Despite what you may have heard, not all games are created equal. Some games transcend things like playoff seeding, draft positioning, or the pursuit of a Lombardi Trophy. Some games change the face of the NFL. Whether it’s part of a big rivalry like Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning, or a breakout game like when Adrian Peterson rushed for 297 yards against the San Diego Chargers, some games just mean more. They don’t come along often, but when they do, they’re remembered for years. This is precisely why the Oakland Raiders must win Sunday against the Denver Broncos.
The Oakland Raiders Must Win Sunday
Raider Revival
Once considered the most dominant franchise in the NFL, the Oakland Raiders have become something of a punchline. Between 2003 and 2016, the Raiders were a combined 63-145. That means that for over a decade, the Raiders only won 30% of their games. Despite losing 70 percent of their games for a decade and a half, the Oakland Raiders still have the twelfth highest winning percentage (.528) in the league. Imagine how good the Raiders must have been to remain relevant despite a decade of decadence.
The Raiders boast 25 Hall of Famers, including the likes of Tim Brown, Kenny Stabler, Howie Long, and the great John Madden. In addition, only the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots have played in more AFC Championships. Yes, the Raiders have been a proud franchise, and despite a decade of absolutely miserable football, the Raider Nation has remained the most passionate fan-base in sports.
Denver Dominance
Of course, there’s a reason that people have forgotten about the greatness of the Oakland Raiders. Their hated rivals, the Denver Broncos, have dominated the AFC West over the last half-decade. Denver has won the west in each of the last five seasons, and for the most part, it hasn’t even been close. It’s not just the west that Denver has dominated, it’s been the entire AFC. They’ve appeared in two Super Bowls over the last five years, defeating the Carolina Panthers with relative ease last season.
While it’s true that Peyton Manning has played a huge role in Denver’s success, it’s their defense that transformed them into a juggernaut. Linebacker Von Miller has never played on a Broncos team that didn’t win the West, and has registered double digit sacks in every season where he played at least ten games. He’s been a force for the Denver Broncos, especially against the Raiders.
In eight career games against the Raiders, Miller has racked up four and a half sacks, and has one in each of the last three meetings. As recently as last season, Von Miller strip-sacked Derek Carr in what would ultimately go on to be a six point game that Denver won.
Peyton Manning’s offense made the Broncos good, but the defense is what made them great. The Broncos have remained among the AFC’s elite over the last few years, and nobody has been able to unseat them in the west. The Raiders have a better history as a franchise, but since 2002, there’s no question that the Broncos have been the better team.
Changing of the Guard
Despite losing the likes of Malik Jackson, Danny Trevathan, and Peyton Manning in the off-season, the Denver Broncos are still a very good team. They only allow 183.9 passing yards a game, and they lead the NFL with 16 takeaways. They’re currently tied with the Raiders atop the AFC West at 6-2, with many experts predicting the Broncos will repeat as division champions yet again. That leads us to this week’s Sunday Night Football game.
When the Oakland Raiders and Denver Broncos meet at 8:30 PM (5:30 PM PST) this Sunday, more than just the division lead will be on the line. Derek Carr and the Oakland Raiders will look to unseat the champions in front of the entire country. A win by the Oakland Raiders would signify a changing of the guard, and give the Raider Nation hope heading into the second half of the season.
People use the expression “statement game” too liberally, but that’s exactly what this is. If the Oakland Raiders defeat the Broncos and become 7-2, they will silence the doubters. The Raiders haven’t been 7-2 since November of 2001, and haven’t had a winning record since 2002. At 7-2, with opponents like the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans on the horizon, a winning record is essentially guaranteed.
Just Win, Baby
But beating Denver does more than that for Oakland. If the Raiders can beat the Broncos in prime-time, they can beat anybody. The Raiders are already so much better than anyone thought they could be, but we don’t know if they’re for real or not yet. So far, all of Oakland’s victories are over teams with losing records, and they have yet to make a real statement.
The Oakland Raiders must win Sunday because a win would put the doubters to rest. A win lets the NFL know that these Oakland Raiders are for real, and a force to be reckoned with. Everyone knows how good Derek Carr, Amari Cooper, and Khalil Mack can be, but it’s time for them to show the NFL how good they already are. It doesn’t have to be neat, it doesn’t have to be pretty, it just has to happen.
As a great man once said, “Just Win, Baby“.
