Broncos Suffer Humilating 59-14 Loss to Raiders

I've been a Broncos fan since I was five years old in 1985. I've seen plenty of highs and lows, but for the most part mostly great moments. I've now seen the lowest of lows. The Broncos got dismantled Sunday at home to the Raiders 59-14. This was worst that the 41-16 loss to the Raiders in 1994. This was more humilating then the 41-3 loss to the Chargers in 2007. This was worse then the 44-24 loss to the Chiefs in Week 17 of last year. The reason why this was so bad was because it exposed the reality of what the Broncos are. The reality is this team is not good at all and this franchise is going backwards. The Raiders scored on their first drive of the game, and Kyle Orton served up a pick six on the next play to give the Raiders a 14-0 lead. Demaryius Thomas fumbled on the next play, and the Raiders recovered. Denver never recovered after that. Darren McFadden rumbled in to the end zone untouched and the Raiders led 21-0. The game was over right there in the first quarter. It got worse and McFadden added three more touchdown runs, and Raiders completely embarrased Denver 59-14 at Invesco Field. The Broncos have now lost three straight to Oakland at home, and they have lost four straight home games to the Chargers, Chiefs and Raiders. The 59 points ties the record for most points given up by the Broncos in a game, and it is tied for the most points scored by a team in the NFL in the last 20 years. The Broncos are now 2-5 and pretty much done in terms of the playoffs, and their soul searching will begin. What are the ramifications of this defeat? It is unknown right now, because the season is still pretty early, but it doesn't look good for the McDaniels regime to give up a 50 spot at home to the hated Raiders. Yesterday, just might have been the darkest day in Broncos history.
Here are my quick hit thoughts on the game and the future of the Broncos:
1) At 2-5, Denver is done and not recovering from this game. It will be a struggle for them all season, and they are not making up any ground on anyone in their division. 2-5 is their worst start after seven games since 1999.
2) As far as I'm concerned Kyle Orton is done as the Broncos quarterback. I've seen enough of Orton, and he is not a big time player. He is not going to help us win games on his own and that is essentially what he going to be asked to do. He is not in the plans for the future, and I'm done watching him as the Broncos QB. By the way he is 4-12 in his last 16 starts for Denver.
3) Let's face it, the Broncos defense is just not any good. It hasn't been good since the end of the 2006 season. With the exception of the first six games last year, the Broncos defense has been one of the worst in the NFL. The main problem is that the Broncos have never addressed the issues in their front seven the right way: THROUGH THE DRAFT. Mike Shanahan never did it and neither has Josh McDaniels. There are no young, impact players in the Broncos front seven. With the exception of Robert Ayers, the Broncos have no addressed these positions at all. They just added no-name or bargain free agents or older veterans to try and plug these gaps and it has not worked. I'm tired of seeing the likes of Ronnie Fields, Jamal Williams, Justin Bannan, Kevin Vickerson, Mario Haggan, Joe Mays, Vonnie Holliday and Jason Hunter. The Broncos are not physical nor are they any good upfront, and it has killed them the last four years. They need to address the D-Line and the Linebacker corps in the draft period.
4) It is Tebow Time. It is time to play the kid now. Sit Kyle Orton. Who cares if you go 3-13 or 4-12? We are not going to the playoffs this year, so play Tim Tebow and get him experience. You have to do it. It is the only thing that will keep fans coming to home games this season. Besides, it will provide a little spark and energy to the team, the fans, and the community. Tebow needs to play and he needs to play soon. Start him the week of November 14th at home against the Chiefs. Give him the bye week to prepare. Start Tebow, play him the rest of the year, and he is the only hope this franchise has right now.
5) I have been a fan of McDaniels from the start but it is time to start to question is hire as the Broncos head coach. Since starting 6-0 in his first year, he is 4-13 in his last 17 games and there looks like no hope in sight. The only thing that McDaniels has is Tebow. He might be given a chance to develop a young QB that could be really good. That is it. You can't excuse your team playing lifeless and quitting to the hapless Raiders at home. A 59-14 loss in the NFL is about as bad as you get. Many of McDaniels moves have not turned out the way he thought it would. You've go too many of his castoffs playing well in other cities, especiall y Peyton Hillis, and his moves to reconstruct this team are just not paying off. Mr. Bowlen might be patient, but if Denver really falls flat on its face this year, then you can't be surprised or upset if Bowlen makes a move, especially if someone like Jon Gruden is interested. Maybe Pat Bowlen made a mistake and McDaniels in is over his head.