Broncos Defense Dominates Raiders in Ugly Thursday Night Win

When considering instances of disappointing Thursday night football matchups, one from the 2022 season, featuring the Indianapolis Colts against the Denver Broncos, frequently arises. Veteran quarterbacks Matt Ryan and Russell Wilson participated in a 12-9 victory for the Colts, marked by the absence of any touchdowns. The overall quality was widely criticized.

This year, the Broncos’ recent game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday evening attempted to rival that contest in terms of lackluster performance.

On a breezy evening in Denver, both squads struggled throughout the game’s duration. The offensive displays from both sides were underwhelming. Special teams exhibited subpar performance as well. The game lacked any particularly impressive aspects.

The sole advantage for the Broncos lies in their triumph. They secured a field goal in the latter portion of the match, which represented the only scoring following the intermission, ultimately leading to a 10-7 victory. The instances where Broncos followers expressed their discontent with the offense before another punt significantly outweighed noteworthy moments from either participating team.

The Broncos now hold a record of 8-2 after their recent victory; however, sentiments within Denver should remain tempered regarding their performance. A victory, though, remains a victory and it’s the most optimistic way to view the Broncos’ performance.

Rough first half for both teams

Observed from the Amazon Prime Video broadcast, the atmospheric circumstances appeared satisfactory. There was an absence of both snowfall and rainfall. Nevertheless, the elements notably influenced the gameplay.

Significant winds posed difficulties for both competing entities. The act of punting proved challenging; the Broncos’ Jeremy Crawshaw executed a punt attempt that resulted in minimal contact with the ball, making contact solely with the medial part of his foot. The breeze heavily impacted the potential for offensive progression, although its influence should not be considered the sole determinant of these struggles.

The Raiders’ Geno Smith was subjected to five instances of being sacked during the first segment of the game and six times overall. The Broncos encountered limitations in their rushing efforts, accumulating just 24 yards throughout the initial half, despite the Raiders’ defensive line not presenting a formidable obstacle. Bo Nix displayed inconsistency in the accuracy of his throws. Although it required a considerable duration, the Broncos eventually assembled a scoring sequence within the second quarter. Troy Franklin successfully caught a pass for a touchdown spanning 7 yards, thereby equating the score at 7-7. Ashton Jeanty had previously contributed to the Raiders’ score in the first quarter.

At the midpoint, neither team could claim significant accomplishments. The match resembled the typical unpolished Thursday night games that frequently draw criticism. Conditions failed to improve upon resumption.

Second half gets even worse

The Broncos’ offensive unit sought options outside of Nix to propel the ball, an initiative that wasn’t fruitful. During the third quarter, the Broncos attempted a deception during a third-down play. The ball was thrown laterally toward receiver Courtland Sutton, who initially aimed to throw but then was sacked due to not finding any open teammates. Following this, Broncos kicker Wil Lutz’s 59-yard field goal fell short. This entire series of events symbolized the issues. The fans responded with more jeers.

The Broncos’ defense was, however, rescuing the offense. Subsequently, Jeanty experienced a dropped pass, which deflected into the air, enabling linebacker Dondrea Tillman to intercept. The Broncos couldn’t capitalize, ending with a three-and-out, prompting more disapproval from the home crowd.

The Raiders were not capitalizing either. Las Vegas endured seven consecutive possessions without achieving a first down, the lengthiest such occurrence in the NFL currently, as identified by Amazon Prime Video. This run concluded in the fourth quarter, signifying nearly two complete quarters without a Raiders first down.

Smith was noticeably hampered, having injured his left leg during a tackle earlier in the fourth quarter. Following a brief absence of two plays, Smith re-entered the game. After Nix threw an interception when the ball deflected off of Franklin’s arm to Kyu Blu Kelly for Kelly’s second interception, the Raiders assumed control in Broncos territory, presenting a possibility to tie the score late. Smith was presented with the chance to be the hero, although he only led a short drive, concluding with a field-goal attempt for the tie that Daniel Carlson missed to the right. Unsurprisingly.

The Broncos managed enough plays to secure the game following the missed field goal. They achieved some first downs, which took enough time off the clock to effectively seal the victory.

Only three points were registered during the latter half, which was sufficient for the Broncos to win. Both teams would likely want to forget this game.