Raiders-Broncos Rivalry Includes Two Coaches on Hot Seat

Football Betting Lines

09/05/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mike Shanahan has to empathize with Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin.

The Denver Broncos head man was once in Kiffin's shoes, subject to the whims of the same mercurial owner who seems to carry a fresh set of walking papers for his coach everywhere he goes.

Shanahan was canned by Al Davis four games into the 1989 season, back when the Oakland Raiders were the Los Angeles Raiders and the organization could still talk about its tradition of excellence with a straight face.

In 2008, Kiffin has been identified as the NFL head coach least likely to survive a slow start, meaning that beating Shanahan, one of his many predecessors, will be job number one for the youthful head coach on Monday night at McAfee Coliseum.

Oakland, a league-worst 19-61 (.238) since 2003, will attempt to get off to a winning start while featuring a first-year starting quarterback, 2007 No. 1 Draft choice JaMarcus Russell, as part of an offense that also includes ex- Arkansas phenom and running back Darren McFadden.

Shanahan and the rival Broncos carry their own set of expectations and pressure into 2008.

After two consecutive playoff-less seasons, the natives are getting restless in Denver, and a loss to the hated Raiders in Week 1 isn't likely to cure them of those jitters.

The Broncos underwent something of an offseason youth movement as part of an attempted team upgrade, and will feature no fewer than 10 rookies on the opening-day roster.

Two of those rookies - left tackle and first-round Draft choice Ryan Clady (Boise State), and second-round wideout Eddie Royal (Virginia Tech) - will be part of the starting offense on Monday night.

SERIES HISTORY

The Raiders lead the all-time regular season series with Denver, which dates back to 1960, by a 54-39-2 count. Denver is 20-6 against Oakland since the 1995 season, but had a five-game winning streak in the series snapped with a 34-20 loss at McAfee Stadium in Week 12 of last year. The Broncos were 23-20 overtime winners when the clubs met in the Mile High City in Week 2. Denver had won four straight in Oakland before the 2007 loss, including a 17-13 win when they visited McAfee Coliseum in 2006.

In addition to the regular season series, the teams have split a pair of postseason matchups, with Denver winning the 1977 AFC Championship, 20-17, and the then-Los Angeles Raiders prevailing in a 1993 AFC First-Round Playoff, 42-24.

Shanahan is 20-6 against the team he coached in 1988 and part of the 1989 season before being fired. Oakland's Kiffin is 1-1 against both Shanahan and the Broncos as a head coach.

WHEN THE BRONCOS HAVE THE BALL

No Bronco has more pressure on him in 2008 than third-year quarterback Jay Cutler (3497 passing yards, 20 TD, 14 INT). The former first-round Draft choice saw his numbers make an appreciable increase in 2007, but Cutler also turned the ball over too much for a player that tossed only 20 touchdown passes. He's poised for a breakout year, but will have it tough on Monday due to the absence of No. 1 wideout Brandon Marshall, who is serving a one-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy. The rookie Royal, veterans Darrell Jackson (46 receptions, 3 TD with San Francisco) and Brandon Stokley (40 receptions, 5 TD), and promising tight end Tony Scheffler (49 receptions, 5 TD) will have to help pick up the slack. In the running game, second-year-pro Selvin Young (729 rushing yards, 1 TD, 35 receptions) is now the unquestioned starter, and it looks like Andre Hall (216 rushing yards, 2 TD) will spell him as needed. The Broncos were ninth in the league in rushing and 13th in passing a year ago, but dropped to 21st in NFL scoring offense and had trouble finishing off drives.

Kiffin was overruled by Davis in his quest to fire defensive coordinator Rob Ryan this past offseason, meaning the man who presided over the second-worst rushing defense and 26th-ranked scoring defense in the league last year is back. The secondary has been upgraded via the acquisition of cornerback DeAngelo Hall (70 tackles, 5 INT with Atlanta), who should see a lot of positive matchups with the superior Nnamdi Asomugha (34 tackles, 1 INT) on the other side, and ex-Giants safety Gibril Wilson (92 tackles, 4 INT with Giants). But Oakland won't progress defensively unless it shores up its run defense. 50-million-dollar man Tommy Kelly (30 tackles, 1 sack) must prove to be worth the money at one of the tackle spots, and linebackers Kirk Morrison (120 tackles, 4 INT) and Thomas Howard (95 tackles, 6 INT) must continue to be sure tacklers and capable playmakers behind him. Starting ends Derrick Burgess (39 tackles, 8 sacks) and Jay Richardson (33 tackles, 1 sack) lead the pass rush.

WHEN THE RAIDERS HAVE THE BALL

Russell (373 passing yards, 2 TD, 4 INT in 2007) had a shaky preseason under center, completing just 26-of-50 passes (52 percent) for 228 yards with a touchdown, an interception, and six sacks absorbed. Complicating matters for the former LSU star is the potential absence of would-be No. 1 receiver Javon Walker (26 receptions with Denver), who is nursing a hamstring problem and is questionable for Monday night. If the ex-Bronco can't go, Johnnie Lee Higgins (6 receptions) and Ronald Curry (55 receptions, 4 TD) are the likely wideout starters, with tight end Zach Miller (44 receptions, 3 TD) another option for Russell over the middle. The running game will feature Justin Fargas, who comes off a 1,000-yard season, along with the multi-dimensional McFadden. One spot to watch on the offensive line is at left tackle, where 49ers washout Kwame Harris is the starter.

Russell has the arm to deliver the football downfield, but will need to learn pretty quickly to stay away from Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey (84 tackles, 3 INT). The perennial Pro Bowler will once again line up opposite the steady Dre' Bly (51 tackles, 5 INT), and new safeties Marquand Manuel (18 tackles, 1 INT with Carolina) and Marlon McCree (67 tackles, 3 INT witH San Diego) will have to lend support. The Broncos will likely use a rotation at end, with Elvis Dumervil (39 tackles, 12.5 sacks) and Jarvis Moss (12 tackles, 1 sack) serving mainly in a pass-rushing role and John Engelberger (41 tackles, 1 sack) and Ebenezer Ekuban offering more as run-stoppers. Denver was just 30th in league against the run last year, and has made alterations up the middle to try to correct its struggles there. Nate Webster (87 tackles) has moved to middle linebacker with D.J. Williams (141 tackles, 1 INT) relocating to the weak side, and ex-Jet Dewayne Robertson (57 tackles, 4 INT with Jets) will do his best to take up space at tackle. Another new face in the front seven is strong side linebacker and ex-Lion Boss Bailey (51 tackles, 3.5 sacks), brother of Champ Bailey.

FANTASY FOCUS

Whoever was doing the running for the Broncos used to be the team's top fantasy pick, but those days are over. Young is indeed a worthwhile start, especially against the Raiders' soft run defense, but Cutler projects as the player with the best numbers long-term. That said, if you have a solid backup to Cutler, now might be the week to start him, given Marshall's absence from the lineup. The Broncos defense might be a worthwhile play as well against an inexperienced quarterback, but stay away from kicker Matt Prater until he proves himself.

The Raiders' top fantasy plays are Fargas and McFadden, who should each do some damage against the Denver run defense but probably won't have gigantic weeks while sharing touches. In the passing game, the only possibility for a start is Miller, who will be a constant outlet for Russell if he is under fire as much as he was in the preseason. Say no to the Raiders defense, and don't expect much from hit-or-miss kicker Sebastian Janikowski either.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

Both of these teams are going to experience some growing pains in 2008, in light of the youth being served at key positions. But Oakland's situation looks a bit more dire than Denver's, at least for this week, since Russell remains rough around the edges and probably lacks the supporting cast to be great. Cutler will do a better job of compensating for the absence of his No. 1 receiver, Marshall, than will Russell in respect to Walker. Also, look for the Broncos to display a more consistent defensive effort, with the work of their revamped front four leading the way.

Sportsbook Betting Lines Predicted Outcome: Broncos 26, Raiders 14