3 Brutal Takeaways From Broncos' 10-7 Win vs. Raiders on TNF
The Denver Broncos narrowly defeated the Las Vegas Raiders 10-7 on Thursday night, delivering the least impressive win seen in the Payton/Nix era. Despite the unappealing performance, this victory marked the Broncos' seventh consecutive win and improved their season record to 8-2 for the first time since 2015.
Offensive Struggles
One undeniable fact from the game is the Broncos' offense remains struggling significantly. The responsibility lies with Sean Payton, not only as head coach but also as the play-caller. During a crucial third-quarter drive, instead of pushing the ground game, Payton opted for a confusing trick play on 3rd-and-1 that resulted in a five-yard loss.
"A throw to Courtland Sutton behind the line of scrimmage was sniffed out by the Raiders, and while the veteran wide receiver was obviously supposed to throw it downfield, everyone was covered, so he lost the yardage."
This setback turned what could have been a manageable 53-yard field goal attempt by Wil Lutz into a much tougher 58-yard try. The Broncos’ offense also suffered from numerous three-and-outs throughout the game, further hampering their momentum.
Quarterback Performance
Bo Nix's performance was another low point. He played arguably the worst game of his professional career, compounding the Broncos’ offensive woes and making the narrow win even less reflective of the team's potential.
Summary
Despite the Broncos’ streak and strong season record, their Thursday night performance highlighted serious offensive issues that require urgent attention.
Author’s summary: The Broncos' win exposed major offensive flaws and questionable play-calling, showing that their success so far masks deeper issues needing quick resolution.