For the first time since 2002 – the last time they were in the playoffs – the Oakland Raiders meet the Denver Broncos in a second-half game where both AFC West teams have a winning record. Fittingly for a game between teams with the same record, the Sunday Night Football matchup has the host Raiders as slim 1-point favorites with a total of 44.

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

The Raiders are 6-2 straight-up and against the spread, largely on the strength of a prolific offense led by third-year QB Derek Carr. It goes without saying that the Broncos defense – with sack-master OLB Von Miller and CB Aqib Talib and CB Chris Harris manning up on Oakland WRs Michael Crabtree and Amari Cooper – is the best Oakland has faced.

The Raiders have allowed a league-low nine sacks, but Miller has helped the Broncos amass a league-most 26. For the Raiders to improve on their trend of being 2-5 SU and 0-7 ATS in their last seven home games, they need to give Carr time to let downfield routes develop.