The Denver Broncos had a historic first half showing on defense, allowing no points and -12 yards of total offense to the Oakland Raiders. For as good as the Broncos defense was in the first half, the offense was equally as bad in the second half, turning over the ball twice and failing to score even a single point. Denver wasted a superb effort by the defense, whose bend but don’t break mentality went for naught as the Broncos fell 15-12 at home and wasted a golden opportunity to take possession of first place in the AFC after Pittsburgh beat Cincinnati earlier in the day.

The loss puts the Broncos not only in a precarious position in the conference, it also opens up the division to the Chiefs, who beat San Diego and hold a better division record and are nipping at Denver’s heels in the AFC West.

With tough games at Pittsburgh and at home against the Bengals in the weeks that follow, things are anything but certain for the Broncos.

The Raiders did their best to keep the door open for Denver during the game, with Jack Del Rio making several questionable calls on the day including going for a two-point conversion when a point after touchdown would have put the Raiders up by four, as well as a passing play on third-and-one within field goal range that resulted in a sack and a punt, but Denver couldn’t capitalize on any of those mistakes. In fact, Denver matched Oakland one-for-one, if not at an even greater clip.

Brock Osweiler was stripped for a safety in the end zone. Emmanuel Sanders muffed a punt. Demaryius Thomas had a fumble. And dropped a key third-down conversion. Vernon Davis dropped a fourth-down conversion. Brandon McManus missed a field goal. And Michael Schofield got no help in blocking Khalil Mack, who had five sacks on the day.

It was a complete and total meltdown for Denver, who led 12-0 at the half.

As always, the team at MHS was all over the action, for better and for worse, offering their input on Twitter. Here’s how we, along with some of our friends in the Denver media, saw Denver’s collapse at the hands of the hated Raiders…

Oakland responded to open the second half…

With a forced fumble, Oakland took full control of the momentum…

With Oakland in field goal range on third-and-one, Shaq Barrett made the play of the day to that point…

But after Denver posted its third consecutive three-and-out of the second half, Broncos fans were getting worried…

Then the wheels fall completely off for Brock…

And for Emmanuel Sanders…

But Jack Del Rio makes a questionable decision after the Raiders go up by three. He goes for… two?

With a chance to get Denver back in it, McManus misses for the third week in a row…

The Broncos got the ball back with 2:37 left, no timeouts and a chance to win/tie. But the day ended the way the entire second half had gone…

https://twitter.com/AllbrightNFL/status/676194168327159808

https://twitter.com/ReillyRick/status/676194310715404289

These final thoughts just about summarize the feelings in Broncos Country after the final whistle blew…

https://twitter.com/davidlukeramsey/status/676194579738001408