The Associated Press

DENVER - After coaching the Raiders for a little more than a year and against them for the bulk of his pro career, Mike Shanahan has never stopped picking up little nuances that make trips to Oakland easier.

"I learned it's better to hang out around the 10-yard line instead of the end zone during warmups," he said. "That way you don't get hit by the batteries."

Yes, it's "Raiders Week" in Denver, that twice-annual rite of passage that allows the Broncos and their fans to work themselves into a lather about the team they most love to hate.

The rivalry heated up when the Broncos got good in 1977, then reached a boil when Shanahan became Denver's coach 10 years ago.

Al Davis hired and fired Shanahan in 1988-89, and the firing left some lingering bitterness. Most notably, Davis still owed Shanahan $250,000 on his contract but refused to pay it - even after an arbitrator ruled in Shanahan's favor.

Shanahan came back to Denver as an assistant after his firing. Then, after leaving for a few years, he returned to the Broncos again as head coach and led them to two Super Bowl victories.

But this rivalry isn't just about the coach against his old team.

The anger has been brewing pretty much since 1977 - Denver's first Super Bowl season - when the Broncos defeated the Raiders 30-7. With the rout on, Tom Jackson yelled at then-Raiders coach John Madden, "It's over, fat man."

Since then, there have been many memorable moments: Gary Kubiak making an emergency start and leading the Broncos to a 22-19 overtime win in 1984. Winston Moss shoving John Elway out of bounds and under the Raiders bench as Elway headed for the sideline in 1992. Former Broncos coach Wade Phillips getting booed off his own field after a 48-16 loss in 1994. Denver fans pelting the Raiders with snowballs during a win on Monday night in 1999, and Raiders lineman Lincoln Kennedy answering by throwing a punch at the fans.

The list goes on and on.

Fighting for the playoffs in the last game of the 1995 season, the Raiders blew an 11-point lead against a Denver team that was already out of contention and lost 31-28. The victory, which eliminated Oakland from playoff contention, suddenly made Denver's 8-8 record in Shanahan's first year as its head coach not seem so bad.

"The Raiders had a lot at stake," Elway said after that one. "It gets rid of some of our frustration, because it is on the road. And it's against the Raiders."

RAMS: Quarterback Marc Bulger practiced, having mostly recovered from the bruised shoulder he suffered in last week's overtime victory over Seattle. He's listed as probable to play Monday against Tampa Bay.

JAGUARS: Jacksonville now has lost both its starting defensive ends for the season.

Lionel Barnes was placed on injured reserve because of a shoulder injury suffered Sept. 19 against Denver. He joins Paul Spicer, who started two games opposite Barnes before being lost for the season after injuring a knee, on the sideline.

Without Barnes and Spicer, coach Jack Del Rio moved Pro Bowl defensive tackle Marcus Stroud to end against the Chargers. San Diego ran for 176 yards against Jacksonville's vaunted defense, mostly up the middle.

DOLPHINS: Quarterback Jay Fiedler said he'll start Sunday at Buffalo despite missing practice Wednesday and Thursday due to a cracked rib.

"I'm playing and I'm good to go," he said.

• Sammy Morris will become the fourth player to start at running back this season for the Dolphins, replacing Leonard Henry. Morris had been slowed by an ankle injury and concussion and limited to 8 yards in five carries this season.

REDSKINS: Linebacker LaVar Arrington and kicker John Hall were ruled out for Sunday's game against Chicago.

Arrington will miss his fourth consecutive game since having knee surgery Sept. 22.

Hall strained his groin during practice Thursday. The Redskins are expected to sign kicker Ola Kimrin, who was in their training camp and briefly was on their practice squad, today.

The Redskins downgraded cornerback Andre Lott (hamstring) and kick returner Chad Morton (knee) to questionable.

SEAHAWKS: Tom Rouen practiced but didn't perform well enough to persuade coach Mike Holmgren he was healthy to punt Sunday at New England. If Rouen, who has a strained right hamstring, can't play, either placekicker Josh Brown or rookie punter Donnie Jones, who's on the practice squad, will punt, and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck will hold on field goals and PATs.

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