RAIDERS @ Broncos Halftime Post

Score: OAK 7 DEN 20

Alright welcome in to the halftime post of the Raiders' divisional matchup with the Denver Broncos where the Broncos lead 7-20 at the half.

The Positives

Keith McGill, 3 tackles, 1 fumble recovery for TD. This is the only positive I can take out in that first half. McGill has been tested by this Denver offense a lot. They're matching him up with the speedy Emmanuel Sanders and then Demaryius Thomas, but he's holding his own down there. A couple of plays where he got beat, but he's holding his own. Of course the highlight, the fumble for a TD off a lateral from Manning. Like I said, good awareness from McGill not waiting for the whistle and putting the Raiders on the board when things are not going right.

The Negatives

Offense. There can only be two reasons the Raiders offense is ineffective. Reason 1, the Broncos' disruptive defense, they've contained everything from the running game to the passing game. Reason 2, Greg Olson's conservative play calling. On one of the Raiders' drive drive, 2 pass plays and a screen pass only to fall short of a first down, really? Still running up the middle, really? Olson is going out with a bang on this one calling predictable plays as well as boneheaded ones.

D.J. Hayden. And he has been playing well lately, just not this game. You may count the secondary as a whole a negative, but Hayden's play is one thing that I'd like to point out. Too much playing the ball off 10 yards and he's often late getting back to either Demaryius or Sanders. Most of the reasons why the Raiders can't get off the field on third down was that Hayden is being late getting back to deflect the pass. At least he's not getting burned though on a long pass, would make it much worse.

Bottom Line

The offense has to find a way to solve the Broncos' defense. The Raiders defense is pretty much keeping them alive out there despite giving up big yardages. If they can't, I guess you can say Greg Olson is play calling his way out as well as some of the coaching staff on this team.