Certainty vanished with the Raiders.
There was no way the Broncos were losing to Oakland at home. Not with the AFC's playoff pole position in their grasp. Not to a Raiders offense that couldn't find the end zone with Google Maps.
Final score: Raiders 15, Broncos 12.
From that moment, there became no sure thing in the Broncos' season. All the pieces are in place for a victory Sunday against the San Diego Chargers.
San Diego is this season's try-hard team in a league that doesn't hand out Capri-Suns and gummi worms. So many heart-in-a-blender losses.