Las Vegas Raiders (2-9) – Denver Broncos (7-5): 19-29
The Raiders thought they had found the key against the in-form rookie of the moment. Then the Raiders ended up tripping over themselves. Well helped by a stellar Courtland Sutton, Bo Nix ended up finding the solution to the incessant pressure from the Las Vegas defensive line. Until achieving victory. A second success against the rival this season which allows Denver to move a little closer to the playoffs.
And the light came from the special teams
In a soporific first quarter, the attacks struggled. It is then the unexpected Dylan Laube who will electrify the meeting. On a 59-yard kickoff return, he allowed the Raiders to finally position themselves in the opposing camp. A lightning bolt that will wake up his loved ones. On the resulting drive, they found the key to covering the 40 yards that separate them from the end zone. Gardner Minshew (25/42, 230 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception) then sends Amer Abdullah (8 races, 28 yards, 5 receptions, 37 yards, 1 touchdown) into orbit with a 6-yard pass. Two drives later, it was punter AJ Cole who stood out. While his team failed in their camp, the kicker sent a short pass in the direction of Divine Deablo. With a boulevard in front of him, the linebacker gains 34 yards and allows his team to take three more points.
Three points is what the Broncos are subscribed to in this half. Even if Bo Nix (25/42, 273 yards, 2 touchdowns) manages to connect 4 times with Devaughn Vele for 64 yards, Denver cannot finish. Weighed down by penalties on the 4 drives they led, the Colorado players were forced to settle for 3 field goals. At the break, they trailed by 4 points, 13 to 9.
Courtland Sutton comes out of the woods
Barely back from the locker room, Gardner Minshew unfortunately falls back into his ways and will ruin his own. From his second throw, the quarterback completely misses his receiver and sends the leather into the hands of safety Brandon Jones. The latter ideally places Denver in the opposing 20, before letting Bo Nix do the rest. On a deep 18-yard pass, the quarterback found Courtland Sutton for his 4th touchdown of the season. An action that foreshadows what's to come, since the receiver will turn into a providential man in this second half. Systematically making himself available for his rookie, he is the great architect of Denver's offensive return. Sutton will also be rewarded by doubling the lead at the end of the fourth quarter, for his 5th touchdown of the season. Denver is safe, and replacing the injured Gardner Minshew with Desmond Ridder won't change anything (apart from Denver's sack stats).
