2012 Game-by-Game: Week 14

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Over the next week, DenverBroncos.com will continue to preview the team's 2012 schedule, including a look at the last time the teams faced off, what to watch for this season and more.

Below is a closer look at the Broncos' Week 14 road trip to Oakland.

Week 14: at Oakland Raiders
o DATE: Thursday, December 6 o TIME: 5:20 p.m. PST o LOCATION: O.co Coliseum o TELEVISION: NFLN (NTL) o OPP. 2011 RECORD: 8-8 o ALL-TIME VS. OPP.: 42-59-2

THE LAST TIME (at Oakland):
The Broncos ran roughshod over the Raiders in Week 9 of the 2011 season, kickstarting a six-game winning streak. Running back Willis McGahee averaged more than 8 yards per carry on his 20 rushes, gaining 163 yards and finding the end zone twice as Denver's read-option offense worked to near perfection. Oakland gained more first downs and total yards of offense, but lost 38-24 as Denver rolled up 299 yards rushing on 39 carries and outscored the Raiders 31-7 in the second half after trailing 17-7 at halftime.

Determined Broncos Down Raiders | Broncos at Raiders: Notebook | Running Down the Raiders | BTV Highlights

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: One of the league's fiercest rivalries
Denver dropped the 2011 season opener to Oakland on Monday Night Football as the Raiders jumped out to a 16-3 lead, then held on for a 23-20 victory. A nine-yard touchdown reception by Broncos running back Lance Ball cut the margin to three with less than four minutes to play, but the Raiders were able to run out the clock for the victory. Denver won the rematch eight weeks later in convincing fashion. With an experienced quarterback in Carson Palmer under center and a new head coach in Dennis Allen who is very familiar with Denver after working as the team's defensive coordinator in 2011, the Week 14 Thursday night battle between the division rivals promises to be worthy of its nationally televised time slot.

KEY MATCHUP: Oakland wide receivers Darrius Heyward-Bey and Jacoby Ford vs. Broncos secondary
In Heyward-Bey and Ford, the Raiders boast two of the league's fastest wideouts. Denver cornerback Champ Bailey and the Broncos secondary were able to hold both players in check in the 2011 season opener, when the pair combined for 66 yards on seven receptions. But in the rematch in week nine, Ford, a fourth-round draft pick in 2010, broke open repeatedly, catching five passes for 105 yards and a touchdown while Heyward-Bey did not catch a pass.

GAME NOTES: This will be the 104th meeting between the old rivals in a rivalry dating back to 1960... Oakland leads the all-time series 59-42-2... The Raiders have taken four of the last five matchups dating back to December 20, 2009.