Broncos at Raiders Open Thread/Live Blog | Week 10
Gameday is here. The 3-5 Denver Broncos will make their playing debut in Las Vegas going against an old division rival now relocated in Sin City.
Broncos-Raiders is a time-honored rivalry and one of the NFL's premier division bouts dating back to the 1960s. Exemplifying that rivalry is the fact that the Broncos and Raiders have split their two head-to-head matchups in each of the past five seasons.
Traditionally, the home team wins. If the Broncos are going to buck that trend, it'll take an inspired performance not only by QB Drew Lock but the entire defense, considering how big, physical, and explosive the Raiders' offense can be.
It'll be fun to see how it all shakes out. Meanwhile, join us as we live-blog and discuss DENvsLV here in our weekly Open Thread. Dive into the conversation — it's easy — by simply going to the top of the site and in the bottom right-hand corner of the Mile High Huddle logo, click the follow button.
You can log in with Facebook or Google and either way, it's free. From there, sound off in the comment section and share your takes and observations with our staff, subscribers, and fellow members of the MHH community as we react to the game in real-time.
What to Watch For
Team: Denver needs one road win to surpass last season's away victory total. Denver last won three road games in a season in 2018.
TE Noah Fant: Needs 89 receiving yards to become the 18th tight end in NFL history to reach 1,000 receiving yards by his 24th career game.
RB Melvin Gordon: Needs 40 receiving yards to reach 2,000 receiving yards in his career.
K Brandon McManus: Needs one point to pass Matt Prater (2007-13) for the third-most points (682) in franchise history.
CB Michael Ojemudia: Needs one forced fumble to become the ninth rookie cornerback to force three fumbles in a single season.
WR Tim Patrick: Needs 84 receiving yards to reach 1,000 for his career.
S Justin Simmons: Needs one interception to become the third Bronco to record 15 picks during his first five seasons with the teams (since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger).
Inactives
Analysis: It was reported on Saturday that Calvin Anderson would start at right tackle on Sunday but notice that Demar Dotson is not among the inactive. Perhaps Dotson is dressing as a fail-safe's fail-safe but keep an eye on right tackle. Also, what a relief for Denver to get Bryce Callahan back at corner, along with A.J. Bouye.
First Quarter
Raiders win the toss. Defer. Broncos to receive.
Diontae Spencer fields the kickoff inside the 5-yard line. He reverses field twice, only to be tackled on the 4-yard line. An illegal double-team block puts the Broncos on the 2-yard line.
Lock boots right, throws incomplete to Jerry Jeudy.
On 2nd-&-10, Melvin Gordon gets the carry and picks up four yards. Brings up 3rd-&-6 from the 6-yard line. Gordon shaken up on the play.
On third down, Lock completes to Royce Freeman on the checkdown, who'd promptly hit and stopped for no gain. Punt ensues.
Sam Martin's punt to the Raiders' 44-yard line. Hunter Renfro returns it deep into Denver territory but a merciful holding penalty on the Raiders puts the Raiders on their own 38-yard line to start.
Two back-to-back hand-offs to Josh Jacobs pick up a five total yards.
On 3rd-&-5, Derek Carr hits Renfro, who runs for 25 yards. Raiders in business in Broncos' territory. Bouye in coverage.
On 1st-&-10, Bouye gives up the cushion to Henry Ruggs, who picks up nine yards.
Carr scrambles to Broncos' 11-yard line for a 9-yard gain. One play later, Jacobs blasts through Denver's defense for a six. Raiders draw first blood. Extra point is good.
Raiders 7, Broncos 0
Another short kickoff, Spencer returns it 26 yards to the Broncos' 35-yard line.
Lock hits Fant on first down for a 9-yard gain.
Phillip Lindsay moves the chains.
On 1st-&-10, Lock play-fakes, rolls right and hits Patrick for a 14-yard gain.
On 1st-&-10, Lock play-fakes again, hits Jeudy for a 17-yard gain. A great catch by the rookie.
Lock goes deep for Jeudy on first down but it's way too long. Incomplete.
Lindsay stuffed for no gain on 2nd-&-10. Broncos' O-line not playing well.
On 3rd-&-10, Lock throws into double coverage, targeting DaeSean Hamilton. Incomplete.
Brandon McManus to attempt the 50-yard field goal. It's good. Broncos get on the board.
Raiders 7, Broncos 3
McManus' kickoff ends in a touchback.
On 1st-&-10, Jacobs picks up three yards.
On 2nd-&-7, DeShawn Williams beats Rodney Hudson to force Carr to scramble for a 4-yard gain.
On 4th-&-3, Carr throws a perfect deep ball down the left sideline to Ruggs, goes through his hands. Incomplete. Punt.
Davontae Harris runs into Spencer who was trying to fair-catch the punt, which creates confusion as the ball bounces deep into Denver territory. It's finally downed on the Broncos' 7-yard line. No penalty as it was Harris who ran into his own returner.
On 1st-&-10, Gordon picks up three yards.
On 2nd-&-7, the screen goes to Fant, but only makes it back to the line of scrimmage.
On 3rd-&-7, Lock hits KJ Hamler, moving the chains. Almost dropped it.
Gordon breaks four tackles to pick up eight yards on 1st-&-10.
On 2nd-&-2, Gordon picks up one. Brings up 3rd-&-1.
Gordon picks up six yards on third down with a fine block from Fant. Moves the chains.
On 1st-&-10, Maxx Crosby destroys Calvin Anderson, tackles Lindsay for a 4-yard loss.
On 2nd-&-14, Lock throws incomplete to Patrick. Missed a nice opportunity to Fant on a post-corner route in single coverage.
On 3rd-&-14, Lock throws high to Hamler, gets picked off by Jeff Heath, who returns it to the Broncos' 40-yard line.
Carr goes deep to Nelson Agholor but Callahan makes a great play on the ball to break it up. Malik Reed flagged for jumping offsides.
On 3rd-&-2, Broncos bottle up Devontae Booker for no gain. On the Broncos' 31-yard line, Jon Gruden has a decision to make.
End of quarter.
Raiders 7, Broncos 3
Second Quarter
Raiders have a 4th-&-1.
Gruden goes for it. The give goes to Jacobs. He's bottled up close to the sticks. But Brandon Parker flagged for holding, pushing Las Vegas back 10 yards. Vic Fangio accepts the penalty, though it appeared Jacobs was tackled short.
Gruden opts to punt. It's a beauty, executed flawlessly and down on the Broncos' 2-yard line.
Gordon picks up three yards on 1st-&-10.
Gordon gains 6.5 yards on 2nd-&-7, breaking through another couple tackles.
On 3rd-&-1, it's a deep-drop play-action and Raiders blitz. Lock is sacked. Ball is knocked loose but Lock miraculously gets it back. An ugly play.
Martin's punt is returned to the house by Renfro but the Broncos are blessed once again as the Raiders get penalized for a blind-side block. Wipes the touchdown off the board. Raiders will start on their own 29-yard line.
On first down, Reed pressures Carr, forcing the throw-away.
On 3rd-&-7, Carr targets Agholor but Callahan breaks it up. Callahan is on fire. Punt.
Garett Bolles jumps on 1st-&-10. False start.
On 1st-&-15, Lock targets Lindsay. Incomplete.
On 2nd-&-15, Lock misses a free rusher off the left side, Arden Key destroys him from behind. Incomplete.
On 3rd-&-15, Lock hits Jeudy for a 26-yard gain. First down.
Another big gain to Patrick down the right sideline picks up 27 yards.
On 3rd-&-3, Lock fires to Hamler who can only pick up one yard. Brings up another field goal try by McManus. It's good.
Raiders 7, Broncos 6
Josh Watson makes a nice tackle on the ensuing kickoff, hitting Jalen Richard hard. Raiders to start on their own 10-yard line. Richard shaken up on the play.
Jacobs picks up nine yards on first down.
Carr completes to Waller for eight yards.
On 3rd-&-4, Carr throws incomplete to Renfro but DeMarcus Walker jumps the neutral zone. Moves the chains.
Carr hits Brian Edwards for a 16-yard gain.
On 1st-&-10, Jacobs picks up 24 yards. Raiders in business on the 8-yard line. First-&-Goal.
Broncos' defense holds. Raiders forced kick the field goal as Carr throws incomplete on 3rd-&-Goal. The field goal chip-shot is good.
Raiders 10, Broncos 6
Lock makes a few big-time throws, driving the Broncos down to the Raiders' 5-yard line.
Lock keeps, and runs for the corner. Touchdown. But a flag falls. Holding on Fant.
On 2nd-&-9, Lock throws to Jeudy in the middle of the end zone and it's picked off by Jeff Heath. No points for Denver.
Carr kneels on it.
End of quarter.
Raiders 10, Broncos 6
Third Quarter
Raiders begin drive with a few nice runs by Jacobs.
Carr goes deep to a wide-open Waller and the star tight end drops it. Looked like busted coverage.
On 3rd-&-7, Carr hits Waller for a 24-yard gain over the middle.
Three plays later, the Raiders stall. But Daniel Carlson connects on the 52-yard field goal attempt. Raiders extend lead.
Raiders 13, Broncos 6
Gordon tackled for 3-yard loss on first down. Gordon tackled for 3-yard loss on first down.
2nd-&-13, Pat Shurmur decides to go off-script and throws but Lock delivers a hospital ball to Hamler, who gets destroyed.
On 3rd-&-13, Lock pushed out of the pocket and scrambles right. Throw on the run dives at Jeudy's feet on the boundary. Incomplete. Punt.
Martin punts 54 yards.
Carr sacked on third down by Dre'Mont Jones. But the play is negated by a defensive hold on Malik Reed. Raiders get a new set of downs.
Jewell makes a nice play to knife through blockers to stop Renfro for a short gain on a screen.
On 2nd-&-4, Broncos get good penetration, but Jacobs manages to get back to the line of scrimmage. Jewell again.
On 3rd-&-4, Broncos get pressure but Carr buys time and lofts it over Justin Simmons' outstretched arm. Big 21-yard gain to Ruggs.
Booker gets big yardage on first down. Brings up 2nd-&-1.
Booker again has a massive hole, picks up another nine yards. Raiders threatening deep in Broncos' red zone.
Carr scrambles for plus yardage but it's negated by a hold by a holding foul on Denzelle Good.
Jacobs picks up 13 on a Carr pass over the middle, bringing up a 3rd-&-5.
It's a slant to Waller, with Simmons in great position but is apparently tackled short. Refs spot the ball at the marker, moving the chains.
Jacobs scores from five yards out on the ensuing play. Raiders really extend lead. Extra point is good.
Raiders 20, Broncos 6
Kickoff is a touchback.
Lindsay picks up three yards on first down.
End of quarter
Raiders 20, Broncos 6
Fourth Quarter
Broncos start with a 2nd-&-7 on their own 28-yard line.
Lock throws his third interception. Defensive end Carl Nassib drifts back and picks off Lock, who had drifted back due to A-gap pressure, throwing off his back foot.
Raiders in business on the Broncos' 11-yard line.
Broncos hold defensively. A 22-yard field goal extends Raiders' lead.
Raiders 23, Broncos 6
Lock targets Hamler on third down. Incomplete. Raiders flagged for defensive holding.
But Tim Patrick loses his cool and gets caught throwing a punch after Johnathan Abrams pops him in a chest. Patrick ejected and his lapse cancels out the defensive hold. Repeat 3rd-&-10.
Lock blitzed off the right side, throws hot sight-adjust to Fant, who wasn't ready for it. Incomplete. Punt.
Broncos force a punt.
On 1st-&-10, Lock hits Hamilton over the middle but as he's falling to the ground, the ball gets stripped. Fumble recovered by the Raiders.
Raiders will start inside the Broncos' 10-yard line.
Raiders punch it in on ensuing play with Booker getting the 7-yard touchdown against his former team.
Broncos drive down in garbage time into the Raiders' red zone. On 4th-&-Goal, Lock hits Hamilton for a touchdown. Broncos go for two points.
The throw goes to Jeudy in the back of the end zone but he's out of bounds. No conversion.
Raiders 30, Broncos 12
Broncos allow Booker to pick up nine yards up the gut on 3rd-&-6, moving the chains.
Booker jaunts from 23 yards out to pay dirt, giving the Raiders four rushing scores on the day and 200-plus yards on the ground. Ugly. Extra point is good.
Raiders 37, Broncos 12
