DENVER (AP) — Denver’s defense bailed out the Broncos in a 10-7 squeaker over the reeling Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday night, sacking Geno Smith six times to atone for spotty performances on offense and special teams.
The Broncos (8-2) own the league’s best record, but they didn’t look anything like it on a windy night in the Rocky Mountains.
They barely outplayed the Raiders (2-7), who just traded away top receiver Jakobi Meyers, in winning for the seventh straight time overall and extending their NFL-best home winning streak to 10.
Wil Lutz’s 32-yard field goal with 5 seconds left in the third quarter broke a 7-7 tie and followed J.L. Skinner’s block of AJ Cole’s punt, setting up Denver’s struggling offense at the Las Vegas 12.
The Broncos lost 2 yards on three plays and Lutz, who was way short on a 59-yarder earlier in the third quarter, nailed it through the wind to give Denver its first lead.
Cornerback Kyu Blue Kelly’s interception set up the Raiders at the Denver 45-yard line in the waning minutes, but Daniel Carlson was wide right on a 48-yard field-goal try with 4:26 remaining that would have tied it.
The Broncos chewed up the rest of the clock with a methodical drive at last and ending up taking kneel-downs in victory formation inside the Raiders 20-yard line after Las Vegas ran out of timeouts.
The game was a typical Thursday night flag-fest with neither team able to get into an offensive rhythm and a steady stream of players — including Smith — retreating to the sidelines and the blue tent to have injuries checked out.
The Broncos’ trend of slow starts continued as they managed just 6 yards in six first-quarter snaps and trailed 7-0 after allowing Ashton Jeanty’s 4-yard touchdown run.
The Broncos finally got a first down on their fifth possession when J.K. Dobbins scampered for a 13-yard gain on first down. Four plays later, Bo Nix found Troy Franklin for an 11-yard touchdown to tie it at 7.
Denver had 116 yards in the first half, two more than Las Vegas. Denver’s defense tallied five first-half sacks. The Broncos have 46 so far this season. That’s the most through 10 games by any team since at least 1990.
The Broncos again made several miscues on special teams, and rookie Jeremy Crawshaw shanked three first-half punts, which traveled 30, 36 and 38 yards. Skinner made up for that by blocking Cole’s punt with his facemask.
Injuries
Raiders: Las Vegas activated S Lonnie Johnson (broken leg) from the reserve list prior to kickoff. … RG Jackson Powers-Johnson injured his left leg in the second quarter and didn’t return. LG Dylan Parham sprained an ankle in the second quarter. … S Tristin McCollum was evaluated for a concussion in the second half. … Smith was limping late in the game and had his left quad wrapped at the end.
Broncos: All-Pro RG Quinn Meinerz left in the third quarter with an illness. … Star cornerback Pat Surtain II missed his second straight game with a strained pectoral muscle, and All-Pro kick returner and wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. wasn’t cleared from the concussion protocol in time to play. LB Karene Reid (hamstring) got hurt in the first half. OLB Jonah Elliss also pulled a hamstring,
Up next
Raiders: Host Dallas on Monday, Nov. 17.
Broncos: Host Kansas City on Nov. 16.
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