Peyton Manning is typically the focal point of any matchup with the Denver Broncos. Rightfully so. He’s been a menace to the Raiders, with six straight victories by 13 points or more against the Raiders since joining the AFC West.

Manning's personal dominance over Oakland goes back farther than that. He hasn't lost to the Raiders since 2001.

The Silver and Black should still be mindful of the 39-year old signal caller, but this season he’s taken a backseat to the NFL’s best defense. Edge rushers Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware, who have 6.5 sacks between them, lead a group that has 18 sacks and seven forced fumbles in four games.

Manning can still cause trouble, but that defense creates havoc. Preventing it from swallowing Raiders quarterback Derek Carr will be a chief concern Sunday afternoon at O.co Coliseum.

The Raiders are armed with the talent to compete against these attackers. Carr makes solid reads and gets rid of the ball quick. Receivers adjust routes well to pressure, and, according to Pro Football Focus, the offensive line ranks No. 2 in pass-blocking efficiency.

The passing game has thrived under pressure. Carr has a 114.2 passer rating under pressure, and a 144.4 rating in rare instances when he has been blitzed.

“I think we’ve done a pretty solid job on picking things up and we’ll have a great challenge this weekend,” head coach Jack Del Rio said. “They do a really good job with their pressure and with their coverage behind it.”

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The Broncos pose the passing game’s biggest challenge in this early season. New coordinator Wade Phillips blitzes a ton and can play aggressive with a strong secondary in the back. He wants to create chaos, and the Raiders are getting ready for it.

“The first thing is preparing well and knowing the plan,” said center Rodney Hudson, excellent at identifying and handling pressure. “We have to understand what we’re trying to get done, and we have to be on point when it comes to execution.

“This game is about individual matchups, and we’re going to have to win there. Be in the right spot, know what you’re supposed to do and be technically sound. We need to do all of those things consistently well against a very good defense.”

With pressure coming from different sources –- 11 Broncos have recorded sacks -– offensive tackles Donald Penn and Austin Howard often have to win one-on-one matchups with Ware and Miller off the edge. They’ve been solid in that area thus far. Both men rank among PFF’s top 10 for pass-blocking efficiency.

Both men have plenty of practice against some of the league’s best. They battle teammates Khalil Mack and Aldon Smith in practice, players that share skill sets with Miller and Ware. Raiders starters don’t just prep against a scout team. They practice against each other often.

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“(Head) Coach (Jack) Del Rio believes a lot in that, that we go ones versus ones each and every week, not just on one day but multiple days throughout the week at practice,” offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave said. “That’s a good way to prepare, because you are going against elite guys during the week.”

It’s tough sledding against the Broncos defense, and that should be the case on Sunday. Battling through field position and avoiding big negative plays will be key for a potentially potent Raiders offense. Denver has 11 takeaways in four games, and could take the game over with a few more. This is a matchup of team strength versus team strength, and the Raiders believe they’re ready for a big challenge.

“When it comes down to it, the NFL is about matchups,” Carr said. “They have some good matchups, but so do we. We’re looking forward to seeing those come out on game day.”