For the first time since 2006, the Raiders are scheduled to play football on a Sunday night. For the first time since 2002, they might actually be good -- seriously.
When the Raiders host the Broncos on Week 9 of "Sunday Night Football," they'll be playing for the lead in the AFC West.
Both teams enter the contest with 6-2 records. Both teams have legit hopes of reaching the postseason. Both teams have reasons to believe that they're good enough to be more than just playoff teams.
But if you're looking for the team that still needs to prove itself on the national stage, it's not the Broncos, who are the reigning Super Bowl champs and have won the division in five straight seasons. It's the Raiders, who haven't earned a postseason berth since 2002.
So far, so good for the Raiders. They entered the season with hype and, to this point, they've delivered -- almost entirely due to their offense, which is averaging 26.9 points per game. Led by third-year quarterback Derek Carr and the playmaking duo of Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree, Oakland's averaging more than 400 yards of total offense per game.
And that's what this game will come to: Oakland's high-flying offense against Denver's dominant defense. The Broncos are ranked third in yards allowed per game, fifth in points given up per game, and second in defensive DVOA. So no, there hasn't been a Super Bowl hangover.
One thing to watch for: Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib has been ruled out with a back injury. Another thing to watch for: how the Raiders' offense holds up against a great defense. As our Jared Dubin wrote Friday, the Raiders offense could be exposed Sunday night.
That seems to be what the Broncos think, too.
"He has so much confidence in Crabtree and Cooper that he'll just throw it up to him," said Broncos cornerback Chris Harris, per The Denver Post. "So we have a lot of chances to get picks."
Raiders coach Jack Del Rio sees it a bit differently, of course.
"We're relevant because we earned it," Del Rio said.
We'll find out Sunday night. While you wait, enjoy the trailer the Raiders put together. It's a big night for Oakland.
How to Watch
What: Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders
When: Sunday, Nov. 6, 8:30 p.m. ET
Where: O.co Coliseum, Oakland, California
TV: NBC
Stream: Verizon NFL Mobile App, NBC NFL stream, NBC SNF All Access
Online: NFL GamePass (after midnight)
Odds: The Raiders are 1-point favorites (via SportsLine)
Injury report
Broncos
- C Matt Paradis (Hip) -- Questionable
- CB Aqib Talib (Back) -- Out
- CB Kayvon Webster (Hamstring) -- Questionable
- ILB Brandon Marshall (Hamstring) -- Questionable
Raiders
- G/T Vadal Alexander (Ankle) -- Questionable
- WR Amari Cooper (Back) -- Questionable
- C Rodney Hudson (Knee) -- Questionable
- RB Taiwan Jones (Knee) -- Questionable
- DT Stacy McGee (Ankle) -- Out
- FB Jamize Olawale (Ankle) -- Questionable
- OL Kelechi Osemele (Knee) -- Questionable
- CB Sean Smith (Shoulder) -- Questionable
- T Menelik Watson (Calf) -- Questionable
Prisco's Pick
This is for first place in the division. The Raiders have won all their road games, but lost twice at home. Denver's defense against Derek Carr will be fun to watch. I think they get the better of it here.
The pick: Broncos 23, Raiders 20