While I’ll have thoughts at half time and when the game is over, but Darren it again doing the blogging play-by-play.

Half Time Update: The Broncos have a strong 17 13 point lead going into the half and the Raiders really do look like a team that could lose all of their games.

This one is far from over, but every time the Raiders look like they are about to do something good, something tremendously bad happens--and it’s an even bet as to whether the “bad” was something that the Raiders did to themselves. They look like a team that doesn’t really care about what happens next. The season isn’t half over and they’ve already called it a day.

Now, here’s the big thing: eighteen quarters and one overtime into the season and the Broncos have still only given up one touchdown. The Broncos have a fast, smart defense that knows how to capitalize on opportunities. They aren’t the most dominating (Bears?), but they are one of the most disciplined.

The offense is still a mystery, but they continue to do enough to help win games. If the Broncos go on to win this game, the Broncos won’t have any better of an idea about their offensive game--the Raiders defense just isn’t that good this year--but they will again have done enough to win a game.

Update II (The End): The Broncos looked a little disinterested in the second half. While the defense played with some urgency, the offense played a safe, slow, bland game. A decent opponent might have taken advantage of the opportunity, but today the Broncos were playing the Raiders. The Raiders have nothing this year.

And the Broncos have a defense that has allowed precisely one touchdown in five games, which is simply phenomenal. If defense wins championships, then the Broncos have to be considered a contender despite the lackluster offense.