The Denver Broncos escaped Thursday Night Football with a 10-7 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. With the win, the Broncos improve to an NFL-best 8-2 record and remain atop the AFC West division. Meanwhile, the Las Vegas Raiders continue to free-fall. The Raiders have now dropped eight of their last nine games. Their only win during this stretch came against the 1-8 Tennessee Titans.
However, even with the losses mounting, head coach Pete Carroll remains proud of his team’s effort in primetime. “The way they competed was just what we’re hoping for,” Carroll said. “I couldn’t wait to tell them how proud I was of the way they competed.”
Special Teams
AJ Cole had a phenomenal night. The Raiders punter pinned down the Broncos’ offense inside their own two-yard line twice in the first half. Cole’s spectacular punts were a big reason why Denver went three-and-out on two of their first four drives.
The Raiders’ special teams started to unravel in the third quarter. On fourth-and-16, Broncos safety JL Skinner came screaming off the edge and blocked AJ Cole’s punt with his facemask. The remarkable play provided Denver’s offense with excellent field position on Las Vegas’ own 12-yard line. The Broncos capitalized on the short field, taking a three-point lead with a Will Lutz 32-yard field goal.
With less than five minutes remaining, the Las Vegas Raiders had an opportunity to tie the game with a 48-yard field goal, but Daniel Carlson missed the kick wide to the right, and the Raiders’ offense never saw the ball again. Carlson has struggled this season. He has already missed four field goals and one extra point. “He’s gotta kick better. It kills him, too,” Pete Carroll said postgame. “He wants to make every one of those. He’s gotta kick better for us.”
Raiders’ Offense Crushed By Broncos
Geno Smith had very little time to throw against the league’s best pass rush. The Raiders allowed 13 quarterback pressures and a season-high six sacks. Four days after scoring a season-high 29 points, the Raiders managed only seven points and 3.2 yards per play against the Broncos. All-Pro Brock Bowers had one reception for 31 yards. Rookie Ashton Jeanty rushed for 60 yards and was responsible for the lone score. The Raiders struggled to sustain drives Thursday night. At one point, the offense went seven consecutive drives without a first down.
To make matters worse, offensive linemen Jackson Powers-Johnson and Dylan Parham both exited the game with ankle injuries. Neither player returned. According to Pete Carroll, Jackson Powers-Johnson will be “out for a while,” and Dylan Parham is dealing with a “high ankle sprain”.
Raiders’ Secondary Shines
The Las Vegas Raiders’ defense played well enough to win, holding the Denver Broncos to just 10 points. The secondary had an impressive night. They limited Bo Nix to 150 passing yards, one touchdown, and intercepted him twice. Cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly was responsible for both interceptions.
The Las Vegas Raiders generated 11 quarterback pressures and recorded two sacks, both of which were coverage sacks.
A key component of tonight’s success was the return of safety Lonnie Johnson Jr. He missed the first nine weeks of the season due to a broken fibula. Against the Broncos, Johnson Jr. recorded three solo tackles. However, his presence was felt outside the box score. Lonnie Johnson’s return allowed Jeremy Chinn to play his more natural position—nickel cornerback.
Pete Carroll spoke highly of the Las Vegas Raiders’ secondary this offseason, comparing their size and speed to the “Legion of Boom”. But due to injuries, we have not seen this come to fruition. The Raiders’ defense will have eight more games to prove their head coach right.
–Follow Dan Loya on X @DLoya_NFL
