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At a time when some believe it’s only a matter of time before interim head coach Tony Sparano becomes the next head coach of the Raiders, there’s a school of thought in some league circles that Broncos defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio has a real shot at getting the job.

As one league source puts it, owner Mark Davis “loves” Del Rio, the former Jaguars coach who led the team from 2003 through 2011, and who has served as defensive coordinator in Denver since 2012.

The question becomes whether Davis will wait for Del Rio, who could be available to be hired by Sunday night — but who may not be able to be plucked away from the Broncos for three more weeks.

Del Rio replaced Dennis Allen in Denver, who blazed the Broncos-defensive-coordinator-to-Raiders-head-coach trail three years ago. In 2013, Del Rio served as interim head coach after head coach John Fox had heart surgery.

The interest in Del Rio comes at a time when some wonder whether a second one-and-out playoff performance from the Broncos in three years could cause heads to roll.

For Del Rio, he may get a step up in Oakland before he’d ever be asked to step off in Denver.