ALAMEDA, Calif. — A competitive team through its first four games with Tony Sparano as interim head coach, the Oakland Raiders opened the second half of the season the way they did for a handful of games under Dennis Allen — with a blowout loss.

Peyton Manning threw five touchdown passes to erase a 10-6 lead late in the first half as the Broncos won going away, 41-17.

The Raiders are 0-9, it was their 15th consecutive defeat dating back to last season, and it remains to be seen whether the mix of just-past-their-prime veterans and inexperienced rookies can pull it together and bag a win or two before the season ends.

Sparano, despite the one-sided nature of the defeat, remains publicly upbeat and is convinced the Raiders will turn things around. He even offered a little perspective at his Monday press briefing.

“It’s like I told my coaches this morning,” Sparano said. “I woke up, and at some point the sun came up here — a little later than normal, but it came up, it’s a new day and we’re getting ready to win a game in San Diego. Why not?”

Defensive end Justin Tuck arrived from the New York Giants because he had 11 sacks last season but also because he had two Super Bowl rings and was counted on to be a steadying presence in the locker room as well as a mentor to younger players.

Tuck has been slowed by a knee injury, which didn’t prevent him from batting a Manning pass into the air and getting an interception that set up a touchdown. He likes the character of the team, if not the win-loss record.

“I think we’ll respond by coming in on Wednesday and getting to work,” Tuck said. “That’s one thing I don’t worry about on this team. Even though it seems like we’re down right now, we’ll put this behind us and come back ready to play next Sunday.

“That’s the only thing we can do. Nobody’s going to feel sorry for us and we damn sure aren’t going to feel sorry for ourselves”

Free safety Charles Woodson, a standout for most of the season had a poor game Sunday, He was asked if talk of going 0-16 is affecting the team.

“We hate it. We hate that that is even in the minds of our fans,” Woodson said. “Does it weigh on us? No, I don’t think it weighs on us. Just losing games is what weighs on us. We’re not worried about 0-and-whaever. We’re just tired of losing games. We have to find a way to win and not allow that to happen.”

Notes: Cornerback DJ Hayden (groin) did not finish the game and his status is uncertain going in to the week of preparation for San Diego . . . . Offensive tackle Menelik Watson did not finish the game and is subject to the NFL concussion protocol.

RAIDERS REPORT CARD VS. BRONCOS

–PASSING OFFENSE: F — With no running game to speak of, the Raiders depend on the pass to move the chains and they had nine three-and-outs. Derek Carr finished 30 of 47 for 192 yards with two interceptions. He also flipped a forward pass to guard Khalif Barnes, believing he was Darren McFadden. Barnes fumbled the ball away. James Jones caught eight passes _ for 20 yards. Dink and dunk got them nowhere.

–RUSHING OFFENSE: F — The NFL’s least productive rushing offense had 30 yards on 15 carries and zero rushing first downs for the first time since 2006. Darren McFadden had seven rushes for 14 yards, Maurice Jones Drew three for 10. The Raiders are routinely going shotgun on third-and-short because they have no faith they can line up and get a yard or two.

–PASS DEFENSE: C-minus — For much of the first half, it was really quite good. DJ Hayden and Justin Tuck had interceptions that set up 10 points. For the first time since playing the Raiders as a Bronco, Peyton Manning appeared confused and frustrated. Then he figured it all out and the rout was on. Manning was 31 of 44 for 340 yards and five touchdowns. The secondary was crippled with injuries, but even Charles Woodson had a bad game, including a missed tackle on a 51-yard screen to C.J. Anderson that reversed momentum for good.

–RUSH DEFENSE: D-plus — The Broncos are not a particularly good rushing team, so you’d think the Raiders would step up defensively in that area. Not so. Anderson carried 13 times for 90 yards, the Broncos had seven rushing first downs, and finished averaging 4.4 yards per carry. It allowed Denver to use the run as well Manning’s ball-control passing to control the clock.

–SPECIAL TEAMS: D — Marquette King had one of his poorer games, with a 37.4 net and no punts inside the 20-yard line. With TJ Carrie out with an injury, there was no punt return longer than four yards and no kickoff return longer than 27. For Denver, Andre Caldwell had a 30-yard kickoff return and Isaiah Burse a 21-yard punt return. Sebastian Janikowski converted his only field goal attempt from 41 yards and had two touchbacks.

–COACHING C — The Raiders actually had the home crowd going for a while, smelling an upset, as they came out ready to play and with a good defensive plan against Manning. But Carr’s inability to keep the chains moving — he continues to throw behind the stakes on third down — kept putting Manning back on the field. Fans are all over offensive coordinator Greg Olson’s play-calling, but some of that falls on Carr. Hard to see how coaching could have changed his outcome.