top of page

    Raiders return home looking to build from road momentum

    Writer's picture: Terrel EmersonTerrel Emerson

    After beating the Los Angeles Chargers on the road to improve to 4-1 away from Allegiant Stadium, the Las Vegas Raiders are ready to bring that momentum back home.


    Vegas will host the Denver Broncos Sunday, Nov. 15 where the team holds a 1-2 record.


    Kickoff is set for 1:05 p.m.


    Currently, the Raiders sit in second place in the AFC West just behind the 8-1 Kansas City Chiefs.


    Kansas City’s lone loss of the season came at home at the hands of Las Vegas.


    The Raiders will welcome the Chiefs into Allegiant Stadium next week for Sunday Night Football.


    Las Vegas is looking for its first playoff berth since 2016.


    As of now, the Raiders sit in seventh place in the AFC playoff race.


    This March, the league announced that it would be expanding its playoffs bracket to 14 teams (seven from each conference).


    A better win percentage in the conference is what gives the Raiders the nod over Cleveland in the eighth spot and Miami in the ninth.


    Ahead of this matchup with Denver, Vegas is one of 12 teams that have already rushed for over 1,000 yards as a team.


    The Raiders are led by second year workhorse running back Josh Jacobs who has 588 yards on 161 carries and six touchdowns, averaging about 74 yards per game.


    In his NFL debut, Jacobs became the first since LaDainian Tomlinson in 2001 with 100 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns in his first game.


    That game was a Monday Night Football matchup against the Broncos.


    This Denver defense is a long way removed from it’s championship defense from 2016.


    Linebacker Von Miller was the Super Bowl MVP that year and could be close to making a return to the field for the first time this season.


    Prior to the start of the season, Miller suffered an ankle injury that was expected to cost him the entire season.


    However earlier this month, Miller expressed the possibility of returning to the field in “three to four weeks.”


    This year’s Denver defense ranks 17th in the league with six forced fumbles.


    Las Vegas has fumbled the ball five times this season.


    Raiders quarterback Derek Carr will be tasked with going up against the 11th ranked pass defense of the Broncos, though they may be without cornerback Bryce Callahan.


    This season, Carr is completing 70 percent of his passes, with 2,002 yards, 16 touchdowns and just two interceptions.


    He is one of only six starting quarterbacks with a quarterback rating of at least 110.


    In his career, Carr is 5-6 against Denver with a quarterback rating of 92.


    He will be opposed by a quarterback making his second start against the Raiders.


    Denver quarterback Drew Lock has missed games this season due to injury but has 1,240 yards with a 57 percent completion percentage to go along with six touchdowns and six interceptions.


    Lock is at the helm of a passing offense that ranks 22nd in the league.


    To make matters worse, the Broncos are expected to be without wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and Diontae Spencer along with tackles Demar Dotson and Jake Rodgers who are all listed as questionable.


    Jeudy is the team’s leading receiver.


    In his one start against the Raiders, Lock won the game after going 17-for-28, throwing for 177 yards with a touchdown in a 16-15 win for the Broncos after not playing in the Monday Night Football season opener.


    Quick Notes

    The Raiders lead the all-time series 64-53-2 over the Broncos.


    This will mark the 120th meeting between the two rivals.


    The two teams split the season series in 2019.


    Las Vegas will be without defensive end Maurice Hurst Jr., who will be missing his third straight game with an ankle injury.


    Tackle Kolton Miller is listed as doubtful for the second straight game with an ankle injury. Last week, he missed the first game of his career.


    Guard Gabe Jackson is also listed as questionable with an illness.


    2 views0 comments

    Comments


    bottom of page