Broncos head to Oakland looking to extend their recent winning ways in this always-fierce rivalry.

While Oakland has nearly doubled Denver's win total in the overall standings (50-27-2, including playoffs), Broncos have excelled as of late, prevailing in three straight and seven of the last eight meetings dating back to Mike Shanahan's arrival in the Mile High City in 1995.

A year ago, the Broncos swept this bitter series for the third time in 4 years. In Week 3 at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Broncos RB Terrell Davis rushed for 104 yards and since-departed QB John Elway (71 yards, 1 TD) and QB Bubby Brister (140 yards, 2 TDs) combined for three touchdown passes as Shanahan's team posted a 34-17 triumph.

Nine weeks later at Mile High Stadium (Week 12), Davis rushed for 162 yards and the Broncos blew open a close game with 23 unanswered points in the fourth quarter as Denver rolled to a 40-14 triumph.

The Broncos are 3-1 in their 4 trips to Oakland since the Raiders returned to the city in 1995.

Numbers: Including playoffs (1997-98), the Broncos totaled more rushing attempts than their opponents in 34-of-39 games, and owned a 32-2 record in those 34 contests. In the five games in which Denver's opponent totaled more rushing attempts, Broncos were 1-4. In four games in '99, Broncos' opponents have totaled more rushing attempts in each contest, Denver owning an 0-4 record in those 4 games. The Broncos have been limited to 13 or fewer points in 3 straight games.

In their first four games in '98, the Raiders have totaled 14 sacks and forced 11 turnovers, but have allowed 1,271 total yards (317.8 YPG) and 84 points. After committing just 14 turnovers in their first eight games (6-2) in 1998, Raiders have committed 37 turnovers in their last 12 contests (4-8). After allowing just 175 points in their first 10 games in 1998 (7-3), Raiders have allowed 265 points in their last 10 games (3-7). The Raiders have limited the opposition to fewer than 100 yards rushing in four straight games.

Things To Look For: From bad to worse to it may be over, the Broncos' 1999 season may eventually go down in the record books as the biggest fall ever for a defending Super Bowl champion. And they won't get much sympathy from the Silver and Black, who have been worked over by Mike Shanahan's team for most of the last 4 seasons. Oakland's improved ground game should enjoy another big outing.

Etc.: The Broncos are 0-4 for the first time since 1994 and just the third time in the team's 40-year history (1960-99) and a loss to the Raiders would mark the first 0-5 start in franchise history. They are 0-4 and a loss to the Raiders would match the worst start ever for a defending Super Bowl champion (1987 Giants were 0-5 a year after winning Super Bowl XXI, although three of those losses were in replacement games). The Broncos have lost four straight games and are 1-6 in their last 7 regular-season contests dating back to '98. The Broncos have lost four straight road games dating back to '98. After going 3-5 vs. AFC West foes during his first season with Denver in 1995, Broncos' head coach Mike Shanahan is 21-5 vs. divisional competition (including 1-0 in playoffs) since 1996. After opening 7-3 under head coach Jon Gruden, Raiders are 3-7 in their last 10 games dating back to '98.

The Raiders own a 103-42-3 record (113-44-3, including playoffs) at the Oakland Coliseum, this compared to a 64-36 mark (69-38, including playoffs) at the L.A. Coliseum from 1982-94. WR Tim Brown (9,914) needs 86 yards to become just the 16th player in NFL history with 10,000 career receiving yards.