DENVER, COLORADO - NOVEMBER 06: Head coach Sean Payton (R) of the Denver Broncos talks with Pete Carroll (L) of the Las Vegas Raiders prior to the game at Empower Field At Mile High on November 06, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)
Broncos won the coin toss and deferred to the 2nd half.
Geno Smith and the Raiders offense started with the ball from their own 35 after the touchback. Ashton Jeanty got the first carry of the game for no gain. Facing a 3rd and 6, Smith hooked up with Tyler Lockett for 6 to gain their first 1st down of the game. Geno Smith got the next first down on a scramble off the right side off of a play fake as Las Vegas moved into Denver territory. A false start on 2nd and 7, backed them up behind the sticks. Facing a 3rd and 2 from the Broncos 37 yard line, Zach Allen came up with MONSTER sack to push the Raiders out of field goal range. An expert punt by Cole pinned the Broncos offense at their own 2 yard line.
JK Dobbins gained 6 yards on his first carry and then 2 on his next. Facing a 3rd and 2, Maxx Crosby stuffed Dobbins for a 1 yard gain and the Broncos were forced to punt. Jeremy Crawshaw shanked his punt and the Raiders would start at the Denver 41 yard line after a 30 yard punt with 7:12 remaining in the 1st quarter.
Facing a 3rd and 10, Smith found Rahim Mostert wide open on the right side for an 11 yard gain to get the Raiders into FG range. Michael Mayer caught an 11 yard pass to get down to the Broncos 12 yard line. On 3rd and 2, from the 4 rookie Ashton Jeanty powered his way into the end zone to give Las Vegas an early 7-0 lead with 3:02 remaining in the 1st quarter.
Starting from their own 20 yard line, Bo Nix hit Courtland Sutton for a quick 6 yard gain but then was sacked on 2nd down for a 9 yard loss effectively ending the drive. After another Crawshaw punt, the Raiders would start their next drive from their own 22 yard line with 1:31 remaining in the 1st quarter.
Ashton Jeanty gained 10 yards on the first carry of the drive. Jeanty ripped off a 32 yard run but a holding penalty by Jack Bech backed it up to the Raiders 30 yard line. Facing a 3rd and 12, Nik Bonitto and the Broncos defense got home and sacked Geno Smith for a huge play. Raiders punted it back to Denver and they started their 3rd drive of the game from their 33 yard line.
Marcedes Lewis was called for holding on 1st down and the Broncos were quickly facing 1st and 20. Nix hit Troy Franklin for a 13 yard gain and the Broncos opted not to go for it on 4th and 3 from their own 40 yard line, instead punting it back to the Raiders who would start from their own 29 yard line after another shank by Crawshaw.
Facing a 3rd and 9, Geno found a wide open Brock Bowers for a 31 yard gain on a busted coverage and the Raiders were quickly in Denver territory. Las Vegas worked all the way down to the Denver 31 yard line and had a 4th a 2 touchdown throw to Tre Tucker by Offensive Pass Interference by rookie WR Donte Thornton. Alex Cole's immaculate punt pinned the Broncos at their own 1 yard line.
Broncos gained 7 on the first play but were unable to gain the first down on the next two plays, punting it back to Las Vegas who would start at the Denver 43. Nik Bonitto had an amazing TFL on Brock Bowers. Facing a 4th and 5, Raiders went for it and Hufanga came free and sacked Geno Smith!
Broncos offense had their best starting position of the day and they wouldn't waste it. After a 1st down carry by JK Dobbins, Adam Trautman was called for holding on the next play. On 2nd and 17, Bo Nix climbed the pocket and found a wide open streaking Pat Bryant who ran up the right sideline for a 44 yard gain! On 2nd and goal, Nix hit Franklin for a 7 yard touchdown to tie the game!
The Raiders offense looking to respond struggled mightily as Malcolm Roach sacked Geno on 1st down and Zach Allen sacked him on 3rd down. Raiders punted it back to Denver who would start a final drive right after the 2 minute warning at their own 27. Pat Bryant got called for a terrible OPI but Courtland Sutton was able to get a 1st down on 3 and 13 to move the sticks. Unfortunately, on 2nd and 15 Bo Nix threw a deep interception to Kyu Blu Kelly who was covering Troy Franklin and the Raiders would take over at their own 36 yard line after the return. Las Vegas wasn't able to do much with the extra possession and we would go to halftime tied 7-7.
Broncos offense started with the ball out of halftime at their own 9 yard line after a holding call on the kickoff. Marcedes Lewis had a false start backing them up even more. JK Dobbins gained 2 yards but that would be it for the offense as the next two passes would fall incomplete. Crawshaw finally had a good punt, 55 yards, and with a holding penalty the Raiders would start their next drive inside their own 29 yard line.
Geno Smith went back to work early in the 3rd quarter. Jeanty gained 5 yards on 1st down. Facing a 3rd and 2, Geno's pass attempt was too high and fell incomplete. Raiders punted it back to Denver who would start their next drive at their own 16 yard line with 12:20 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
After a couple of carries by JK Dobbins to gain 9 yards, Bo Nix with a QB sneak to get the 1st down. Adam Prentice gained 13 yards in the flat and JK Dobbins ran it for another 1st down into Raiders territory. On 3rd and 1 from the 36 yard line, the Broncos attempted a double pass to Courtland Sutton and he would be sacked for a 5 yard loss. Wil Lutz came on to attempt a 59 yard field goal and it landed 8 yards short of the uprights.
On the first play of the next drive from the Denver 49 yard line, a pass to Ashton Jeanty bounced off his chest and fell into Dondrea Tillman's arms for an interception. He returned it to the Las Vegas 33 yard line. Unfortunately, an OPI by Franklin on the next drive ended up sinking the drive and they would only go backwards. Instead of attempting a 56 yard FG, they opted to punt and it was a touchback. Net of 19 yards.
Starting from their 20 yard line with just under 3 minutes remaining in the 3rd quarter. Nik Bonitto forced an intentional grounding on 2nd down so facing 3rd and 20, Las Vegas just ran the ball for a short gain. The Alex Cole punt was blocked by Tyler Badie and recovered by JL Skinner at the Raiders 12 yard line! Broncos offense went backwards -2 and had to settle for a 32 yard field goal from Wil Lutz to give the Broncos their first lead 10-7 as we closed out the 3rd quarter.
Raiders started their next drive from their own 31 yard line as we began the 4th quarter. After a 1 yard scramble by Geno Smith, he left the game injured. Kenny Pickett came into the game. Facing a 3rd and 11, Pickett's pass toward Jack Bech fell incomplete. Raiders punting again, Broncos would start their next drive at their own 33 yard line. Unfortunately, Broncos only gained a few yards before punting it back to the Raiders. An illegal block in the back from the Raiders, pinned Las Vegas back inside their 10 yard line. Geno Smith returned to the game.
Tre Tucker gained 25 yards on 1st down and the Raiders were quickly to their 35 yard line. Tyler Lockett caught a 19 yard pass and Las Vegas was into Denver territory. On 3rd and 8 from the Denver 40 yard line, John Franklin Meyers got to Geno and then Jonathon Cooper was able to sack him, ending the drive. After a touchback on the punt, Broncos would start with the ball at their own 20 yard line with 8:35 remaining in the game.
On 3rd and 5, Bo Nix was intercepted on a deflection and the Raiders would take over at the Denver 45 yard line. Raiders gain an initial first down with Ashton Jeanty. On 3rd and 6, Vance Joseph brought the house and Geno Smith had to throw it away. Daniel Carlson came on to attempt a 48 yard field goal but it was wide right. Broncos offense took over at their 38 yard line with an opportunity to win the game. JK Dobbins went to work on the ground game and it was very effective. On 3rd and 1, Bo Nix playfaked and hit Troy Franklin for an 18 yard gain into Las Vegas territory. On 2nd and 3, following the 2 minute warning, JK Dobbins ran for 5 yards and the Broncos won 10-7 and improve to 8-2!
Our next broadcast will be on November 16th as the Broncos host the Chiefs. Coverage starts on KOA at 8am.
Below are postgame interviews with Bo Nix, JL Skinner, Dondrea Tillman