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DENVER -- D.J. Williams peered up from his playbook with glaring eyes.

The Broncos' strong-side linebacker took offense to being asked whether the Baltimore Ravens' linebackers are the standard upon which all others in the league are judged.

"I don't like that question," Williams said.

That's because the Denver Broncos linebacking crew thinks it's pretty good, too. Yet, the Ravens receive all the notoriety and recognition. Ray Lewis & Co. are the toast of the league while the Broncos languish in virtual obscurity.

"We feel like we're the best in the business," middle linebacker Al Wilson said Thursday. "And I'm pretty sure Baltimore feels the same way. We're not going to get caught up in who's better and who's not."

One thing's for sure -- Denver coach Mike Shanahan certainly appreciates what he has in Wilson, Williams and weak-side linebacker Ian Gold.

"I just love the guys we got," Shanahan said as the Broncos prepared for their Monday night showdown with the unbeaten Ravens. "You've got to have linebackers to have a great defense."

Not to mention someone like Wilson in charge to run it.

The defense marches to Wilson's orders. He's Denver's version of Lewis -- fiery yet someone you have to keep an eye on.

"We feed off his intensity," Williams said. "He lines everybody up and puts us all in the right position to make plays. He's always in the right place and he's always going to get his job done."

Count Ravens coach Brian Billick as an admirer of Wilson, who's been hobbled of late with a hamstring injury. He thinks Lewis and Wilson may be the best middle linebackers in the league.

"I certainly wouldn't argue that," Billick said. "They both transition from recognition to action incredibly quick."

Williams went through a shaky transition to strong-side linebacker last season, but has emerged an even better player. Williams isn't making the same mistakes this season.

"He's a lethal weapon now," defensive coordinator Larry Coyer said. "He was very comfortable in that game against New England and I thought his play showed comfort, his mind was not slowing down his body. He was flying. That's what we've got to get done."

Gold has a knack for being around the ball. That's why he leads the team in tackles with 30. And the Gold of now reminds Coyer of the player he saw as a rookie in 2000. A torn anterior cruciate ligament in 2003 hasn't zapped an ounce of Gold's speed.

"When he was a rookie, he was phenomenal," Coyer said. "And that's what he is right now."

Gold went to Tampa Bay for the 2004 season -- playing strong-side linebacker because Tampa already had Derrick Brooks at weak side -- but came back last year, necessitating the move of Williams.

It was a surprising switch given that Williams was coming off a rookie season in which he led the team in tackles.

But the realignment has panned out. The Broncos defense is allowing 10.3 points and went 11 quarters without allowing a touchdown, the longest streak to start a season in the NFL since 1942.

"We're playing pretty well," Williams said. "We can always pick it up. We need to get some turnovers somehow, some way, as a linebacking corps."

Denver's linebackers have just one forced fumble and no sacks.

Baltimore's linebacking crew of Lewis, Bart Scott and Adalius Thomas has three interceptions and nine sacks.

"I think it's all about who helps their team and makes plays to change games," Wilson said.

So far, advantage Baltimore.

But not in the eyes of the Broncos. Asked if they're just as good as the Ravens' linebackers, Wilson smiled and took the diplomatic route.

"That's for everyone else to judge," he said.

Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press

This story is from ESPN.com's automated news wire. Wire index