Rookie quarterback Bo Nix completed 25 of 42 passes for 273 yards and two touchdowns as the Denver Broncos beat the host Raiders 29-19 on Sunday in Las Vegas.
The Raiders (2-9) have now lost seven games in a row, last winning on Sept. 29 against the Cleveland Browns. The Broncos (7-5) completed the season sweep of the Raiders with the win after entering the season with eight consecutive losses to the Silver and Black. They also beat Las Vegas 34-18 on Oct. 6 in Denver.
Will Lutz didn’t miss a kick, connecting on five field goals of 38, 53, 54, 45 and 33 yards for Denver. Las Vegas countered with four field goals in four tries from Daniel Carlson of 34, 34, 53 and 22 yards.
The game flipped shortly after halftime, as Gardner Minshew threw an ill-advised interception to Broncos safety Brandon Jones on the Raiders’ opening possession of the third quarter and Jones returned it to the Las Vegas 18-yard line.
Nix found receiver Courtland Sutton in the end zone for a highlight-reel touchdown catch that put Denver up 16-13 with 10:49 remaining in the third quarter. The Broncos did not relinquish the lead.
Nix found Sutton again from 2-yards out with 5:30 remaining in the fourth quarter to put Denver ahead 26-16. The score was set up when Marvin Mims II took a short pass from Nix 37 yards to the 2 on Denver’s previous play.
Sutton finished with 97 yards and two touchdowns on eight catches. Devaughn Vale added 80 yards on six catches as nine different players made receptions.
The Raiders led 13-9 at halftime. Ameer Abdullah scored the only touchdown for either side in the first half, hauling in a 6-yard reception from Minshew with 13:36 left in the second quarter. The touchdown capped a seven-play, 40-yard drive that was kickstarted by a 59-yard kickoff return by Dylan Laube after the Broncos had taken a 3-0 lead.
Minshew finished with 230 yards through the air, throwing a touchdown and an interception while completing 25 of 42 passes. Backup Desmond Ridder was 4 of 10 for 64 yards. The Raiders’ run game struggled as it was held to just 69 yards total on 16 carries.
The Raiders’ desperation led them to trickery with 7:45 remaining in the second quarter. Punter AJ Cole executed a fake to perfection, finding linebacker Divine Deablo for a 34-yard first-down completion. In turn, Deablo was the Raiders’ leading receiver in the first half.
Abdullah finished the game with five receptions for 37 yards including the touchdown, while rushing for 28 yards on eight carries. Jakobi Meyers hauled in a team-high 10 receptions for 121 yards, while Tre Tucker added seven receptions for 82 yards.
–Field Level Media
