Raiders' feeble offense fails on the road again in 10-7 loss at Broncos

Denver Broncos defensive lineman Zach Allen (99) sacks Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (7) during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, in Denver. Photo by: ASSOCIATED PRESS

The home fans booed the Denver Broncos’ offense off the field throughout the second half of their Thursday Night Football game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Luckily for the restless Empower Field at Mile High crowd, the Raiders’ offense was even more impotent. In an AFC West slog that will only perpetuate long-running accusations of TNF creating ugly games, the Broncos held on for a 10-7 win over the Raiders.

Las Vegas’ offense managed more than its historically poor output in its last road game, a 31-0 loss at the Kansas City Chiefs, but the overall efficiency was similar.

The Raiders totaled only 188 yards, an average of 3.2 yards per play, and went seven straight possessions in the middle of the game without a first down.

Injuries again hamstrung the unit. Las Vegas relied on its interior run game during an eight-play, 41-yard touchdown drive on its second possession with Ashton Jeanty punching in a 4-yard score off a Jackson Powers-Johnson block to go up 7-0.    

But following the same blueprint became impossible after both Powers-Johnson and fellow starting guard Dylan Parham exited with injuries.

Quarterback Geno Smith, who posted 143 yards on 16-for-26 passing with an interception, was under heavy pressure the rest of the night from Denver All-Pros Nik Bonitto and Zach Allen.

The pair took him out of the game with pressure and an ensuing hit late in the third quarter. Smith eventually came back in after missing two plays with backup Kenny Pickett taking the snaps, but limped with what the broadcast called a left quad injury.

He mostly handed off to Jeanty, who got the Raiders into a field-goal range for a game-tying field goal with 4:30 left to play.

But Daniel Carlson sliced the 48-yard attempt wide right. Denver was able to drain the clock from there behind running back JK Dobbins, who finished with 18 carries for 77 yards despite also exiting with injury for a stretch.

Broncos’ fans discontent was mainly around second-year quarterback Bo Nix, who completed 16 of 28 passes for 150 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.

Las Vegas cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly claimed both of the interceptions, the first on a deep shot before the end of the first half and the second right before Carlson’s miss.

The Raiders’ defensive line played well with five quarterback hits including sacks by Charles Snowden and Adam Butler. But the Broncos’ front was better with 11 hits and six sacks led by Bonitto’s constant disruption.

That gave the action-starved Broncos’ fan base something to cheer about, and the resulting divisional standings should now too. Denver improved to 8-2 to increase its lead in the AFC West while Las Vegas dropped farther into last place at 2-7 with a game hosting the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football up next at Allegiant Stadium.

The Raiders have now lost three straight for the second time this season and, if they can’t find a way to field more consistency offense, they’ll be the team getting jeered off their home field soon.