Broncos 10, Raiders 10: Vegas’ Daniel Carlson’s 52-yard field goal ties the game
Melvin Gordon #MelvinGordon
Denver Post 4 hrs ago Joe Nguyen, Parker Gabriel, Kyle Newman, Sean Keeler, Mark Kiszla, Matt Schubert
The Broncos (3-6) look to bounce back against the hated Raiders after their Week 10 loss to the Titans in Nashville. Stick here for live updates and analysis as Denver takes on the Raiders at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver.
Live updates Third-quarter updates
Another huge catch (4:10 p.m.): Courtland Sutton is making a statement today. On third-and-2, he came down with a sky-high 23-yard floater from Russell Wilson for the first down. — Joe Nguyen
Drawing a penalty (4:04 p.m.): Davante Adams got rocked by Justin Simmons after lunging for the ball and then got an unsportsmanlike conduct call yelling at the refs asking for a (deserved) flag for hitting a defenseless player. — Parker Gabriel
No-shows (3:50 p.m.): 69,094 is today’s announced attendance…. 6,962 no-shows. Still not touching Teddy Bridgewater numbers. — Kyle Newman
All tied up (3:49 p.m.): Vegas kick Daniel Carlson, a product of The Classical Academy in Colorado Springs, nailed a 52-yard field goal to tie it up at 10-apiece. — Joe Nguyen
Injury updates (3:38 p.m.): Chase Edmonds and Jonathan Harris have both been ruled out for the rest of the game for the Broncos. — Matt Schubert
Halftime analysis — Broncos 10, Raiders 7
Parker Gabriel, beat writer: Denver leads 10-7 at halftime, starts the second half with the ball and you’d think they’re heading to the locker room trailing by a score after that closing sequence. Melvin Gordon lost a fumble that was returned for a TD the first time the Broncos played the Raiders and he lost one on a potential TD run today. Then the field goal was blocked. What’s this team got in store for the final 30 minutes?
Sean Keeler, columnist: Maxx Crosby came into today with a personal five-game winning streak against the Broncos and a 6-1 record as a pro. And based on that last-second block, the dude knows it. Trivia time: Until that final, disastrous shotgun run by Melvin “Butterfingers” Gordon on third-and-1, this was the first Broncos game all season in which the offense had yet to log a negative offensive play (save for penalties) in the first half. Amazing how life looks when you’re not playing it from behind the chains.
Mark Kiszla, columnist: Two thoughts. No. 1: Klint Kubiak for mayor. No. 2: Don’t ever hand the football to Melvin Gordon again, Klint.
Second-quarter updates
Blocked (3:25 p.m.): The boos rain down at halftime as the Broncos blunder an opportunity to score. First Melvin Gordon fumbled right at the goal line, setting the Broncos back, then Maxx Crosby blocked Brandon McManus’ chip shot on the final play. The Broncos lead 10-7 and get the ball at half. — Kyle Newman
Gordon’s fumble (3:24 p.m.): Melvin Gordon had the first down and… fumbled. Ouch. Denver recovered, but will have to settle for a FG attempt. — Parker Gabriel
Huge catch (3:20 p.m.): Russell Wilson connected with Courtland Sutton for a 21-yard gain on third-and-8 to get Denver into the red zone. — Joe Nguyen
Kendall Hinton’s having a day (3:14 p.m.): The former emergency Broncos quarterback turned receiver latest catch gave Denver the first down at the two-minute warning. He has three catches for 59 yards today. — Joe Nguyen
D.J. Jones injury (3:06 p.m.): D.J. Jones is questionable to return with a hand injury, which could be a big blow to the Broncos’ run D.
Raiders score (3:05 p.m.): Derek Carr connects with Davante Adams for a 31-yard touchdown to cut Denver’s lead down to 10-7. — Joe Nguyen
Takedown (3:03 p.m.): Security’s takedown of the clown in the Howie Long jersey was probably the best gang-tackling we’ve seen at Empower Field all season. — Sean Keeler
Broncos stretch lead (2:53 p.m.): With what my esteemed colleague Sean Keeler describes as “base competence,” the Broncos offense has not had a negative play under new player-caller Klint Kubiak through the first two drives, and thus lead 10-0 with 9:19 left in the second quarter. — Kyle Newman
Raiders miss FG (2:48 p.m.): Nathaniel Hackett has accepted penalties twice to put Vegas in first-and-20 rather than second-and-15ish on the plus-side of midfield and it’s worked both times. Punt and a missed FG. — Parker Gabriel
First-quarter analysis — Broncos 7, Raiders 0
Parker Gabriel, beat writer: The Klint Kubiak play calling era is off to a raucous start. One drive, 92 yards and a touchdown on the board. Russell Wilson is 3/3 for 63 yards and Denver looked like it had actual rhythm. It’s also only one drive. Let’s see if they can keep it up after the opening script is played out.
Sean Keeler, columnist: All hail Klint! Ain’t it fun when a highly resistable force (the Broncos offense) locks horns with an easily movable object (the Raiders defense)? First Orange & Blue opening-drive possession all season to end with a touchdown. Maybe the best offensive DRIVE all season. This is why the best coaches know when to fire themselves. Or, when it ain’t working, their friends.
Kyle Newman, beat writer: Broncos lead Raiders 7-0. But don’t get your hopes up just yet, Broncos Country, because the defense is showing cracks. Josh Jacobs already has 42 yards rushing, and Derek Carr is 8-for-9 for 57 yards. Las Vegas driving now.
First-quarter updates
Opening drive score (2:29 p.m.): A 32-yard catch by Kendall Hinton sets up Latavius Murray’s one-yard TD run to put Denver up 7-0. Everyone had Hinton as the Broncos’ WR1 and Murray as RB1 during a November divisional game, right? — Kyle Newman
Chase Edmonds injury (2:29 p.m.): Broncos running back Chase Edmonds questionable to return with ankle injury. — Kyle NEwman
New playcaller (2:19 p.m.): Broncos open under new playcaller Klint Kubiak in 13 personnel with TEs Dulcich, Saubert and Tomlinson all in the game plus Sutton and Gordon. — Parker Gabriel
Jonathan Harris injury (2:12 p.m.): Jonathan Harris is questionable to return with a knee injury. — Kyle Newman
Defensive returns (2:07 p.m.): Baron Browning back into the starting lineup along with Jonathan Cooper at OLB. Normal trio up front and Singleton and Jewell together at ILB. — Parker Gabriel
Coin toss (2:05 p.m.): Russell Wilson and Brandon McManus the game captains for Denver today. Broncos win the toss and defer. — Parker Gabriel
Pre-game updates
O-lineup (1:37 p.m.): Broncos No. 1 OL in warmups:
— Parker Gabriel
Muted anticipation (1:34 p.m.): Sorry for all the Broncos and Raiders fans who came out to tailgate today. It’s dead out there in the lots surrounding Empower Field. The pregame atmosphere inside the stadium is just as bleak as the two teams with a combined 5-13 record prepare to face off. — Kyle Newman
Orange punch (1:26 p.m.): After back-to-back games in the mismatched blue and white uniforms, the Broncos are going all orange in today’s matchup. — Joe Nguyen
Inactives (12:39 p.m.): Denver is set to get a boost from the return of several players who have missed time and were questionable this week.
Outside linebacker Baron Browning (hip) is active after missing the past two games. So, too, are a trio of offensive linemen in Cam Fleming (quad), Graham Glasgow (shoulder) and Tom Compton (back). Compton is active for the first time this season after missing the first nine games rehabbing from surgery to address a herniated disc.
Wide receiver Kendall Hinton (shoulder) didn’t practice much this week as part of a management plan, but as expected is active as well.
The Broncos inactive list: WR Jerry Jeudy (ankle), WR KJ Hamler (hamstring), TE Andrew Beck (hamstring), CB K’Waun Williams (knee), S Anthony Harris, RB Marlon Mack and DL Eyioma Uwazurike. — Parker Gabriel
O-line help? (12:16 p.m.): Cam Fleming’s out there getting stretched out early. Will be interesting to see if there’s any rotating at tackle today with him returning from injury, Tom Compton perhaps playing for the first time this year and Calvin Anderson. — Parker Gabriel
Part of the early warmups (12:10 p.m.): Tight end Andrew Beck and wide receiver KJ Hamler, each out today with hamstring injuries, were on the field getting some jogging in and catching a few passes. They won’t go today, but Denver would be glad to get either or both back next week when the team travels to Carolina. — Parker Gabriel
Scouting report (noon): Check out how the Broncos match up with the Raiders in Kyle Newman’s scouting report.
Post predictions
Kyle Newman, beat writer: Raiders 21, Broncos 17
It’s hard to find a reason to believe in the Broncos outside of the defense, which despite its relative dominance has not been able to make up for the offense’s ineptitude. Josh Jacobs rips off his fourth career 100-yard game against the Broncos to set the tone for the Raiders, who also get a few big plays out of Derek Carr. The defense holds for most of the game, but a key turnover by the Broncos seals their defeat and brings out the home boo birds (again).
Parker Gabriel, beat writer: Raiders 21, Broncos 20
The temptation to forecast a tie is strong after Nathaniel Hackett said this week, “Somebody’s got to win this game.” Instead, let’s go with recent history. Denver has lost five straight to the Raiders and is at risk of getting swept in the season series for a third straight year. Vegas’ defense has been bad, but the Broncos haven’t piled up points on anybody this year. What to make of that? Without a consistent run game and deep into their offensive line depth, Denver may well struggle again to contain Maxx Crosby and company.
Sean Keeler, columnist: Broncos 21, Raiders 20
Come for the rivalry. Stay for the spite! Which coach winds up getting booed louder by the Orange & Blue faithful: Josh McDaniels, for the miseries inflicted a dozen ago? Or Nathaniel Hackett, for the pain of the present?
Broncos-Raiders NFL Week 11: Must reads Broncos HC Nathaniel Hackett turning play-calling duties over to QB coach Klint Kubiak
Broncos first-year head coach Nathaniel Hackett is turning play-calling duties over to one of his offensive assistants in an attempt to help jumpstart the NFL’s worst scoring offense.
Quarterbacks coach Klint Kubiak will call plays Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders, a source confirmed to The Post on Sunday morning. NFL Network first reported the change.
Kubiak called plays last season in Minnesota. He will handle the primary duties and get input from offensive coordinator Justin Outten and Hackett, a source said, but ultimately will be at the controls for Russell Wilson and the Broncos offense. Read the full story. — Parker Gabriel
Why was Broncos G Quinn Meinerz taking snaps at center? Because 2022, that’s why.
Why was one of the best young right guards in the NFL taking snaps at center during practice this week?
Because these are the Broncos, baby. And if Quinn Meinerz has learned anything over his first two seasons on the Front Range, it’s to expect anything. The unexpected, most of all.
That emergency could be waiting around the bend. Backup center Graham Glasgow was limited again at Thursday’s practice because of a shoulder problem and remains a maybe for Sunday’s showdown with the 2-7 Las Vegas Raiders. Rookie center Luke Wattenberg, who got chucked into the deep end in last weekend’s loss at Tennessee and was picked on repeatedly by the Titans defense, is Plan B. Read the full story. — Sean Keeler
Broncos DC Ejiro Evero: Early head coaching consideration “very flattering and a great honor”
First-year defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero is already getting attention as a potential head coaching candidate this offseason.
The Broncos coach’s name comes up regularly and this week was featured in an NFL Network list of candidates to watch this winter.
Denver boasts the NFL’s best scoring defense at 16.6 points allowed per game and ranks near the top of the league virtually across the board, particularly against opposing passing games. Read the full story. — Parker Gabriel