The Denver Broncos emerged victorious over the Las Vegas Raiders in a lackluster contest on Thursday Night Football, winning 10-7 in a matchup that will not be remembered fondly by fans. Both quarterbacks, Bo Nix for the Broncos and Geno Smith for the Raiders, faced significant challenges, leading to one of the most forgettable games of the NFL season.
This victory improved the Broncos” record to 8-2, solidifying their position as potential Super Bowl contenders, placing them ahead of teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills in the AFC standings. However, the game itself was marred by poor offensive execution, with both teams combining for fewer than 300 passing yards. A particularly eye-catching statistic was the total of just 10 first downs recorded between the two teams, a figure that was overshadowed by the 11 penalties they collectively incurred. This marked the first instance since 1976 that an NFL game had more penalties than first downs, a rare and undesirable record.
The previous occurrence of such a statistic also involved expansion teams, specifically the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Seattle Seahawks, during their inaugural season in the league. Despite the win, questions loom over the Broncos” performance, with many fans still skeptical about their ability to compete at a high level, even with their impressive record.
On the other hand, the situation is becoming increasingly critical for Raiders head coach Pete Carroll. After a successful 14-year tenure with the Seahawks, where he amassed a 137-89 record and led the team to two Super Bowls, Carroll”s transition to Las Vegas has not gone as planned. The Raiders, expected to be playoff contenders, are struggling at 2-7. The team had acquired Smith from the Seahawks, trading a third-round pick for him and signing him to a contract worth $37.5 million annually. Unfortunately, Smith has faced difficulties this season, leading the league in interceptions with a ratio of 11 touchdowns to 12 interceptions.
In the loss against Denver, Smith suffered an injury, prompting Kenny Pickett to step in as relief. This has raised questions regarding Smith”s future as the starting quarterback. As the season progresses, Carroll faces mounting pressure to turn things around before the end of the season, especially with rumors of Tom Brady potentially influencing significant decisions as a minority owner of the team. The Raiders may soon need to reevaluate their quarterback situation in light of recent performances.
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