Broncos Fall to Raiders, 17-16: The Good, Bad & Ugly
The Denver Broncos managed to do what no other team could at this stage — snatch defeat from the jaws of victory — putting an ever-so-slight tarnish on the shiny start of the Sean Payton era in a 17-16 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. While the Broncos showcased their finesse in game-plan execution, there was a buffet of controllable blunders, which, had they been avoided, would have changed the story.
As Dave Matthews aptly says, "Every day, things change, but they stay the same."
The Broncos' one-point heartbreak came due to a missed extra point. The universe hints that the Orange and Blue Renaissance will take time.
The post-mortem continues as I break down the good, bad, and the ugly from Denver's Week 1 loss.
The Good
A New Dimension of Game-Planning
The Broncos showed real improvement in multiple facets of the game. In a strategic gamble, Payton decided to open the game with an onside kick. It might've been unsuccessful, but it showed the team and the fans that he was ready to roll the dice.
Efficient Offense
Russell Wilson, leading the offense, was handed the keys to what could be seen metaphorically as a 2015 BMW 3; reliable but lacking that certain oomph when it mattered most. The offensive strategy was conservative but efficient, especially with the power duo of Javonte Williams and Samaje Perine tearing up the grass.
Adams & Jacobs Limited
Defensively, holding the Raiders to under 20 and containing stars like Josh Jacobs and Davante Adams is an achievement — a worthy start for Vance Joseph’s unit.
The Bad
Hesitation to Take Shots
Yet the victory eluded still eluded the Broncos. Why? The absence of Jerry Jeudy perhaps made the offense somewhat predictable.
The Broncos hesitated to shoot deep, allowing the Raiders to crowd the line of scrimmage. The receivers couldn't shake off their tacklers, leaving only Marvin Mims Jr. as the shining light with his return prowess.
Zero Sacks
While the backfield seemed secure on defense, the frontline was as imposing as a summer breeze. Denver notched zero sacks and allowed Jimmy Garoppolo an open pocket to pick his spots.
Damarri Mathis
Spare a thought for Mathis. Being the cornerback opposite of Patrick Surtain II is a thankless task. McDaniels seemed to exploit Mathis like a personal vendetta was on the line. Joseph could've made a few tweaks to help Mathis out, but didn't.
The Ugly
Poor Kicking
Not often does an extra point miss become the main talking point. Wil Lutz's missed kick wasn't just a minor blip but the equivalent of skipping a heartbeat.
The trajectory of the game changed with that one misfire. Having previously coached Lutz, Payton authorized the Broncos to use 2024 draft capital to acquire him. One game shouldn't be the final judgment, but eyebrows surely must rise.
With the recent power dynamics within the Broncos organization, is there anyone there to challenge Payton's decisions? Ideally, it should be GM George Payton, but one wonders how much weight his voice carries within team corridors.
Denver might have given its fans a tantalizing, if not frustrating, view into the future. Yes, the Raiders loss was a pinch of disappointment to a hopeful start, but one thing's clear: there's a shimmer of a brighter tomorrow under Payton.
So, Broncos Country, exhale. True, Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither will be the Broncos' return to glory. Dial down the expectations a notch, savor the progress, and remember — the playoff dream, though distant, isn't just a mirage.
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