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Shanahan looks to hand Davis, Raiders another loss

Oct 11, 2006 - 1:48 AM Oakland (0-4) at Denver (3-1) Sunday 8:15 pm EDT

DENVER (Ticker) - Art Shell and the winless Oakland Raiders will receive no sympathy from Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan.

The Broncos seek to extend their three-game winning streak when they host the Raiders on Sunday in a battle of AFC West rivals.

The Raiders have lost 10 in a row dating to last season. It is the worst skid in owner Al Davis' tenure with the team, which began in 1963 in the old AFL.

Shanahan would like nothing more than to add to Oakland's misery. Since being fired as Raiders coach by Davis 17 years ago, Shanahan is 17-5 against his former team, including a sweep last season.

Last December 24, the Broncos celebrated their first AFC West title since 1998 with a 22-3 win over the Raiders. Jake Plummer passed for 268 yards and a touchdown and also ran for a score.

In the November 13 meeting at Oakland, Plummer threw for 205 yards and a touchdown and cornerback Darrent Williams scored on an 80-yard interception return in a 31-17 victory.

Davis rehired one of his former coaches, bringing back Shell to guide the team this season. Fired by Davis following the 1994 season, Shell had guided the Raiders to the postseason three times.

Now Shell is just trying to get his first win, but it's not likely to happen against the Broncos, who are the first team since the 2000 Miami Dolphins to allow just one touchdown in their first four games of the season.

"Any time you give up one touchdown in four games, that's a little bit unusual. That's pretty impressive," Shanahan said.

Denver has allowed just 34 points. Only Chicago's defense has yielded less points per game, allowing 36 in five games.

On Monday night, the Broncos intercepted Steve McNair three times and limited Jamal Lewis to 43 yards rushing in a 13-3 win over Baltimore.

No team has scored fewer points than the Raiders, who have just 47 in four games.

Andrew Walter has especially struggled in two starts since replacing injured Aaron Brooks (pectoral, shoulder). Walter and Marques Tuiasosopo each were intercepted twice in a 34-20 loss at San Francisco last week.

Broncos Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey likely will match up against Randy Moss, who caught his 100th career touchdown pass last week at San Francisco. But Moss has just 12 catches for 136 yards and two touchdowns this season.

Since reaching the Super Bowl in 2002, the Raiders are just 13-39.