OAKLAND, Calif. — Players pass under a sign that hangs from an archway just outside the Oakland Raiders locker room as they make their way to the practice field in Alameda each day. The sign reads: "I'm In."

Players make a habit of smacking the sign and reciting the slogan as they leave the locker room and on to the field.

It might not be long before players are tapping that sign and saying things such as, "I'm in for a long season," or "I'm in a situation that never seems to improve" if Monday night's 41-14 debacle against the Broncos is a harbinger for the rest of this season.

Strange enough, the Raiders had an opportunity to seize control of the AFC West with a season-opening victory. Maybe then, they could have changed their slogan to "I'm in first place."

Instead, the Raiders are right where they were at this point of the season each of the past five campaigns. They are 0-1, trailing in their division and wondering if this was a one-game aberration or just the beginning pages of yet another forgettable chapter in the history of this once-proud franchise.

The Raiders entered this season with genuine reason for optimism, something that was hard to grasp in recent seasons with Kerry Collins, Aaron Brooks or Josh McCown at quarterback and scant few playmakers on offense.

Not this year, we were told. Quarterback JaMarcus Russell is ready to make good on being the face of the franchise. Rookie running back Darren McFadden is poised to conjure up images of Marcus Allen. The defense is retooled and much improved.

Perhaps, in time. Little worked well against the Broncos on Monday night.

The Broncos scored a touchdown on the game's opening drive. Russell fumbled at the Broncos' 7-yard line on the Raiders first possession. Overall, the Broncos scored three of the first four times they had the ball, built a 17-0 lead and controlled the action from start to finish.

The way in which the Broncos thrashed the Raiders no doubt is reason for major concern for coach Lane Kiffin.

He and the Raiders based much of their confidence for this season on their trade for cornerback DeAngelo Hall, their signing of strong safety Gibril Wilson and Michael Huff's move from strong safety to free safety.

Oh, well, it's only one game, right? Wilson was beat on a 27-yard touchdown pass and on a few other occasions. Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler targeted Hall time and again, with huge success. Huff was late on a sideline pass to wide receiver Darrell Jackson and then missed the tackle on a 48-yard touchdown in the third quarter.

Worse, much of the damage was done by a 49ers reject, Jackson, rookie receiver Eddie Royal and tight end Tony Scheffler, who beat middle linebacker Kirk Morrison for a 72-yard reception in the second quarter.

The Broncos typically do most of their damage with an effective running game that wears down opposing defenses. The Raiders feel as if they are at their best when teams pass the ball.

Well, so much for conventional wisdom and the widespread belief that rookies need time to adjust to the NFL.

Cutler completed 12-of-18 passes for 202 yards and one touchdown "... in the first half. He punctuated a brilliant performance by completing passes for 29 and 48 yards on Denver's first possession in the second half, with the latter going for a touchdown and a 24-0 lead.

Royal caught seven passes for 99 yards in the first half and finished with nine for 146 yards in what can best be described as a regal performance in his NFL debut.

By that time, the feel-good mood that existed at kickoff was a distant memory. A sold-out crowd on hand for Oakland's first Monday night game in two seasons turned their cheers to boos by halftime.

The buzz that accompanied Russell's first game as the full-time starter, McFadden's NFL debut and the first look at the handful of offseason acquisitions dissipated under a barrage of blown coverages, missed tackles, penalties and poor execution.

On the bright side, the Raiders learned that 49ers castoff Ashley Lelie still has something to offer as a front-line receiver. He caught three passes one week after signing with the Raiders, including an 8-yard touchdown on a fourth-and-goal play early in the fourth quarter.

They also discovered that McFadden is every bit as good as advertised. He ran hard, blocked well and displayed his versatility by lining up at quarterback.

Reason for optimism, sure, just not what the Raiders hoped for on the heels of five straight seasons in which they lost at least 11 games.

Who's in now?