By Nick Kosmider, Jayna Bardahl and Amos Morale III
Kicker Wil Lutz has a strong case for the Denver Broncos’ MVP, as his leg was once again the difference in a winning effort.
After hitting a game winner in Week 10, Lutz scored what proved to be the Broncos’ deciding points with a 32-yard field goal late in the third quarter of Denver’s 10-7 win against the Las Vegas Raiders on “Thursday Night Football.”
His kick broke the 7-7 stalemate that was established late in the second quarter when Broncos quarterback Bo Nix connected with receiver Troy Franklin for a 7-yard touchdown pass.
Denver’s defense did the rest, holding the Raiders to just 188 yards of offense and sacking quarterback Geno Smith six times.
Broncos special teams flounder, then save the day
It was shaping up to be another wayward adventure for the Broncos’ struggling special teams operation. That all changed with one play.
Safety JL Skinner blocked AJ Cole’s punt late in the third quarter with his face mask, and the Broncos recovered at Las Vegas’ 12-yard line. It set up the go-ahead field goal in a game that featured little offense and was the first blocked punt for Denver since 2018. Cole had twice pinned the Broncos inside their own 2-yard line with well-placed boots earlier in the game. This time, though, special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi called for a pressure look, and Skinner crashed in from the right side to nearly take the ball off Cole’s foot.
Jeremy Crawshaw, the Broncos’ rookie punter, struggled mightily for much of the night. He shanked his first two punts, including one that went off the top of his foot and spiraled up the field like a misguided firecracker. The Broncos couldn’t produce much in the return game without Pro Bowler Marvin Mims Jr., who missed his second straight game with a concussion, and Lutz left a 59-yard field goal attempt in the third quarter well short.
Rizzi has faced plenty of heat for a performance by his unit that has been uneven for much of the season. It was trending the same way Thursday. One well-timed punt block call changed that. — Nick Kosmider, Broncos beat writer
BLOCKED PUNT‼️
📺: Prime Video pic.twitter.com/dxwuKnI1Qc
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) November 7, 2025
Broncos are NFL’s first to eight wins but must improve offensively to contend
The Broncos began the third-quarter possession at the Las Vegas 33-yard line after an interception and big return by linebacker Dondrea Tillman. The Denver offense had already punted five times and ended another drive with an interception, but now it was in prime position to grab the lead.
Instead, after a penalty and two plays of minimal gain, the Broncos faced a fourth down from the 39-yard line — and punted the ball away. The Broncos later began a drive at the Raiders’ 12-yard line after recovering a blocked punt, only to move 2 yards backward in their next two plays before kicking a field goal.
Those blown opportunities were a microcosm of Denver’s meager offensive performance. It was one thing to tally only 18 points against the Houston Texans’ top-ranked defense four days ago. It was another not to be able to move the ball against a Raiders defense that entered the week giving up 333.4 yards per game, the 14th most in the league. The Broncos went three-and-out on their first four possessions and didn’t get a first down until midway through the second quarter.
Nix looked uncomfortable all night against Maxx Crosby and the Raiders pass rush, his feet out of sync as he missed tight end Evan Engram in the end zone. A drop by Franklin midway through the fourth quarter led to Nix’s second interception of the game. The Broncos converted just three of their first 13 attempts on third down. Penalties, dropped passes and blown blocks were all part of the miserable equation for Denver’s offense.
Denver survived, in large part because its relentless defense (six sacks) kept answering the bell, as it has done all season. The Broncos have done enough to put themselves in a great position to chase their first AFC West title in a decade. Their seven-game winning streak is their longest since 2015. But it’s hard to envision the Broncos finishing the job if they don’t find a more consistent offensive formula. — Kosmider
Raiders offense sputters, Smith plays through pain
The Raiders couldn’t overcome a Broncos pass rush that could challenge the all-time single-season record for sacks and added six more Thursday. The result was a night filled with punts and few scoring opportunities, aside from Ashton Jeanty’s early rushing touchdown. A late missed 48-yard field goal attempt by Daniel Carlson sealed the Raiders’ fate.
Raiders quarterback Geno Smith played in visible pain for much of the fourth quarter. He took his first trip to the injury tent after getting tripped up by Denver’s Nik Bonitto. Backup quarterback Kenny Pickett entered for the rest of the drive — a handoff and an incomplete pass to Jack Bech — and set up a Raiders punt.
Smith came back onto the field for each of the Raiders’ final two drives but was limping badly. He was sacked six times for 29 yards.
Smith also threw his 12th interception of the season against the Broncos, though it was tipped by Jeanty before getting picked off. With it, Smith passed Tua Tagovailoa for the most interceptions in the NFL. No other quarterback has thrown more than eight.
Another problem for the Raiders was the lack of involvement from tight end Brock Bowers. One week after returning from injury and recording 127 receiving yards and three touchdowns in an overtime loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Bowers was barely seen. He had one catch on three targets for a career-low performance.
To add concern to the Raiders’ path forward, there are injury issues outside of Smith. Guard Jackson Powers-Johnson was carted off the field in the first half and ruled out with an ankle injury, and guard Dylan Parham suffered an ankle injury of his own. At least they have a mini-bye to get healthy, as they don’t play again until next Monday night, when they head to Dallas to face the Cowboys. — Jayna Bardahl