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Take a photographic trip through the series history between the Broncos and the Raiders.
1977 AFC Championship Game
1977 AFC Championship Game
In a thrilling game capped by a game-winning Jason Elam field goal as time expired, Ring of Fame RB Terrell Davis also scored the last touchdown of his career.
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ENGLEWOOD, Colo. --It's Raiders Week. It's also a week after the Broncos' first loss of the 2017 season. The Broncos are on an urgent edge, and that can be a healthy thing.
"We had a great week of practice. A great week," cornerback Aqib Talib said. "A great walk-through [Friday]. You see a lot of guys leaving the building late. You can feel the urgency in this building."
That was exactly what Head Coach Vance Joseph wanted to see -- players who were "more focused and detailed in their jobs." But at the same time, Joseph didn't want his team to dwell on last Sunday's defeat.
"My philosophy on that is: When you have adversity, you just have to get back to work and not overact, not ruin the week," he said. "The Bills can't beat us twice. That's my mindset this week. We're moving on. Let's go play.
"We had a great week of work this week and it's a big game on Sunday."
A "must-win" game? Yes, but that makes it no different than the others.
"They're all must-wins," Joseph said. "Obviously, being at home and it being a divisional game, you would think you would up your details and focus. Every game we play is a must-win game. Last week was. It doesn't affect our mindset each week. It's the same."
The mindset is the same, but each game is different. So what are the keys to Sunday's contest?
1. Make the Raiders one-dimensional
Oakland's offense was effective in its first two games when it was able to achieve balance that kept the Titans and Jets off-balance. In those two games, Raiders running backs Marshawn Lynch and Jalen Richard combined to average 100.5 rushing yards per game and 4.90 yards per attempt.
Raiders quarterback Derek Carr and wide receivers Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree are capable of dicing up defenses, but Broncos cornerbacks Chris Harris Jr. and Talib have held Cooper and Crabtree to an average of 54 yards per game in the three games the cornerback duo has played against those two wide receivers.
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- Win the turnover battle**
Two giveaways in each of the Broncos' first two regular-season games did not cost them victories. Against the Bills, it was a different matter. Furthermore, five of the Broncos' six turnovers have set their opponents up in Denver territory; four of those five drives ended in touchdowns that represent more than half of the touchdowns allowed by Denver's defense this year. If the Broncos can eliminate giveaways and force the Raiders to work with long fields, the defense should be able to capitalize.
And if the Broncos can force the Raiders into giveaways, they'll have them where they want them. The Raiders are 0-8 when Carr throws at least two interceptions, and 24-16 when he does not. Since 2014, the Raiders are 2-18 when they have a negative turnover margin, compared with 22-9 when the margin is even or better.
3. Contain Khalil Mack
It's quite simple: The Broncos have faced Mack six times. He's had seven sacks against them. Denver is 4-0 against the Raiders when Mack fails to record a sack and 0-2 when Mack gets into the sack column. When he's posted sacks at the Broncos' expense they've come in bunches -- five in a Dec. 13, 2015 game and two on Nov. 6, 2016.
Can Brandon Marshall slow down Marshawn Lynch in the box, or will Lynch run free? The answer could decide Sunday's matchup against the Raiders.
Didn't think Marshawn Lynch was going to make an impact in his return to his hometown Oakland Raiders? His first few games of the season have nullified that point. When he hasn't been dancing on the sideline during blowout wins, Lynch has carried the ball to the tune of 3.9 yards per carry. He added his first touchdown of the season during a Week 2 win over the Jets, and he has provided a bruising presence that brings physicality to an already explosive Raiders offense. Brandon Marshall and the Broncos' defense, who have held teams to a league-low 2.6 yards per carry, will do their best to slow down the 31-year-old running back. Marshall tallied 19 tackles in the first three weeks of the season and will need to help get Lynch down after initial contact. That's easier said than done, but if Marshall and the Broncos can contain Lynch's yards after contact, they'll set themselves up well. Lynch is just one piece of this dangerous unit, but if Marshall and the Broncos can slow Lynch down, they'll be better poised to deal with the rest of the group. Take Lynch — and the boost he gives the rest of his teammates — out of the game, and the Broncos should be far better equipped to take down the Raiders and take an early lead in the division race. If Lynch gets going, though, it could be a long day in the Mile High City.
Outside linebacker Von Miller reached Derek Carr once in the Broncos' lone meeting against the Raiders' franchise quarterback last season, but that wasn't enough. Carr, who missed the last game of the season with a broken fibula, was limited against the Broncos in Oakland last November, but the Raiders were still able to earn a 30-20 win. If Miller can take down Carr in a timely spot or rip the ball out during this meeting, the Broncos' chances of winning will greatly improve. During Carr's media availability this week, he spoke to Miller's ability to change a game. "Man, he's an amazing player," Carr said.
After turning the ball over twice in Week 3 against the Buffalo Bills, quarterback Trevor Siemian knows how important it will be against the Raiders to stay away from costly interceptions. "It's a billion-dollar football back there," Siemian said Wednesday. "For us to win, we have to take care of the ball. We're going to be in the game every week if we're about even in the turnover ratio." Against the Bills, both starting cornerbacks picked Siemian off. Though talented young Raiders cornerback Gareon Conley has been limited in practice this week, David Amerson will be available. Amerson gave up a 52-yard touchdown in Monday's game against Washington, but he'll look to bounce back against the Broncos. Can Siemian find windows against him, or will Amerson make Siemian pay again? The answer could decide Sunday's game.
Aqib Talib made headlines last season for his battle with a different Oakland Raiders wide receiver, but his and Chris Harris Jr.'s matchup with Amari Cooper will be the one to watch Sunday. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound wide receiver has plenty of talent and earned his second Pro Bowl appearance in 2016. And he'll certainly be motivated this week — against Washington he mustered just one catch for 6 yards. But even at the age of 31, Talib hasn't slipped at all. He returned an interception 103 yards for a touchdown against the Cowboys and continues to be among the best in the league at his position. If he and Harris shut down Cooper and Michael Crabtree, the Broncos will be in great shape to pull out a win at home.
Menelik Watson and Garett Bolles have dealt with some tough edge rushers over the first three weeks of the season, but none will compare with Oakland's Khalil Mack. The two-time First-Team All-Pro and 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year is a game-wrecking talent, and he'll be tough for Watson and Bolles to stop. As Trevor Siemian said this week, it's nearly impossible to completely neutralize Mack, but they'll do their best to contain him. Though he only has two sacks in 2017, he's capable of ruining a game in the blink of an eye. Just look back a couple years, when he piled up five sacks against the Broncos.
