Watching the Oakland - KC game, I realized that there is almost nothing the Raiders won’t do to lose a game. With half a minute left, down four points, and with more than enough time to win the game, the Raiders again throw away a game through bad play. Aaron Brooks’ toss for an interception killed the last shred of doubt: with the exception of the woeful Cardinals, the Raiders are the worst team in the league.

The defense actually plays a decent game and the kicking game is solid, but this team is mentally incapable of taking advantage of any opportunities that are given to them. The two wins were flukes; the self-destructive instincts are part of this team’s DNA. Which you would think would make me happy.

It doesn’t though. Even though last week’s Broncos-Raiders game was closer than it should have been, there was always that thought that the Raiders would self-destruct before they found a way to pick up the win. That certainty (and the fact that the certainty plays out so predictably) has taken most of the fun out of the Broncos-Raiders rivalry. It’s no fun to hate Raiders fans anymore, the silver and black and their contingent of Halloween-rejects just look sad and foolish now.

Every San Diego and KC game is decidedly more interesting for a Broncos fan than the obligatory two against a bunch of Raiders has-beens and rejects. Don’t get me wrong: there is still talent on the team. Almost all of it is on the defense or special teams, though, and the best offensive players look like they would really rather be somewhere else.

Maybe next year they’ll be better, but it will take a busy off-season of tearing apart and rebuilding to fix the problems with the offense.