Here comes your jolt of post Donkey-failure optomism:

We all saw what happened. Denver was laughed off the field, in probably as embarrassing a close loss can be. They won't be winning the Super Bowl this year. Or even an AFC Championship. An empty season for the Denver Broncos. And now, on top of that empty year, they have a pick somewhere in the 20s in the NFL Draft, with a team that is now older at key spots.

Enter the Raiders. 2012 was a tough year, no doubt. Probably the best games were two losses to San Diego. 3-13 never feels good, but when you look at it, the NFL is about Super Bowls. 2012 will end with the Raiders and Broncos in the same place. One was 13-3, and one 3-13. But neither have a championship. The ultimate goal. Or even an AFC title.

But the Raiders can take the edge for years from now. If the Raiders can nail this 3rd overall pick and find a defensive player of the quality of Haloti Ngata or Patrick Willis, they will have won 2012 in the long run. And I think it's certainly possible. Many liken prospects Star Lotulelei and Alec Ogletree to Ngata and Willis respectively (amazing how I put those two names in there by coincidence, huh?).

Denver did this in 2010. They got Von Miller and we got a 6-0 (8-8 overall) division record that come with a dose of Hue Jackson mania. Telling me we're better off for that? Denver won't be better off for 13-3 and either. Because they'll line up in Denver and open at home on Monday Night and be a 0-0 team that choked in the playoffs.

If you bleed Silver and Black, I don't see how this fanpost doesn't fire you up, in combination with that Denver loss. The Raiders all of a sudden can win 2012 in April again, essentially.

(I'm aware overall that 13-3 is a better season and we were awful. I'm just putting a positive spin on it because life is more fun positive than negative. Just Win Baby)