Maligned QB JaMarcus Russell might have led the Raiders on a game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter to beat the Broncos Sunday, but that doesn't mean he'll be getting a chance to start next week, according to head coach Tom Cable.

Russell entered the game early in the fourth quarter after Charlie Frye, the third starting quarterback for Oakland this season, left with a concussion. Frye, who had appeared in three games since the start of the 2007 campaign, completed 9-of-17 passes for 68 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. Oakland trailed, 16-13, when Russell came on in relief.

After a Matt Prater field goal, the score was 19-13 as Russell led the offense onto the field with 3:29 left to play. The third-year signalcaller fumbled and the Raiders recovered the ball after a loss of 13 yards on Russell's first snap, but he received some help when Broncos CB André Goodman was flagged for pass interference on the next play, resulting in a 32-yard gain. Russell threw two incompletions before getting banged up and having to leave the field for one play — a J.P. Losman incompletion. Russell came back in for the 4th-and-10 play and hit TE Tony Stewart for an 11-yard gain. He then completed three of his next five passes, including a 10-yard TD throw to Chaz Schilens with 39 seconds remaining and Denver could not get into field-goal range before time ran out.

It was one of the highlights of Russell's career, but Cable said after the game that Frye is going to start in Week 16 if he is healthy and gets cleared to play by the medical staff. QB Bruce Gradkowski has not been placed on injured reserve, but he's unlikely to play again this season with injuries to both of his knees.

The PFW spin

It's a little surprising that Cable, who waited one day after the Raiders' Week 14 loss to the Redskins to decide who would start at quarterback against the Broncos, made up his mind so quickly that Frye would start again if he was in good health. His team's play has been wildly inconsistent this season, and Frye wasn't very impressive in his stint as starter, but Cable has become pretty consistent about one thing since mid-November — Russell is not someone he wants under center for the Raiders.

Cable said he was proud of the way Russell, who completed 5-of-11 passes for 47 yards, played and bounced back from some poor throws to help the team win in the late moments of the game, but clearly not enough to really ponder giving him his old job back. There was bad mixed in with the good from Russell, and what Cable wants to see from Russell more than anything is more of an effort to get better when the cameras aren't rolling.

Still, it was impressive that Russell, who most likely has had his confidence shaken, to say the least, recently, showed resiliency.

RB Michael Bush dropped a pass that would have resulted in a first down had he held onto it during Russell's first series on offense. Russell was knocked out for a play after taking a hit during Oakland's final drive and had to be replaced by the newly signed Losman, but Russell returned and played well.

He has something positive to be excited about and gain confidence from, and those kinds of opportunities have been not been in abundance for Russell in his career. Maybe the Raiders would be wise to not let him throw another pass in a game this season, and allow him to go into the offseason on the highest note possible.

We don't know who will be coaching, as Cable is still on the hot seat, or playing quarterback for Oakland next season. Myriad changes could be on the way. For now, though, heroics late in one game aren't going to make Cable change his mind about the bench being the best place for Russell.

For a coach with more job security, playing the No. 1 overall pick in 2007 for the final two games this season would be no problem. Cable, however, does not have that luxury, and playing Russell in the final two games isn't going to make him a much better quarterback next year anyway.