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For the first time all season, the Denver Broncos never trailed. For the first time in weeks, Sean Payton removed his headset long before the final whistle. The Broncos delivered their most comfortable victory of the year, beating the Las Vegas Raiders 24-17 on Sunday afternoon and extending their franchise-record winning streak to 10 games.
Bo Nix completed 31 of 38 passes for 212 yards and ran for an 8-yard touchdown, while Denver’s defense smothered a struggling Raiders offense for most of the afternoon. The Broncos improved to 11-2, tying idle New England for the AFC’s best record and holding the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Patriots. They now stand on the brink of ending Kansas City’s nine-year reign atop the AFC West and own their best 13-game start since the 2013 season.
“It did not feel like some of these other games recently,” Payton said with a smile. “My headset was off earlier than usual.”
Denver controlled the clock for 39:03, racked up 356 total yards and 27 first downs, and held Las Vegas to just 229 yards and 16 first downs. The Broncos snapped their own NFL record of nine consecutive comeback wins; this time, they simply pulled away after an early 7-7 tie.
The Raiders (2-11) lost their seventh straight game and 11th in their last 12 tries. They have now dropped 11 consecutive divisional contests, the longest active streak in the league.
Las Vegas also lost starting quarterback Geno Smith in the third quarter to a right-hand laceration and shoulder injury that “really locked up,” according to head coach Pete Carroll. Backup Kenny Pickett entered and went 8-of-11 for 96 yards and a late touchdown, but the damage was already done.
The game began with two marathon drives. Denver opened with a 14-play, 81-yard march that ate 8:54 and ended with Nix’s scrambling score. The Raiders answered with a 10-play touchdown drive of their own, capped by Smith’s 15-yard pass to rookie tight end Brock Bowers, marking the first opening-drive touchdown Denver had allowed all season.
The second quarter belonged to special teams. After both offenses stalled, Broncos returner Marvin Mims Jr. raced 48 yards for a punt-return touchdown, giving Denver a 14-7 halftime lead.
Rookie running back RJ Harvey extended the advantage to 21-7 late in the third with a 3-yard plunge, his fifth rushing touchdown of the season. Denver’s 18-play, 90-yard drive that followed consumed more than 10 minutes and effectively put the game on ice.
Las Vegas mounted a late flurry behind Pickett, pulling within 24-17 on a touchdown pass to Shedrick Jackson and adding a 46-yard Daniel Carlson field goal as time expired, but the outcome was never seriously in doubt.
Edge rusher Nik Bonitto recorded two more sacks to reach 12.5 on the year, becoming the first Bronco with double-digit sacks in consecutive seasons since Von Miller. Raiders star Maxx Crosby added two tackles for loss, breaking his own franchise single-season record with 25.
Injuries continued to pile up for Las Vegas: cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly (knee) and tight end Ian Thomas (calf) left the game, joining an already lengthy inactive list.
For Denver, this marked the first truly stress-free win during their streak. While skeptics point to several close calls against lesser opponents, the Broncos have now beaten the Raiders twice this season by a combined score of 53-30 and hold victories over every AFC West foe.
“Ten in a row is a long streak,” Nix said. “You have to appreciate every one, no matter how they come. But we’re always looking to get better.”
With four games remaining, including a pivotal showdown with Kansas City still ahead, Denver controls its destiny for the division title and a potential first-round playoff bye. After years of rebuilding, the Broncos finally look like the team many hoped they could become under Sean Payton and Bo Nix.
