Broncos stomp on Raiders

OAKLAND, Calif. – Jay Cutler’s strength and rocket arm are back like never before now that his diabetes is under control.

Cutler threw for 300 yards with long touchdown passes to rookie Eddie Royal and Darrell Jackson that helped the Denver Broncos beat up on their AFC West rivals in a 41-14 victory over the Oakland Raiders on Monday night.

Cutler showed why the Broncos made him a first-round draft pick in 2006, completing 16 of 24 passes and confidently picking apart Oakland’s rebuilt defense in a dominating season-opening performance despite missing suspended big-play receiver Brandon Marshall.

It was a pleasant sight for the Broncos to see after an up-and-down performance last season when Cutler lost 35 pounds and the zip on his throws while struggling with diabetes that was not diagnosed until March. Now he’s back to his healthy self and the Broncos couldn’t be happier.

For the Raiders, the season couldn’t have gotten off to much worse of a start. They lost their sixth straight season opener and only avoided their third straight shutout on “Monday Night Football” when JaMarcus Russell threw two meaningless fourth-quarter touchdown passes.

Oakland committed five personal fouls, botched a reverse for a 15-yard loss and was dominated on both sides of the ball in a performance that drew plenty of boos from a frustrated crowd that has grown all too used to this type of game: The Raiders have an NFL worst 19-62 record since 2004.