Broncos Lose Eighth Straight to Raiders, 27-14

Broncos lost season finale to the Raiders 27-14 and finished the season with an 8-9 record. Below is the recap and postgame interviews:

Raiders won the toss and deferred.

Jarrett Stidham and the Broncos offense started their first drive of the game at their own 32 yard line after a nice return by Pro Bowl WR Marvin Mims. Unfortunately, the offense wasn't able to gain any momentum on their first drive and quickly went 3 and out after two incompletions by Stidham. After a 48 yard punt by Riley Dixon, the Raiders began their first drive at their own 21 yard line.

On the first play from scrimmage, Baron Browning sacked Aidan O'Connell for a 6 yard loss. Pat Surtain nearly had a pick six but dropped the interception and on 3rd down, O'Connell found Davante Adams for a short gain and the Raiders quickly went 3 and out too.

The Broncos offense started their next drive at their own 11 yard line after a booming 66-yard punt. Javonte Williams got the ball to start the drive and with the first two carries got the Broncos their first 1st down of the game. The drive stalled quickly, though, and the Broncos once again punted the ball back to the Raiders but Riley Dixon's 58 yard punt and great special teams coverage pinned Las Vegas back at their own 22 yard line to start their 2nd drive of the game.

This Raiders drive was much more successful as Zamir White got the ground game going, gaining big chunks of yards, as Las Vegas moved quickly to midfield. After a couple of nice completions to rookie WR Tre Tucker, the Raiders were suddenly in the Red Zone. On 3rd and 1 from the Broncos 5 yard line, Jacoby Meyers took a handoff on an end around, looking like he was going to throw it, instead shifted to the opposite side of the field and ran it in for the first touchdown of the game. Raiders lead 7-0 with 1:44 remaining in the 1st quarter.

Time for the Broncos offense to respond and, after 20 yard return by Mims, the offense started their 3rd drive of the game at their own 16 yard line. On 2nd down, Stidham found Brandon Johnson for 36 yards down the left sideline to get the offense into Las Vegas territory. Stidham did a great job avoiding pressure and hitting Javonte Williams on a couple of checkdowns to keep the drive moving. Courtland Sutton fought hard for a 1st down on a must have 3rd down conversion. Maxx Crosby beat Cam Fleming for his first sack of the game and it certainly seemed like the loss of 12 would kill the drive but Jarrett Stidham found Jerry Jeudy on a crossing route from right to left and Jeudy broke multiple tackles on his way to a 24-yard touchdown! Broncos tie up the game at 7 with 10:34 remaining in the 2nd quarter.

The Raiders responded with an impressive drive that stalled out at the Broncos 31 yard line and Las Vegas was forced to settle for a 49 yard field goal attempt. The Raiders regained the lead 10-7 with 7:09 remaining in the 1st half.

Jarrett Stidham and the offense went back to work and, it seemed like a Garrett Bolles hold would hamper the drive, but Stidham found Marvin Mims on a 16 yard crossing route to give the Broncos a 1st down on 3rd and 16. Unfortunately, that was the best moment of the drive and it stalled out at their own 27 yard line and they were forced to punt.

The Raiders seemed like they might be content to run out the clock and go into halftime with a 3 point lead but after a 25 yard gain by Zamir White, Aidan O'Connell found Tre Tucker for a 47 yard completion down the right sideline and, a couple plays later, hit Davante Adams in the end zone for a 3 yard touchdown. Raiders extend their lead 17-7 at halftime.

Las Vegas started with the ball in the 3rd quarter but the Broncos defense forced a quick 3 and out, getting the ball back at their own 29 yard line after Mims returned it 15 yards.

Stidham found Javonte over the middle for a 9 yard gain to begin the Broncos first drive of the 2nd half. A promising drive ended on a Butler sack of Jarrett Stidham and the Broncos punted it back to Las Vegas.

Jimmy Garoppolo came into the game for O'Connell as he had a right index finger injury. The Raiders went 3 and out and sent the ball back to Denver, who would start their next drive from their own 13 yard line after a penalty by Riley Moss.

Stidham found Adam Trautman for 21 yards and the Broncos were quickly to midfield but the drive stalled at the Raiders 36 yard line as Denver went for it on 4th and 3 but the ball fell incomplete in traffic. Las Vegas took over from there 3:25 remaining in the 3rd quarter.

Aidan O'Connell came back into the game and the Raiders went back to the ground game with Zamir White. As the 4th quarter began, O'Connell faked the screen before finding Jakobi Meyers down the left sideline for a walk in 33 yard touchdown. Raiders lead now 24-7.

Now in a 3 score hole, the Broncos offense needed to do something to respond. Jerry Jeudy caught a pass from Stidham down the left sideline and turned it up field for a 47 yard gain, setting up Denver 1st and goal from the 3 yard line. A few plays later, Javonte Williams lined up in the wild cat and ran it in from 2 yards out to cut into the Raiders lead 24-14 with 10:09 remaining in the game.

Now, the Broncos defense needed to get a stop but the Raiders kept the drive going on back to back 3rd and long completions...the first to Adams for 7 and the 2nd to Meyers for 11 yards. It was soul crushing drive that ate up almost EIGHT minutes of clock. Even though the defense held the Raiders to just 3 points, the 15-play drive absolutely sunk the Broncos.

On the final drive, Jarrett Stidham was hit as he took a deep shot to Jerry Jeudy and he was intercepted by Moehrig. Broncos fall to the Raiders 27-14 and finish their season 8-9.

Below is the postgame interviews with Sean Payton, Jarrett Stidham and Jonathon Cooper