Broncos Edge Raiders with Strong Defense in 8-2 Start
Denver's defense sacked Geno Smith six times, compensating for inconsistent offense and special teams in a hard-fought 10-7 victory marked by numerous penalties on both sides.
Game Overview
By Arnie Stapleton, AP Pro Football Writer
DENVER — The Denver Broncos may not be winning with flair, but their focus remains on outscoring opponents regardless of style.
“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 on Thursday night.
At 8-2, Denver holds the NFL’s best record. Despite windy conditions in the Rocky Mountains and uneven team performance, their defense stood out by recording six sacks on Geno Smith, bringing their season total to 46—more than any team has achieved in the first 10 games since 1990.
Team Performance and Streaks
- The Broncos extended their winning streak to seven games, their longest in a decade.
- They also improved their home winning streak to 10 games.
“Yeah, we’ve got to do better,” said Broncos quarterback Bo Nix, who threw for only 150 yards with two interceptions and one touchdown pass. “At some point, 10 points ain’t going to be enough. … We’ve got to find some juice somewhere.”
Summary
Denver’s defensive strength has been key to their impressive 8-2 record, though improvements in offense and discipline remain needed for sustained success.