TC Martin

Raider Woes Continue in Loss to Broncos 

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The season of doom continues for the Las Vegas Raiders.  After another agonizing defeat where the offense was nonexistent and the special teams let opportunities slip away, the Raiders fall to 2-7 in losing 10-7 to the Denver Broncos. 

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In an ugly football game where both teams came off exhausting physical contests four days earlier, there was no rhythm and very little execution by either team in what amounted to be a terrible performance by both AFC West squads. 

 

Denver will be happy to escape with the narrow victory as they saw their second-year quarterback, Bo Nix struggled mightily.  Nix threw two interceptions while accounting for only 150 yards through the air.  Nix was booed by the sellout crowd throughout the game and looked nothing like a top-tier quarterback. 

 

Fortunately for the Broncos, their defense continued its dominant form in carrying the team to their eighth victory of the season and seventh straight win. They sacked Raider's signal caller Geno Smith six times and harassed him several others, causing Smith to play the fourth quarter with a noticeable limp.  Smith was replaced by Kenny Pickett only to come back in the following series. 

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Despite the Broncos ineptness on offense, the Raiders couldn't' capitalize.  Denver did not record a first down until their fifth drive of the game. This led Las Vegas to getting great field position thorough the first half allowing the Raiders to grab a 7-0 lead.  

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Denver tied the game after the Raiders had their own offensive problems and didn't take the lead until Will Lutz made a 32-yard field goal for the game's final score at the end of the third quarter. 

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Raider's kicker Daniel Carlson, once automatic, missed a game tying field goal from 48 yards to extinguish any chances for victory.  Carlson missed an extra point in last week's one-point loss to Jacksonville after having his game winning kick blocked against Chicago in Week 4. 

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The game was a typical Thursday Night flag fest as the teams combined for 22 penalties and 15 punts. The Broncos had more penalties (11) than they had first downs (10) and had seven three-and-outs in 13 possessions.  The Raiders were just as pathetic as they went seven straight drives without moving the chains. 

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Las Vegas will have plenty to time to try to regroup as don't play again until Monday, November 17th at home against another struggling team, the Dallas Cowboys.