Fans of the Denver Broncos look on during the second quarter against the Oakland Raiders at INVESCO Field at Mile High on October 24, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. (Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

Broncos 14, Raiders 59. The Broncos gifted Oakland 21 points in the first 6 minutes of the game, but the Raiders still outplayed them the rest of the way 38-14. How does this loss rank all-time for you? Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Oakland Raiders running back Darren McFadden (20) is tackled after a first down run by Denver Broncos defensive tackle Marcus Thomas (79) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2010, in Denver. (AP Photo/ Jack Dempsey )

As bad as the scoreboard looks, it still doesn’t reflect just how awful Sunday’s game went for the Denver Broncos.

From start to finish — from tight end Zach Miller‘s opening 43-yard score to the Broncos’ inability to convert goal to go on the one-yard line in the fourth quarter — the Broncos were embarrassed by the Oakland Raiders. Oakland took a 38-0 lead before the Broncos made a dent on the scoreboard, and the Raiders (3-4) went on to win 59-14 in Week 7 NFL action.

The Raiders’ 59 points set an Oakland franchise record and tied Denver’s for most points allowed. It was the largest score an opponent has posted at INVESCO Field at Mile High.

And the Broncos (2-5) are left reeling after one of the worst losses in franchise history.

@
Raiders (2-4) @ Broncos (2-4)
Sunday, October 24, 2010
INVESCO Field at Mile High
2:15 p.m. MT

The Denver Broncos (2-4) on Sunday will host the Oakland Raiders (2-4) at INVESCO Field at Mile High in their first divisional game of the 2010 season. Kickoff is set for 2:15 p.m. MDT.

Live Blog

The Rules: Keep it clean, no insulting other commenters. Join us beginning 15 minutes before the game for the best in-game commentary in Broncos Country! GO BRONCOS!!

Three players were listed as questionable on the Denver Broncos‘ injury report, but only Eddie Royal was thought to be a serious threat not to play. Fret not, Broncos fans and fantasy owners — the wide receiver is good to go.

Expect Royal, cornerback Champ Bailey, and defensive lineman Kevin Vickerson to all dress against the Oakland Raiders today. Tim Tebow is the active #2 quarterback.

Meanwhile, it’s being reported Jason Campbell will indeed start at QB for the Raiders, as we reported Friday.

Broncos inactives: S Brian Dawkins, CB Andre Goodman, S Darcel Mcbath, LB Robert Ayers, LB Wesley Woodyard, OL Eric Olsen, OL Chris Clark, QB Brady Quinn (3rd QB)

Raiders inactives: QB Bruce Gradkowski (3rd QB), W. McFadden, Ware, Coothel, T. Howard, J. Henderson, Schilens, Myers

Kyle Orton can't recover a fumbled snap late in the fourth quarter against the New York Jets. (Reuters - Rick Wilking)

As the Denver Broncos stand, battered, war-torn and close to utterly being depleted…

There is one fact that must be reflected upon. Not a single team in the NFL has had a more difficult road this season than the 2-4 Broncos. It started in the preseason even, with the Pittsburgh Steelers and only got worse as the season began. Denver has faced the 3-3 Jacksonville Jaguars, the 3-2 Seattle Seahawks, the 4-2 Indianapolis Colts, the 4-2 Tennessee Titans, the 4-2 Baltimore Ravens and the 5-1 New York Jets… And somehow they’ve won two of those games!

“Too bad the NFL doesn’t use the BCS computer rankings. The Broncos, at 2-4, may have already clinched a top-10 ranking.” – DP

Arguably they had a shot at the Colts and had three bonehead plays gone the opposite way the Broncos would have beat the best team in the NFL last week. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Jason Campbell #8 of the Oakland Raiders passes the ball against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park on October 17, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

The Oakland Raiders‘ quarterback conundrum isn’t quite solved, but, roughly 48 hours from game time, a solution is beginning to take shape.

The Oakland Tribune is reporting that, barring a setback, quarterback Jason Campbell will get the start against the Broncos.  Campbell is officially listed as questionable on the Raiders’ injury report.

“I thought Jason was pretty close today, so if it stays that way, I think it would be him — again, with no setbacks,” Raiders coach Tom Cable said Friday.

Bruce Gradkowski is “very” questionable, according to Cable, meaning Kyle Boller will likely get the nod if Campbell can’t go.

Campbell was a capable quarterback for the Redskins, and shouldn’t be taken lightly because of his struggles of late.  We all remember what happened the last time the Broncos took a visiting Raiders quarterback lightly.

If no setbacks, it’s Campbell vs. Broncos [Inside the Oakland Raiders] [via]

Injury Report for the Week 7 NFL game between the Denver Broncos and Oakland Raiders on Sunday, October 24, 2010.

DNP – Did Not Participate; LP – Limited Participation; FP – Full Participation; NL – Not Listed

Raiders report after the jump. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Denver Broncos coach Josh McDaniels yells during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2010, in Denver. (AP Photo/Barry Gutierrez)

It took a season and a half, but it seems like something finally clicked in Josh McDaniels’ head.

In a game everyone thought would be a blowout, the Denver Broncos came within a pass interference penalty of upsetting perhaps the AFC’s top team, the New York Jets, and fell 24-20 after Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton mishandled a snap on the final drive in a game.

If there was ever a loss that one can draw optimism from, this was it.

Running back Knowshon Moreno came back from injury and rookie quarterback Tim Tebow scored his first NFL touchdown out of the Wild Horses formation.  The Broncos offense as a whole kept the Jets on their toes ll day with multiple packages and sub packages. The defense got into the act as well playing in both the 3-4 and the 4-3, which the Broncos ran under former coach Mike Shanahan.

It raises the question: has Josh McDaniels finally figured it all out?  Click here to read the rest of this entry »

• The Raiders have won 4 of their last 6 on the road within the division, including the last 2 at INVESCO Field.
• The Broncos don’t lack motivation — all they have to do is “watch last year’s game,” says McDaniels.
• Raiders’ runners, plus a tight end averaging 64.7 yards per game, make the Raiders’ offense dangerous.
• Perrish Cox has become the focal point of every opposing team’s strategy, but he’s “holding his own.”
• Demaryius Thomas has Top 2-3 WR potential.
• McDaniels waxed poetic on D.J. Williams, who’s having a career year.
• McDaniels: Tim Tebow throwing the ball isn’t out of the question.
• With the tough part of the schedule complete, they may just be ready for a run at the AFC West.
• The Raiders, also at 2-4, might be thinking the same thing.
• Broncos players approved union decertification yesterday, opening up the players’ legal options in case of a 2011 lockout.
• Vincent Jackson will finally report in SD — but it’s almost too little, too late.
• The NFL released this video to its players on illegal helmet-to-helmet hits.

NFL Network’s Top 100 NFL Players of all Time list unveiled numbers 21-30 tonight, and who did they have the misfortune of placing 23rd?

That would be John Elway. 23rd. Utterly ridiculous. This list just lost all credibility.

John Elway is the greatest athlete to ever grace the football field. Period.

Not according to this list, which was determined by the NFLN’s “blue ribbon” panel of “experts.” No, on this list, Elway is slotted one spot above Patriots G John Hannah. A guard.

John Hannah is arguably the greatest offensive lineman of all time, but that doesn’t imply he made one-tenth the impact Elway did. Not in a single game, not over their respective careers, and not on the game of football as a whole. Click here to read the rest of this entry »