Broncos–Raiders Rivalry

What makes Broncos-Raiders so intense and enduring?

Broncos–Raiders is an AFC West rivalry stretching from the AFL's 1960 founding to high-stakes divisional games now played in Las Vegas, driven by playoff showdowns, physical player feuds and public ownership disputes that produced moments like the 1977 AFC Championship and the 2017 Crabtree–Talib sideline brawl [4][6][1]. Fans search for this rivalry to trace decades of memorable games, identify which personalities shaped it and relive incidents that keep the matchup personal and unpredictable [11][13]. The series combines historical weight (AFL roots and playoff clashes) with recent drama — including a 100-yard interception TD in 2024 and tight 2025 divisional impacts — making it a perennial search topic for NFL followers [11][13][14].

Quick Facts

First meeting: Oct 2, 1960 [4][11]
League origin: AFL founding members (1960) [4][11]
Iconic playoff moment: 1977 AFC Championship, Broncos 20–Raiders 17 [6][7]
Most lopsided historical win: Raiders 51–0 (1967) [11]
Modern blowout: Raiders 59–14 in Denver (2010) [8][9][10]
Notable personal feud: Aqib Talib vs Michael Crabtree (2016–2017) [1][2][3]
Most recent meeting: Broncos 24–17, Dec 7, 2025 [14]

How It Started

The Broncos–Raiders rivalry began with both franchises as American Football League founders in 1960, when Denver and Oakland met for the first time on October 2, 1960 in a 31–14 Broncos win that established an annual divisional pairing [4][11]. In the AFL's unsettled early years the teams developed contrasting identities: the Raiders cultivated an aggressive, win-at-all-costs image under Al Davis while the Broncos built a regional fan base that sought legitimacy; those competing cultures fed on each other and animated every meeting [4][11]. Through the 1960s and 1970s the series acquired polarized storylines — from Oakland’s dominant 51–0 victory in 1967 to Denver’s defining victory over the defending-champion Raiders in the 1977 AFC Championship, a 20–17 game that propelled the Broncos to their first Super Bowl and hardened the rivalry’s postseason stakes [11][6][7]. On-field competition mixed with off-field friction: public comments from owners, controversial coaching hires, and playoff consequences ensured the matchup was more than a scheduled division game; it became an ongoing narrative between two franchises with overlapping geographies, repeated personnel crossovers and fans who treated each contest as part of a longer argument that began with the AFL itself [5][11].

Key Figures

Al Davis

Longtime Raiders owner and architect of the franchise identity who provoked frequent public and legal disputes with rivals [11]

Owner

Mike Shanahan

Broncos head coach whose hiring and strategic moves intensified tensions with Raiders ownership and affected multiple games [5][11]

Coach

John Elway

Franchise QB and later executive; central on-field figure in decades of Broncos–Raiders matchups [11]

Player

Ken Stabler

Raiders QB targeted by Denver's defense during the 1977 sequence that culminated in the AFC Championship loss [6][7]

Player

Charles Woodson

Raiders defensive back involved in the 1999 snowball incident in Denver that drew legal and media attention [11][12]

Player

Lincoln Kennedy

Raiders lineman who entered the stands after being struck by a snowball during the 1999 Denver incident [11][12]

Player

Bill Romanowski

Raiders player who physically confronted former teammate Shannon Sharpe on the sideline in 2002 [11]

Player

Shannon Sharpe

Broncos tight end who was injured in a sideline altercation with Bill Romanowski in 2002 and missed subsequent games [11]

Player

Langston Walker

Raiders tackle who blocked Jason Elam's late field goal in snowy Denver to preserve an Oakland win in 2004 [11]

Player

Jason Elam

Broncos kicker involved in multiple late-game special-teams incidents against the Raiders, including a 2004 blocked attempt [11]

Player

Sebastian Janikowski

Raiders kicker at the center of a 2007 overtime sequence where a pre-kick timeout influenced the game's outcome [11]

Player

Darren McFadden

Raiders running back who scored four touchdowns in Oakland's 59–14 rout of Denver in 2010 [8][9][10]

Player

Chris Harris Jr.

Broncos defensive back who returned an interception 74 yards for a TD in a momentum-shifting 2015 win in Oakland [11]

Player

Derek Carr

Raiders quarterback targeted by Denver's defense on several game-changing plays, including the 2015 Harris interception [11]

Player

Aqib Talib

Broncos cornerback involved in multiple, highly publicized personal confrontations with Michael Crabtree, including the 2017 sideline brawl [1][2][3]

Player

Michael Crabtree

Raiders wide receiver at the center of an on-field personal feud with Aqib Talib that led to ejections and suspensions [1][2][3]

Player

Patrick Surtain II

Broncos defensive back noted for a 100-yard interception return on Oct 6, 2024 that ended a long Raiders run of dominance [11]

Player

Key Moments

October 2, 1960

AFL Inaugural Meeting — Broncos 31, Raiders 14

The franchises met for the first time on October 2, 1960, when the Denver Broncos beat the Oakland Raiders 31–14, inaugurating a divisional matchup that would evolve into a long-term rivalry [4][11]. The result established early AFC West rhythms and began a sequence of annual meetings between the clubs [11].

Around January 1, 1967

Raiders 51–0 Rout of Denver (1967)

In a 1967 meeting, the Oakland Raiders defeated the Denver Broncos 51–0, producing the largest margin in the rivalry to that point and showcasing early Oakland dominance in the series [11]. The lopsided score became an early statistical benchmark in head-to-head records [11].

January 1, 1978

1977 Season — Broncos Beat Raiders in AFC Championship (20–17)

On January 1, 1978, the Denver Broncos defeated the defending-champion Oakland Raiders 20–17 in the AFC Championship, sending Denver to its first Super Bowl and delivering a decisive playoff win against its regional rival [6][7]. The game followed a regular-season marked by Denver's defensive interceptions of Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler [6].

September 26, 1988

1988 Monday Night Comeback — Raiders Rally from 24–0

On September 26, 1988, the Raiders erased a 24–0 halftime deficit to beat the Broncos 30–27 in overtime on Monday Night Football, producing one of the series' most dramatic regular-season comebacks [11][12]. The game is remembered for the Raiders' second-half surge and a pivotal overtime finish [11].

Around January 1, 1993

Shanahan–Davis Contract and Arbitration Dispute (1993–1998)

A multi-year contract-payment dispute over roughly $250,000 that moved from early-1990s arbitration into public accusations after Mike Shanahan became Denver's head coach in 1995, culminating in Raiders executives circulating arbitration paperwork and threatening legal action in 1998 [15][18].

January 9, 1994

1993 Regular-Season Finale OT and 1994 Wild Card (Raiders over Broncos)

At the close of the 1993 regular season the Raiders beat the Broncos in overtime to clinch a playoff spot, then defeated Denver 42–24 in the 1994 Wild Card game, events that generated heated commentary including a quoted Al Davis remark about Denver's state of mind [11][12].

September 5, 1994

Candlestick Pregame Anecdote — Shanahan, Elvis Grbac and Al Davis (1994)

During pregame warmups at Candlestick Park in 1994, an anecdote circulated that Shanahan (then with the 49ers) told backup QB Elvis Grbac to throw a ball at Al Davis on the Raiders' sideline; the story illustrated personal mockery and public theatrics between Shanahan and Davis [17].

Around January 1, 1995

Mike Shanahan Hired by Broncos and Disputes with Al Davis (1995)

Mike Shanahan's hiring as Denver head coach in 1995 — following prior ties to the Raiders organization — produced contractual and public disputes with Raiders owner Al Davis, intensifying organizational friction between the franchises [5][11]. The episode is cited in narratives of coaching and ownership clashes that shaped the rivalry's off-field drama.

November 22, 1999

1999 Snowball Incident in Denver

On November 22, 1999, during a Broncos–Raiders game in Denver, Raiders players were struck by snowballs thrown from the stands; the episode involved Charles Woodson and Lincoln Kennedy engaging with fans, drew legal and media attention, and became one of the rivalry's notable fan-intervention episodes [11][12].

November 11, 2002

Bill Romanowski–Shannon Sharpe Sideline Altercation (2002)

On November 11, 2002, Raiders linebacker Bill Romanowski and Broncos tight end Shannon Sharpe—former teammates—engaged physically on the sideline; Sharpe suffered an elbow injury that led to missed games and generated controversy in the rivalry's sideline-physicality history [11].

December 22, 2002

Romanowski Publicly Dismisses Sharpe's Accusation

In December 2002 Bill Romanowski publicly dismissed Shannon Sharpe's suggestion that the Nov. 11 sideline contact had been intentional, extending the dispute into a media back-and-forth [20].

September 17, 2003

Sharpe Reiterates Longstanding Dislike (Pre-2003 Meeting)

Ahead of a 2003 Broncos–Raiders meeting Shannon Sharpe told reporters he disliked Romanowski even when they were teammates and that his issue was with "the things that he did," keeping the personal dispute active in pregame media [18][19].

November 28, 2004

Langston Walker Blocks Jason Elam Field Goal in Snow (2004)

On November 28, 2004, in a snowy Denver game, Raiders tackle Langston Walker blocked Jason Elam's late field-goal attempt to preserve Oakland's 25–24 win, a special-teams finish that became an iconic rivalry moment [11].

September 16, 2007

Timeout Before Janikowski Overtime Kick (2007)

On September 16, 2007, Broncos coach Mike Shanahan called a timeout just before Sebastian Janikowski's overtime attempt; Janikowski's re-kick hit the upright and Denver won on Jason Elam's subsequent field goal, a controversial strategic sequence covered in rivalry histories [11].

October 24, 2010

Raiders 59–14 Rout of Broncos in Denver (2010)

On October 24, 2010, the Oakland Raiders routed the Denver Broncos 59–14 at Invesco Field in Denver — a franchise scoring mark for Oakland — with Darren McFadden scoring four touchdowns in the blowout [8][9][10]. The margin and national attention made this one of the rivalry's most lopsided modern-era games.

Around January 1, 2015

Dallas-area verbal scuffle and mall encounter (pre-feud anecdote)

Aqib Talib later described an early verbal exchange with Michael Crabtree in the Dallas area and a subsequent non-violent mall encounter that preceded the on-field chain incidents [18].

October 11, 2015

Chris Harris Jr. 74-yard Interception Return (2015)

On October 11, 2015, Broncos cornerback Chris Harris Jr. intercepted Raiders quarterback Derek Carr and returned it 74 yards for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter, a game-changing play in Denver's 16–10 road victory in Oakland [11]. The turnover shifted momentum and sealed the Broncos' defensive win.

November 26, 2017

Michael Crabtree–Aqib Talib Sideline Brawl and Suspensions (2017)

On November 26, 2017, during a Broncos–Raiders meeting in Oakland, Michael Crabtree and Aqib Talib were ejected after a sideline fight that involved punches and necklace removal; both players were later suspended two games by the NFL (suspensions were issued and appealed) [1][2][3]. The incident drew wide media coverage and disciplinary action.

Around January 1, 2019

Go-kart track meeting and handshake (reported reconciliation)

Aqib Talib said he and Michael Crabtree "squashed" their beef after an off-field meeting at a go-kart track; Talib described stepping outside, exchanging words, and shaking hands to end the personal dispute [18].

December 7, 2025

Recent Meetings and 2024–2025 Context

The rivalry remained active through the 2024–2025 seasons with notable moments such as Patrick Surtain II's 100-yard interception return on October 6, 2024 that ended an eight-game losing streak for Denver against the Raiders, and Denver's 24–17 victory on December 7, 2025 that affected playoff positioning [11][13][14]. These recent results show the rivalry's ongoing competitive relevance.

Unknown

Aqib Talib Pulls Michael Crabtree's Necklace (2016 meeting)

In a 2016 Broncos–Raiders meeting, cornerback Aqib Talib grabbed receiver Michael Crabtree's necklace during an on-field confrontation, an incident cited as part of the personal feud between the two that continued into 2017 [1][2][3]. The chain-grab intensified the players' mutual animus and presaged later disciplinary incidents.

Related Beefs

Aqib Talib vs Michael Crabtree: Chain Snatch to Brawl

Aqib Talib and Michael Crabtree developed a personal, physical feud inside the Broncos–Raiders rivalry after Talib removed Crabtree's chain on Jan 1, 2017 and the pair later exchanged punches in a Nov 26, 2017 sideline brawl that led to ejections and NFL suspensions [16][1][2][3]. The confrontation was highly public and later, according to Talib, the two privately reconciled [18].

Bill Romanowski vs Shannon Sharpe: 2002 Sideline Altercation

Bill Romanowski and Shannon Sharpe clashed publicly after a Nov. 11, 2002 sideline altercation that left Sharpe with a partially dislocated right elbow and out of subsequent games [15][17]. The dispute grew into a personal, on-record back-and-forth—Sharpe questioned intent and Romanowski publicly dismissed those claims—leaving their relationship unresolved in media coverage through 2003 [16][18][20].

Mike Shanahan vs Al Davis: Contract Fight & Feud

Mike Shanahan's hiring by the Denver Broncos in 1995 reopened a personal contract dispute with Raiders owner Al Davis that became public, acrimonious, and occasionally theatrical between 1994 and 1998. The feud mixed an old unpaid-contract/arbitration fight with on-field taunts and public barbs, and it produced threats of legal action before fading from headlines by the late 1990s [15][16][18].

Where Things Stand

The rivalry remains active as an AFC West fixture through the 2025 season, adapting to franchise moves (Oakland→Los Angeles→Oakland→Las Vegas for the Raiders) while maintaining local intensity in Denver and Las Vegas [11][13]. Recent chapters include Patrick Surtain II’s 100-yard interception return on October 6, 2024 and Denver’s 24–17 win on December 7, 2025 — both examples of how single plays still swing momentum and playoff implications in this matchup [11][13][14]. The rivalry’s legacy is a mix of historical playoff importance, recurring personal feuds and memorable single-game moments that continue to draw search interest from fans and historians [11].