Las Vegas Raiders top the Broncos 32-23 for first win of the season
The Las Vegas Raiders have put themselves on the board in the AFC West standings, and the 32-23 divisional victory gives them some positive momentum as the season carries on.
The Silver and Black got their first win of the season, and it just so happened that the Raiders played a balanced game on offense while the defense held their own against their AFC West rival. After losing their first three games in what felt like a mixed bag of performances, Las Vegas played to their strengths through the air, but most importantly they did not stray away from the ground game.
That formula led the Raiders to outgain the Broncos in total yards, 385 to 299 on Sunday afternoon.
Las Vegas had 34 pass attempts to go along with 38 carries on the ground, and it resulted in the Raiders besting the Broncos in both categories. Derek Carr completed 21-of-34 pass attempts for just 188 yards through the air, but most importantly he kept his best offensive weapon involved throughout all four quarters. Davante Adams finished with a team-high nine receptions for 101 yards, and when it mattered most he helped move the chains when called upon.
With Denver’s secondary kept honest by the passing attack, it allowed the Raiders to exploit them on the ground, and that was at the heart of Sunday’s victory.
After coming into Week 4 ranking third-to-last in rushing yards per game, the Raiders totaled 212 yards on the ground while limiting the Broncos to 85 rushing yards respectively. Josh Jacobs easily had his best game of the season, finishing with 28 carries for 144 yards and two touchdowns. Las Vegas may not beat their opponents every week on the ground, but the first win of the season is proof that Josh McDaniels and the coaching staff cannot afford to stray away from it.
While the Raiders’ offense found its spark Sunday afternoon, the defense more than held up their own.
Denver finished just 3-for-11 on third down while the Raiders converted 50 percent of their third-down opportunities. Russell Wilson was sacked three times on the day, with Maxx Crosby finishing with four solo tackles (for a loss) and two sacks. For a team that ranked 30th last season in takeaways per game, Amik Robertson’s fumble recovery for a score was a huge catalyst in turning the momentum in the Raiders’ favor.
Sunday’s win felt like the first instance in which all facets of the offense and defense worked collectively in getting the job finished. After being impeded by playing two halves of uneven football for three weeks, the hope is that the first win of the season will spark some consistency. The Raiders will surely need it to continue as they look towards a momentous Monday Night Football matchup on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs next week.