Broncos convincingly destroy Raiders 37-6

(Image courtesy of David Zalubowsk/KTVU.com)

Finally, a Denver Broncos team that doesn’t play down to its competition.

The Broncos welcomed the Oakland Raiders into their stadium in Week Four the same way a cat welcomes a mouse into its den. The Broncos played with the Raiders. The Broncos toyed with them. They bruised them up and left a few scratches, but left the Raiders’ hope alive. The Broncos had their AFC West rival dangling by the tail as the second half came to a close, leading only 10-6.

Then the Broncos crushed the Raiders with unrelenting force.

The third quarter told the tale of the Broncos’ game, as the Broncos (2-2) outscored Oakland 21-0, out-rushed them 67-11 yards, and out-passed them 113 to none. Peyton Manning was magnificent in his breakout Broncos game, completing 30 of 38 passes for 338 yards and three touchdowns (130.0 rating). Willis McGahee ran for 112 yards on 19 carries.

But most impressively, today we saw the team operate as an effective unit. The defense swarmed after Raiders QB Carson Palmer, and the offense found its rhythm early. The Broncos today showed that the promises of the offseason can and will be fulfilled with Peyton Manning under the fold.

And doing it against the Raiders made it all the sweeter.