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It has been 2 years since Monday Night Football has been in Oakland,  and 252 days since the Raiders have played a regular season football game. The McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, CA, will be rocking tonight as the Raiders kick off their 2008-2009 NFL regular season against long-time AFC division rivals, the Denver Broncos.

The last time these teams met was on the 500the regular season telecast of Monday Night Football, which dates back to November 11th 2002, when the Raiders prevailed by a final score of 34-10. 

Presently, the Raiders lead the MNF series with the Broncos, 54-39-2. Oakland is also 2-0 in NFL season openers at home over Denver.

 As far as personnel is concerned both teams have a lot of new faces on both sides of the ball. For the Raiders, the JaMarcus Russell-era begins tonight.  The former first round draft pick had a decent preseason, as he enters his second year in the league.

The player receiving the biggest buzz on the Raiders is HB Darren "Whoop" McFadden. "Whoop" as in, "Whoop I missed him again".

With the combinations of  McFadden and returning HB Justin Fargas, the Raiders possess one of the youngest and most talented ground attack in all of football. The Raiders have also added CB DeAngelo Hall to an already explosive secondary, which includes CB Nnamdi Asomugah, and safety  Michael Huff.  Lets also don't forget the off season signing of former Bronco wide receiver Javon Walker, that will debut against his former team tonight.

On the other side of the field the Broncos have some very good players this year as well. Starting with All-Pro, CB Champ Bailey in addition to DT Dewayne Robertson both are key players for the Broncos’ defensive scheme that was terrible against the run last season, allowing 145.9 yards per game..

Will the Oakland Raiders' new acquisitions be enough? Will the Silver and Black be the surprising team of the NFL this season? Or will they just have another 4-12 season disaster?

My Prediction: Oakland 21 Denver 14

The Noise Factor