DENVER — The Broncos became the first team in the NFL to reach eight wins this season after a 10-7 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders at Empower Field at Mile High, but the celebration was muted because Denver’s offense again struggled while the defense carried the load.
Denver’s defense dominated Thursday night, registering six sacks and holding the Raiders to 188 total yards. It was the fourth time this season the Broncos allowed one touchdown or fewer and pushed their league-leading sack total to 46 — the most through 10 games since 1990. The result extended Denver’s winning streak to seven games, its longest since it began 7-0 in 2015.
Still, many offensive players were blunt about their performance. Running back J.K. Dobbins said the offense has been letting the defense down and that it’s time for the unit to begin helping its teammates. Quarterback Bo Nix acknowledged penalties and sluggish play have stunted the offense and said the responsibility starts with him: he must be better and get the team "some juice." Head coach Sean Payton also lamented the number of offensive penalties that put the team in holes.
The numbers underline the concerns. The Broncos managed just 220
