3 Brutal Takeaways From Broncos' 10-7 Win vs. Raiders on TNF
The Denver Broncos pulled off a narrow 10-7 divisional win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday night, though it was far from impressive. In the Payton-Nix era, this might have been their least inspiring victory yet.
Despite the sloppy play, the result extended Denver’s winning streak to seven games. At 8-2, it’s their best start to a season since 2015. While that record looks promising, the team’s offense continues to struggle badly, and much of the blame points to head coach and play-caller Sean Payton.
Offensive Failures Continue
The Broncos' offensive woes were clear throughout the game. Scoring only ten points, the unit failed to find rhythm, repeatedly stalling drives and piling up three-and-outs.
“It's time to face the facts: the Broncos' offense is terrible and the buck stops with Payton — not just because he's the head coach, but because he's the play-caller.”
Questionable Play-Calling
Payton’s decisions raised eyebrows, particularly during a third-quarter drive when the team needed momentum. Instead of leaning on the run game, he opted for a poorly executed trick play on 3rd-and-1 that lost five yards.
“A throw to Courtland Sutton behind the line of scrimmage was sniffed out by the Raiders... the veteran wide receiver was supposed to throw it downfield, but everyone was covered, so he lost the yardage.”
The blunder turned a 53-yard field goal attempt into a much tougher 58-yarder for kicker Wil Lutz.
Bo Nix’s Worst Performance
Quarterback Bo Nix had a rough outing, arguably his worst game since turning pro. He struggled to maintain composure under pressure, contributing to the team’s offensive stagnation.
Summary
Denver’s defense salvaged an otherwise ugly game, but the offensive direction under Sean Payton continues to raise serious concerns about the team’s long-term ceiling.
Author’s summary: The Broncos extended their win streak to seven, yet the lifeless offense and questionable play-calling overshadowed what could have been a statement victory.