3 Brutal Takeaways From Broncos' 10-7 Win vs. Raiders on TNF

The Denver Broncos edged the Las Vegas Raiders 10-7 on Thursday night, marking a gritty but uninspiring victory. Despite the low-scoring, sloppy game—aptly described as an "ug-fest"—the Broncos have now won seven straight games and hold an 8-2 record, their best start since 2015. This record suggests promising potential, even if the performance left much to be desired.

Key Observations from the Broncos' Struggle

The Broncos' offense remains a major concern. The responsibility falls squarely on head coach and play-caller Sean Payton. Why would a smart play-caller push the running game on a crucial third-quarter drive only to follow with a baffling trick play on 3rd-and-1 that resulted in a 5-yard loss?

A pass to Courtland Sutton behind the line was easily anticipated by the Raiders. Though Sutton was likely meant to throw downfield, all receivers were well covered, causing the Broncos to lose yardage.

This mistake shifted a manageable 53-yard field goal attempt by Wil Lutz to a far more challenging 58-yard kick. The Broncos also suffered multiple three-and-outs, making it difficult to maintain offensive momentum.

Compounding these issues, Bo Nix delivered perhaps his worst professional game to date.

Summary

The Broncos’ narrow win highlighted severe offensive flaws, with questionable decisions by the play-caller and poor quarterback performance, overshadowing their impressive winning streak.

Sports Illustrated — 2025-11-07