Here are the heroes and zeros from the Broncos’ 27-14 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Heroes
Jerry Jeudy: This season was far from pretty for the Broncos wide receiver. But at least he ended it with a good impression. With 10:44 to go in the first, Jeudy scored on a 24-yard touchdown reception, in which he had to break multiple tackles before crossing the goal line. Later in the fourth, Jeudy’s 47-yard reception helped set up a rushing touchdown from running back Javonte Williams.
Jakobi Meyers: If the Raiders wide receiver played Denver every week, he might be the best in the league. Meyers had four total touchdowns in two games against Denver, including a pair in the season finale. In the first quarter, Meyers received a handoff from quarterback Aidan O’Connell, looked to throw before scrambling for a 5-yard touchdown. At the start of the fourth, Meyers caught a 33-yard touchdown pass that saw him waltz into the end zone.
Alex Singleton: Denver’s inside linebacker has been a tackling machine. Singleton recorded 12 total tackles and 174 on the season — the most by a Broncos player since at least 1991, moving past Michael Brooks (170 in 1992). Singleton also finished in the top five in the league in tackles for the second-straight year.
Zeros
Cam Fleming: The veteran offensive tackle’s first start of the season came against Raiders star edge rusher Maxx Crosby and Fleming didn’t stand a chance. Crosby overpowered Fleming with his speed and strength, while constantly getting to the backfield throughout the afternoon. In the second quarter, Crosby got past Fleming with ease to sack Stidham for a loss of 12 yards. In the third, Fleming barely got a hand on Crosby, who forced Stidham to throw incomplete.
Denver’s run game: The Broncos were in a handful of third-and-long situations against Las Vegas. Their lack of production in the run game was one of the reasons for it. Denver totaled 48 rushing yards on 20 carries while averaging 2.4 yards per carry. Williams led the team with 32 rushing yards and a touchdown on nine attempts.
Sean Payton’s timeout management: Even with a new quarterback, some things have remained the same, including Payton’s poor usage of timeouts. Payton burned a timeout with 1:40 left in the second quarter and the Raiders pinned at their own two-yard line even though Denver needed the clock to run out. In return, Las Vegas marched down to field for a 12-play, 98-yard scoring drive that ended with a touchdown reception from wideout Davante Adams.
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