3 Brutal Takeaways From Broncos' 10-7 Win vs. Raiders on TNF
The Denver Broncos narrowly defeated the Las Vegas Raiders 10-7 on Thursday night, marking the least impressive win in the Payton/Nix era. Despite the sluggish performance, this victory gave the Broncos their seventh straight win and improved their season record to 8-2, a first since 2015.
Offensive Struggles Highlighted
The Broncos' offense showed major flaws, and the responsibility lies squarely with head coach and play-caller Sean Payton. A puzzling decision during a crucial third-quarter drive was a trick play on 3rd-and-1 that backfired, resulting in a loss of five yards.
"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 pushed a potential 53-yard field goal attempt by Wil Lutz back to a much more difficult 58 yards.
Persistent Three-and-Outs
The Broncos struggled to sustain drives, repeatedly ending possessions after three plays against the Raiders. This lack of offensive momentum hurt their chances of securing a more comfortable win.
Bo Nix’s Poor Performance
Adding to the Broncos’ woes, quarterback Bo Nix delivered possibly his worst professional game, compounding the team's offensive difficulties.
"Bo Nix played arguably his worst game as a pro."
Despite all, the Broncos remain atop their division with a commendable record.
Author's summary: The Broncos’ narrow win revealed glaring offensive issues under Payton’s play-calling and a disappointing performance by Bo Nix, overshadowing their impressive season start.