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.
“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 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.”
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.
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.
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