The Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders are set to square off on Sunday in a game that will send the winning team to 3-2 on the season.
It can be argued that this rivalry is no longer what it used to be. Al Davis is gone and so are many of the players that made the rivalry so good. On top of that, neither team has been a true contender for a while, so the games haven't had high stakes in years. But one thing is certain: there will always be a rivalry within the team's fanbases.
If you go to Empower Field this Sunday, you will see a lot of silver and black in the stands. Those fans will be motivated by the fact that the Broncos have not beaten them for quite some time. Nearly five full years, as a matter of fact.
When was the last time the Broncos beat the Raiders?
It was the season finale in 2019. The Broncos came in at 6-9 on the season, the Raiders were 7-8. Despite the records, the fans were enthralled by the game that featured Drew Lock and Derek Carr as the starting quarterbacks. The head coaches were Vic Fangio, in his first year with the Broncos, and Jon Gruden. It seems like so long ago.
"It's time... This is our year"
— DNVR Broncos (@DNVR_Broncos) October 3, 2024
The Broncos will BEAT the Raiders on Sunday and snap the eight-game losing streak.
Book it. pic.twitter.com/dLSOMUDClK
It wasn't pretty for either team and looked like a game between teams not in the playoff picture. The Broncos took a 13-3 lead into the fourth quarter but nearly lost it. Trailing 16-9 with only seven seconds left on the clock, Carr found Hunter Renfrow for a 3-yard touchdown pass. The Raiders decided to go for a two-point conversion and the win, looking to send the home crowd home on an extremely sour note.
Instead, Shelby Harris batted Carr's attempt down and the Broncos celebrated the win. It has been a long time since Broncos Country has felt what it's like to beat the Raiders... 1,743 days by the time Sunday arrives, to be exact.
The Broncos are riding a two-game winning streak and seem to be heading in the right direction. They have the momentum and could have some extra motivation as they will be honoring the 1977 AFC Championship team ahead of this game. The makings are there for a Broncos victory, they just need to make it happen.
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