Printed Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024 | 2 a.m.
Up to date Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024 | 4:30 p.m.
The destructive milestones hold piling up for this 12 months’s Raiders.
They’ve now misplaced each video games of their season collection with the AFC West rival Denver Broncos for the primary time since 2014 after a 29-19 defeat Sunday afternoon at Allegiant Stadium. The 2014 season was additionally the final time the franchise was mired in a dropping streak so long as the present seven-game slide it should carry right into a recreation Friday on the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.
Las Vegas appeared like it will have an opportunity to snap out of the struggles towards Denver. The Raiders led for a lot of the first half together with 13-9 at halftime with working again Ameer Abdullah having scored the sport’s solely landing — on a six-yard cross from Gardner Minshew.
However Minshew’s turnover woes continued early within the second half when he overthrew a cross meant for Jakobi Meyers that security Brandon Jones picked off. Denver scored two performs later, on an 18-yard cross from Bo Nix to Courtland Sutton to go up 16-13.
The Broncos by no means relinquished the lead once more, as Sutton added one other landing with the Raiders settling for 3 subject targets from kicker Daniel Carlson. Las Vegas mounted a 66-yard drive in lower than two minutes after Sutton’s second rating, however Minshew threw three straight incompletions contained in the five-yard line.
Carlson kicked a 22-yard subject objective to make it a one-score recreation at 26-19, and the Raiders’ protection pressured a three-and-out on the Broncos’ subsequent possession.
However Minshew would by no means try one other cross. Denver’s Cody Barton and Jonathan Cooper mixed to drive him into the grass on first down when the Raiders had the ball again deep in their very own territory, and Minshew writhed in ache earlier than heading straight to the locker room.
That introduced in backup Desmond Ridder, who scrambled for 3 yards on his first play after which fell sufferer to a strip sack on his second. Denver linebacker Nik Bonitto drove left sort out Kolton Miller again and bought a hand on Ridder’s proper arm earlier than it was going ahead.
Will Lutz added his fifth subject objective of the day to provide the Broncos a commanding lead. The Raiders went 69 yards on their subsequent drive however an 11-yard completion from Ridder to Tre Tucker wound up simply wanting the top zone after evaluation.
Ridder had two probabilities for a landing cross earlier than time expired, however there was first a miscommunication with Jakobi Meyers, who led the crew with 10 catches for 121 receiving yards on the day, and he was sacked on the second.
Denver linebacker Jonah Elliss blitzed from Minshew’s blind aspect and rocked him earlier than the ultimate seconds ticked off the clock.
It is a creating story. Test again later for extra protection and skim beneath for a gameday preview and updates from all through the sport.
The development of NFL kickers having extra size than ever is coming throughout this afternoon at Allegiant Stadium.
Broncos kicker Will Lutz already has two subject targets from greater than 50 yards out — and a 3rd from 45 yards — and now the Raiders’ Daniel Carlson has one too. It’s 19-16 Broncos with 9 minutes to play after Carlson made a 53-yard subject objective.
The Raiders’ newest drive was assisted by one cross interference name, after which hampered by one other. The officers flagged Jakobi Meyers for offensive cross interference two performs earlier than Carlson’s lengthy kick.
Carlson and Lutz are a mixed 7-for-7 on subject objective makes an attempt immediately.
Interception units up Broncos for fast touchdowns
Denver has its first lead since 3-0, largely courtesy of Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew.
It’s 16-13 early within the third quarter at Allegiant Stadium after Bo Nix discovered Courtland Sutton for an 18-yard landing cross within the nook of the top zone. The Broncos had such a brief subject as a result of Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew’s beforehand strong day spoiled with an overthrow meant for Jakobi Meyers that was picked off by security Brandon Jones.
Sutton torched Raiders cornerback Jack Jones on the second play to seek out the top zone. The Broncos had gone three-and-out on their first offensive possession of the second earlier than trying revitalized by the turnover.
It’s time to see if Minshew can regain his rhythm, and if the Raiders’ protection can regroup.
The Raiders are having an offensive resurgence. The Broncos are coping with a defensive regression.
Las Vegas leads Denver 13-9 at halftime at Allegiant Stadium after every of the ultimate three first-half drives bought to the purple zone. Ameer Abdullah completed one of many drives with a landing catch from Gardner Minshew with Daniel Carlson making a pair of subject targets on the opposite.
The newest kick was from 34 yards as time expired. The Raiders have 189 yards of offense at a clip of 5.9 yards per play whereas the Broncos are at 162 yards and 5.6 yards per play.
Abdullah has been essentially the most prolific weapon for the Raiders with 10 touches for 54 yards. Quarterback Backyard Minshew has accomplished 14 of twenty-two passes for 117 yards.
Raiders run faux punt
The Raiders’ longest cross play of the sport was from … punter A.J. Cole to … linebacker Divine Deablo.
That’s not a typo. Las Vegas went with some uncharacteristic creativity and trickiness on its final drive, working a faux punt on fourth-and-4 from its personal 36 yard line.
Cole bought the snap and lofted a cross with a tender contact proper into the fingers of Deablo, who rumbled down the sideline. The linebacker even pulled off a hesitation transfer and put his shoulder down to realize 5 additional yards on the finish of the catch.
Las Vegas couldn’t end the spotlight with a landing, although. The possession stalled close to the objective line and the Raiders settled for a 34-yard subject objective from Daniel Carlson.
It’s 10-6 Raiders with simply lower than 4 minutes to play within the first half.
Raiders discover the top zone
Ameer Abudllah is the lead again as an alternative of passing-down again immediately, however he simply reminded the group at Allegiant Stadium that his biggest asset comes as a receiver.
The Raiders’ tenth-year working again caught a six-yard landing cross from quarterback Gardner Minshew regardless of tight protection from Broncos linebacker Jonah Eliss close to the pylon within the entrance nook of the top zone.
Las Vegas leads Denver 7-3 after the seven-play, 40-yard scoring drive. Abdullah has six touches for 30 yards thus far, pacing the Raiders together with Minshew’s 49 yards by means of the air on 7-for-10 passing.
Broncos rating first
The Broncos have moved the ball higher than the Raiders by means of the primary 4 drives, however solely have a subject objective to indicate for it.
Denver leads 3-0 after a 38-yard subject objective from Will Lutz to cap its second drive. The Broncos went 62 yards on eight performs after forcing a three-and-out from the Raiders throughout their second drive on the sphere.
Denver has 33 dashing yards to Las Vegas’ 16, and quarterback Bo Nix has 77 passing yards to Gardner Minshew’s 34 but it surely may hang-out the Broncos that they haven’t been in a position to put up many factors within the early going.
PREGAME
It’s Ameer Abdullah time at Allegiant Stadium.
The tenth-year running back will get his chance to be a featured weapon for the first time since 2017 when the Raiders tackle the Denver Broncos beginning at 1 p.m. It was trending that method all week and now it’s official with each Alexander Mattison (ankle) and Zamir White (quad) on the inactives listing.
White and Mattison had been thought-about uncertain to play on Friday and didn’t progress by means of the weekend to get on the sphere.
One key participant whose well being did enhance, nevertheless, was cornerback Jack Jones who will play after struggling again and head accidents in final week’s loss on the Dolphins. There might be lots of stress to supply for Jones in a defensive backfield with out fellow cornerbacks Jakorian Bennett (shoulder) and Nate Hobbs (ankle).
Along with these two working backs and two cornerbacks, the Raiders’ different inactives are guard Cody Whitehair, tight finish Harrison Bryant and defensive sort out Matthew Butler.
The Broncos are a lot more healthy, which can make it a problem for the Raiders to keep away from getting swept within the season collection for the primary time since 2014. Denver is at the moment a 5.5-point favourite over Las Vegas.
Learn beneath for a full preview and verify again later for stay updates all through the sport.
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels is at the moment an odds-on favourite to win the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Yr award, however two different standouts have surged to depart the No. 2 total decide little margin for error.
Daniels’ two chasers face off immediately when Broncos’ quarterback Bo Nix, the No. 12 overall pick, and Raiders’ tight finish Brock Bowers, the No. 13 total decide, meet for the second time this season at 1:05 p.m. immediately at Allegiant Stadium.
Nix confirmed flashes of the potential that’s led him to sitting because the reigning AFC Offensive Participant of the Week within the first recreation between the AFC West rivals, a 34-19 Denver win in Week 5.
That began the Raiders’ present six-game dropping streak the place Bowers has been one of many few — if not solely — vivid spots.
The College of Georgia product is on tempo to interrupt nearly all NFL rookie tight finish information with a team-leading 70 catches for 706 yards and three touchdowns.
He had his finest recreation but in final week’s 34-19 loss on the Dolphins, catching 13 passes for 126 yards and a landing. Nix’s statistics line in a 38-6 Broncos’ win over the Falcons final week was even gaudier because the College of Oregon product accomplished 28 of 33 cross makes an attempt for 307 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Favorable matchup: Raiders’ reworked offense vs. Broncos’ protection
Las Vegas has been so poor throughout its slide, which has included dropping 4 of the six video games by two touchdowns or extra, that it’s tough to provide you with any positives. However a lot of the downturn has been due to offensive helplessness, and that could be altering. The unit appeared noticeably improved towards Miami in its first recreation beneath new offensive coordinator Scott Turner. The Raiders principally went blow-for-blow with the Dolphins and had been inside one rating till the ultimate three minutes. Quarterback Gardner Minshew killed a streak of 5 straight landing possessions mixed between the 2 groups with a late interception however in any other case had one in every of his higher video games. He threw for 282 yards and two touchdowns, Raider career-highs, on 30-for-43 passing. Divisional opponents just like the Broncos can sometimes simply tweak the sport plan once they face a crew for the second time in a season. It received’t be that simple with the Raiders working a bit otherwise beneath Turner than they did with fired authentic coordinator Luke Getsy. Las Vegas may have a problem in navigating accidents to each of its high two working backs — Alexander Mattison (ankle) and Zamir White (quad) — with journeyman Ameer Abdullah now doubtless the featured again but it surely’s been the worst dashing crew within the NFL regardless.
Problematic matchup: Raiders’ harm state of affairs vs. More healthy Broncos’ aspect
Working again one way or the other isn’t the Raiders’ most beaten-up and regarding place group. It’s cornerback, the place all three of the crew’s starters are coping with accidents — Jack Jones (again), Jakorian Bennett (shoulder) and Nate Hobbs (ankle). Nix tore aside an Atlanta secondary lacking three of its high 4 cornerbacks every week in the past, and now might get the same setup towards Las Vegas. The Raiders’ beginning lineup is a shell of what the crew anticipated coming into the season, with 12 of twenty-two first-string spots on the offensive and defensive depth chart completely different this week principally due to harm. The Broncos in the meantime have benefitted from harm luck regardless of having performed 11 straight weeks. Their bye isn’t till Week 14, the most recent on the NFL schedule this 12 months. Solely six lively gamers had been on their preliminary harm report heading into the Raiders’ recreation, with only one (left guard Ben Powers) not taking part in any capability in apply. The Raiders had eight lively gamers not taking part in any capability in apply with reserve tight finish Justin Shorter the lone one among the many group who hasn’t began this 12 months.
Gamebreaker: Edge rusher Maxx Crosby
A clip of Crosby trash-talking Nix on the line of scrimmage early within the Week 5 recreation went viral, with the sting rusher imploring the rookie to, “communicate up,” as a result of his teammates couldn’t hear an audible name. Crosby arguably had his finest recreation of the 12 months that day together with his lone two-sack efficiency on the season, and the Raiders badly wanted a repeat in Week 12. Crosby has hardly stood out since that recreation together with his numbers down throughout the board. He’s nonetheless been one of many Raiders’ higher gamers however isn’t as a lot as threatening to make an All-Professional crew this season. It’s a excessive bar however that’s the expectation for a participant on a close to $100 million contract. The Raiders will doubtless be beginning a cornerback trio of rookie Decamerion Richardson, longtime practice-squad participant Sam Webb and Giants’ training-camp minimize Darnay Holmes. That’s a gaggle that received’t be capable of get up in protection if Nix will get additional time within the pocket. It’s primarily as much as Crosby to verify Nix doesn’t get additional time within the pocket. He’ll must harass Nix with extra phrases.
THEY SAID IT
“It’s on all of us to seek out methods to win. That’s all we will do. You play for pleasure. There’s nonetheless lots of soccer left, so much to play for in lots of methods. We’ve simply bought to maintain exhibiting up.”
-Crosby on rallying from the franchise’s longest dropping streak since beginning 0-10 in 2014
“Mockingly, I didn’t even actually hear it when it occurred within the recreation. Clearly, I’ve been despatched it so much and seen the video after however I feel that’s simply a part of his recreation. I feel he’s mastered that and he’s tried to make use of it to his success. I feel it’s vital when issues like that occur, you simply sort of come down and get again to the fundamentals, not essentially take heed to it. Minimize out the noise and simply go to work.”
-Nix on Crosby’s chirping within the first recreation and the way he’ll deal with it going ahead
“This isn’t a ‘break’ season for me. It’s one of many stuff you’ve simply bought to swallow. You’ve bought to take it and clearly we’ll look again in any respect the explanations…No person feels sorry for us. No person feels sorry for me. You’ve bought to roll on the market with 11 gamers, and that’s what we’re going to do.”
-Pierce when requested if he ever questions why he can’t catch a break with accidents
“A whole lot of religion, a bit of little bit of luck and lots of objective. I feel objective retains individuals entering into life. If in case you have one thing, in case you have a North Star that retains you going each single day, it’s simple to maintain you shifting in the precise course which is ahead.”
-Abdullah on what’s saved him within the NFL for 10 years and dealing in direction of a possibility like Sunday might current as a beginning working again
Huge Quantity: 0.7%
Nix has a 0.7% interception charge during the last 10 weeks, second-best within the NFL behind Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert. The rookie has thrown only one interception in his final 280 cross makes an attempt. It’s a very notable stretch of success contemplating turnovers had been one of many considerations with Nix out of the draft and thru coaching camp. The scares appeared well-founded by means of the primary two video games of the season the place he had 4 interceptions and no landing passes. However he’s calmed down considerably from there and, even with the early anchor weighing down his numbers, Nix is tied for eleventh within the NFL with a 1.7% interception charge total. Minshew, then again, is thirty third out of 37 certified passers with a 3.4% interception charge. Minshew has 9 interceptions in complete, three greater than Nix regardless of having began three fewer video games. The Raiders sit final within the NFL in turnover margin, at -15, whereas the Broncos are even with 13 giveaways and 13 takeaways. Las Vegas should win the turnover battle to maximise its probabilities at an upset towards Denver.
Finest Guess (7-3): Brock Bowers over 56.5 receiving yards
Sure, the Broncos’ defensive recreation plan will doubtless be centered on slowing Bowers. No, it received’t essentially matter. Not with Turner calling the performs and exhibiting each indication that his intention is to power the ball to the rookie tight finish as a lot as potential. By means of one recreation and two weeks on the job, the previous UNLV quarterback is much less involved about spreading the wealth of offensive touches than his predecessor. Even when the Broncos reach slowing Bowers to construct a lead, this guess nonetheless has a powerful probability at cashing. That doubtless recreation script would consequence within the Raiders going cross heavy and having no alternative however to assault downfield in an try and get again into the sport. Few gamers within the NFL have been higher at discovering open house downfield after which tacking on yards after the catch than Bowers. The rookie has gone over this quantity in seven of 11 video games this season, and his workload is simply trending up.
