The Denver Broncos are on track to secure a first-round bye in the playoffs as they hold a commanding 20-7 lead at the break in their clash against the Oakland Raiders.
The Broncos started the game in a solid fashion as they forced a punt from the Raiders on their first possession, and then moved into field-goal range despite sustaining a 15-yard penalty. Connor Barth fired them ahead with a 51-yard kick.
Denver took control of the game when they got into the endzone in their next possession as Peyton Manning floated the ball to Demaryius Thomas to put his side in the red zone, and CJ Anderson finished the touchdown drive with an 11-yard rush.
The Raiders forced an error from Manning as he threw a lateral pass aiming for Emmanuel Sanders, but Justin Tuck tipped the ball and Keith McGill picked it and ran it to the endzone for a touchdown.
However, Denver restored their 10-point advantage early in the second quarter as Manning looped another pass to Thomas, and he again handed off to Anderson who powered over for the one-yard touchdown.
Barth added another field goal before the break with the aid of the post to hand his team a 13-point lead at the interval.
Simon Sinclair
