Broncos-Raiders Report Card: Pass Rush Saves the Day
The Denver Broncos battled to a hard-fought 10-7 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, pushing their record to 8-2. Despite the win, the game was marred by offensive inconsistency and missed opportunities at Empower Field at Mile High.
Game Overview
Under the glowing lights of the “Let’s Glow Back” night event, halftime featured dancers in LED suits dazzling the crowd—a spectacle brighter than the football itself. The Broncos’ victory was narrow and sluggish, with their offense failing to find rhythm for most of the contest.
Offensive Struggles
Denver’s offense appeared disjointed and out of sync. The Raiders’ defense, ranked 23rd in the league for points allowed, looked far stronger than expected against Denver’s sputtering drives.
- The Broncos went three-and-out on eight of their 13 possessions.
- They recorded negative net yardage on four separate drives.
- Quarterback Bo Nix completed 16 of 28 passes for 150 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions, struggling again with decision-making and accuracy.
- Receiver Troy Franklin showed visible frustration after missed deep passes, adding to growing tensions between him and Nix.
Key Moment
The lone spark came late in the fourth quarter, when Nix rolled out to his right and connected with Franklin on a critical third-down conversion—effectively sealing the game.
Defensive Performance
“This unit’s completely bipolar. No game-to-game consistency whatsoever.”
While the offense faltered, Vance Joseph’s defense once again compensated. The pass rush relentlessly pressured the Raiders, preserving the slim lead and delivering the game’s deciding stops.
Final Takeaway
Denver’s defense carried the night, but the persistent offensive woes threaten to overshadow their promising record unless substantial adjustments are made.
Author’s summary: A resilient Denver defense secured a sluggish 10-7 win as the offense stumbled, raising questions despite an 8-2 standing.