Denver Broncos 34, Las Vegas Raiders 18: Biggest Guys and Duds

The Denver Broncos defeated the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, 34-18. The win ended an eight-game winning streak for the Raiders against the Broncos.

A final score of 34-18 doesn't scream “pull biter,” but when it comes to the Broncos and Raiders, you never know what supernatural forces might show up at Empower Field. After years of being haunted by the Raiders like they were Freddy Krueger in a silver and black sweater, the Broncos finally got a much-needed exorcism.

And let me tell you, when the Denver defense decided to throw a Halloween party of their own a few weeks early, the demons left kicking and screaming. This game featured several stud appearances by various Broncos and at least one dud.

Let's dive in.

Patrick Surtain II | CB

The Broncos defense was dominant. Led by the indomitable Patrick Surtain II, who decided to make Gardner Minshew's life a nightmare, the Broncos completely shut down the Raiders' offense. Surtain didn't just intercept Minshew once – oh no; he had to double dip.

Surtain's first interception went back for six, finally turning the tide, and the second? Let's say Minshew looked like he was seeing ghosts on every dropback. As the Broncos' defensive front asserted itself, Minshew was on the bench.

Justin Strnad | L.B

It's also important to note that the Raiders' rushing attack was as potent as a soggy piece of toast. Strnad finished the game with a team-best nine tackles (seven solo).

Strnad was everywhere. He had nine total tackles, seven alone and made the Raiders' offense look like they were running through wet cement.

Zach Allen | EN

Allen anchored the Broncos' front seven, which held the Raiders to just 115 rushing yards – a number that was barely noticeable on the Broncos' defensive wall. He finished with seven tackles and a sack.

DJ Jones | DT

Jones was the anchor up front and helped stuff the run. He finished with four tackles (two solo).

Riley Moss | CB

Moss doesn't have it easy as Surtain's complement on the opposite side of the hash marks. Quarterbacks have him in their sights, but on Sunday he made the Raiders pay with a nifty pass breakup and an interception – the first of his NFL career.

Marvin Mims, Jr. | WR/KR/PR

The speedster made Denver's special teams his playground. A 54-yard punt return? Check. Mims' 17-yard jet sweep made the Raiders' defense look like it was stuck in the mud.

Javonte Williams | RB

Williams also deserves his flowers. This was a vintage Williams – a bulldozer with legs that decided he'd missed his rookie season and wanted to relive it. He managed an impressive 61 rushing yards on 13 carries, But more importantly, he repeatedly ripped through defenders like they were annoying cardboard cutouts. He was also Denver's leading receiver, catching five of six targets for 50 yards.

Bo Nix | QB

Let's be fair: The offense wasn't all roses and touchdowns. Nix's first-half performance could best be described as “terrible” (and that's being generous). He looked like he saw his goblins out there, which led to an ineffective and frustrating first half.

And yet you have to give him credit: Nix recovered in the second half. He finished the game 19 of 27 for 206 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for another score, looking like a completely different quarterback. Is the potential there? Absolutely. But he still has a long way to go before someone in Denver names a street after him.

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Sean Payton | HC/Play Caller

On the boring side, let's talk about the Broncos' offense, which continues to live in dink-and-dunk purgatory. Payton seems allergic to a vertical threat and has the Broncos weaving down the field like they were in rush hour traffic.

It's about short passes, many of them horizontal, and hoping that the defense will give the Broncos the lead with a short field. Convincing, yes, but hardly inspiring. The lack of explosiveness downfield remains a glaring problem, and until the offense can consistently make big plays, the Broncos will struggle against the NFL's elite.

Despite the offensive limitations, the Broncos managed to exorcise their Raiders' demons. After an eternity of losses to Las Vegas, the Broncos' defense stepped up and the offense did enough to get the job done.

And let's be honest, if you had told someone before the season that the Broncos would be 3-2 after five games, they probably would have laughed at you. So credit goes to the players and coaching staff for turning things around, even if the offense looks more like a sputtering lawnmower than a well-oiled machine.

The ghosts may have left Empower Field (for now), but until this offense can terrify some of their own people, the Broncos will continue to ride the coattails of the defense and hope the scoreboard doesn't notice.

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