Broncos Edge Raiders Behind Stingy Defense for 8-2 Start
Denver's defense dominated by sacking Geno Smith six times, compensating for weak performances from the offense and special teams in a 10-7 victory marked by numerous penalties on both sides.
Game Overview
The Denver Broncos prioritize results over style, focusing on outscoring opponents regardless of the game's ugliness.
"We’ve got to clean up some of the penalties. We’ve got to clean up the execution and that is an ongoing thing that probably never ends," said Coach Sean Payton after the narrow win over the struggling Las Vegas Raiders.
With an 8-2 record, the Broncos hold the best mark in the NFL, despite not looking like a top team on a challenging, windy night in the Rocky Mountains. Their defense was the standout, achieving six sacks on Geno Smith and pushing Denver’s season total to 46 sacks—an NFL-high for the first 10 games since 1990.
Team Streaks and Performance
- Seventh consecutive win, Denver's longest streak in a decade
- Extended home winning streak to 10 games
Quarterback Bo Nix acknowledged the need for improvement after throwing for 150 yards, with two interceptions and one touchdown pass.
"Yeah, we’ve got to do better. At some point, 10 points ain’t going to be enough. … We’ve got to find some juice somewhere," Nix said.
The Broncos rely heavily on their defense to maintain their lead in the league standings.