Denver Broncos have more losers than winners after beating Raiders to get to 8-2 on the season

Denver Broncos Have More Losers Than Winners After Beating Raiders

The Denver Broncos scraped out an unimpressive victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday night, finishing 10-7 in a game that looked more like a battle of mistakes than mastery. Both teams struggled to execute, and it often seemed like neither side truly wanted to win.

In the decisive moments, the Raiders failed to capitalize on multiple openings left by Denver. Their final opportunity came late in the fourth quarter when Daniel Carlson missed a 48-yard field goal, effectively ending their chances.

With this narrow win, the Broncos improved to 8-2, marking their seventh straight victory. However, the performance did little to silence doubts about their legitimacy as real contenders. The matchup, played on a short week and under tricky conditions, delivered little quality football.

Defensive Highlights

Denver’s defense was again the story. The team relentlessly pressured Geno Smith, recording six sacks and several more quarterback hits. Smith played through visible discomfort and limited mobility, but the Raiders opted to keep him in rather than switch to Kenny Pickett.

Nik Bonitto stood out, collecting 1.5 sacks and frequently disrupting plays in the backfield. When crucial defensive moments arose, he delivered.

“The Broncos needed big plays by the defense in this game, and Bonitto was there to make them.”

Author’s Summary

The Broncos extended their win streak to seven, but their sloppy 10-7 triumph over the Raiders left more concerns than confidence about their playoff readiness.

Sporting News — 2025-11-07