News Raiders Team Notes

[Las Vegas Raiders]

What’s the confidence level in Bo Nix, Denver Broncos heading into playoffs?

The Las Vegas Raiders are set for round two against the Denver Broncos in Week 14. To preview the AFC West matchup, we reached out to our friemies over at Mile High Report, and Ian St. Clair was kind enough to answer a few questions about the Broncos for Raider Nation.

Q: While the Broncos are just a half-game out of the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoff picture, they’ve played in a lot of one-score games against several bad teams like the Jets, Giants, Raiders and Commanders. Given that, what’s the fanbase’s confidence level heading into the playoffs? Is the feeling in Denver that this team can win a Super Bowl?

A: The discussion over the one-score games is an interesting one. When it was Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs winning an NFL record one-score games last season, they were the best team in the history of the NFL. When it’s Bo Nix and the Broncos, they’re frauds and it’s not sustainable.

Meanwhile, Denver also curb-stomped the Dallas Cowboys and beat the Houston Texans on the road. But winning these close games in the fashion that they’re doing it, regardless of the opposition, means the Broncos are battle-tested and playoff-ready.

I’d much rather have a team like Denver, as opposed to the Detroit Lions a season ago. The Lions blew everybody out in the regular season, but then they wilted in the playoffs because they had no clue how to win tight games. We can also go back 10 years to Super Bowl 50 and that Broncos team. They didn’t blow everybody out either, but Denver utilized a great defense and its battle-tested experience to win the Super Bowl.

The Broncos made the A block of "First Take" this morning.

When you have me referencing the '86 Giants , you get spoken about in the "league's best" conversation. @Broncos @MileHighReport @DNVR_Broncos pic.twitter.com/jFbvgQDiYu

— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) December 3, 2025

Q: On that note, Bo Nix has made a habit of starting slow and then turning it on in the fourth quarter, allowing the Broncos to pull off several comebacks this season. What’s been the difference between his play in the first three quarters versus the final frame?

A: This is the key question for the Broncos right now, and seemingly everyone has a different answer. My tinfoil hat conspiracy theory is that Sean Payton is playing 3D chess with the opposition by presenting the most vanilla and bland offensive game plan he can imagine through the first three quarters. Then, in the fourth quarter, he opens up the offense for Nix. It’s not totally crazy, right?

I think it’s a combination of not playing at up-tempo and lack of execution by the offense. As I’ve said for multiple weeks now, I’d like to see Payton allow Nix to play up-tempo in the first three quarters and let the offense play as it does in the fourth quarter. I also think that limits the thinking involved, not just for Nix and the offense, but also for Payton.

Q: Denver’s running game hasn’t been as productive ever since JK Dobbins suffered a season-ending injury the last time these two teams met. What needs to change, or who needs to step up for the rushing attack to get back on track? Are there other issues at play beyond who is toting the rock?

A: Rookie RJ Harvey has the potential; he just needs to trust himself. The biggest thing I’m seeing is that he hesitates. He’s not decisive on his reads and ends up limiting the yardage he can get. The offensive line is doing its job in consistently creating lanes; Harvey just needs to get the ball and go.

Similar to Nix in the first three quarters, Harvey is overthinking things. The most recent example of this is when Jaleel McLaughlin had success running the ball on Sunday night, but Harvey did not. McLaughlin only had six carries, but he averaged 4.0 yards per carry for 24 yards. Harvey, meanwhile, had 13 carries for 35 yards and just an average of 2.7 yards per carry.

The other issue is that Payton abandons the run too quickly. Stick with it, but also go with the hot hand. I would have liked to see McLaughlin get more carries against the Commanders.

Q: I know Pat Surtain II returned last week, but what did the three games without him tell you about Denver’s defense this season?

A: Here’s my John Madden-esque answer: It tells me the Broncos defense is really freaking good.

To be without the best cornerback in football and the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, yet still shut down the Cowboys offense in the second half that he missed and the Texans offense on the road, which couldn’t get into the end zone even when CJ Stroud was still in the game, is impressive.

To circle back to your first question, it also tells me that this defense and team can win the Super Bowl. To play like that without Surtain and not miss a beat is not an easy feat.

Q: I know the Broncos are gearing up for a playoff run, but Raider Nation is already looking at the future. So, can you give us a few key impending free agents that the organization will have to make hard decisions on this offseason? What needs do you anticipate the team having?

A: Broncos ownership, along with general manager George Paton and Payton, have already addressed the major issues with Nik Bonitto, Jonathan Cooper, Zack Allen, and Malcom Roach. I’d like to have Denver re-sign John Franklin-Meyers, but I don’t think they will. The main thing to know about the Bronos offseason is they’ll finally be free of the albatross of Russell Wilson’s disastrous contract.

So, Denver will be able to target offensive weapons, receiver, running back, and tight end, for the first time in Nix’s short career. Heck, potentially even consider making a trade for a top-flight receiver, specifically one who currently plays in Minnesota. That could be thinking big, but this ownership group has money, is willing to spend it, and wants to win. But look for the Broncos to address the offensive side of the ball.

Source: https://www.silverandblackpride.com...16703/las-vegas-raiders-denver-broncos-bo-nix

 

[Las Vegas Raiders]

Can Las Vegas Raiders defense limit Denver Broncos again?

The Denver Broncos’ lowest points output this season was a 10-point outing in Week 10 at home.

The opponent? The Las Vegas Raiders.

That game was the Thursday night AFC West clash that ended up 10-7. It was Denver’s seventh-straight win at the time (the team has won nine consecutive games now) and was Las Vegas’ third-straight loss (the team has sustained six consecutive defeats now).

Mother Nature had her say in that Nov. 6 nightcap as temperatures were in the low to mid-30s while wind gusts reached 25 miles per hour before the game. And said gusts didn’t dissipate affecting both team’s aerial attacks. That didn’t stop the Raiders defense from taking advantage though. None more a benefactor than cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly who snared two interceptions that night in early November — the first two of his trio of picks this season.

Kyu Blu x2!

Second INT of the game for Kyu Blu Kelly!

LVvsDEN on Prime Video
Also streaming on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/eZZ3bT0bLa

— NFL (@NFL) November 7, 2025

“Yeah, I like Kyu’s play style. I like, I’ve spoken about before, his resiliency. A bunch of teams, in and out of the lineup, stuff like that, but just go play, and then go play and go snatch the ball,” Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham said when asked about Kelly during media availability on Thursday. “And then Flo (Brian Flores) used to say it all the time, when you’re down there in the red area, something screwed up happened. So, like, really, now you’re measuring your mental toughness. And so, it would be stop the play on the two-yard line, keep fighting for every blade of grass, and then having interception last week, that was a positive. That was definitely positive.”

Since that game, Kelly snagged a red zone interception in the Raiders’ 31-14 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers last Sunday giving the 24-year-old cornerback the team lead in picks at three.

But plenty has changed between Denver and Las Vegas since their clash earlier this season.

The Raiders played disciplined defense in that Nov. 6 matchup but mistakes — mental lapses, missed tackles, blow coverage, you name it — reared its ugly head the last three weeks. The Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Browns, and Chargers each racked up yards and points against the Raiders. Dallas churned out 381 yards and 33 points in Week 11, Cleveland 270 and 24 in Week 12, and L.A. 341 and 31 this past week.

The @Raiders were not fooled at all by the trick play

LVvsDEN on Prime Video
Also streaming on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/fYKYN6x3pq

— NFL (@NFL) November 7, 2025

The Broncos, meanwhile, showed offensive strides in two tough games against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 11 (22-19 win) and a wire-to-wire 27-26 overtime win this past Sunday night at the Washington Commanders. Denver racked up 342 total yards against the Chiefs and 402 more against the Commanders.

Graham is taking a proper approach of clean slate while combining what worked well in early November against Denver.

“Each week, you start over, but definitely, because it’s such a short period of time since we played them. So, familiarity with the first whatever many games, eight or nine games, and then getting caught up in the last few plus our games,” Graham explained. “So, it helps a little bit, especially when you’re going back on certain situations, like backed up when you’re doing the whole season, red area when you’re doing the whole season. You have some familiarity with this, so you’re not starting over with like 50 plays that you’ve got to look at. So, definitely helps.”

But Graham is well aware his defense will need to force Broncos’ quarterback Bo Nix into mistakes and turnovers this Sunday. Especially how the second-year quarterback has elevated his play in the second half and fourth quarters of ballgames to help Denver to victories.

“Again, just so, so impressed with the process that they’ve used with the quarterback. And again, Coach (Sean) Payton is one of the best in the business, play calling. When you watch the second half of the games, I mean, it’s no different than when you’re going against Andy Reid and those guys, sometimes you’re just trying to get out. You’re like, ‘He’s on my ass right now.’,” Graham noted. “So, I think it’s a combination of the player again but also being led by the coach in terms of the play calling. Some of those fourth quarter play call selections and the dilemmas and the predicaments they place the defense in based on what they’ve seen, he’s one of the best in the business to do it. So, you’ve got to be prepared for that.”

The Denver Broncos just win games…what else do you want?

Bo Nix’s growth at the LOS is a main reason why they have been so good late in games.

This is the best thing I’ve seen this week as far as QB play goes. https://t.co/v0JpLoHdVW pic.twitter.com/fxE84cZGMT

— Chase Daniel (@ChaseDaniel) December 4, 2025

Quotes of Note​

“Well, this league, bunch of players, they all come in different shapes and sizes. We all know that. But the thing that stands out about him from his tape, and then when you get to meet him; we met him on the I think – I can’t remember if it was the pro day or what have you. He’s very competitive and that stands out, whether it’s something going on in the meeting room, whether it’s out here at practice, and then you saw him in coverage situations in the game. He’s a very competitive football player. And we cherish that trait, cherish that trade.”

—Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham when asked about cornerback Greedy Vance’s size at 5-foot-9 and 177 pounds.

“Well, it always starts with protection first, so big emphasis on the protection part of it, but everyone’s involved in it, like I said last week, whether it’s running better routes, or the quarterback getting the ball out on time, or the running backs making sure they’re involved in their part of the protection or the pass receiving. So, all involved in it, but just always trying to find ways to protect it up first and then get the ball in the hands of your playmakers.”

—Las Vegas Raiders interim offensive coordinator Greg Olson on the team’s struggles on third down offensively.

Head-to-Head​

The Week 14 matchup marks the 133rd meeting between the teams. The Raiders lead the overall series with the Broncos 73-57-2 (72-56-2 in regular season action, 1-1 in postseason play). Denver won the last three meetings with the Thursday night victory the most recent. The last time the Raiders were victorious in the series was back in early January 2024 when the team dropped Denver 27-14. That was the last of eight-straight victories by the Silver & Black.

Source: https://www.silverandblackpride.com...as-raiders-defense-limit-denver-broncos-again