The Denver Broncos won a hard-fought game against the Las Vegas Raiders, beating them 10-7 on Thursday night. It wasn’t a pretty game, but the Broncos don’t mind as long as their defense stays strong and they end up with more points than the other team.

Broncos coach Sean Payton talked after the game about areas the team needs to fix, like penalties and execution. He said it’s something the team will keep working on, because there’s always room to improve. Even though the offense had a slow night, the Broncos remain on top with an 8-2 record — the best in the NFL right now.

The key to Denver’s win was their defense. They caused a lot of problems for Raiders quarterback Geno Smith by sacking him six times. This gave the Broncos 46 sacks in just 10 games this season — more than any team since 1990 at this point in the year. That kind of pressure helped Denver win their seventh straight game, their longest streak in 10 years.

Quarterback Bo Nix struggled on offense, throwing for just 150 yards and two interceptions, though he did manage one touchdown pass. He said the team has to score more points soon because 10 points might not be enough to win every game. The fans showed their frustration by booing Nix, but he said he’s used to it and will keep trying.

The Broncos had trouble moving the ball with 11 penalties and seven three-and-outs in their 13 drives. But their defense was solid, making sure the Raiders couldn’t get a first down on seven straight drives. Denver also forced a turnover on downs, grabbed an interception, and blocked a punt to keep their lead.

One big moment came when J.L. Skinner blocked a Raiders punt late in the third quarter. The ball hit his facemask, but it stopped the Raiders and helped set up a field goal, which gave Denver a 10-7 lead. Skinner joked it was like a “head-butt” play because of the way he blocked it.

The Raiders had a chance to tie the game late when cornerback Kyu Blue Kelly picked off a pass, but their kicker Daniel Carlson missed a 48-yard field goal that would have tied the game with just over four minutes left. Carlson has had a tough year, missing a few important kicks already.

After that, the Broncos ran out the clock with careful running plays and knee-downs to seal the win.

The game wasn’t smooth for either team, with lots of penalties and injuries. The Broncos started slow and were behind 7-0 in the first quarter after the Raiders scored a short touchdown run by Ashton Jeanty. Denver slowly fought back, tying the score with a touchdown pass from Nix to Troy Franklin.

Raiders quarterback Geno Smith got hurt during the game and had to leave for a while with a bruised quad, but he came back to finish. His coach, Pete Carroll, praised Smith for his toughness despite the injury.

Both teams also dealt with injuries to key players, which affected how they played. The Broncos were without star cornerback Pat Surtain II due to a muscle injury, and other players left the game hurt. The Raiders also lost players during the game.

Looking ahead, the Broncos will prepare to host their big rival, the Kansas City Chiefs, on November 16. The Raiders will try to bounce back when they host the Dallas Cowboys on November 17.

Even though the game wasn’t impressive to watch, Denver’s defense showed why this team leads the league right now. They made the big plays when it mattered and found a way to get the win, even with an offense that still has work to do.

Defensive grinders like this one prove that every yard, and every read, matters. At Bankroll U, our playmakers thrive in these tight contests, turning defensive dominance into sharp, calculated wins.