Kyle Orton will remain the Broncos’ starting quarterback Sunday when the team plays the rival Oakland Raiders in the Black Hole.

Eric Studesville, the Broncos’ interim head coach, was grilled during his news conference today about whether to play rookie quarterback Tim Tebow.

“Kyle’s going to start Sunday,” Studesville said.

Orton had been playing at a Pro Bowl level through the first 11 games, but has slumped the past two games, completing only 40.6 percent of his passes for just 283 yards with no touchdown passes and three interceptions — all during the Broncos’ 43-13 loss Sunday to the Arizona Cardinals.

Orton’s slump coupled with the Broncos’ 3-10 record has fans clamoring for Studesville to play Tebow, who former coach Josh McDaniels selected in the first round, No. 25 overall, in the April draft.

“We’re going to consider looking at anything to help us play better,” Studesville said. “If that’s part of that equation then yeah, we’re going to look at it.”

In other news:

Kyle McCarthy, a backup rookie safety from Notre Dame, suffered a serious knee injury and won’t play in the final three games.