LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 24: Quarterback Bo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos warms up prior to a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on November 24, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images)
The Denver Broncos beat the Las Vegas Raiders 29-19 to improve to 7-5. Below is the recap and postgame interviews following the game:
The Broncos won the coin toss and deferred to the 2nd half.
Gardner Minshew fumbled the first snap of the game but was able to fall on the ball. On 3rd and 6, Minshew was able to find Jacoby Meyers for a big 17 yard gain as the Raiders were quickly in Denver territory but the drive fizzled out from there and they punted it to the Broncos who would start their first drive from their 10 yard line with 12:09 remaining in the 1st quarter.
Bo Nix guided the Broncos offense to midfield with nice completions to Devaughn Vele for 23 yards and Courtland Sutton for 17 but the drive stalled out. Riley Dixon punted it back to Las Vegas who would start their 2nd drive of the game from their own 8 yard line with 9:09 remaining in the 1st quarter.
After an unnecessary roughness call against Jackson Powers Johnson, the Raiders 2nd drive quickly went 3 and out and, after a punt the Broncos offense would go back to work from their own 33 yard line.
Bo Nix, once again, was on the attack hitting Troy Franklin for 25 yards over the middle on 1st and 20. Jaleel McLaughlin had a couple of nice runs for 10 and 18 to get the Broncos into the Red Zone. The drive stalled with ANOTHER Mike McGlinchey penalty (3 in the 1st quarter) and the Broncos settled for 38 yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead with 2:47 remaining in the 1st quarter.
The Broncos special teams gave up a big return on kick off to Dylan Laube who returned it all the way to the Denver 40 yard line. It was a 59 yard return. After a couple of completions to Michael Mayer, the Raiders were set up 1st and goal at the Denver 6 yard line. Gardner Minshew scrambled to his right and found Ameer Abdullah for a touchdown to give Las Vegas the lead 7-3 with 13:36 remaining in the 1st half.
The Broncos offense responded with an 8 play drive that stalled out when Bo Nix took an 11 yard loss sack but Wil Lutz was able to convert a 53 yard field goal to cut into the Raiders lead 7-6 with 9:21 remaining in the 1st half.
Denver's defense forced a quick 3 and out on the next drive that included a terrific pass breakup by Riley Moss but the Raiders ran a fake punt and found a wide open Devine Deablo for a 40 yard gain all the way down to the Broncos 30 yard line. The Raiders worked the ball into the Red Zone but a holding call backed them up to the Denver 16 where Las Vegas would settle for a 34 yard field goal, extending their lead 10-6 with 3:48 remaining in the 1st half.
Broncos start their next drive from their own 30 yard line after the touchback. The offense worked into Raiders territory after Courtland Sutton drew a defensive pass interference. The drive would stall in part because a handoff to Marvin Mims went for a 5 yard loss. Wil Lutz came up clutch again with a 54 yard field goal, cutting into the lead 10-9 with 53 seconds remaining in the half.
The Raiders moved efficiently down the field with big completions to Jacoby Meyers and Tre Turner to get Las Vegas into field goal range to convert a 34 yarder at the buzzer. Raiders lead 13-9 at halftime.
Bo Nix and the Broncos offense started with the ball out of halftime but went 3 and out for the first time in the game, punting it back to Las Vegas who would start their 1st drive of the 2nd half at their own 22 yard line.
Gardner Minshew and the Raiders got an initial first down but on 1st down at the 38 yard line, Malcolm Roach got the first sack of the game for Denver. Then on 2nd down, Minshew was hit on his throw and then threw an interception to Brandon Jones who would return it to the Las Vegas 18 yard line. Two plays later, Bo Nix threw a fade route to the right side where Courtland Sutton came down with an 18 yard touchdown to give the Broncos a 16-13 lead.
Las Vegas started their next drive at their 30 yard line and got a 19 yard gain on the ground before Nik Bonitto was able to get a TFL on the next play which effectively ended the drive. After an impressive punt, the Broncos offense would take the field at their own 2 yard line.
The Broncos didn't come away with points on the drive but a couple of impressive 3rd down conversions by Courtland Sutton helped the offense move to midfield, effectively flipping the field, and they punted it back to Las Vegas who started their next drive from their own 11 yard line with 3:02 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
Denver's defense did their job and forced a very quick 3 and out and Marvin Mims added a 22 yard attempt to get the Broncos to midfield for their next drive. On 3rd and 10, Nix found Sutton over the middle for an 18 yard completion and the Broncos were quickly in field goal range as the 3rd quarter wound down.
To start the 4th quarter, Bo Nix found Devaughn Vele for a quick gain and a first down near the Red Zone. The drive stalled and the Broncos settled for an important field goal from 45 yards out, extending the lead 19-13 with 12:05 remaining in the game.
Las Vegas started their 1st drive of the 4th quarter at their own 30 and quickly moved to midfield on a pretty weak DPI on Ja'Quan McMillian. Eyioma Uwazerike sacked Minshew and then the Raiders were called for offensive pass interference but completed a pass to Bowers set up them up in field goal range on 3rd and 23. Carlson converts the 53 yarder and the lead was cut 19-16 with 8:59 remaining.
The Broncos offense quickly moved into Raiders territory starting with a couple of nice runs by Jaleel McLaughlin. Devaughn Vele helped get the Broncos into Raiders territory and on 3rd and 5, Nix found a wide open Marvin Mims on the left side and he took the ball all the way down to the 2 yard line and Bo Nix would roll out and find Sutton over the middle for a touchdown, extending the lead 26-16 with 5:30 remaining in the game.
The Raiders move VERY quickly down the field but the drive stalls at the 4 yard line and with a chip shot field goal, they get within a score 26-19 with 3:23 remaining.
Denver gets aggressive with 3 straight passes that all fall incomplete and they picked the worst time to go 3 and out, only running 15 seconds off the clock.
Las Vegas started their next drive from their 24 yard line and on 1st down, Gardner Minshew was sacked for a 4 yard loss by Jonathon Cooper and Cody Barton. Minshew had to leave the game with a shoulder injury and on 3rd down, Desmond Ridder was strip sacked by Nik Bonitto and the Broncos were set up at the Raiders 17 yard line. Broncos would settle for a 33 yard field goal, extending the lead 29-19 with 1:56 remaining in the game.
Desmond Ridder staying in the game and got the Raiders into the Red Zone. Ridder pitched it ahead to Tre Tucker who got it down to the 1 yard line. On 2nd and goal, Jonah Ellis sacked Desmond Ridder and the game would end 29-19!
The next broadcast will be on Monday, December 2nd as the Broncos will host the Cleveland Browns. Coverage on KOA begins at 12pm.
Below are the postgame interviews with Sean Payton, Bo Nix, Courtland Sutton