ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The Denver Broncos know what's waiting for them Sunday.
Many of the players in the locker room haven't actually seen it: The Oakland Raiders' faithful in a full boil because their team is in contention for a division title. With the Raiders at 6-2 for the first time since 2001, the Broncos (also at 6-2) have already been briefed that it will be like old times in Oakland Sunday night in what has been a fierce rivalry through the years.
"I think the guys know, they understand, first off, what it's like to play there," Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said. “We all know the atmosphere, how tough it is to play, but the fact that they've got a really good football team … Probably the biggest football team we'll play. They're moving the ball; the quarterback is playing extremely well. You all know the problems we had with their pass-rushers last year so it's a big, big challenge and it's a big game early in the second half of the season."
And with that in mind here are six Raiders to watch, courtesy of ESPN's Paul Gutierrez:
OFFENSE
QB Derek Carr: He is coming off the most prolific passing game in franchise history. Carr said he nearly cried when told his 513 passing yards against Tampa Bay last Sunday were more than the likes of Daryle Lamonica, Ken Stabler, Jim Plunkett, Rich Gannon or even Jeff George ever had as Raiders. (Actually, Cotton Davidson previously held the record with 427 yards in 1964). Carr also had four TD passes without an interception against Tampa, but the Broncos boast the best pass defense in the league. You know Carr is relishing that challenge, though.
WR Amari Cooper: The second-year receiver had a career-high 12 receptions for a career-best 173 yards, but until he hauled in a 34-yard TD in the third quarter, he had just as many TD catches on the season as left tackle Donald Penn. Still, Cooper is Carr's most explosive weapon, especially late in games. Ten of Cooper's catches for 162 yards against Tampa came after halftime. Cooper was targeted deep (a pass over 20 yards) four times and he had three catches for 93 yards with one drop on such passes. PFF has Cooper with three drops of 55 catchable passes this season, after he dropped 18 of 87 last season.
RB Latavius Murray: Should the Broncos stall the Raiders' air attack, it will be up to Murray to keep the offense going. He only had 48 yards rushing in Tampa, but Murray did average a more respectable 4.4 yards per carry, more than a yard better than his 3.3 yards per carry average a week earlier in Jacksonville, where he was making his return after missing two games with turf toe. Plus, Murray will no doubt have to pick up some additional pass-blocking chores with the offense facing the likes of Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware.
DEFENSE
DE/OLB Khalil Mack: Can you feel the momentum growing for the 2015 All-Pro after he racked up two sacks in Tampa Bay, with four of his team-leading five sacks coming in the last three weeks? Mack's best performance as a pro came last December in Denver, when he sacked Brock Osweiler five times. Now he is coming off his best all-around game of the season with two sacks, three QB hits and five hurries for 10 pressures on 30 pass-rush snaps, per Pro Football Focus. His PFF grade of 91.6 is his season high, the second highest among edge rushers last week.
CB DJ Hayden: If Sean Smith misses the Broncos game, Hayden will be the next man up just as he was in Tampa Bay. In the nickel. the former first-round draft pick stayed in the slot with TJ Carrie going to the outside. But in the base defense, Hayden replaced Smith on the outside and played 66 of 68 total snaps. Per PFF, he played 38 snaps in coverage, was targeted six times, and gave up two catches for 18 yards (including a TD). His PFF grade of 76.7 was his second best of the season.
MLB Perry Riley: Signed off the street in Week 5, Riley has already assumed the green-dot helmet as the defense's playcaller and has been a much-needed steadying influence in the middle for the Raiders. PFF has graded him among the top 12 non-edge rush linebackers every week he's played, and he's had a grade over 82 in each one. In playing 215 of a possible 252 snaps, he has only one missed tackle.