Broncos Defense Dominates in Gritty 10-7 Win Over Raiders/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Denver Broncos leaned on their dominant defense to secure a narrow 10-7 win over the struggling Las Vegas Raiders. Despite poor offensive execution and special teams mishaps, Denver extended its win streak to seven games. The Broncos now sit atop the NFL at 8-2 — thanks largely to their relentless pass rush.
DENVER — It wasn’t pretty, but the Denver Broncos continue to find ways to win — and they’re not apologizing for how it looks.
In a low-scoring, penalty-laden Thursday night showdown, the Broncos eked out a 10-7 win over the reeling Las Vegas Raiders at Empower Field, thanks to a smothering defensive performance that masked serious issues on offense and special teams. The victory pushed Denver to an NFL-best 8-2 record and extended their win streak to seven games — their longest in 10 years.
And he’s right.
Denver’s defense was the undisputed star of the night. The unit recorded six sacks on Raiders quarterback Geno Smith, pushing the team’s season total to 46 — the most by any NFL defense through 10 games since at least 1990.
It wasn’t just pressure. The defense also pitched a near shutout in the second half, holding Las Vegas without a first down over seven consecutive drives. The Raiders’ final three possessions ended in a turnover on downs, a Kyu Blue Kelly interception, and a missed game-tying field goal attempt by Daniel Carlson.
Nix finished with 150 passing yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. He was booed by fans after several stalled drives and admitted the frustration: “I’ve been booed before, and I’ll probably be booed again.”
Denver’s offense had just 10 first downs and was penalized 11 times — more than the number of first downs gained. The Broncos also went three-and-out on seven of their 13 possessions.
The game’s turning point came late in the third quarter when rookie safety J.L. Skinner blocked a punt with — quite literally — his face.
The blocked punt set Denver up at the Raiders’ 12-yard line. But the offense couldn’t capitalize fully, losing two yards on three plays before kicker Wil Lutz hit a 32-yard field goal to give Denver a 10-7 lead with five seconds left in the third quarter.
It turned out to be the game-winner.
The Raiders, who recently traded wide receiver Meyers and continue to flounder at 2-7, had a chance to tie late in the game. Cornerback Kyu Blue Kelly’s second interception gave Las Vegas excellent field position at the Denver 45-yard line.
But Carlson missed a 48-yard field goal with 4:26 remaining — a crushing blow in a season filled with kicking woes for the former All-Pro.
Carlson has now missed key kicks in three separate losses this season, including a blocked potential game-winner against Chicago and a missed extra point against Jacksonville.
With the lead intact, Denver’s offense finally found a rhythm on its final possession, bleeding the clock with a methodical drive that ended in kneel-downs inside the red zone after the Raiders burned all their timeouts.
It was a gritty finish to an otherwise sloppy affair, one typical of Thursday night games where both teams are working on short rest and worn-down rosters.
Denver’s offense continued its trend of slow starts, managing just six total yards in the first quarter. The Raiders took advantage with a 4-yard touchdown run by Ashton Jeanty, capping off a drive that gave Las Vegas a 7-0 lead.
The Broncos didn’t earn a first down until their fifth possession. Running back J.K. Dobbins sparked the drive with a 13-yard run, and Nix followed it up with an 11-yard touchdown pass to rookie receiver Troy Franklin to tie the game at 7.
That was all the scoring Denver’s offense would manage.
Smith briefly exited after a big hit by Nik Bonitto and Malcolm Roach, forcing backup Kenny Pickett into the game. Pickett threw a single incompletion before Smith returned, though he limped into the locker room after the game with what was later diagnosed as a quad bruise.
Raiders:
Broncos:
Raiders: Host the Dallas Cowboys on Monday, Nov. 17.
Broncos: Host the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Nov. 16, in a pivotal AFC West showdown.
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