Post by TheShadow on Feb 18, 2006 22:02:21 GMT -5
www.raiders.com
One of the perks of a top regular season record is home field advantage in
the playoffs. Home field has also played a large part in the Raiders vs.
Broncos rivalry over the years. Both teams have found it difficult to win on
the other's home turf since the series began in 1960. And, despite Denver's
dominance at now-defunct Mile High Stadium, the Raiders have enjoyed the
upper hand against the Broncos for the better part of four decades.
1960s
The Broncos and Raiders began play in 1960 as part of the American Football
League. Placement in the Western Division dictated a natural annual rivalry.
The Broncos took the first meeting 31-14 on October 2, 1960. The Raiders,
during their surprising inaugural season, defeated Denver 48-10 in the 1960
regular season finale at Candlestick Park. The Raiders finished 6-8 while
Denver ended the year 4-9-1.
During the next 10 years, the Broncos had a tough time getting out of the
AFL Western Division's cellar, while the Raiders enjoyed a meteoric rise to
the top of the renegade league. From 1960-69, the Raiders swept the season
series six times, split twice, earned a win and a tie once, and were swept
by the Broncos only once. By 1969, the Raiders were the AFL's top team and
the league was on the verge of a merger with the National Football League.
In 1961, 1962, and 1965 the Raiders and Broncos were participants in
back-to-back home-and-home games.
1970s
The AFL and NFL merged in 1970, with the Broncos and Raiders still in the
same division - keeping the rivalry intact. The Raiders were poised to
carryover their AFL dominance to the NFL, while the Broncos were ready for
an ascension of their own. From 1970-1979, the Raiders swept the series five
more times, with Denver picking up both games in the series in 1978. The two
teams split the series three times in the 1970s. In 1973, the Raiders earned
a win and a tie against the Broncos.
After the 1976 season, the Raiders captured the organization's first World
Championship of professional football. Oakland was on the verge of
back-to-back Super Bowl appearances in 1977. The two teams split the regular
season series before the Raiders traveled to Denver for the AFC
Championship. Denver won the controversial game 20-17 and secured their
first Super Bowl berth. That AFC Championship game turned out to be little
more than a speed bump for the Raiders heading into the 1980s.
1980s
The 1980 Raiders swept the Broncos en route to becoming the first Wild Card
playoff team to win a Super Bowl. Denver rebounded to sweep the Raiders in
1981, while the Raiders won the only meeting in the strike-shortened 1982
season. The 1983 Raiders swept the Broncos again prior to demolishing all
comers in the playoffs and Super Bowl XVIII. The Raiders went 11-5 in 1984,
with two losses coming against Denver.
In 1985, the Raiders went 12-4, defeating the Broncos in two overtime
thrillers. Denver grabbed their first back-to-back sweeps in the series in
1986 and 1987. In 1988, the Raiders swept the series by a total of four
points. The two teams split their season series in 1989. Despite the
emergence of QB John Elway and his fourth quarter heroics, the Raiders and
QBs Jim Plunkett and Marc Wilson held the advantage in the close,
hard-fought games of the 1980s.
1990s-2000s
In 1990, the Raiders captured another sweep, this time by a total of eight
points. The Raiders swept the Broncos again in 1991, by a total of four
points. The two teams split in 1992, in 1993, the Raiders swept the series
by a total of six points. The Raiders captured another series sweep in 1994,
while the Broncos won the series in 1995 and 1996. In 1997, the Raiders
derailed the undefeated Broncos (6-0 at the time) behind RB Napoleon
Kaufman's team record 227 yards rushing at Network Associates Coliseum. The
Broncos won the 1997 meeting at Denver.
From 1998-2000, the Broncos captured the season series between the long-time
rivals. In 2001, the Raiders split with Denver and then swept the series for
the first time since 1994 in 2002.
The Oakland Raiders and Denver Broncos have played in several memorable
contests over the past 43 years. In 1994 alone, the Raiders and Broncos epic
regular season tilt which put the Silver and Black in the playoffs, served
as the prelude to the Raiders playoff victory over Denver.
The teams' Monday night prime time battles alone have become the stuff of
legend. They have met on ABC's Monday Night Football more than any other
teams since the series' inception. In fact, the Raiders and Broncos
participated in the 500th telecast of Monday Night Football in 2002, with
the Raiders winning. These two original AFL franchises have also locked
horns in seven overtime classics.
One thing is for certain, when the Raiders and Broncos hook up, fans are in
for a thrill-a-minute roller coaster ride no matter where the game is
played.