The Broncos have never won in Las Vegas, but this game means more than just trying to break that losing streak. A win over the Raiders would bring them closer to an unexpected playoff spot, especially considering they’re working with a rookie quarterback and just a year after finishing 8-9.
With a 6-5 record and coming off a dominant 38-6 victory over the Atlanta Falcons, the Broncos are currently in playoff contention if the season ended before Week 12. This is impressive for a team that had a predicted win total of just 5 1/2 games at BetMGM Sportsbook.
“Everyone understands the significance of where we are at this point in the season,” Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton said.
Things are looking much worse for the Raiders. With a 2-8 record, they are on a six-game losing streak and have been hit hard by injuries. Las Vegas could be without its top two running backs and could be forced to play with a shuffled offensive line. On defense, they may be missing two linemen, three cornerbacks, and a safety.
“Just been having some bad breaks, but nobody feels sorry for us,” Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said. “Nobody feels sorry for me. You’ve got to roll out there with 11 players, and that’s what we’re going to do come Sunday.”
The Raiders are badly in need of a franchise quarterback and are fighting for the top pick in next year’s NFL draft.
Denver showed the importance of securing a good quarterback with this year’s draft. Bo Nix, selected 12th overall — one pick ahead of the Raiders — is making a strong case for AP Offensive Rookie of the Year.
He was named the AFC Player of the Week after completing 28 of 33 passes for 307 yards and four touchdowns in the win over Atlanta.
“I think as we’ve gone on, Coach (Sean Payton) and I have found a good rhythm of what we both like, what we can kind of put out there on the field and what we can execute,” Nix said. “Then the guys have kind of adapted to it, found our roles within the offense and executed at a high level. It’s just all about slowing the game down and processing things in a manner that you can handle.”
