The Denver Broncos host the Oakland Raiders this week in what will be the 11th Monday Night Football meeting between the clubs – tied with Dallas-Washington for the most Monday night matchups. Seven of the 10 MNF games between the teams have been decided by seven points or less.

Another close one will certainly fit the series between the clubs…as well as the Monday-night trend this season.

Last Monday night’s game provided yet another fantastic finish, with Green Bay quarterback BRETT FAVRE's improbable 43-yard touchdown pass to ANTONIO FREEMAN giving the Packers a 26-20 overtime win over Minnesota. It was the eighth Monday night game of the season decided by seven points or less, with all eight decided in the last few minutes. The eight seven-point games ties 1974 for the most in a season’s first 10 Monday-night games.

"It will be exciting," Oakland coach JON GRUDEN says of Monday’s contest. "We have a lot of respect for this rivalry, and certainly for the Denver Broncos. They’ve been a real difficult opponent for us. We're looking forward to going there, competing with them, and finding a way to win."

Denver is the only club to defeat Oakland this season and will be looking for its 11th win in 12 meetings. But that doesn’t mean it will be easy – for either team.

"We want to win this game for obvious reasons," says Raiders wide receiver TIM BROWN. "This is a huge game for us, for our psyche if not our record."

Denver coach MIKE SHANAHAN has been on both sides of the field. He was Raiders head coach in 1988-89.

"We've had some knock-down, drag-out games," says Shanahan. "Most of them have been very close. It's been a strong rivalry since I've been here and when I was with the Raiders. It's always been a very physical, very close football game."

The Denver offense is aware of the challenge it faces in the Raiders’ defense. "They have a very good front four, and if you have to drop back 45 or 50 times a game against them, sooner or later something bad is going to happen," says Broncos offensive coordinator GARY KUBIAK. "The ball's going to get stripped, or intercepted or something. You have to stay committed to running the football."

And Kubiak has a healthy TERRELL DAVIS to lead the Denver ground game. Against the Jets last Sunday, Davis had his first 100-yard rushing game since Super Bowl XXXIII. He has had particular success against the Raiders. He has seven touchdown runs in his past five games against Oakland and is looking for his third consecutive 100-yard game against them.