Stick here for live updates and analysis as Denver takes on the Raiders at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Live updates
FINAL | Broncos 24, Raiders 17
Broncos analysis: Sean Payton, Bo Nix deliver ugly-by-design, 24-17 win vs. Raiders
The Broncos went into Las Vegas and systematically dismantled the Raiders, 24-17, to improve to 11-2 on the season.
Denver is on a 10-game winning streak. And this victory was the first during that span that the Broncos never trailed.
Bo Nix was 31 for 38 with 212 yards and a rushing touchdown. Rookie running back RJ Harvey had 17 carries for 74 yards and a touchdown, along with six catches for 25 yards.
Next up for Denver: Hosting the Green Bay Packers at 2:25 p.m. on Sunday.
More Broncos coverage:
- Broncos analysis: Sean Payton, Bo Nix deliver ugly-by-design, 24-17 win vs. Raiders.
- Keeler: Think Broncos are NFL playoff frauds? Not when Sean Payton calls game like he did vs. Raiders.
- Through up-and-down year, Broncos’ Marvin Mims’ stays focused on return game: ‘Thatap his release.’
- PHOTOS: Denver Broncos defeat Las Vegas Raiders 24-17 in 10th straight win, NFL Week 14.
- Broncos-Raiders report card: Sean Payton, Bo Nix execute ruthless gameplan in comfortable win.
- Broncos defense closing on NFL’s sack record, but still not pleased with performance late vs. Raiders.
- Broncos Four Downs: RJ A-OK. Rookie RJ Harvey delivers breakout game in Denver’s blue-collar victory.
Fourth-quarter updates
Onside kick attempt (4:43 p.m.): Daniel Carlson — a Colorado kid who starred at The Classical Academy — attempts an onside kick. Adam Trautman recovers. — Nguyen
Touchdown, Raiders (4:39 p.m.): Kenny Pickett connects with Shedrick Jackson for a 25-yard touchdown. Six plays for 65 yards on the drive. Broncos 24, Raiders 14 with 2:17 remaining. — Nguyen
Casa Bonitto (4:38 p.m.): Nik Bonitto sacks Kenny Pickett for a 5-yard loss. — Nguyen
Field goal, Broncos (4:30 p.m.): Wil Lutz nails the 23-yard field goal. It caps off a 19-play, 90-yard drive that took 10:17. Broncos 24, Raiders 7 with 3:56 to go. — Nguyen
First down (4:23 p.m.): Another first down for fullback Adam Prentice. A 4-yard run on that one. — Nguyen
Driving (4:21 p.m.): Broncos offense has been able to stay on the field with long drives. Two long scoring drives. And another working right now. Balance isn't perfect. But this is the type of blueprint that wins against good teams. Play with a lead, play keepaway, and release the hounds on defense. -- Renck
Defense (4:20 p.m.): VJ vindicated? Raiders had 5 first downs on their opening drive. They've managed five since. -- Keeler
Playcalling (4:20 p.m.): Broncos haven't trailed today, lead 21-7 with 9:10 left and currently have 38 Bo Nix drop-backs vs. 19 runs. — Gabriel
Nifty (4:18 p.m.): Bo Nix somehow found Lil'Jordan Humphrey after he caught alone with a defender in the backfield. Denver continues its march down the field. — Nguyen
Injury update (4:13 p.m.): CBS Sports is reporting that Geno Smith is questionable to return and is being checked out for a shoulder injury and a hand injury that he suffered earlier in the game. — Nguyen
Geno Smith (shoulder) now officially questionable. Kenny Pickett! Yeah, this one's done. -- Keeler
Nothing for Vegas (4:10 p.m.): Denver's defense shuts down Kenny Pickett's two attempts. Broncos ball. — Nguyen
Just a heard a fairly koud "IN-COM-PLETE!" from the Orange Army beneath the open-air press box after that stop on 4th-and-goal. -- Keeler
Broncos defense clamps down in red zone. And they do it again -- and catch a break with Kenny Pickett replacing the injured Geno Smith. As long as Denver takes care of the ball, this game is over. -- Renck
Just me, but going after Pat Surtain II on fourth-and-goal seems like a low-probability proposition.
The house always wins, and Surtain usually does too. — Gabriel
Geno Smith out (4:09 p.m.): Geno Smith is headed to the locker room after suffering a big hit on the last play of the third quarter. — Nguyen
Third-quarter thoughts — Broncos 21, Raiders 7
Parker Gabriel, beat writer: This won't go down as among the Broncos' prettier outings — which one does, really? — but Sean Payton's team has a two-score lead and is grinding its way toward a 10th straight win.
Sean Keeler, sports columnist: Thank you, Broncos, for almost single-handedly bringing sexy back to the fullback position. Who needs a star tailback when you've got Adam Prentice, cleaning clocks and taking names like it's 1965? Actually, RJ Harvey has been pretty great today -- as has the OL, for the most part. I'm not ready to call this run game "solved," but clearly that whole "run game by committee" has got a fairly large committee right now. Will it work against a team that, unlike these Raiders, has an actual defense? Or an actual pulse?
Troy Renck, sports columnist: Broncos have dominated statistically. They have doubled up the Raiders on first downs and yardage. And they scored a TD in third quarter, a relic from year's past. But they are letting Vegas hang around. Get a stop in red zone to start fourth and this game is over.
Third-quarter updates
Fourth-down conversion (4:02 p.m.): Geno Smith connects with Jack Bech for a 17-yard gain on fourth-and-2. — Nguyen
Boo-urns (4 p.m.): The boos come raining down after Geno Smith throws the ball at Brock Bowers' feet. — Nguyen
Touchdown, Broncos (3:55 p.m.): RJ Harvey finishes the drive with a 3-yard run up the gut. Fourteen plays for 91 yards on the drive. That took 9:13. Broncos 21, Raiders 7 with 4:05 left in the third quarter. — Nguyen
R.J. Harvey has done a great job of finishing on plays. Pushing for extra yards after contact. Leaving this game trusting him as the main RB is huge entering the Packers game. Harvey delivers fifth rushing TD. He has shown off entire skillset today, and been effective in pass pro. -- Renck
Broncos rookie RB RJ Harvey:
- 10 carries, 52 yards, TD
- 6 catches (6 targets), 25 yards
So 16 touches, 77 yards and a TD so far.
Denver's two TD drives today:
- 14 plays, 81 yards, 8:54 TOP
- 14 plays, 91 yards, 9:13 TOP
— Gabriel
This is by far RJ Harvey's best game as a pro. — Keeler
The Broncos ate 9:13 off the clock and have a 21-7 lead that feels more like 31-7. That was the kind of drive that, if the CPU does that to you in Madden, you either throw a controller against the wall or hit the reset button and start over. — Keeler
Third-down conversion (3:54 p.m.): Adam Trautman with a huge block on Jeremy Chinn to give RJ Harvey the space to make the first down on third-and-3. — Nguyen
Adam. Prentice. (3:52 p.m.): Third-and-1? Nah, Adam Prentice is going for 18 yards on that carry. — Nguyen
Nice run (3:50 p.m.): Jaleel McLaughlin darts left for an 11-yard gain. — Nguyen
Spreading the wealth (3:49 p.m.): Bo Nix today has completed passes to:
- Sutton
- Franklin
- Humphrey
- Bryant
- Mims
- Engram
- Trautman
- Prentice
- Harvey
- Badie
- McLaughlin
That's literally every skill player in uniform today except TE Marcedes Lewis, I believe. — Gabriel
Change of fortune? (3:45 p.m.): The CBS infographic just showed that Bo Nix does not have a touchdown in the third quarter this season. — Nguyen
Three-and-out (3:41 p.m.): No sack for the Broncos, but Zach Allen blew up that play. Jahdae Barron nearly got an interception. Raiders punting. — Nguyen
Talking to Von Miller last week, he made it clear that he thought Zach Allen was key to Broncos defense. "And I feel like for me personally, Zach Allen is the guy who makes everything go. He is like Derek Wolfe and Malik Jackson mixed together. Malik had the moves and Derek had the power." -- Renck
Halftime thoughts — Broncos 14, Raiders 7
Parker Gabriel, beat writer: The Broncos are out-gaining the Raiders 169-76 but the gap doesn't feel that big. Denver's got the lead thanks to Marvin Mims Jr. and a defense that's allowed 6 net yards since the opening drive.
Luca Evans, beat writer: This game is plenty closer than it actually feels. Vance Joseph's defense has settled in thanks to the pass-rush, and Bo Nix and RJ Harvey are moving the ball well offensively. But Broncos are up 14-7 on the Raiders after some end-of-half shenanigans. Maybe Marvin Mims will make some more second-half magic.
Sean Keeler, sports columnist: Nice half for RJ Harvey. Marvin Mims has a punt return TD but has only touched the ball on offense once (5-yard catch). Troy Franklin, meanwhile, has been targeted three times for two catches, including a bobbled grab on fourth down that gave the ball back to the Raiders at midfield. 2 things I fail to get on a team that's this good: 1. Why Bo Nix keeps giving up short running gains for harder short throws on the move (he denied himself a first attempt at a walk-in rushing TD in the first quarter before eventually scoring with his legs anyway two plays later); 2. Why Mims doesn't get more throws/carries. Unless that second part is load/injury management — after all, the punt return game with Marvin is a a legit weapon, while without him, it can look fairly toothless. I get that. But you're also handcuffing yourself offensively, aren't you?
And everybody be quiet: We're getting a 20-ish minute halftime show by the Stone Temple Pilots. I love how Raiders home games are basically an oldies concert at halftime with two quarters of bad football sandwiched on either side of it. When the dogs begin to smell the Raiders, they turn up their nose.
Troy Renck, sports columnist: Workmanlike 30 minutes. Should be up 17-7. But anytime you get special teams TD, cannot complain. Nix is efficient. Harvey showing out. That Humphrey has one more target than Evan Engram is on brand. Defense has three sacks after bad first drive. If Broncos double up and win 28-14, that feels about right.
Broncos have held Raiders to 264 yards on 80 plays over six quarters this season. Or 3.3 yards per play. Just smothering them.
Second-quarter updates
Hail Mary (3:25 p.m.): Bo Nix's Hail Mary pass hits Pat Bryant's hands in the end zone, but the rookie couldn't come down with it. Halftime. — Nguyen
Casa Bonitto (3:23 p.m.): Nik Bonitto collects Denver's third sack of the day. A 4-yard loss. Denver gets the ball with three seconds to go. — Nguyen
That Raiders sequence rivaled Aaron Glenn's end of half sequence in London for height of incompetence vs. Broncos. -- Renck
Call reversed (3:18 p.m.): No first down for Denver on the review. Troy Franklin bobbled the ball and didn't get possession until after he was hit. A 2-yard gain instead of 4 yards. Turnover on downs. Raiders ball. — Nguyen
Call changed. Refs said Troy Franklin did not have possession when had first-down yardage. So Broncos turn ball over on downs with 20 seconds left in half. They are now 5-10 on fourth down this season. -- Renck
Troy Franklin couldn't haul in a tough grab on fourth-and-3. Caught it, but not until after a bobble as he was getting thrown backward. Franklin's taken a big step forward this year but the catch point is not his strong suit. — Gabriel
Fourth-down attempt (3:14 p.m.): The Broncos went for it on fourth-and-3, and Bo Nix finds Troy Franklin for the conversion. — Nguyen
Two-minute drill (3:13 p.m.): CBS Broadcast said Bo Nix's six TDs under two minutes of either half rank second in NFL to Dak Prescott. This is when he has been at his best in uptempo. -- Renck
Run game (3:12 p.m.): The Broncos are doing well on the ground. Twelve carries for 62 yards, including 49 yards by rookie RJ Harvey. — Nguyen
First down (3:06 p.m.): Bo Nix finds Lil'Jordan Humphrey for the easy first down. He follows it up with a quick pass up the middle to Adam Trautman for another one. — Nguyen
All-out blitz (3:01 p.m.): VJ sends the heat, Geno freezes up. Raiders punting to Mims again. -- Keeler
Mimsy! (2:54 p.m.): A short punt by the Raiders and Marvin Mims Jr. somehow avoided getting tackled and easily ran it back for a touchdown. Broncos 14, Raiders 7 with 6:29 to go in the second quarter. — Nguyen
Mims Magic. Aided at the end by a nice block from JL Skinner. Gold star, 34. -- Keeler
Marvin Mims Jr is so special on punt returns. He was dearly missed when out with a concussion. Shows out today with return for score.
Broncos lead 14-7.
Raiders should fire Tom McMahon. Wait they already did. — Renck
Sacked (2:53 p.m.): Another one for Denver. This time it was John Franklin-Myers for a 7-yard loss. — Nguyen
Sacked (2:52 p.m.): It was a matter of time. Broncos' Malcolm Roach takes down Geno Smith for Denver's first sack of the day. — Nguyen
Field goal? Nah. (2:45 p.m.): Wil Lutz comes out to attempt a 58-yard field goal. But it was Denver trying to draw a penalty. Big punt by Jeremy Crawshaw to put the Raiders at their own 5. — Nguyen
Sean pins the Raiders back to their own 5, but not before a little 'cute' first. It's the "cute" that worries you. -- Keeler
Sean Payton talks often about having feel for how a game is unfolding. Interesting decision there to opt against a 58-yard field goal try and instead play the field position game. — Gabriel
First downs (2:44 p.m.): Broncos have 10 first downs with 10:51 left in half. They had 10 first downs vs. Raiders in last game between the two teams. -- Renck
Courtland Sutton (2:44 p.m.): The Broncos veteran receiver is getting more action early in the game. Three targets, three catches for 31 yards. — Nguyen
Injury (2:38 p.m.): Raiders cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly is down on the field after that last play. CBS Sports is reporting that it's a "serious leg injury." — Nguyen
Lil'Jordan sighting (2:35 p.m.): Lil'Jordan Humphrey gets his first catch since returning to the Broncos, a 15-yard reception on the first play of the drive. — Nguyen
Penalty (2:33 p.m.): Holding call on the Broncos' kickoff team brings back a strong Marvin Mims Jr. run back to the 19-yard line. — Nguyen
First-quarter thoughts — Broncos 7, Raiders 7
Parker Gabriel, beat writer: Leaving 89 in silver and black open is going to cause problems.
Sean Keeler, sports columnist: Was it me, or did that feel a little TOO easy for Geno? The Broncos were about a half-second short of a sack on at least three of those throws. Game of inches. Instead, the Raiders collected five first downs on that drive alone. Context: They managed only 10 first downs for the ENTIRE game the first time these two teams met. Your serve, VJ. Your serve.
Troy Renck, sports columnist: Broncos looked terrific offensively. Had balance. And RJ Harvey growing up before our eyes. Defensively, Broncos have to get pressure on Geno Smith. He has been sacked 15 times the past two games, and the Broncos were not even close on that first drive.
First-quarter updates
Touchdown, Raiders (2:29 p.m.): It took 14 weeks, but someone finally scored an opening-drive touchdown against the Broncos. Geno Smith connects with Brock Bowers for a 15-yard touchdown. Broncos 7, Raiders 7 to close the first quarter. — Nguyen
Broncos defense hadn't given up an opening-drive TD all year but Las Vegas went right down the field, covering 70 yards in 10 plays and punching in a TD on a wide open throw to Brock Bowers. — Gabriel
Well, that was as effective a drive as any offense has had against Vance Joseph's unit this year. After that Thursday night stinker in November, this game has the complete-opposite feel of a shootout. — Evans
Third-down conversion (2:26 p.m.): Geno Smith looking poised today, swinging it out to Ian Thomas for the first down. — Nguyen
Touchdown, Broncos (2:18 p.m.): Bo Nix didn't hesitate that time. The Broncos QB scrambled up the gut for an 8-yard touchdown. Fourteen plays for 81 yards on the drive. Broncos 7, Raiders 0 with 6:06 to go in the first quarter. — Nguyen
Bo Nix could've ran for the score two downs ago but tucks it again on 3rd after a delay of game and scampers into the end zone. Clearly saw a lane.
Broncos up 7-0 after a surgical opening drive. — Evans
Nix scamper snaps a 10-game drought without a first drive TD. Nix is too good of an athlete not to use his athleticism on the ground. -- Renck
After two Bo miscues pushed he Broncos back in the red zone, Nix does it the hard way, pinballing into the end zone on an 8-yard TD run. Counted six runs for 44 yards on that drive by three different ball-carriers, and McLaughlin was in to catch a pass. Other than something of a wonky end, pretty good statement of intent right there. -- Keeler
Broncos scored first just once in their first 10 games but now have the opening score each of their past three. — Gabriel
Wasted opportunity (2:17 p.m.): Bo Nix could have walked into the end zone. Not sure why he gets so reluctant to take off. -- Renck
Big run (2:13 p.m.): Another first down for Denver. This one, a 15-yard run up the middle by RJ Harvey. — Nguyen
Harvey touches coming early and often. Wattenberg got in two guys' faces on that 15-yard run — heck of a hole. Good start. Very, very good start. -- Keeler
R.J. Harvey has 26 yards rushing. That is more than he has had in seven games this season. Showing off explosiveness today. -- Renck
Moving the ball (2:12 p.m.): The last time Broncos played Raiders they did not get a first down until 5:25 remaining in the first half. Much smoother operation today. -- Renck
Fighting for the first (2:10 p.m.): Great second effort by RJ Harvey, who avoided the tackle for a loss to get the first down. — Nguyen
Elite company (2:08 p.m.): CBS graphic starts game showing Bo Nix joins John Elway and Peyton Manning as only Broncos quarterbacks to win nine straight games. -- Renck
Coin toss (2:05 p.m.): Broncos game captains: Bo Nix, Pat Surtain, Talanoa Hufanga and Alex Singleton.
Vegas wins the toss and defers. Denver will start with the ball. Away we go. — Gabriel
Pre-game updates
Crowd vibe? (2:03 p.m.): Think Cardinals-Rockies game at Coors Field. Only replace the StL red with Denver orange. — Keeler
Lineup (1:30 p.m.): Broncos No. 1 base defense in warm-ups features Malcolm Roach in the middle for D.J. Jones and CB Riley Moss opposite Pat Surtain II. — Gabriel
Home away from home (1:17 p.m.): Visiting fans always seem to be in their seats early, but even 50 minutes before kickoff it is clear there are going to be a ton of Broncos fans here today. — Gabriel
Hi, Geno (1:13 p.m.): The Raiders' PA announcer just announced QB Geno Smith as the jumbotron cut to a shot of him.
The Raiders fans trickling into Allegiant booed. Loudly.
Not great vibes in Vegas, evidently. — Evans
Atmosphere (12:55 p.m.): Howdy from Allegiant, where the Raider turnout is small and the concourses are smaller. It's setting up to be a Broncos home game based on the orange in the lots and those watching warm-ups. And Broncomaniacs know the stakes: A win today gives Denver a two-way tiebreaker edge in AFC playoff seeding over the Pats, based on record against common opponents. Let's do this! — Keeler
Former Bronco alert (12:41 p.m.): Former Broncos WR Tim Patrick with three catches, 46 yards and now a TD in the first half for surging Jacksonville, which is 8-4 and hammering Indianapolis today. — Gabriel
Inactives (12:37 p.m.): Broncos inactives this afternoon:
- DT D.J. Jones (ankle)
- TE Nate Adkins (knee)
- DL Jordan Jackson
- OL Geron Christian
- OLB Que Robinson
- CB Reese Taylor
— Gabriel
Easy win? (11:05 a.m.): This should be an easy win for Broncos given that Raiders offense is challenging Nate Hackettap for most incompetent since 2022. But … Denver has only won once in Vegas and won ugly in previous Thursday. Important not to let Vegas hang around. — Renck
Good morning from Allegiant Stadium in sunny Las Vegas (10:55 a.m.): It's going to be 65 and sunny here today — not that it matters much for the Broncos since they'll be under the translucent roof here for a matchup against the 2-10 Raiders. Denver hasn't lost since Sept. 21 and goes for 10 straight wins. Not much has been easy for the Broncos in this building since it opened. We'll see if Pete Carroll's team can make it another tough one this afternoon. — Gabriel
Scouting report (10 a.m.): Check out how the Broncos match up with the Raiders in Luca Evans' scouting report.
Game predictions
Parker Gabriel, Broncos writer: Broncos 27, Raiders 13
Sean Payton’s team is going to beat somebody handily at some point, right? Right? Bueller? Only two of Denver’s 10 victories this season have come by multiple scores and the past four have come by a total of 10 points. The Broncos are due for a blowout win and a loss or two. Letap bet they start with the blowout, then get to the business of trying to navigate a tough finishing quartet of games in position to nab the No. 1 seed.
Luca Evans, Broncos writer: Broncos 21, Raiders 14
I’ve leaned way too heavily toward predicting Denver blowouts against lesser teams this season. No more of that. Las Vegas’ defense threw some interesting stuff at the Broncos in their first matchup this season, and Denver’s offense can’t be counted on for a true blowout at the moment in the (perhaps temporary) absence of a consistent run game. This still shouldn’t be in doubt, though.
Troy Renck, columnist: Broncos 26, Raiders 13
Itap Raider Weak. Oh, where have you gone John Madden and Mike Shanahan, NFL rivalries turn their lonely eyes to you. These two teams have rarely been good at the same time over the past two decades. Such is the case again. The Broncos need to leave this game feeling better about R.J. Harvey, convinced in Evan Engram as a No. 2 target and more confident the defense can produce takeaways.
Sean Keeler, columnist: Broncos 24, Raiders 14
Ashton Jeanty deserves better. Mark Davis doesn’t. Team TCB (Takin’ Care of Business) hasn’t had two bad games in a row -- and Washington wasn’t good — since Jets-Giants, back-to-back. And that second one came on the heels of a 10-hour flight, for pity’s sake. After winning their past four games by a combined 10 points, the Broncos break out the hammers and give a bad team the respect they deserve. None.
Broncos-Raiders NFL Week 14: Must-reads
Keeler: Broncos fan asking Sean Payton, Bo Nix not to give him second heart attack vs. lousy Raiders
These Broncos might soothe the soul. They’re holy hell on your heart.
Thanks to a Looney Tunes, 27-26 victory at Washington last Sunday night, Denver has won nine straight. At some point, the Broncos trailed in every one of those games -- becoming the first NFL team to win nine in a row while behind in all nine contests.
In five of those victories, the Broncos were either tied or trailing at the start of the fourth quarter. Late last Sunday night, on an all-or-nothing Commanders 2-point conversion try in overtime, Denver outside linebacker Nik Bonitto got free and batted down a Marcus Mariota pass, one of the wildest finishes in a season full of them. Read Sean Keeler's column.
Yes, apB Riley Moss is actually wearing boxing gloves in practice
In mid-November, Moss’s hand-fighting with receivers nearly cost the Broncos their rivalry matchup with the Chiefs. The Broncos’ cornerback drew a pass-interference call that went for 47 yards on a fourth-quarter, third-and-20 against Kansas City. Denver managed to pull out a 22-19 win despite three penalties on Moss.
After the game, Moss told reporters that the staff were going to “put the boxing gloves on him” to correct any grabbing in his technique.
He wasn’t lying. Broncos cornerbacks coach Addison Lynch confirmed to The Post Thursday that Moss has been strapping on a set of gloves for about five reps during team periods of practice the last two weeks. Read Luca Evans' story.
How the Broncos are learning to deploy a young, talented CB group around Pat Surtain II
Everybody in the league is looking for corners. The Broncos have five that would likely play in some capacity for every team in the NFL.
At this point, Vance Joseph and company know well they can cover an injury here and there -- they just thrived for 3 1/2 games without reigning defensive player of the year Pat Surtain II — and they know they can cover just about everything else, too. Read Parker Gabriel's story.
