It's pretty simple, folks. You give up 241 yards rushing, you lose to anyone. Give up 241 to the 2009 Raiders, you don't deserve to be in the playoffs are not a very good team. You lose to the 2009 Raiders at home in something close to a must-win situation, you don't deserve to be in the playoffs are not a very good team. The offensive and defensive lines were terrible - and as we all know, the game is won and lost in the trenches. For what it's worth, I thought the decision to kick that last field goal instead of going for the kill was a terrible one. Yes, the defense should have been able to prevent a touchdown; but you've got a chance to end the game.

The Broncos last made the playoffs in 2005, a season in which they went 8-0 at home. Since then, they have lost home games to teams like the 49ers in 2006 (to miss the playoffs), the 5-11 Jags and Raiders and the 7-9 Bills last year, and yesterday to the 5-9 Raiders. If you can't beat teams like that at home, you don't deserve to be in the playoffs are not a very good team, and that is precisely why the Broncos have failed to make the postseason for the past three seasons. I realize that every other playoff-bubble team has some ugly losses on their ledgers, but that really doesn't make yesterday any less hideous for Denver.

DB - Broncos Highlights - Video

DB - Raiders Postgame: Report - Broncos TV

DB - Raiders Postgame: McDaniels - Broncos TV

NFL - Oakland Raiders 20 at Denver Broncos 19 - Box Score

DPP - Surprising drive deflates defense's day - Lindsay Jones

DPP - Broncos widen race for AFC wild card - Mike Klis

NYT - N.F.L. Acknowledges Long-Term Concussion Effects - Alan Schwarz
It's about time.

DB - Raiders Postgame: Orton - Broncos TV

DB - Painfully Close - Gray Caldwell

DB - Holding Their Own - Zach Eisendrath

DPP - Russell gives Raiders lift - Irv Moss

DPP - Broncos fall back into playoff pack - Woody Paige

DPP - Familiar fade pattern for Broncos - Dave Krieger

DPP - Denver walking a fine line in playoff picture
"Royal left with a neck injury he suffered on a third-quarter catch. Cornerback Champ Bailey briefly left the game with what appeared to be a stinger late in the third quarter."

DPP - Broncos inability to score from 2-yard-line helps Raiders - Jeff Legwold

DPP - Broncos leave too many points on doorstep - Mike Klis
"It's been hurting us all year," Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall said. "Our offense, we've just been mediocre, if that."

DPP - Raiders run ragged over Broncos - Jim Armstrong

CSG - Broncos grounded by Raiders - Frank Schwab

CSG - Broncos don't deserve to reach playoffs - David Ramsey
"On the final drive, Russell faced a second-and-23 and a fourth-and-10, and the Broncos allowed him to escape."

AP - Raiders Stun Broncos For Dramatic 4th Quarter Win - Arnie Stapleton

Raiders News

SFC - JaMarcus Russell, Raiders fly high in win over Denver - Steve Corkran

SFC - Final drive a 'huge step' for Russell - David White

SFC - Game review - David White

SFC - Given a chance, Bush emerges as Raiders' top option - David White

SFC - Frye still the starter, that is, if he's healthy - David White

OT - JaMarcus Russell's heroics don't close QB argument - Gary Peterson

OT - Raiders notebook: Running back Michael Bush's big game puts him back in favor - Steve Corkran

OT - Oakland Raiders stun Broncos on JaMarcus Russell's TD pass with 35 seconds left - Steve Corkran

OT - Postgame wrap - Jerry McDonald

NFL Results

NFL - Cincinnati Bengals 24 at San Diego Chargers 27

NFL - Cleveland Browns 41 at Kansas City Chiefs 34

NFL - New England Patriots 17 at Buffalo Bills 10

NFL - Atlanta Falcons 10 at New York Jets 7

NFL - Houston Texans 16 at St. Louis Rams 13

NFL - Miami Dolphins 24 at Tennessee Titans 27

NFL - Arizona Cardinals 31 at Detroit Lions 24

NFL - Chicago Bears 7 at Baltimore Ravens 31

NFL - Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24 at Seattle Seahawks 7

NFL - San Francisco 49ers 13 at Philadelphia Eagles 27

NFL - Green Bay Packers 36 at Pittsburgh Steelers 37

NFL - Minnesota Vikings 7 at Carolina Panthers 26

AFC West

NFL - In unordinary circumstances, Chargers show they're extraordinary - Vic Carucci

SDUT - Kaeding’s kick, Broncos loss give Chargers division title - Kevin Acee

SDUT - Drama? Check. Panic? Never. - Nick Canepa

SDUT - This clutch boot not a surprise - Tim Sullivan

SDUT - Defense: Big plays and big stops - Kevin Acee

SDUT - Bolts on board when Rivers puts new spin on plans - Chris Jenkins

SDUT - It’s not only about Ochocinco - Tod Leonard

SDUT - Mruczkowski’s season appears to be finished - Kevin Acee

KCS - Chiefs tough to watch in a 41-34 loss to Browns - Kent Babb

KCS - Why should the Chiefs bring Haley back? - Jason Whitlock

KCS - Charles’ big game gets overshadowed - Adam Teicher

KCS - Dropped passes continue to plague KC receivers - Adam Teicher

KCS - Cribbs, Harrison run wild for Browns - Kent Babb

KCS - Chiefs buzz | Grigsby exits Chiefs broadcast booth for final time - Adam Teicher

NFL News

NFL - Browns RB Harrison breaks Jim Brown's franchise rushing record

NFL Opinion

SI - The latest Bronco demise and more Snap Judgments - Don Banks
"Never mind what the Dallas Cowboys have done in the season's final month in recent years. The Broncos can match them loss for excruciating loss in December."

ESPN - Uphill climb for 7-7 teams; Eagles provide clarity - John Clayton

CBS - Week 15 Judgements: Broncos bringing back painful memories - Clark Judge

NFL - Steelers get offense on track in crucial, thrilling win - Bucky Brooks

FOX - Roethlisberger saves Tomlin from himself - Alex Marvez

NFL - AFC's 7-7 logjam could make for interesting final two weeks - Steve Wyche

Y! - Ravens poised for another 'wild' playoff run - Charles Robinson

SN - Deflating losses put Broncos, Dolphins and Jets in precarious positions - Clifton Brown

SN - Week 15 Checkdown: Surprises cloud fortunes for playoff teams - Vinnie Iyer

FH - Lovie Smith's Job Is on the Line - Michael David Smith

FH - History Shows Losing Late Can Help - Dave Goldberg

FOX - Titans have bright future - Jimmy Johnson

CBS - Bengals deserve praise for effort after tragic week - Clark Judge

FOX - Ochocinco honors Henry - Mark Kriegel