DENVER – Yes, this was a game ripe for the taking. Overripe.
But too many self-inflicted wounds Thursday night cost the Raiders, who are not yet built to withstand so many cuts.
Instead, they emerged from their latest heart wrenching loss - this one 10-7 to the AFC West-leading Broncos - with little else but bumps, bruises and a painful lesson learned. Especially for the younger guys on the roster.
Seven rookies from the Raiders' 11-player draft class were active at Denver, the most yet for a game this season. And with this week's trade of Jakobi Meyers to Jacksonville, you figured rookie wideouts Jack Bech, a second-round pick, and Dont'e Thornton, selected in the fourth round, would reap the benefits with more opportunities.
Welp…
Bech, who was targeted once but did not have a catch, had a costly holding penalty that wiped out a 32-yard run by fellow rookie Ashton Jeanty to close out the first quarter. Though, to be fair, Bech's hold is what sprung Jeanty.
Thornton, meanwhile, had a tough offensive pass interference penalty on Tre Tucker's 31-yard touchdown catch and run that would have given the Raiders a 14-0 lead with 9:13 to play in the second quarter. Still, it was Thornton's "pick" that enabled Tucker to get free.
And get this - the Raiders would not get another first down and not pick up another yard through the air until there was 12:48 left in the game. Yeah, they went seven straight possessions without a first down.
Thornton, though, had a chance to atone for the penalty late in the second quarter, getting free down the right sideline on a perfectly-placed deep ball from Geno Smith inside the Broncos 25-yard line…only for the football to go through his hands.
The pain coming from behind Thornton's moist eyes spoke volumes.
"Great ball, first off all," said Thornton, who had one catch on two targets for four yards. "Great ball, I ran a good route, I just didn't finish. I've got to catch the ball.
"I'm a sore loser. I hate losing. I hate losing more than I like winning. Losing is something that wears on me a lot. If I catch that pass, maybe we go kick a field goal and we're up 10-7 going into halftime and that changes the whole trajectory of the game. … That just shows me that I have to constantly keep working harder on tracking the ball more."
Even Jeanty, the No. 6 pick of the draft, contributed to the demise.
Running across the middle, right to left, midway through the third quarter, Jeanty was hit in stride by Smith. But the ball bounced off Jeanty into the Mile High sky, and came down into the waiting arms of Broncos linebacker Dondrea Tillman for Smith's 12th interception of the season.
Ouch.
Though not as physically painful as what starting guards Jackson Powers-Johnson and Dylan Parham suffered with ankle injuries that knocked them out of the game.
Or the bruised quad Smith incurred on a scramble on the first play of the fourth quarter (Smith was without three starting O-linemen as left tackle Kolton Miller continues to rehab an ankle injury).
Or the blow to the psyche of punter AJ Cole, who, after putting on a coffin corner clinic in the first half, had a punt blocked inside his own 15-yard line late in the third quarter (the Broncos' resultant field goal proved to be the winning points).
Or, yes, to the mindset of kicker Daniel Carlson, who, a week after missing an extra-point attempt in a 30-29 overtime loss to the Jaguars, shanked a 48-yard field-goal attempt that would have tied the game with 4:26 to go.
The Raiders offense would not touch the ball again.
Then again, another quizzical-yet-telling part of the game was the Raiders not finishing the game with Kenny Pickett when Smith could barely move, even if Smith did get the Raiders in field-goal range for Carlson's ill-fated attempt.
Though not as head-scratching as first-team All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers barely touching the ball at all.
Bowers, after last week's Tour De Force of 12 catches for 127 yards and three touchdowns, was not targeted in the second half.
Mind blowing stuff.
At his locker, Bowers dropped the word "frustrating" four times in 90 seconds, or, once more than he was targeted the entire game.
"Can't get anything going and you try, try as hard as you can," said Bowers, who had one catch for 31 yards. "Everybody's trying as hard as they can and it isn't happening. It's weird."
Weird, indeed. Still, Bowers believed.
"The score was always tight," he said. "You always had a shot. All it took was to string a couple of plays together and we just didn't end up doing that."
The Raiders were too busy sabotaging themselves, while learning those painful lessons.
View photos from the Raiders' Week 10 matchup against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (7) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tyler Lockett (17) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tyler Lockett (17) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle DJ Glaze (71) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (7) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders guard/center Jackson Powers-Johnson (58) and center/guard Jordan Meredith (61) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tyler Lockett (17) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr. (10) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders guard Dylan Parham (66) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders punter AJ Cole (6) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Charles Snowden (49) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Jamal Adams (33) and defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Charles Snowden (49) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Raheem Mostert (31) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker (1) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (87) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (87) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) rushes for a 4-yard touchdown during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) rushes for a 4-yard touchdown during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) celebrates with teammates after rushing for a 4-yard touchdown during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) celebrates with wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr. (10) after rushing for a 4-yard touchdown during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) celebrates with running back Raheem Mostert (31) after rushing for a 4-yard touchdown during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Cody Lindenberg (55) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Cody Lindenberg (55) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Adam Butler (69) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Adam Butler (69) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Adam Butler (69) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Adam Butler (69) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Charles Snowden (49) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (87) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Adam Butler (69) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Thomas Booker IV (99) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly (36) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Devin White (45) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Adam Butler (69) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Jamal Adams (33) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Lonnie Johnson Jr. (32) and cornerback Darnay Holmes (30) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) celebrates with teammates during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (7) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders punter AJ Cole (6) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Eric Stokes (22) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Isaiah Pola-Mao (20) and cornerback Eric Stokes (22) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Jamal Adams (33) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Jonah Laulu (96) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr. (10) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (87) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Jamal Adams (33) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) and linebacker Elandon Roberts (52) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Jamal Adams (33) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Jamal Adams (33) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Jeremy Chinn (11) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Isaiah Pola-Mao (20), long snapper Jacob Bobenmoyer (50) and linebacker Tommy Eichenberg (44) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly (36) intercepts a pass during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly (36) celebrates with teammates after intercepting a pass during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly (36) celebrates with teammates after intercepting a pass during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tyler Lockett (17) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Decamerion Richardson (25) and linebacker Tommy Eichenberg (44) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Dylan Laube (23) and linebacker Tommy Eichenberg (44) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Adam Butler (69) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Cody Lindenberg (55) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Tyree Wilson (9) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Charles Snowden (49) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Jonah Laulu (96) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Jonah Laulu (96) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Tyree Wilson (9) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Tyree Wilson (9) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Devin White (45) and safety Lonnie Johnson Jr. (32) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Lonnie Johnson Jr. (32) and linebacker Jamal Adams (33) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Isaiah Pola-Mao (20) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Isaiah Pola-Mao (20) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Jeremy Chinn (11) and linebacker Devin White (45) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
The Las Vegas Raiders huddle during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (7) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) and quarterback Kenny Pickett (15) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kenny Pickett (15) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders punter AJ Cole (6) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Elandon Roberts (52) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Charles Snowden (49) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Charles Snowden (49) and defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Charles Snowden (49) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Malcolm Koonce (51) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tyler Lockett (17) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker (1) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders guard Alex Cappa (65) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Jon Rhattigan (59) and linebacker Tommy Eichenberg (44) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly (36) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Isaiah Pola-Mao (20) and linebacker Devin White (45) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) and defensive end Charles Snowden (49) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly (36) celebrates with teammates after intercepting a pass during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly (36) celebrates with teammates after intercepting a pass during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders center/guard Jordan Meredith (61) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway (97) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Jonah Laulu (96) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
