Defense powers Denver Broncos to ugly victory over Las Vegas Raiders, pushing win streak to seven games

It wasn’t their prettiest performance but the Denver Broncos keep finding ways to win behind their defense and opportune plays.

Under the national spotlight of Thursday Night Football, the Broncos defeated the Las Vegas Raiders, 10-7, on their Empower Field at Mile High to push their win streak to seven games with a league-best 8-2 record. Again, the Broncos defense was dominant, recording six sacks on Geno Smith, to extend their league-leading sack differential to +36 (46 sacks, 10 sacks allowed). The unit also intercepted Smith once.

But the play of the game came via special teams late in the third quarter, with the score deadlocked at 7-7, when Broncos safety JL Skinner blocked a punt and Denver recovered from the Raiders’ 12-yard line.

Wil Lutz then converted on a 32-yard field goal to give the Broncos a 10-7 edge with five seconds left in the third quarter.

Although the Raiders made it interesting with their second interception of Bo Nix, putting them on the Broncos’ 45-yard line, Daniel Carlson’s 48-yard field goal attempt a few plays later sailed wide right with 4:30 left in the fourth quarter as the score stood.

The Broncos managed another victory, but their offense could be an area of concern as they’ve mustered just 28 points combined over the past two weeks.

After Las Vegas struck first with a 4-yard rushing touchdown from Ashton Jeanty to give the Raiders a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, Nix’ 7-yard TD pass to Troy Franklin in the second quarter was the only time the quarterback was able to reach paydirt.

Still, the Broncos manufactured a way to win and will next host Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in a major AFC West division tilt during Week 11. The Raiders, now 2-7, will host the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football in Week 11.