3 Brutal Takeaways From Broncos' 10-7 Win vs. Raiders on TNF
The Denver Broncos managed a narrow 10-7 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday night, delivering one of the least impressive victories during the Payton/Nix era. Despite an ugly performance, this marked the Broncos' seventh consecutive win, improving their record to 8-2 for the first time since 2015—a promising sign for the season ahead.
Poor Offensive Performance
The Broncos’ offense struggled significantly throughout the game, exposing major issues. As both the head coach and play-caller, Sean Payton bears responsibility for the offense’s shortcomings. A puzzling decision occurred during a crucial third-quarter drive when, instead of focusing on the ground game, Payton called an unusual trick play on 3rd-and-1 that backfired.
Controversial Trick Play
Payton’s call involved a pass to Courtland Sutton behind the line of scrimmage, which the Raiders quickly read, resulting in a loss of five yards. Sutton was likely meant to throw downfield, but with defenders covering everyone, the attempt failed, forcing a longer field goal attempt from 58 yards instead of a more manageable 53.
Repeated Offensive Failures
The Broncos faced numerous three-and-outs during the game—too many to count clearly—further stalling their offensive momentum.
Bo Nix’s Struggles
Adding to the Broncos’ difficulties, quarterback Bo Nix delivered arguably his worst professional performance, compounding the team’s challenges on offense.
“It’s time to face the facts: the Broncos' offense is terrible and the buck stops with Payton — not just because he's the head coach, but because he's the play-caller.”
Despite the uninspiring showing, the win itself is a positive indicator of the Broncos’ potential moving forward.
Author’s summary: The Broncos secured a win marred by poor offensive choices and costly errors, yet their seven-game streak and 8-2 record hint at promising progress despite ongoing struggles.