3 Brutal Takeaways From Broncos' 10-7 Win vs. Raiders on TNF
The Denver Broncos barely edged out a divisional win against the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday night, finishing 10-7 in a game that was more of an "Ug-fest" than a showcase. Despite the ugly performance, this victory marked the Broncos' seventh consecutive win, improving their season record to 8-2 for the first time since 2015.
Offensive Struggles Highlighted
The Broncos' offense remains problematic, with much of the blame resting on head coach and play-caller Sean Payton. A key moment illustrating this was during a crucial third-quarter drive where, instead of pushing the ground game, Payton called a baffling trick play on 3rd-and-1 that resulted in a five-yard loss.
"A throw to Courtland Sutton behind the line of scrimmage was sniffed out by the Raiders, and while the veteran wide receiver was obviously supposed to throw it downfield, everyone was covered, so he lost the yardage."
This misstep forced a field goal attempt by Wil Lutz to move from a manageable 53 yards to a much tougher 58 yards. The Broncos' offense suffered numerous three-and-outs, making the game frustrating to watch.
Bo Nix's Performance
Compounding Denver's issues was the disappointing play of Raiders quarterback Bo Nix, who appeared to deliver one of his worst performances as a professional, further impacting the game's quality.
Season Outlook
Though the win was not impressive, it serves as an optimistic sign for the Broncos’ overall season trajectory, reflecting resilience despite the undeniable offensive challenges.
"By virtue of the victory, the Broncos have now won seven in a row and sit at 8-2 on the season for the first time since 2015."
Author’s summary: The Broncos’ narrow win exposed serious offensive flaws under Sean Payton’s play-calling but preserves an encouraging 8-2 record and a seven-game winning streak.