Honorable Mention
Making a top five or even a top ten of these games is a difficult task but here are a few games that deserved to make this list too.
2015: Khalil Mack has his finest hour: In a difficult defensive showdown, the Raiders defense held Denver to four field goals as Mack spent virtually the entire day in the Bronco backfield. The second-year defensive end set a Raider franchise record with five sacks and a safety that made the score 12-9 with 1:58 remaining in the third period. Later, quarterback Derek Carr hit Mychal Rivera for a 16-yard touchdown to give Oakland a lead that they would not surrender for the remainder of the game. The win halted a seven-game winning streak that Denver had held over the Raiders’ heads since 2011.
1980: In order to keep pace with their hope for a wild card berth, the Raiders traveled back home following their 10-7 defeat at the hands of the Eagles. Oakland hosted Denver on Monday Night Football and prevailed in a 9-3 finale. The defense intercepted Broncos quarterback Craig Morton four times and quarterback Jim Plunkett scored on an eight-yard rush in the third quarter. Two weeks later, the Raiders beat Denver again, this time by a 24-21 margin. Raider safety Burgess Owens scored off an interception return and Plunkett tossed two touchdown passes to Bobby Chandler. The Raiders won despite surrendering nearly 450 yards passing to the Broncos.
2002: Expectations were high for the 2002 Raiders, especially after they started the season 4-0 but in Week 10 they traveled to Denver with a 4-4 record. Late in the first quarter, Oakland safety Rod Woodson ran back an interception 98-yards for a touchdown to jump-start the silver and black Rich Gannon tossed three touchdown passes, two of which went to Jerry Rice and the Raiders won easily 34-10.
1967: On opening day, the Raiders slaughtered the Broncos by the tune of 51-0 at the Oakland Coliseum. The Raiders offense scored four rushing touchdowns and both Daryle Lamonica and George Blanda tossed one touchdown pass each in what is the widest margin of victory ever recorded in this storied rivalry. Denver’s offense was held to -53 net passing yards and -5 total yards on offense and that is not a typo.
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*Top Photo: AP Photo/Ben Margot
