The Denver Broncos took on their rival Las Vegas Raiders this afternoon for their Week 14 gridiron matchup. It was a fast-paced game that went by very quickly. When the clock struck zero, the Broncos had
earned their eleventh victory of the season defeating the Raiders 24-17. Here are some instant reactions and key takeaways from today’s victory.
Bo Nix and Broncos offense found a good rhythm this afternoon
It’s been an up and down season for the Broncos on offense. Despite some decent outings and late-game heroics, they are still trying to find their groove. With today’s performance against the Raiders, I think it’s safe to say a lot of progress was mad with the building blocks toward success down the stretch being laid.
Fans who were hoping for a fast start in today’s game weren’t disappointed. The Broncos engineered a terrific scoring drive on the game’s first possession. Bo Nix and his teammates drafted up a 19-play drive that went 81 yards and took nearly nine minutes off the clock. It was capped off with an eight-yard Nix scamper for a touchdown. You couldn’t have asked for a better start.
After a pedestrian second quarter effort, the Broncos began their second half endeavors with another clock eating drive. It was a 16-play adventure that went 86 yards and resulted in a 3-yard RJ Harvey touchdown. It was really nice to see them have a strong start to the third quarter strong for a change. That had been a weakness of theirs for most of the season.
One of the big changes for the offense in today’s game was Nix operating under center. That is something I have been advocating for since the early part of the season. I think that had a great impact on not just his efficiency, but for the whole offense—especially the running game. They certainly controlled the pace of the game and dominated the time of possession.
Nix finished today’s game going 31-of-38 for 212 yards. There weren’t many splash plays down the field, but he was precise and methodical delivering completions to eleven different players. The offense achieved 27 total first downs. Overall, I was encouraged by the effort.
A tip of the hat to RJ Harvey and the Broncos’ rushing attack
Without J.K. Dobbins in the lineup, the Broncos’ rushing attack has failed to impress over the past several weeks. One of my keys to the game was establishing the run. Being able to do that will be crucial in order to finish the season on a high note and make a deep playoff run. And guess what? The Broncos had 152 yards rushing the ball today. You love to see it!
Rookie running back RJ Harvey was someone I mentioned who needed to step up in order for Denver to win this game. The second-round pick certainly did that. He was a focal point in the team’s offensive plans. Harvey had 17 rushes for 75 yards and a touchdown. He also added 6 catches for 25 yards as a receiver.
I felt he made the most of his opportunities and looked a lot better running between the tackles. I’m not sure where he ranks amongst all rookies, but I’d wager his nine touchdowns thus far has to be at the top or very close to it. His performance today should give him some confidence entering the final four games of the season. Moreover, give Broncos Country optimistic about his potential as a playmaker.
Miscellaneous thoughts on the defense
Last week on Sunday Night Football, the Broncos defense showed a few warts that were concerning. Their run defense wasn’t the best, and they had a high amount of missed tackles. Those two things that were uncharacteristic of their overall performance so far this season.
The Broncos entered today’s game without allowing a first drive touchdown all season. Unfortunately, they struggled on the first drive of the game which ended in a Brock Bowers touchdown. After limiting Bowers to just one catch for 31 yards in their preliminary matchup, the dynamic tight end had a bit more success today.
For the first quarter, Denver’s defensive trenches struggled to get home. That allowed Geno Smith and the Raiders to make some plays over the middle of the field. However, three sacks in the second quarter helped revitalize the defense. A key red zone stop early in the fourth quarter was crucial for Denver to keep the game’s fortunes in their favor.
They also shut down Ashton Jeanty and the Raiders’ rushing attack holding them to just 40 yards on the ground. However, I’ll say I’m a bit disappointed in how they ended the game. Giving up multiple scoring drives after Geno Smith was knocked out of the game isn’t ideal.
It didn’t matter in the end, but I hope they can clean up some of the miscommunication and breakdowns they had in coverage today. They will face a much better slate of offenses in the remaining four games. I’m really hoping they can rise to the occasion and take care of business.
Other musings and tidbits:
- Marvin Mims Jr. helped changed the game’s momentum with his 48-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter. It was the first punt return touchdown of Mims’ career. It had been nearly five years since the last time Denver returned a punt for a touchdown. There is a good shot the third-year pro will be another Pro-Bowl and All-Pro selection due to his return skills this season.
- There were no paths or scenarios for the Broncos to earn a postseason berth today. However, with their win over the Raiders, they’ve assured themselves any tiebreaker over the New England Patriots and are once again the top seed in the AFC.
- I can’t complain too much about today’s performance. But I just thought I’d throw this out there. Why not go for the 62-yard field goal attempt at the end of the first half? You just signed Wil Lutz to a lucrative extension. Give it a shot and see where it takes it. I guess I don’t know why they didn’t bother to just kick a field goal at the end of the game either.
