Raiders outclassed again as Broncos hand down 11th straight AFC West loss

Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Jamal Adams (33) is called for a penalty while grabbing the face mask of Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey during the second half of an NFL football game in Las Vegas, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. Photo by: ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rookie first-round pick running back Ashton Jeanty continually crumbled at first contact, veteran linebacker Jamal Adams extended multiple drives with mistakes and the punt team gave up a 48-yard return touchdown.

At least playing the blame game would be pointless for the Raiders after their latest loss, a 24-17 methodical dismantling by the Denver Broncos Sunday afternoon at Allegiant Stadium.

Every unit played poorly for Las Vegas, which lost its seventh consecutive game to fall to 2-11 on the season.

The Raiders have also now dropped 11 straight games against AFC West divisional rivals dating back to last year. A regular-season finale against the Kansas City Chiefs on Jan. 4 will be their last chance to break the skid and prevent getting swept in the division in back-to-back seasons for the first time in 19 years.  

The performance against the Broncos can’t inspire much confidence in the silver and black faithful, of which there were few who showed up at Allegiant on Sunday.

The five-year-old, $2 billion venue is known for attracting swarms of opposing fans, but it might not ever have been more overrun than it was with orange for the second matchup with the Broncos this year.

Las Vegas put on an inspired effort in Denver earlier this year, losing a Week 10 game just 10-7, but was less competitive in the rematch.

Denver outgained Las Vegas by 127 total yards and 11 first downs.

The Broncos rarely threw downfield. They instead chose to slice the Raiders with a bruising run game, which picked up 152 yards on 31 attempts, and short passes from Bo Nix, who posted a career-high completion rate by connecting on 31 of 38 passes for 212 yards.

Nix took the Broncos on a 14-play, 81-yard drive that took up 8:54 of game time on the visitors’ opening drive before scrambling and squeezing through a hole in the middle of the field himself for an 8-yard touchdown run.

The Raiders managed to answer right away as quarterback Geno Smith had one of his best sequences with the team, taking it 70 yards down the field in just 10 plays and six minutes.

Tight end Brock Bowers cracked the Broncos’ zone defense on a post route to catch a 15-yard touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone and tie the game.

But the Raiders’ offense vanished from there, gaining only 20 yards and two first downs over its next four possessions until the final minute of the third quarter.

Jeanty had 10 carries for 30 yards while the Broncos' fellow first-round running back rookie, R.J. Harvey, received 17 carries for 75 yards.

Broncos receiver Marvin Mims scored on a 48-yard punt return after a pair of sacks derailed the Raiders’ second drive.

Denver sacked Smith three times and hit him three additional times with the quarterback suffering hand and shoulder injuries. He initially battled through the former but exited with the latter at the start of the fourth quarter.

Backup Kenny Pickett entered the game with the Raiders at the seven-yard, but hit rookie receiver Jack Bech for a short gain on his first play (third-and-goal) and then overthrew Bowers in the end zone on fourth-and-goal.

Pickett got more work late after the Broncos drained the clock via 10-plus minute drive, culminating with a 23-yard field goal from Will Lutz, and made the most of it.

He picked on the Broncos’ prevent defense to take the Raiders down the field and hit practice-squad-elevated receiver Shedrick Jackson with a 25-yard touchdown pass.

It was the first touchdown of Jackson’s NFL career. Pickett also got the Raiders into field goal range in the final seconds with Daniel Carlson knocking through a 46-yard field goal as time expired.

That was much to the chagrin of the Broncos’ fans still lingering in the stadium as it allowed the Raiders to cover the closing 7.5-point spread.

Pickett finished with 96 yards 8-for-11 passing to Smith’s 116 yards on 13-for-21 passing.    

Aidan O’Connell, who’s started portions of the previous two seasons for the Raiders, is also now healthy and dressed in an emergency role for the third straight game.

Smith did not return from his injury, but it might be time to turn to one of the younger options regardless for the final four games of the season. Raiders coach Pete Carroll has been reluctant to bench Smith or even cite him as part of the team’s problem, but the offseason trade and extension for the veteran hasn’t worked out.

He was again ineffective against the Broncos, with the final score making the game appear closer than it actually played out.

Smith’s was not the lone problem though. The Broncos bullied the Raiders everywhere.

This is a developing story. Check back later for more coverage.