Did you catch the Las Vegas Raiders vs Denver Broncos game on Nov 13? Here are the game highlights.
The Good: Derek Carr comes up clutch
While the game got ugly at times, the Las Vegas Raiders finally earned their third win of the season after defeating the Denver Broncos. The best part was Derek Carr coming up clutch with a touchdown pass to Devante Adams for the victory in overtime. It might even be enough for Carr to keep the starting job going forward.
Carr finished the game going 23 of 37 for 307 yards and two touchdowns. His primary target was Davantae Adams, who caught seven balls for 141 yards, two touchdowns, and an average of 20 yards per catch. Say what you want about the Raiders’ problems this season, but the duo of Carr and Adams finally paid off in a tangible way.
The Bad: Racking up penalties
The Raiders currently sit as the fifth-worst team in the NFL when it comes to penalties, and that trend continued on Sunday. In fact, the Raiders were penalized nine times for a total of 98 yards against the Broncos. This includes five offensive penalties, three defensive penalties, and a special teams penalty for good measure.
Not only did this help the Broncos push the Raiders’ defense back, but it also encumbered Derek Carr’s ability to score. There were just too many mistakes made by the Raiders, and they were lucky to come away with the win. If they were up against a better team, it probably would have been a different story.
Related: Last week in Las Vegas sports news
The Ugly: Struggling to convert on third down
If you wanted an indicator of how bad the Raiders’ offense is, they only converted on three third-down attempts on Sunday. A lot of that might have to do with the absence of Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow, but no one seems to be stepping up. That’s bad news considering that Renfrow and Waller are on IR for the next few weeks.
This is a team that has the likes of Joshua Jacobs, Brandon Bolden, Mack Hollins, Keelan Cole, and Foster Moreau. There is no excuse to only covert three third downs in one game with players like this. If you consider that it was against one of the worst teams in the league, it makes things worse.
Final thoughts on Las Vegas Raiders vs Denver Broncos
The Raiders have nothing to lose at this point, and that’s what makes this victory hollow. It doesn’t change the fact that they are ranked last in their division, and it doesn’t improve their playoff chances. It’s really just a moral victory. Nothing more, nothing less. Maybe it will help Josh McDaniels keep his job.
Next: Best and worst from Las Vegas sports in October
What did you think about the Las Vegas Raiders vs Denver Broncos game?
