3 Brutal Takeaways From Broncos' 10-7 Win vs. Raiders on TNF

The Denver Broncos managed a narrow divisional victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday night, winning 10-7 in a game that was far from impressive. While the victory marks the Broncos' seventh straight win and an 8-2 season record, their performance was difficult to watch.

Offensive Struggles Highlighted

The Broncos' offense remains a major concern. Despite the winning streak, the team's play-calling raises questions, especially given their difficulty moving the ball. A puzzling example was on a crucial third-and-1 in the third quarter when a trick play backfired, resulting in a five-yard loss.

“Explain why a savvy play-caller would get his ground game going on a much-needed third-quarter drive, only to call a head-scratching trick play on 3rd-&-1 that lost five yards.”

The play involved a pass attempt to Courtland Sutton behind the line of scrimmage, who was supposed to throw it downfield but was quickly covered, leading to lost yardage. This setback turned a reasonable 53-yard field goal attempt into a much tougher 58-yard kick for Wil Lutz.

Multiple Three-and-Outs

The Broncos suffered numerous three-and-outs against the Raiders, severely limiting offensive momentum and contributing to their overall poor showing.

Bo Nix's Performance

Adding to Denver's struggles, Bo Nix had arguably the worst game of his professional career, further complicating the Raiders’ offensive efforts.

“Bo Nix played arguably his worst game as a pro.”

Summary

This close Broncos win exposes significant offensive flaws, underscoring the need for better play-calling and execution despite the impressive winning streak.

Sports Illustrated — 2025-11-07