Somebody thinks the Raiders are on the verge of being relevant.

The Raiders were not only chosen to play in one of the two Monday night prime time games to open the regular season on Sept. 8, but will do so at home against the Denver Broncos at 7:15 p.m. The first Monday night game that evening will feature Minnesota at Green Bay.

Oakland, coming off a 2-14 season in 2006, did not play a single regular season game which started after 1:15 p.m. (West Coast time). Their last two prime time games came in 2006, a 27-0 thrashing against the San Diego Chargers to open the season which ranks as one of the most dreadful performances in franchise history, and a 16-0 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night, Nov. 6.

The last time the Raiders actually scored points under the lights in the regular season was on Dec. 31, 2005, in a 30-21 loss to the New York Giants, the last game of Norv Turner’s two-year run.

Oakland’s last prime time win came on Nov. 28, 2005 against Denver, a 25-24 win on a snowy Sunday night.

While the Raiders have had their share of gripes with how the schedule has been set up by the NFL over the years, it’s hard to see a downside in this.

They get to open at home, against a division rival they beat last year. They are being recognized as a team worth watching because of the interest surrounding quarterback JaMarcus Russell, as well as Al Davis’ spending spree which has resulted in the re-signings of end Tommy Kelly and Justin Fargas as well as a trade for cornerback DeAngelo Hall and free-agent acquisitions of wide receivers Javon Walker and Drew Carter, safety Gibril Wilson, defensive end Kalimba Edwards and tackle Kwame Harris.

The Raiders have not opened the season against Denver since losing 17-13 as the Los Angeles Raiders in 1992. They haven’t hosted the Broncos in Week 1 since a 14-9 win over Denver in Los Angeles in 1990.

Denver has not opened a season in Oakland since 1967, with the Raiders winning 51-0 en route to a 13-1 season.

First in a series of players the Raiders are evaluating as the NFL draft approaches April 26-27. The Raiders currently hold the No. 4 pick in the first round.

Even if Tommy Kelly becomes all the Raiders hope he will become moving inside to defensive tackle, there is a need for a young, energizing presence in the middle of the defensive line _ one they hope will be more of a two-way threat than the departed Warren Sapp, whose job description had little to do with stopping the run.

Barring a trade down, there are only two of those Oakland will be looking at with No. 4 _ LSU’s Glenn Dorsey and USC’s Sedrick Ellis.

Dorsey is considered the top prospect almost by acclamation.

“I have Dorsey ranked higher (than Sedrick Ellis), but with the caveat of his injury concerns,” NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock said. “I put the national championship tape on and it was the best defensive tackle tape I’ve seen in a couple of years and that was the first time he’d been healthy all year long. It was a dominating performance. So he’s difficult. You want to love the kid because he’s a warrior and played hurt. But you better make sure you’re not buying damaged goods, and I’m not saying they are. I’m just saying you better be sure.”

Of course, Al Davis has his own ideas which are seldom revealed until the day the Raiders draft. The Raiders coaching staff had Ellis in the Senior Bowl, with defensive coordinator Rob Ryan noting, “We liked him a lot. He made a lot of plays for us.”

Ellis was also recruited under Lane Kiffin’s watch as recruiting coordinator at USC, for what that’s worth.

Talent evaluators who favor Dorsey believe his standard of play can lift an entire defense. Mel Kiper Jr. likens him to Ray Lewis in that regard.

“I think he’s an impact guy, an every down guy, first second and third. He elevates people around them, makes them better,” said Rams exec Billy Devaney, whose team owns the No. 2 overall selection.

Said one NFC general manager: “I think Dorsey is the better player, but if the Raiders get either one, they’re coming away with an instant starter and a very good player.”

Dorsey had what he called a hairline fracture of his right tibia as a junior, and there were rumors he his foundation could be an issue for the longterm.

He insists he is not concerned.

“I always try to set myself up to hear wild things. Some stuff I just wonder where people get it from. Even the reports saying I was not coming (to the combine). I don’t know where know where that came from,” Dorsey said. “It is what it is. I’m just trying to enjoy myself and make sure I’m taking care of my responsibility. Everybody is going to have their opinion on what they think about me and my game, but as long as I’m taking care of my business, that is all that matters to me.”

He received advice from college teammate JaMarcus Russell.

“He told me to stay within myself and don’t listen to all the hoopla,” Dorsey said. “People always have opinions. Some like you, others don’t. He just told me at the end of the day I’m taking care of my responsibilities and working hard.”

That Dorsey played through his injuries at LSU and was productive rates him even higher in the eyes of some scouts.

At a shade over 6-foot, and in the 300-pound range, Ellis is an inch shorter and about 15 pounds lighter than Dorsey, but plays with a similar motor and explosion. He had 8.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for losses at USC and shrugs off concerns about his height, believing it to be a weapon rather than a problem.

“A lot of people like taller tackles, but I think my height is just great,’’ Ellis said. “You can get these 6-5 linemen and I can get underneath them and uproot them out of what they’re trying to do. Great footwork, great hands and the leverage I think works to my advantage.’’

Although Ellis believes he can play on the nose, his strength is probably more suited to being a Sapp-style three-technique.

Defensive tackles on roster: Tommy Kelly, Gerard Warren, Terdell Sands, William Joseph, Josh Shaw.

Kelly is being paid as one of the best at his position and now must play like it. Warren did what he has always done _ looked terrific one game and was invisible the next. Sands was a huge disappointment (both figuratively and literally) after signing before the free agent deadline for big money last year. Joseph is a former first-round draft pick signed for the veteran minimum who is worth a look. Shaw is a fringe player.

The bottom line: The Raiders will need to determine if Ellis is worth the No. 4 overall pick because Dorsey won’t make it that far.