If you’re old enough to remember 1970, then you’re old enough to remember when the Raiders used to dominate on Monday Night Football.
And I do mean dominate.
The surest bets in America back in the day were Dandy Don and Howard arguing on Monday nights and the Raiders winning on Monday nights. They won 18 of their first 19 appearances while the rest of the league was resting up from Sunday’s bumps and bruises.
At one point, the Raiders 22-3-1 on Monday nights, with the tie coming against the Broncos in Denver. Since then? Um, did I mention the Raiders used to dominate on Monday nights?
They’re 36-23-1 as we speak. That means, since that 22-3-1 start, they’ve won 14 and lost 20 on Monday nights. Things got so bad in recent years that the powers that be at ESPN decided to leave the Silver & Black off the 2007 Monday night schedule.
It’s true. The Broncos, a mediocre team that has missed the playoffs in back-to-back seasons, were featured three times on Monday nights, but the Raiders weren’t on once.
Don’t know about you, but I’m glad they’re back.
Follow Jim Armstrong’s Broncos updates on The Jimmy Page at 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. And read his columns on Sundays at .
He can be reached at 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com.
