Josh McDaniels will reignite a Broncos-Raiders rivalry that was dying out

Growing up in Denver, I’m supposed to hate the Raiders. This was engrained in me at an early age, dating back to the 1970s.

I remember disliking the John Madden-led teams, mostly because Oakland always seemed to get the better of the Broncos. And I distinctly recall the joy that permeated through my family when Denver beat the Raiders on the road in 1977 and then again at Mile High Stadium in the AFC Championship Game.

Going to the Super Bowl was amazing. Beating the Raiders on the way there made it extra sweet.

From that point on, the rivalry was real. The Broncos were finally a good team, so the matchups weren’t one-sided any more. Both franchises were legit.

The Raiders won two Super Bowls in the 1980s. The Broncos went to three. The two clubs combined for five out of the 10 AFC champions during that decade.

This led to some great games. It created some iconic moments, in the 1980s and beyond.

It was Lester Hayes trying to gouge out Vance Johnson’s eyes after a play. It was Lincoln Kennedy going into the stands at Mile High to track down the fan who drilled him with a snow ball. It was Raiders fans chucking batteries at the Broncos. It was both sides raining boos down on the other.

I was in the Los Angeles Coliseum to watch Gary Kubiak lead an improbable comeback in 1984, only to have the security guards tell my dad that he’d be wise to get his family out of the stadium as soon as possible. I was in Oakland to watch the Broncos throttle the Raiders in 2003, only to have our group held up at the exits until the unruly crowd cleared.

It was fantastic. Pure animosity. Good old fashioned sports hatred.

That’s waned in recent years. Mostly, it’s because they Raiders have been dreadful.

In the 19 years since the people in the Black Hole were threatening our group, Oakland / Las Vegas has made a grand total of two trips to the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Broncos were playing in AFC Championship Games, going to a pair of Super Bowls and winning a Lombardi Trophy.

It wasn’t as much fun to beat the Raiders. It didn’t mean as much. It was like picking on a weakling.

That’s all about to change.

For one thing, the pendulum has swung a bit. Las Vegas made the playoffs this season, losing to the eventual AFC champs in Cincinnati. Meanwhile, Denver is in the midst of their worst stretch since the 1960s, back when they couldn’t compete against the Raiders.

But that’s not the main reason the rivalry is about to return. That’s due to the fact that a true villain has emerged.

Josh McDaniels is the new head coach of the Raiders.

That’s right, the same guy who took over the Broncos in 2009 and quickly drove them into the ground. The coach who traded Jay Cutler for Kyle Orton and two draft picks. The blowhard who led the first team to start a season 6-0 and fail to make the playoffs. The scoundrel who got caught filming the 49ers practice in London, cheating his way to another loss. The coach who lost 59-14 to the Raiders at home. The guy who burned every bridge in the building before getting canned less than two years into his tenure, with an 11-17 record.

Yep, that’s the new head coach of the Raiders. Arguably the most-despised figure in the history of the Broncos is now leading their biggest rival.

It’s too good. It’s too perfect.

Every time the Broncos play the Raiders moving forward, it’ll be must-see TV. There will be a little added “juice” to the game.

When McDaniels returns to Denver once per year, he’ll get booed mercilessly. Not just in 2022, but in every year to follow.

The hatred is back. And not a moment too soon.

The Broncos-Raiders rivalry was dying out. Now, it’s back with a vengance.

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