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In regular season Week 4 action, the Raiders will travel to Denver to take on their AFC West rival Broncos. The Silver and Black will host the Broncos in Week 14 at O.co Coliseum on NFL Network's Thursday Night Football. The Raiders split the series with the Broncos last year, winning on the road and losing at home, and lead the all-time series 59-42-2. The teams first met as members of the American Football League in 1960. The Raiders and Broncos have met twice in the playoffs with each team winning once.
Coach and record
John Fox heads into his second season as the Broncos head coach. He led Denver to its first AFC West title since 2005 with an 8-8 record. The Broncos then went on to defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Wild Card game before falling to the New England Patriots in the Divisional Playoff game. Prior to his position with the Broncos, Fox served as head coach for the Carolina Panthers for nine seasons. He took the Panthers to the playoffs four times, including a trip to Super Bowl XXXVIII. Fox was the Raiders defensive coordinator from 1994-95.
Last five match ups
In the Raiders second game against the Broncos in 2011, the Silver and Black lost at home 38-24. QB Carson Palmer threw for 332 yards and three TDs and WR Jacoby Ford caught five passes for 105 yards and a TD, but the defense could not contain Broncos RB Willis McGahee, who ran for 163 yards and two TDs.
The Raiders traveled to Denver for their 2011 regular season opener on ESPN's Monday Night Football and fought for a 23-20 win. RB Darren McFadden rushed 22 times for 150 yards and FB Marcel Reece added three receptions for 23 yards and a TD. K Sebastian Janikowski kicked a 63-yard field goal, tying the record for longest field goal in NFL history. DT Richard Seymour recorded two sacks and S Matt Giordano forced a fumble and intercepted a pass.
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The Raiders won both meetings with the Broncos in 2010. The Raiders beat Denver 39-23 in Week 15, Sunday, December 19. RB Darren McFadden carried the ball 20 times for 119 yards. FB Marcel Reece added a 73-yard touchdown and K Sebastian Janikowski kicked three field goals, while also launching his first-career punt, which was fumbled and recovered by the Raiders.
The Silver and Black's first meeting with Denver in 2010 was a record-setting game for Oakland. On Sunday, October 24, the Raiders scored the most points in a game in team history, beating the Broncos 59-14. RB Darren McFadden scored four touchdowns, three rushing and one receiving. He ran for 165 yards and caught two passes for 32 yards. FB Marcel Reece added seven catches for 39 yards and a touchdown. The defense came up big with one interception and three forced fumbles. The Raiders split the 2009 series with the Broncos as well, winning the second match up on the road 20-19 in Week 15. RB Michael Bush ran for 133 yards and a TD and RB Darren McFadden added 74 yards. K Sebastian Janikowski kicked a 54-yard field goal and SS Tyvon Branch recorded eight tackles.
Story Lines
Raiders Head Coach Dennis Allen will face his former team for the first time - he most recently served as the Broncos defensive coordinator in 2011.
The Raiders will face QB Peyton Manning in a Broncos uniform for the first time. The 15-year NFL veteran has completed 4,682 passes on 7,210 attempts for 54,828 yards and 399 TDs, all with the Indianapolis Colts.
LB Carl Ihenacho will have to put the brotherly love aside when he faces his younger brother Broncos S Duke Ihenacho.
LB Travis Goethel and T Dan Knapp played at Arizona State with Broncos CB Omar Bolden, QB Brock Osweiler and WR Gerell Robinson.
WR Juron Criner overlapped at Arizona with Broncos T Adam Grant and FB Chris Gronkowski.
WR Jacoby Ford played wide receiver with Broncos wide-out Tyler Grisham at Clemson.
WR Louis Murphy paired up with Broncos WR Andre Caldwell at wide receiver at Florida.
DT Richard Seymour spent time on defense with Denver CB Champ Bailey at the University of Georgia.
WR Darrius Heyward-Bey played on offense at the University of Maryland with Broncos RB Lance Ball.
Rookie LB Miles Burris played at San Diego State with Broncos LS Aaron Brewer and RB Ronnie Hillman.
| Broncos 2012 Draft Class | |||
| Round | Pos | Name | School |
| 2 | DT | Derek Wolfe | Cincinnati |
| 2 | QB | Brock Osweiler | Arizona State |
| 3 | RB | Ronnie Hillman | San Diego State |
| 4 | CB | Omar Bolden | Arizona State |
| 4 | C | Philip Blake | Baylor |
| 5 | DT | Malik Jackson | Tennessee |
| 6 | LB | Danny Trevathan | Kentucky |
Broncos Key Acquisitions
QB Peyton Manning (Colts), S Mike Adams (Browns 2007-11, 49ers 2004-06), WR Andre Caldwell (Bengals), CB Tracy Porter (Saints), TE Joel Dreessen (Texans 2007-11, Jets 2005), TE Jacob Tamme (Colts), QB Caleb Hanie (Bears), DT Justin Bannan (Rams 2011, Broncos 2010, Ravens 2006-09, Bills 2002-05), WR Brandon Stokley (Giants 2011, Seahawks 2010, Broncos 2007-09, Colts 2003-06, Ravens 1999-02), CB Drayton Florence (Bills 2009-11, Jaguars 2008, Chargers 2003-07), FB Chris Gronkowski (traded from Colts)
Week 4: Raiders at Broncos, Sunday, September 30, Sports Authority Field at Mile High, CBS, 1:05 p.m. PT.
Week 14: Raiders vs Broncos, Thursday, December 6, O.co Coliseum. NFLN, 5:20 p.m. PT.
We continue the series with a look at the Raiders fifth regular season opponent, the Atlanta Falcons, Friday, July 6, and sixth, the Jacksonville Jaguars Monday, July 9.
