Broncos’ defense holds Raiders back to secure seventh consecutive victory

Denver Broncos Secure Narrow Win Over Las Vegas Raiders

On Thursday night in Denver, the Broncos managed to edge out the struggling Las Vegas Raiders with a score of 10-7. The star of the night? The Denver defense, which sacked quarterback Geno Smith six times, helping make up for some lackluster moments from the offense and special teams.

Despite holding the best record in the league at 8-2, the Broncos didn’t really shine on this windy evening in the Rockies. They managed to barely come out on top against the Raiders (2-7) who recently traded away their leading receiver, Jacobi Myers. This victory also extended Denver’s home winning streak to an impressive ten games.

Will Lutz kicked a crucial 32-yard field goal with only five seconds left in the third quarter, tipping the score in favor of the Broncos after a 7-7 deadlock. J.L. Skinner’s block of A.J. Cole’s punt helped set up Denver at the Las Vegas 12, reviving some momentum for the struggling offense.

Though the Broncos faced a setback—losing two yards over three plays—Lutz missed a significant 59-yard attempt early in the third, which could have given Denver its first lead. The Raiders came close to Denver’s 45-yard line in the game’s final moments, thanks to an interception by cornerback Blue Kelly. However, they couldn’t capitalize, with Daniel Carlson’s 48-yard field goal going wide right moments before time ran out.

With time winding down, the Broncos maintained their lead through a slow but steady drive, ultimately kneeling inside the Raiders’ 20-yard line after a strategic timeout.

This game felt like a classic Thursday night struggle, with both teams grappling to find an offensive rhythm. Injuries played a role, with players, including Smith, frequently heading to the sidelines for checks. The Broncos had a rough start, racking up just six yards on their first six plays and trailing 7-0 after Ashton Giunty’s short touchdown run.

It wasn’t until their fifth possession that the Broncos made any real headway, with J.K. Dobbins contributing a 13-yard run on first down. Shortly thereafter, Bo Nix connected with Troy Franklin for an 11-yard touchdown, pulling ahead by seven points.

In the first half, Denver managed 116 total yards, just barely outpacing Las Vegas. The Denver defense was formidable, recording five sacks as the game rolled on. Remarkably, this season, they have scored a total of 46 points, the highest for any team after ten games since 1990.

Special teams were a mixed bag again for the Broncos, with rookie Jeremy Croshaw’s punts averaging only 30, 36, and 38 yards in the first half. Yet, Skinner redeemed the situation somewhat by blocking Cole’s punt even while showing some aggressive play.

Injury Updates

For the Raiders, they activated running back Ronnie Johnson from the reserve list but faced a tough night. RG Jackson Powers-Johnson was sidelined in the second quarter, and LG Dylan Parham suffered a sprained ankle. Safety Tristin McCollum was evaluated for a concussion in the second half. Meanwhile, Smith had a bit of a scare, limping off with a rolled left quadriceps late in the game.

The Broncos had their own issues, as All-Pro RG Quinn Meinertz left the game due to illness. Star cornerback Pat Surtain II missed a second straight game with a pectoral strain, and standout kick returner Marvin Mims Jr. wasn’t cleared from concussion protocol in time to play. LB Karen Reed also left the game with a hamstring injury, and OLB Jonah Ellis pulled his hamstring as well.