Chiefs vs Broncos
A historic AFC West rivalry marked by dramatic comebacks, playoff clashes, and intense moments.
The Broncos–Raiders rivalry is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders. Both teams compete in the American Football Conference (AFC) West division. Since the American Football League was established in 1960, the Broncos and Raiders are the most frequent Monday Night Football matchup in league history with 20. The Broncos and the Raiders have shared the same division, first being the AFL Western Conference, and since the AFL–NFL merger, the AFC West. The Raiders lead the overall series, 73–58–2. The two teams have met twice in the playoffs, winning one each.
Quick Facts
- Division
- AFC West
- First meeting
- 1960 (as AFL teams)
- Key era
- 1970s to Present
- Notable quarterbacks
- Len Dawson
- Joe Montana
- John Elway
- Peyton Manning
- Patrick Mahomes
- Playoff meetings
- Multiple significant postseason clashes
- Status
- Active Historic Rivalry
Lore & Background
The rivalry includes notable moments such as the 1977 season when the 4–0 Broncos defeated the 4–0 Raiders in Oakland, ending the Raiders' 17-game winning streak, with Raiders' quarterback Ken Stabler throwing seven interceptions. In the playoffs that season, the Broncos defeated the Raiders 20–17 at Mile High Stadium to win their first AFC championship. On September 26, 1988, the Broncos led 24–0 at halftime on Monday Night Football, but the Raiders sparked one of the largest comebacks in NFL history, winning 30–27 in overtime.
In 1995, former Raiders' head coach Mike Shanahan became the Broncos' new head coach, heightening the rivalry; during Shanahan's 14 seasons as Broncos head coach (1995–2008), the Broncos went 21–7 against Oakland. On October 24, 2010, the Raiders routed the Broncos 59–14, the most points scored in a single game in Raiders franchise history. On December 29, 2019, the Raiders opted for a game-winning two-point conversion instead of a game-tying extra point, but Carr's pass was batted down by Broncos' nose tackle Shelby Harris, preserving the win for the Broncos and denying the Raiders a playoff berth.
Reader's Guide
The Raiders lead the overall series, 73–58–2. Key games include the 1977 AFC championship won by the Broncos, the 1988 Monday Night Football comeback by the Raiders, and the 2010 Raiders' 59–14 victory. The rivalry intensified when Mike Shanahan became Broncos head coach in 1995 after a contract dispute with Raiders owner Al Davis.
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