| Few rivalries have the significance of the Raiders versus the Broncos. These games mean everything, and you don't want to be on the losing end.
Go back to a year ago. The Raiders were in a four-game losing spiral that left them at 4-4. Confidence on offense was fragile. The Raiders averaged only 16 points a game coming into Denver. The question was, Should they be a passing team or a running team?
Rich Gannon came out passing and shredded the Broncos secondary, 34-10. The game changed the fortunes of both teams. The Raiders went on a five-game winning streak and won seven of their final eight and ended up going to the Super Bowl.
The loss destroyed a 6-2 start for the Broncos. They lost five of their last eight, and the defense was emotionally destroyed. Things changed for Broncos defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes. Though he wanted to play more man-to-man and blitz a little more, the roster dictated more zone coverage, which played into the strengths of the Raiders offense. Rhodes ended up leaving after the season, and Broncos coach Mike Shanahan promoted linebacker coach Larry Coyer to fix what ailed the Broncos defense.
First of all, these games are wars. Angers flare. No player can fire up a Broncos crowd better than Bill Romanowski. He inspired cheers when he was a Broncos linebacker, but now that he's in Oakland he's the enemy. And the long fabled rivalry between Shanahan, the former Raiders coach, and Raiders boss Al Davis never goes away.
The timing of this game couldn't be better. The Broncos are 2-0 but really don't know where they are as a team. They beat up on two of the league's weaker teams in the opening weeks with victories over Cincinnati and San Diego. Quarterback Jake Plummer has a separated shoulder but should play. Halfback Clinton Portis has a bruised chest but should play. Still, the Broncos should be good on offense whether the quarterback is Plummer or Steve Beuerlein.
The biggest question is on defense. Have the Broncos upgraded their defensive line by getting rid of Chester McGlockton and Lional Dalton in the middle? They have been replaced by Darius Holland, Monsanto Pope and Daryl Gardener, who has yet to make a play because of his broken wrist. Gardener may make his Broncos debut Monday against the Raiders.
The Raiders may not be in the same crisis mode as last season, but there are plenty of questions about their offense. First, where is it? Quarterback Rich Gannon riddled defenses for 300 yards week in and week out last year. The offense has averaged only 258 yards a game and 22:50 minutes of possession time in the first two weeks of this season.
The loss of Jerry Porter following sports hernia surgery has been a problem. His absence removes the element of speed in three-receiver sets. Jerry Rice and Tim Brown are great, but they don't get separation against coverage as well as they did years ago. Another problem is that teams have been getting pressure on Gannon with four-man rushes. That's allowed defenses to drop seven into coverage and limit Gannon's options passing downfield.
Whatever the questions are for each team, this will be a battle.
Source: ESPN | |
