for 310 yards, doubled his season total with three interceptions and was sacked four times. Collins connected with Moss in the opening minute of the fourth quarter for one of the few highlights by the Oakland offense.

Moss, again playing in a limited role because of bruised ribs, a strained groin and bruised pelvic area from a fall against San Diego on Oct. 16, caught the ball in the corner of the end zone just over the outstretched hand of Domonique Foxworth.

The Raiders got another chance right away when Rod Smith fumbled after a catch and Fabian Washington recovered, but Oakland settled for a 40-yard field goal by Sebastian Janikowski after Collins was sacked and fumbled.

The Raiders, trying to bounce back from a demoralizing last-second 27-23 road defeat to the Chiefs, are 2-14 against the division since losing the Super Bowl to Tampa Bay after the 2002 season and winless in four games against the AFC West this season.

Collins was picked off by Champ Bailey on Oakland’s second drive of the game when Collins threw behind Jerry Porter in Denver territory, but the Broncos went three-and-out.

On Denver’s next drive, Williams returned the punt 52 yards to the Oakland 30. Two plays later, Plummer hit Smith on a 27-yard touchdown pass.

Plummer completed a 38-yard pass to Lelie on the Broncos’ following possession, again exploiting the injury-depleted Oakland secondary. That set up Elam’s 22-yard field goal. He also kicked field goals of 38 and 25 yards.

The visiting team has won the last four meetings in this rivalry – the longest stretch of road teams winning in the series. Oakland pulled off a 25-24 upset last November in the snow at Denver.

AP-ES-11-13-05 1925EST

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