Is it time for Broncos general manager John Elway to give up on this season?

When the Broncos lost four consecutive games this season, general manager John Elway vowed to keep fighting. After the 3023 defeat at Kansas City, linebacker Brandon Marshall reviewed the team’s record at the midway point and said, “We’re better than 35.” But receiver Demaryius Thomas told me that to think the Broncos are better than their record indicates is delusional. What’s your take? O’Halloran: Brandon was talking like a guy who will be here for the final eight games, and D.T. analyzed the situation like he had played his final game in orangeandblue No. 88. In your Monday column, Thomas and defensive end Derek Wolfe hit the right notes. It doesn’t matter if the Broncos play elite teams like the Rams and Chiefs close. The Broncos used to win those games. Now they’re in the NFL middle class — good enough to win some, just good enough to play some close ones, but not nearly at a level required to beat great teams.

I could see Denver winning at least four times during the second half of the season, especially with holiday fruitcakes San Francisco, Cleveland and Oakland being served on the December schedule. But should the Broncos lose at home this week in what figures to be a tossup battle against Houston, there’s the more immediate prospect of another fourgame losing streak. This is not a playoff team. O’Halloran: Not even close to a playoff team. Two of the Broncos’ wins were against 16 Oakland and 26 Arizona. Honestly, the worst thing the Broncos could do is go 44 in the season’s second half. That would put them at 79 and in NFL no man’s land. Keep or fire coach Vance Joseph? Allow some free agents to walk and/or cut some veterans? If this thing bottoms out this season, it would help their draft position and make it easier for Elway to trade up into the top three for a quarterback. Kiz: With the clock ticking toward the NFL trade deadline, here’s the question Elway needs to ask himself: Are the Broncos still truly competitive? Or is it time for Elway to start stockpiling draft picks in return for veterans such as Thomas, as well as Marshall and edge defender Shane Ray? My suggestion: Elway needs explore trade offers for multiple players, not just Marshall. But I’m afraid the haul from those deals wouldn’t be as significant as fans might expect. O’Halloran: Fans and executives alike are famous for overvaluing their team’s players. If Elway was determined to restock his draft pick cupboard, he has experienced bad luck recently because Ray (ankle) has missed two consecutive games, Marshall (knee) is concerned about his injury, cornerback Bradley Roby returned Sunday to his struggling ways and the offensive line’s depth has been depleted. Elway should shop receiver Emmanuel Sanders, which is a compliment to No. 10, not an indictment. I would also offer up any impending free agent (Roby/Ray/Shaq Barrett/Tramaine Brock).