Skip to main content
Raiders
Advertising

By the Numbers: Raiders bested by Broncos despite fast start

The Raiders (2-3) arrived in Denver with a chance to win back-to-back games for the first time this season but fell short to their AFC West rivals, 34-18.

Here are some key takeaways and metrics from Sunday's game.

A Fast Start Subsides

Head Coach Antonio Pierce emphasized the importance of the Raiders getting off to a fast start on the road against Denver, which is exactly what the team did. The Silver and Black built a 10-0 lead after 15 minutes of play and generated the team's third-most net yards of offense (138) in the first quarter of a game since the start of the 2023 season.

The momentum stopped there as the Raiders' next eight drives resulted in five punts and three interceptions. By the time the offense found the end zone again with just over four minutes left in the game, the Broncos had scored 34 consecutive points. The 34 points are Denver's most against the Silver and Black since Week 17 of the 2014 season and ended the Raiders' eight-game win streak in the rivalry dating back to the 2020 season.

Defensive Takeaways

Like the offense, the Raiders defense also started strong, allowing only six points over the Broncos' first six drives. But after a three-and-out to start the second half, Denver scored touchdowns on three of its next four possessions. Aiding rookie quarterback Bo Nix's success was great starting field position. Denver punted on all four of their drives that began at their own 30-yard line or worse. They scored on five of their seven possessions that began past their own 30-yard line – excluding the kneel downs to end the game.

The Broncos offense finished 3-of-12 on third down but benefited from the best average starting field position (39.5-yard line) of any NFL team in Week 5, and a season-high in penalties (11) by the Silver and Black.

Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. had punt returns of 38 yards and 16 yards while cornerback Tremon Smith ran a kickoff back 38 yards. The Raiders did not return a single punt and finished with one kickoff return of 23 yards.

Through five weeks of play, the Raiders defense has limited opponents to a 30.0 percent conversion rate on third down. It's the franchise's best third-down defensive rate through five games since the 2001 season (25.8 percent).

Week - Opponent Third Down Conversion Rate
Week 1 - Los Angeles Chargers 4-of-15 (26.7%)
Week 2 - Baltimore Ravens 3-of-11 (27.3%)
Week 3 - Carolina Panthers 5-of-12 (41.7%)
Week 4 - Cleveland Browns 3-of-10 (30.0%)
Week 5 - Denver Broncos 3-of-12 (25.0%)

Individual Milestones

Rookie tight end Brock Bowers led the team with eight catches for 97 yards (12.1 avg.) and scored the first touchdown of his career on a 57-yard catch-and-run in the first quarter. It was the longest offensive play by the Raiders this season and the longest reception by a Raiders tight end since Darren Waller in Week 17 of 2019 (75 yards, at Den.).

Maxx Crosby (2.0) and Christian Wilkins (1.0) combined for three sacks against a Broncos team that entered the game tied for first in the NFL in fewest sacks allowed (4.0). Crosby now has 13 career games with at least 2.0 sacks, tying Howie Long for the second most such games in franchise history (since 1982). Crosby has now registered a sack in 10 straight games versus Denver. It is only the fourth time since 1982 that an NFL player has recorded a sack in 10 or more consecutive games against a single opponent.

Linebacker Robert Spillane entered Week 5 as one of two NFL players (E.J. Speed - Colts) to record 10 tackles in all four games this season. Spillane upped his double-digit tackle streak to five games on Sunday and joined Ray Lewis (1999), Zach Thomas (2005), Luke Kuechly (2016), Denzel Perryman (2021) and Zaire Franklin (2023) as one of six players in NFL history to record 10+ tackles in each of their first five games of a season. Spillane is tied with Speed (54) for the most tackles in the NFL this season.

With injuries to Divine Deablo and Luke Masterson, rookie linebacker Tommy Eichenberg made his first career start and played 45 defensive snaps (71%).

View the best photos from the Raiders' Week 5 matchup against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.

Related Content

Latest Content

Advertising
;