DENVER, COLORADO - OCTOBER 06: Bo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos warms up before playing the Las Vegas Raiders at Empower Field At Mile High on October 06, 2024 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)Photo: Justin Edmonds / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
The Denver Broncos beat the Las Vegas Raiders 34-18 to improve to 3-2! Below is the recap and postgame interviews:
Broncos won the toss and deferred to the 2nd half.
The Las Vegas Raiders started with the ball at their own 30 yard line. On 3rd and 8, Gardner Minshew scrambled for an 11 yard gain to give the Raiders an early first down. On the very next play, Gardner Minshew, throwing off his back foot, hit Brock Bowers down the right sideline as he mossed PJ Locke and scampered into the endzone for a 57 yard touchdown to give the Raiders an early 7-0 lead.
A stunned crowd at Empower Field at Mile High watched their offense move to midfield with a strong run from Javonte Williams on 4th and 1 but couldn't do more than that and punted it back to Las Vegas who would start their next drive from the Raiders 10 yard line with 9:33 remaining in the 1st quarter.
On 3rd and 9, Gardner Minshew once again hurt the Broncos with a 11 yard scramble to get the Raiders a first down. On 2nd down, he hit Jakobi Meyers for an 18 yard gain and Las Vegas was quickly at midfield. The Raiders continued methodically working into Broncos territory using balance between the run game and quick passing game. The drive eventually stalled out just outside of the Red Zone and the Raiders were forced to settle for a 40 yard field goal, extending their lead 10-0 with 1:27 remaining in the 1st quarter.
Now in a double digit hole, the Broncos would start their 2nd drive from their own 41 yard line after Tremon Smith returned it 38 yards on the kickoff. Marvin Mims added a spark with a 17 yard reverse and then Bo Nix found Lil'Jordan Humphrey for a 21 yard gain to quickly get the Broncos into Raiders territory. Maxx Crosby sacked Bo Nix for a 13 yard sack and the Broncos suddenly working backwards to start the 2nd quarter. Big play from Javonte Williams to gain back 13 yards on a screen to get the Broncos into field goal range and Wil Lutz converted a 51 yard field goal to pull the Broncos within 1 score, 10-3 with 12:23 remaining in the 2nd quarter.
The Las Vegas Raiders, once again, were on the move with a 40 yard run by Ameer Abdullah and eventually working down to the Broncos 5 yard line but Pat Surtain intercepted a pass in the end zone and returned it 100 yards for a Pick 6! Broncos tied the game at 10 with 8:43 remaining in the 2nd half.
Raiders went back to work from their own 30 yard line and the Broncos defense FINALLY forced a 3 and out as PJ Locke forced an incomplete pass to Jakobi Meyers. Broncos offense back on the field from their own 8 yard line with 7:05 remaining in the 1st half.
Unfortunately, the Broncos couldn't get their initial 1st down of the next drive and were forced to punt the ball back to Las Vegas who would take over at the 50 yard line.
The Broncos defense, once again, was able to force a quick 3 and out but the bad news is Las Vegas was able to down their punt at the Denver 3 yard line with 3:58 remaining in the 2nd quarter.
From the shadow of their own end zone, the Broncos offense moved to the 14 yard line after a checkdown pass to Javonte Williams and a 12 men on the field penalty by Las Vegas to get their initial 1st down of the drive. Javonte Williams on a screen pass, worked his way to the 36 yard line but Christian Wilkins sacked Bo Nix on the very next play to put the Broncos behind the chains. After a short completion to Lucas Krull, the Broncos would eventually be forced to punt the ball back to Las Vegas who would start their drive from their own 13 yard line.
Raiders had an OPI and false start to begin the drive effectively dooming the drive and the Broncos offense would get it back at their own 33 yard line with 27 seconds remaining in the 1st half.
The Broncos were looking for some late half points and the Raiders obliged. After a 19 yard completion to Troy Franklin to get in field goal range, Raiders were called for a personal foul leveraging penalty to give Wil Lutz a manageable 44 yard field goal attempt. Broncos took their first lead of the game 13-10 at halftime.
Broncos offense went backwards on the first play of the 2nd half on a hold by Garett Bolles and unfortunately couldn't overcome it. After a quick 3 and out, the Raiders got the ball back at their own 24 yard line.
The Broncos defense came to play in the 2nd half as Nik Bonitto sacked Gardner Minshew on a key 3rd down to force a punt back to the Broncos. Marvin Mims had an electric 38 yard return getting the ball all the way out to the 50 yard line. Javonte Williams carried several defensive players for 9 yards before Lil'Jordan Humphrey broke multiple tackles on a 27 yard reception. On 3rd and 5, Jaleel McLaughlin took a screen pass into the right side of the end zone to give the Broncos a 20-10 lead with 7:01 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
Now in a 2 score hole, Gardner Minshew and the Raiders offense tried to get something going but it was Riley Moss who came down with a huge interception and gave the Broncos the ball back at the Denver 37 yard line. The drive stalled just inside Las Vegas territory so Denver was forced to punt it back to the Raiders.
Aidan O'Connell took over at QB but the results were mostly the same as, after a penalty, Las Vegas punted it right back to the Broncos and they made them pay. Eight plays later, Bo Nix dove over the top of the offensive line for another touchdown, extending the lead 27-10 with 10:12 remaining in the game.
On the first play of the next drive, O'Connell's pass was tipped up in the air and Pat Surtain got his 2nd interception of the game! Broncos offense took over at the Las Vegas 39 yard line and 4 plays later, Bo Nix found Josh Reynolds streaking in the back of the end zone for another touchdown, extending the lead 34-10 with 8:14 remaining in the game.
With the game more/less decided, the Broncos played prevent defense to help the clock run but the Raiders were able to execute a 12 play, 75 yard touchdown drive where Ameer Abdullah punched it in from the 3 yard line, cutting into the lead 34-18.
Broncos recovered the onside kick with 4:01 remaining in the game. They would eventually punt it back to the Raiders with the game firmly in hand. Broncos beat the Raiders 34-18 to snap an 8-game losing streak!
The next broadcast is on Sunday, October 13th as the Broncos host the Los Angeles Chargers. Coverage starts at 8am.
Postgame interviews with Sean Payton, Bo Nix, Javonte Williams