The Denver Broncos can grow to be the primary NFL group to achieve the eight-win mark once they play host to the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday night time to open Week 10.
The Broncos have been kings of late comebacks whereas surprisingly being tied for the very best file within the NFL. Denver (7-2) seeks its seventh straight victory when it faces its longtime AFC West rivals.
Las Vegas (2-6) has dropped six of its previous seven video games, together with a 30-29 residence additional time loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars final Sunday.
ODDS AND TRENDS
The Broncos are consensus 9.0-point favorites. That features at BetRivers, the place they’ve been backed by 64% of the spread-line cash. Denver has coated the unfold in every of its previous 4 video games as the favourite towards AFC West rivals.
Denver’s moneyline sat at -500 on Thursday afternoon however that hadn’t dissuaded the general public, which has backed the Broncos with 90% of the whole ML bets and 95% of the cash.
The overall factors line of 43.0 has seen the Over supported by 54% of the cash. Seven of the Raiders’ previous eight highway video games towards AFC West groups have gone Beneath the whole factors line.
PROP PICKS
–Broncos QB Bo Nix 200+ Passing Yards (-207 at DraftKings): This has been the most well-liked participant prop on the ebook, with Nix throwing for at the very least 242 yards in 4 of his previous six video games. Whereas higher potential payouts can be found on 210+ (-155), 220+ (-118), 230+ (+110) and 240+ (+145), there’s trigger to be cautious contemplating the chance of Denver leaning heavier on the bottom when the sport will get comfortably in hand.
–Broncos RB RJ Harvey Anytime TD (+210 at BetRivers): The rookie has had a troublesome time incomes constant snaps within the backfield with veteran J.Okay. Dobbins forward of him, however Harvey has discovered the top zone 4 occasions over the previous two weeks. Two of these have been as a receiver, with Nix focusing on Harvey 5 occasions final week for 51 yards and a rating.
INSIDE EDGE
Harvey’s position within the passing sport figures to solely improve because the season progresses. In line with Inside Edge’s Outstanding engine, Dobbins has averaged solely 8.3 receiving yards per sport because the begin of the 2024 season, which is the bottom amongst certified working backs.
SERIES HISTORY
Denver swept the Raiders final season after shedding the earlier eight matchups. The Broncos additionally enter with a nine-game residence profitable streak.
NIX-ING ANY CRITICS
Nix (1,976 yards, 17 touchdowns) is creating an enormous fame for coming via within the clutch. That features 4 fourth-quarter comebacks throughout Denver’s present win streak.
“Bo’s simply being Bo,” stated Denver receiver Courtland Sutton. “Week in and week out, he exhibits up. … He finds a method. He is a gamer. The dude exhibits up. We all know that when we have now him again there, we have now an opportunity to win the sport. I believe that is probably the most enjoyable factor and assured factor to have the ability to have is to know the man again there’s going to offer us an opportunity to win the sport.”
RAIDERS’ NEW LOOK
Second-year tight finish Brock Bowers is coming off a monstrous sport with 12 catches for 127 yards and three touchdowns. He’s the primary Raiders’ tight finish with three scoring catches in a sport since franchise legend Todd Christensen in 1986.
The Raiders traded veteran receiver Jakobi Meyers to the Jaguars on Tuesday for Jacksonville’s fourth- and sixth-round picks subsequent 12 months. That got here per week after signing veteran Tyler Lockett, who performed for coach Pete Carroll and with quarterback Geno Smith in Seattle.
INJURY REPORT
Las Vegas defensive sort out Adam Butler (again) and safeties Lonnie Johnson (fibula) and Isaiah Pola-Mao (hip) are questionable for Thursday’s sport. Backup quarterback Aidan O’Connell (proper wrist) was dominated out.
Star cornerback Patrick Surtain II (pectoral) sat out each practices this week and can miss his second straight sport. Tight finish Nate Adkins (knee) and receiver Marvin Mims Jr. (concussion) additionally have been dominated out. Security P.J. Locke (neck) is questionable.
THEY SAID IT
–“We have heard loads concerning the win streak, however we’re not even actually occupied with that as a result of we have now so many issues that we wish to appropriate. We really feel like we’ve not even performed an entire sport offensively. We’re all in a development mindset and we’re fearful concerning the issues we will repair.” –Nix on the Broncos’ streak.
–“It must be a number of guys. Jakobi was such an affect participant for us. I want him the very best. He was a terrific follow participant, and I loved teaching him. He was a heck of a child, however we received another receivers who’re going to have to select it up.” –Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly on changing Meyers, who had 33 receptions for 352 yards with no touchdowns in seven video games.
PREDICTION
Along with these groups getting into distinctly reverse instructions over the previous month-plus, the information factors virtually all help a simple Denver victory Thursday night time.
Think about that in keeping with the Outstanding engine, the Raiders have been profitable on solely 37.3% of their speeding makes an attempt this season (fourth-worst within the NFL) whereas the Broncos have allowed a hit fee of simply 36.6% of rush makes an attempt (second greatest).
If Las Vegas cannot run the ball successfully it figures to be a tricky night time on the highway. The Raiders have run solely 42.5% of their offensive performs on the opponent’s facet of the ball (third worst), whereas the Broncos are second greatest within the league in permitting solely 39.2% of performs to be run of their territory.
–Broncos 31, Raiders 20
–Area Stage Media
