Game Special to Shanahan

The Raiders’ game Monday night in Oakland against the Denver Broncos is a key battle of AFC West opponents. It also is Oakland’s chance for revenge against a team that beat the Raiders twice last season.

And, as with most NFL games, there’s a personal rivalry involved in the contest. In this case, it’s Denver Coach Mike Shanahan, who was fired in October 1989 after going 8-12 in 1 1/2 seasons as the Raiders’ head coach.

Shanahan was giddy last season when his Broncos defeated the Raiders, 27-0, in Denver in his first game as a head coach against his former team. The Broncos also defeated the Raiders, 31-28, in Oakland.

Shanahan tried to downplay the personal rivalry and said he does not consider games against Oakland a chance to get revenge on Raider owner Al Davis.

“It’s been a few years now. There’s growth, I’m sure, on both sides,” Shanahan said of his relationship with Davis. “I was young, 35 years old, and I’m sure he was set in his ways. He hadn’t had many people outside of his organization until I came.”

Napoleon Kaufman will start at tailback for the Raiders but Harvey Williams and Joe Aska are expected to get plenty of playing time.

*

The Indianapolis Colts moved offensive tackle Derek West to the active roster. The 6-foot-8, 312-pound West had been on the physically-unable-to-perform list because of a foot injury since training camp.

The Colts also announced that offensive lineman Steve Hardin had been signed to the practice squad.