The Denver Broncos eked out a gritty 10-7 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on November 7, with their defense playing a pivotal role.
Geno Smith faced relentless pressure, getting sacked six times by the Broncos. Outside of Ashton Jeanty’s first-quarter touchdown run, Las Vegas struggled to move the ball.
In the end, the Raiders managed just 188 total yards, and Denver’s defense did enough to give their offense the edge needed to secure the win. Moreover, it was a challenging night for the Las Vegas rookies Jeanty, Dont’e Thornton Jr., and Jack Bech.
Jeanty’s inability to catch the ball led to an interception, while Thornton Jr. and Bech had key holding calls. As a result, it was a painful learning night for the first-year players, but Raiders coach Pete Carroll sees this as a positive for his rookies.
“This isn’t going to be forever,” Carroll told reporters (h/t Vegas Sports Today). “This is what it is right now. It’s probably the first time Dont’e had a shot at that route where he really had a chance, but we had to avoid the pick and didn’t get that done. We practiced it and all that, and it always works out better than that. That guy ran right into him, and that caused the pick.
“Guys that have been around, that wouldn’t happen too likely. They know how to avoid it because they know what’s coming. They’re going to get a call. Those things will go away. We’ll overcome that. If they don’t, then they’re not getting better. They won’t be here, but they’ll improve on those kinds of things.”
Brock Bowers Was Quiet for the Raiders in Week 10
Brock Bowers was largely quiet in the loss to the Broncos, a stark contrast to his breakout performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 9, when he caught 12 passes for 127 yards and three touchdowns.
With the Raiders’ offense sputtering, the focus has shifted to offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. Former Raiders wide receiver James Jones criticized Kelly after the game, questioning why Bowers wasn’t more involved, especially since he finished with just one catch for 31 yards.
“Offensively, we got to do better,” Jones said on “Raiders Postgame Live.” “I know I come up here every single week and ask, ‘What’s our identity? ‘ I don’t know. Chip don’t know neither. That’s the problem. We don’t know if we want to run it, and we don’t know if we want to throw it. What’s our identity?
“… I expected to see more of Brock Bowers. We’ve got a lot of young players out there, and I know Brock’s young, but he’s our superstar. We can’t depend on young players to win primetime games like this. Yes, he got some opportunities, but I’m more concerned about Brock Bowers. How do you go into a game as an offensive coordinator and not find a way to get the ball to him? He’s the best player on the field.”
Raiders QB Geno Smith Suffers an Injury
The Raiders’ loss to the Broncos raised more than just concerns about their rookie performances, as Geno Smith’s health is also in question. The veteran quarterback was noticeably shaken up during the game, but managed to stay on the field.
Smith suffered a quad injury in the second half, which led to a short appearance from Kenny Pickett. Even though he was clearly laboring, Smith fought through the pain and continued to take snaps.
After the game, Carroll explained that Smith is dealing with a quad contusion, an issue that shouldn’t keep him out, especially with the team getting extra rest before Week 11. It’s been a rough stretch for Smith, who threw his 12th interception, the most of any quarterback in the league.
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