ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — If they stopped their 16-game losing streak to the Chiefs last year, if they pulled off back-to-back upset wins on the East Coast last week, the Broncos can certainly snap their skid against the Raiders this Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High.
The Raiders lead the all-time series against the Broncos, 53-72-2 but that advantage was built on two prolonged streaks – the Raiders went 17-0-1 against the Broncos from 1963 to 1972 (and 24-2-2 through 1976) and currently the Silver and Black have won eight in a row, dating back to the final game of the 2019 season against the Throwback Orange and Blue.
It’s time for the Broncos to beat the Raiders.
“Come on,’’ said Broncos outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper. “It is. They’re a great team, they’re a great franchise. Their tradition holds true. Our guys have a lot of respect for them. Everybody says the way to show respect is by going hard. Putting that work in to show you respect them. That’s what I plan on doing.”
The Raiders are currently mired in drama. Las Vegas has star receiver Davante Adams on the trading block and when Adams found out, he wanted out. It’s convenient he also has a hamstring injury because it lends an excuse for him not to play this Sunday if he’s not traded by then.
Then again, there have been times when Raiders have beat the Broncos for going on five years without much contribution from Adams. The constant during this recent lopsided history between teams has been Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby. He has at least one sack in nine straight games against the Broncos, 13.5 in that span.
Crosby missing last week’s Raiders’ win against the Browns with a high ankle sprain is a bigger deal to the Broncos than Adams. Crosby also missed practice Wednesday with his injury. Even if he does manage to play Sunday, Crosby may be trying to perform on one wheel.
“First off, Maxx and I are super good friends,’’ Broncos left tackle Garett Bolles said Wednesday in an interview with 9NEWS for the Broncos Huddle. “I have mad respect for him. I think he’s one of the best in the league, if not the best. He just causes a lot of havoc. He’s one of those guys where you have to be on your A game. But I like going against those guys because it pushes me to be my best. I’m really looking forward to it. I feel like our starting five [along the offensive line] is fitted for this defense that we’re going to play and to stop No. 98.”
Understand, the Raiders have been mired in far greater drama before and still beat the Broncos during this eight-gamer. Jon Gruden was fired as their head coach six days before their game at Denver in 2021 and the Raiders still won.
The Raiders had 11 players who didn't practice Wednesday, including Adams and Crosby. It's time for the Broncos, especially at a time when they will honor their 1977 Orange Crush team that finally overcame the Raiders' dominance.
Bo Nix will see. The Broncos’ rookie quarterback played in the Auburn-Alabama rivalry, and nothing is more intense than that. But being the smart player he is, Nix has learned Broncos-Raiders is not just another game on the schedule.
“I’ve been able to get a sense of [the rivalry] a little bit,’’ Nix told the media Wednesday. “But I don’t think you really truly understand that thing until you play in your first one. So I’m excited to play Sunday. I know it’s important for this organization. I know it has been for a long time and the players, we don’t take it lightly. We’re going to go out there and compete at a high level and I know they will, too, so it’s going to be a fun football game.”
Broncos head coach Sean Payton is getting a better understanding of the rivalry with the Raiders after losing to them twice last year. But it’s more than a rivalry game for rivalry’s sake, especially after his team built some momentum with road wins at Tampa Bay and the New York Jets last week.
“It’s our first division game and we know how important those games are,’’ Payton said Wednesday in his interview with 9NEWS for the Broncos Huddle. “Certainly, there’s a history with this game specifically but a year ago we ended up 3-3 in the division and any team that’s accomplished something of note plays better than that in our division. So it’s our first opportunity to play a divisional opponent and we’ve got to make sure we’re prepped and ready.”
