Broncos win hard-fought game vs. Raiders to move to 7-5 on the season

Division games are never easy and the Denver Broncos proved that with their hard-fought win over the Las Vegas Raiders. The game was in extreme doubt for Denver until they finally generated a turnover. That would lead to a touchdown and the lead.

They’d get another turnover late to seal the game to move Denver to 7-5 on the season. With a home game against the Cleveland Browns next week, the Broncos are on the cusp of inserting themselves firmly in the AFC playoff picture.

First Quarter

The story of the first quarter for the Broncos was centered around right tackle Mike McGlinchey. He had two early holding calls that Bo Nix and the offense was able to overcome, but a false start on a critical third down in the red zone finally killed a drive. While they got a field goal from that drive, it was concerning to see so many mistakes from a single player to start the game.

Meanwhile, the Broncos defense was doing their job early, but a 59-yard kickoff return by the Raiders jumpstarted their offense ending the quarter threatening to put points on the board.

Broncos 3, Raiders 0. Read full first quarter recap.

Second Quarter

The story of the first half transformed into one of disbelief as the Broncos special teams just collapsed after that kickoff return. A Raiders fake punt broke the game wide open and gave all the momentum over to the home team.

While Denver was able to add a few long field goals in the quarter, the Raiders defense was fierce any time Denver crossed into Vegas territory. Meanwhile, Gardner Minshew had all day to throw in the first half with zero pass rush from the Broncos defense with Zach Allen sidelined with an injury.

Raiders 13, Broncos 9. Read full second quarter recap.

Third Quarter

Momentum is a fickle beast in the NFL and the Raiders were on the verge of putting this game away in the third quarter when the Broncos defense finally started making some plays. They hadn’t had a sack all game until this Raiders drive with Malcolm Roach getting there, then on the very next play Minshew was pressured into making an errant throw that Brandon Jones intercepted.

The return set Bo Nix and the Broncos up inside the Raiders red zone. On the second play of the drive, Nix floated a beautiful pass up for Courtland Sutton who hauled it in to put Denver back out in front.

Momentum had clearly shifted with that series and by the end of the third quarter, the Broncos were again in field goal range looking to add more points on the board.

Broncos 16, Raiders 13. Read full third quarter recap.

Fourth Quarter

Denver’s drive would falter to start the fourth quarter with the Raiders defense suddenly waking up. The 45-yard field goal by Wil Lutz would be ten unanswered for Denver at that point and giving them a precarious 6-point lead.

The Raiders responded getting a big defensive pass interference call on Ja’Quan McMillian to set them up with a chance to score and score they did. The Broncos held them to a field goal, but it did cut their lead to just three points with less than ten minutes to go in the game.

Bo Nix and the Broncos responded with a drive that good teams respond with in a tough game against a bad team. They drove methodically down the field until a Nix pass to Marvin Mims Jr. exploded for a 36-yard catch and run down to the Raiders two yard line. Nix would then fire a pass to Sutton to take a two-score lead with give and a half minutes to go.

The euphoria of that two score lead vanished in just a few minutes as the Raiders streaked down the field mostly picking on Ja’Quan McMillian in coverage. With a first and goal at the four yard line, the Broncos defense came alive and forced the Raiders to kick a field goal to make it a one-score game at 26-19.

Denver went three and out and it looked like the Raiders might be in store for an epic comeback, but a sack on Minshew knocked him out of the game and two plays later Nik Bonitto strip-sacked Desmond Ridder to give the Broncos the ball at the Raiders 20 yard line.

It was a tough go, but the Broncos escaped with a much-needed victory.

Broncos 29. Raiders 19.