by Dennis J. GeorgatosFiled under: Broncos, Raiders, AFC West
Playing their seventh game of the season, the Denver Broncos open their divisional play by hosting the AFC West rival Raiders. The Raiders have had some recent success within the division on the road, having won four of their last six away from home, including the past two in Denver. Yet, Oakland has some injury issues at quarterback and Raiders coach Tom Cable said this week that a starter among Bruce Gradkowski (shoulder), Jason Campbell (knee) and Kyle Boller could come down to a game-day decision.The Raiders are coming off a 17-9 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in which Campbell banged up his knee while posting the lowest passer rating by a Raiders quarterback in 35 years. The Broncos lost successive games for the first time this season when they failed to hold a late lead in a 24-20 loss to the New York Jets. But they see the start of divisional play as a way to try to make up some ground.
"It's good to finally get a divisional game and raise our sense of urgency and try to get back on track," said Broncos wideout Brandon Lloyd.
However, the Broncos also are battling a series of injuries, especially on defense, that led them to go with a 4-3 look last week instead of their favored 3-4 alignment. Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton enters the game ranked second in the NFL in passing yards with 1,942, and Cable called Denver's group of receivers -- Lloyd, Jabar Gaffney, Eddie Royal and Demaryius Thomas -- the best the Raiders have faced so far this season.
Who: Oakland Raiders (2-4) at Denver Broncos (2-4)
Where: Invesco Field at Mile High, Denver, Colo.
When: 2:15 p.m. MDT
TV Coverage: CBS
Players to Watch: Raiders tight end Zach Miller was described by Broncos coach Josh McDaniels as "one of the better football players we will play all year." Miller is four catches away from becoming fourth TE in team history with 200 catches; Defensive end Matt Shaughnessy has a sack in each of his last four games against an AFC West opponent; Darren McFadden (hamstring) seems likely to join Michael Bush in the Raiders backfield; Broncos last week unveiled package of plays featuring rookie QB Tim Tebow, who flashed his running skills and soon may test his passing arm; Lloyd is 71 yards shy of eclipsing his career high of 733 yards receiving in a season while with the 49ers in 2005.
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