Nothing like a divisional matchup where the Las Vegas Raiders can at least attempt to play spoiler.
On Thursday, the Raiders hope to get their season on the right track in prime time against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
The two teams find themselves in opposite directions heading into the matchup. The Raiders are 2-6 and traded away wide receiver Jakobi Meyers to the Jacksonville Jaguars at Tuesday’s deadline, while the Broncos have fired off six straight wins to hold the lead in the AFC West. With this recent stretch, the Broncos look to become the first team not named the Kansas City Chiefs to win the AFC West since 2015.
The Raiders have a chance to do some damage to those ambitions, and there are ways on how they might be able to accomplish that goal.
Don’t be fooled
Surprisingly, the Broncos have been able to keep their winning ways going with All-Pro cornerback Patrick Surtain II on injured reserve with a pectoral injury.
The Broncos still have players who can lock down offensive weapons on the secondary, including Riley Moss and first-round pick Jahdae Barron. It allows Denver to play a versatile defense, confident that they have the coverage to break up plays and that the pressure can arrive on time. With a defense that ranks top five in several metrics, the Raiders will have their hands full trying to move the football anywhere.
Pressure on early
While the Broncos have the momentum in their favor, that does not mean they have necessarily been infallible.
The team has had a bad habit of getting off to slow starts, and quarterback Bo Nix can get into trouble when pressure arrives. While no lead is sacred against the Broncos (see: 33 points in the fourth quarter against the New York Giants), the Raiders have the pieces on defense to avoid a similar fate. Maxx Crosby and company will be tasked with making Nix as uncomfortable as possible, and a few key plays on defense early has a chance to swing the game in favor of the Raiders.
Establish the pecking order
With Meyers out the door, the Raiders now have the task of trying to establish how the passing game works without him.
Brock Bowers is the obvious top dog after a triumphant three-touchdown return against the Jacksonville Jaguars, while Tre Tucker has been enjoying a nice mini-breakout in year three of his career. There are still more than enough targets to go around, however, leaving quarterback Geno Smith with plentiful options. Jack Bech and Dont’e Thornton Jr. will be looking to get more involved in their rookie seasons, Ashton Jeanty and Michael Mayer will get some touches, and new addition Tyler Lockett could also factor in on offense.
Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly may have his hands full spacing the offense out, but it is not the worst problem to have.
Tom Brady reveals his dog is a clone tying the news to Colossal’s big move into pet cloning
