1988 Monday Night Comeback — Raiders Rally from 24–0

On September 26, 1988, the Oakland Raiders visited Denver on Monday Night Football trailing 24–0 at halftime. The Raiders mounted a second-half rally, erasing the large deficit and forcing overtime. In overtime, Oakland completed the comeback with a 30–27 victory, punctuating a comeback that showcased the Raiders' resilience and the rivalry's capacity for late-game reversals [11][12]. The game unfolded with Denver building a dominant early advantage through offense and pressure on the Raiders, but Oakland adjusted in the second half — both tactically and in execution — to cut into the lead and eventually tie the game. The overtime period concluded with Oakland scoring to win the game, capping a turnaround that became a go-to reference for memorable Raider comebacks. Game coverage in retrospective pieces and rivalry roundups recognizes the contest as one of the series' most dramatic regular-season finishes on national television [11][12].

The comeback matters because it illustrates the rivalry's unpredictability and the psychological swings possible in Broncos–Raiders games. A 24–0 halftime advantage evaporating into an overtime loss became part of Denver fans' recollection of vulnerable moments and Raiders fans' lore of dramatic resilience; nationally televised exposure on Monday Night Football amplified its place in the rivalry canon [11][12].

The result had immediate standings implications for the 1988 season and reinforced the narrative that divisional games between Denver and Oakland could not be taken for granted. In subsequent years the game is cited in compilations of memorable Raiders–Broncos moments and contributed to the rivalry's reputation for dramatic finishes [11][12].