Denver Broncos (4-3) @ Oakland Raiders (5-1), tonight 9:00 p.m.
While this seems like an exciting Monday night matchup, the Broncos shouldn't pose much of a challenge for Oakland. After a strong start to the season, Denver's holes have begun to show, and the team stumbles into Oakland losers of two of its last three contests.
The Broncos' defense has been their downfall. Without any major stars on the defensive end, the team has played both conservative and predictable defense, and that won't get them very far against Oakland's tandem of quarterback Rich Gannon and running back Charlie Garner. This Oakland team brings a balanced offensive and defensive attack to the table.
But while the numbers game points to an Oakland victory, Denver has had the Raiders' number recently, with 11 wins in the teams' last 12 meetings. Somehow, no matter where their strengths and weaknesses lie, Denver plays its best football against Oakland.
If the Raiders let the Broncos jump out on top and settle into an offensive comfort zone, the attack of Terrell Davis and Brian Griese - even without Ed McCaffrey to throw to - could lead to another Denver win. The key for Denver defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes is to mix up his team's predictable defensive style in an attempt to confuse Gannon and company. The special teams, moreover, must step up - prior to last week's win, Denver special teams allowed touchdowns in two consecutive losses.
With some emotional strength, the longer the Broncos stay in the game, the better their opportunity of upsetting Oakland. With Jason Elam's kicking game, a close fourth quarter could play to the Broncos' advantage.
But if Oakland can overcome the psychological curse of continually losing to Denver, coach John Gruden's team should be able to handle the Broncos without too many problems. To do this, the Raiders need to establish dominance early on. Coming into tonight with a four-game win streak and a 2-0 home record, this may be the beginning of a new era of Oakland dominance over the Broncos.
