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The competitive importance of 'Raider Week' has been reduced to a watered-down hope of the Denver Broncos snapping the Las Vegas Raiders' seven-game winning streak over them. However, losing the season finale could prove to be more beneficial to the Broncos in the grand scheme of things if their quest to find a new starting quarterback post-Russell Wilson becomes contingent on draft position.
Always one to buck the trend, Broncos veteran left tackle Garett Bolles still feels that facing and defeating the nomadic Raiders organization still matters.
"It's the Raiders. Black. Silver. More Black and Silver. The Black Hole," Bolles said via Denver Sports' Andrew Mason. "I think it goes back to when they were in the Coliseum, where I'm from. I'm from the Bay. So the Coliseum and the [Black] Hole there, everything that goes with the Coliseum—it's a craphole. It is. They'll say the same thing. I think that's why they moved to Vegas."
Bolles said the above with a bit of a twinkle in his eye. He quickly turned back to the serious when discussing the current iteration of the Raiders, which features the looming threat of Pro Bowl edge rusher Maxx Crosby.
"It's just the Raiders," Bolles said. "But, no, I appreciate them, with Maxx and the effort he is and the phenomenal athlete he is and the challenge that I have with him, and the friendship that we have. I'm grateful I get to go against a guy like that. It just makes me better. It's a no-nonsense game now. It's chippy. People are dogging each other. But it's a fun game, at the same time as it's a physical game. You've gotta buckle your chin strap and put your mouthpiece in, for sure."
Garett Bolles, on what makes the Raiders game special: “It’s the Raiders. Black. Silver. More black and silver. The Black Hole. I think it goes back to when they were in the Coliseum … Everything that goes with the Coliseum; it’s a craphole. It is! They’ll say the same thing …” pic.twitter.com/QcC3fDThzE
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) January 6, 2024
Bolles could be forgiven for digging up old memories of playing in the Coliseum, which is a far cry from the Raiders' new digs at Allegiant Stadium. The 31-year-old might just find himself suiting up in a different uniform next year, as Sean Payton and company are facing some tricky decisions with many of the Broncos' veterans. Bolles could be very much in that mix, despite having a solid season.
In that same locker-room presser of sorts, Bolles spoke out in frustration about the Broncos' constant quarterback instability, so perhaps he's unafraid of ruffling feathers upstairs. There are strong indications that Payton intends to turn the organization toward younger and cheaper options, as evidenced by the Broncos moving on from older pass rushers Randy Gregory and Frank Clark very early this season.
Younger players, like edge rusher Jonathon Cooper, were given an opportunity, and the former Ohio State Buckeye currently leads the team in sacks with 8.5 heading into the season finale. Emerging cornerstones like Cooper are also closing in on their own contract decisions, even though there will be fewer dollars in the pot to go around, as the Broncos are projected to be over the salary cap in 2024.
Wilson's contractual shadow will hang like a dark cloud over any future deals for at least the next two years. Cooper is looking to show the Broncos that he's willing and able to do battle under any circumstances.
"We have to end the season the right way," Cooper said via Mason. "There's too many good things, too many well things that happened this whole entire year for us not to go out there, handle our business, and make sure that we end the season the right way. Regardless of whatever happened and us being eliminated from the playoffs and things like that, we've gotta focus on what we can control. And that's our record."
More must-reads:
- Saints end historic NFL Draft drought by selecting potential 'heir apparent' to Derek Carr
- Eagles draft son of former All-Pro defender
- The '100 catches in an NFL season' quiz
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