The Las Vegas Raiders have dealt with drama and dysfunction before, as they have dominated Denver of late

DENVER (AP) — The Davante Adams drama came just in time for the Las Vegas Raiders’ trip to Denver, where they will try to extend their baffling winning streak over the Broncos to nine games.

Dysfunction hasn’t stopped the Raiders during their dominance over their division rivals.

They won in Denver in 2021, just days after Jon Gruden’s resignation, giving longtime special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia a win in his debut as interim head coach. A year later, a struggling Josh McDaniels won his first win as a head coach in Las Vegas since being fired by Denver in 2010.

The Raiders (2-2) have reportedly been in discussions with multiple teams since Monday, when Adams, who missed last week’s game against Cleveland with a hamstring injury, told the team he would prefer to play elsewhere.

“Davante is dealing with a hamstring injury,” Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said. “He’s doing rehab and the rest of us are focused on Denver.”

The Raiders may not be thinking about Adams, but the Broncos (2-2) are.

They spent a lot of time during the week preparing to face Adams on Sunday – when the Broncos will pay tribute to the Orange Crush defense that led them to their first Super Bowl appearance in 1977.

Broncos coach Sean Payton recounted how he failed to prepare for the injured DeMarcus Ware in 2013 and how the then-Cowboys star harassed Saints QB Drew Brees the entire game: “It was a tough coaching lesson,” Payton said .

The Broncos, who were coming off a 16-game losing streak against the Kansas City Chiefs last year, have not beaten the Raiders since Dec. 29, 2019, when Shelby Harris’ Knockdown Derek Carr’s 2-point pass to an open Hunter Renfrow with seven seconds left secured Denver’s 16-15 victory on the final weekend of the regular season.

This finally ended the Raiders’ winning streak in Oakland, as the franchise moved to Las Vegas the following year and has not lost to Denver since.

Neither team wanted to talk much about the recent one-sidedness or the confusing nature of the rivalry — when looking at away games against each other, the Raiders are 24-35 and the Broncos are 25-33 since 2020.

“I don’t even think about the past,” said left tackle Garett Bolles, the longest-tenured Bronco. “I’m just concentrating on Sunday.”

That includes Pierce, who bristled when asked whether the Raiders’ recent dominance in the series gives Las Vegas any psychological advantage.

“In 2024 we didn’t do that. We haven’t played them yet. So the past is the past,” Pierce said. “You can’t talk about those 8, 12, 20 games, no matter how many years ago. We’re talking about this year, the Raiders and the Broncos in 2024, and they’re playing really well. They’re on a two-game winning streak on the road against two good quarterbacks and teams, and it’s going to be a challenge for us on the road against this team.”

That 70s show

The Broncos turn the clock back to 1977 on Sunday when they honor the Orange Crush, led by 2024 Hall of Fame inductee Randy Gradishar. Two of his teammates from that era, Steve Foley and Riley Odoms, will be inducted into the team’s Ring of Fame.

The Broncos will also debut their retro jerseys, field livery will recreate the 1977 AFC Championship Game, scoreboards and stadium signage will feature retro design elements, and hits from the late 1970s will be played during the game.

A star is born

Raiders defensive end Charles Snowden went undrafted out of Virginia in 2021 and then spent most of his career on practice squads. Snowden’s only appearances came in two games with the Chicago Bears in 2021.

Las Vegas has been stretched thin on defense following injuries to Maxx Crosby and Malcolm Koonce this season, and Snowden took advantage of that, appearing in all four games and making key plays in Sunday’s 20-16 win over the Browns made.

Snowden picked off a Cleveland pass on second down at the Raiders’ 22-yard line. Two plays later, on 4th and 3 on the 9th hole, Snowden sacked Deshaun Watson to seal the win.

Snowden’s playing time isn’t expected to decrease with Koonce out for the season with a torn ACL and Crosby may not play in Denver because of a high ankle sprain.

Big turnaround

As the seventh overall pick in last year’s NFL Draft, Las Vegas defensive end Tyree Wilson was particularly scrutinized. He suffered a foot injury during his final season at Texas Tech and was unable to practice well in training camp. This lack of preparation was evident in a largely disappointing rookie season for Wilson.

Pro Football Focus said Wilson was the Raiders’ highest-graded player against the Browns with a trio of QB pressures. “I know who I can be,” Wilson said. “It takes work. It takes time to get to this point.”

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AP Sports Writer Mark Anderson contributed.

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AP NFL:

Denver Broncos cornerback Riley Moss (21) reacts after recovering a New York Jets fumble in the first quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, September 29, 2024, in East Rutherford, NJ (AP Photo/Seth Few)

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams is tackled by Carolina Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew throws a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

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