Raiders @ Broncos Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012 4:05 p.m. ET

Last season, the Oakland Raiders appeared to be a team on the rise in the NFL. Bringing in former Heisman trophy winner and Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback Carson Palmer seemed like the right move as they were finally able to replace Rich Gannon under center after many years of disappointing gunslingers.

Unfortunately, the team has still been a bit rough around the edges with Palmer under center and as a result has yet to create some chemistry. After failing to make the NFL playoffs last year, the Raiders were thought to come into the 2012 NFL season and be a force in the AFC West division once again.

So far, the Raiders have lost two of the first three games of the season. Fortunately, the win over the Pittsburgh Steelers was a step in the right direction with the offense coming into its own. The defense in Oakland still needs, but Palmer is starting to turn things around.

In Week 4, the Raiders will be test yet again going head-to-head against Peyton Manning’s Denver Broncos.

Much like the Raiders, the Broncos haven’t really shown their potential with their only win coming against the Steelers.

With this game being played in the Mile High City and Manning desperate to get back to his winning ways, the Broncos will most likely come out on top, but it won’t be without a fight from the Raiders.

Denver will likely get the win in Week 4 as they are the superior team on both sides of the football. Despite that being the case, this is a heated division rivalry and should come down to the wire with the Broncos barely coming out on top.

Take the Raiders at +7.

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