The Las Vegas Raiders are looking to stun a Denver Broncos that has won nine consecutive game and leads the AFC West with a 10-2 record.
While the Broncos' winning streak is quite impressive, nine of their games have been determined by one score or less, including their 10-7 victory over Las Vegas back in Week 10.
Considering how competitive their first encounter was on Thursday Night Football, the Raiders have a chance to get revenge back on their home turf inside Allegiant Stadium. However, it will be a tough task against a Broncos defense that ranks top five in the league in fewest points and yards allowed.
Brock Bowers vs. Patrick Surtain
Since Brock Bowers exploded for 127 yards and three touchdowns against the Jacksonville Jaguars, opposing defenses have adjusted when covering him.
Over the past few weeks, teams have deployed their starting outside cornerbacks to shadow Bowers throughout the game and have shied away from soft zone coverages that he's dominated since arriving in the NFL. Bowers has drawn Pro Bowlers Denzel Ward and DaRon Bland to name a few top cornerbacks, averaging 4.5 receptions and 55.25 receiving yards over his last four games.
"We love the way he plays and the plays that he can make," Pete Carroll said about Bowers. "So, it's never like we're holding off to throw to somebody else. That's not the way this works. ... We would like him to get close to 10 targets a game, and somewhere in there and more. We'll take whatever we can get with him."
With this considered, all signs point to reigning Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain lining up across Bowers.
It's something the Broncos defense has already successfully done, as Surtain limited the Raiders tight end to four catches on 10 targets for 38 yards in their Week 12 matchup last year in Allegiant Stadium. The Broncos cornerback returned to the field in Week 13 after missing three games.
While Surtain is arguably the best cornerback in the NFL right now, it still might not be enough against Bowers. The tight end had 63 receiving yards and two touchdowns against the Chargers. It's worth noting, though, that in Week 10 against the Broncos, with Surtain out of action, Bowers totaled a season-low one catch for 31 yards.
"He's a great player obviously," Bowers said of the Broncos cornerback. "Big, strong, fast, athletic. ... I'm excited for the matchup."
Pass protecting against Nik Bonitto
While Surtain claimed DPOY in 2024, the Broncos have another candidate for the award this year on their defensive line.
Outside linebacker Nik Bonitto has been on a tear, taking his game to the next level after a breakout Pro Bowl season in 2024. He leads the Broncos in sacks (10.5) and tackles for loss (10) – all while only missing three tackles. He's also racked up a 23 percent pass rush win rate, the fourth-highest in the league, according to ESPN Analytics.
He made arguably his most clutch play of his career last Monday, batting down a Marcus Mariota pass at the line of scrimmage on a two-point conversion to seal a 27-26 overtime victory against the Washington Commanders.
"He's explosive," Carroll said of Bonitto. "He's really slippery. He's a really good all-around athlete. He's got all of the knack physically to slip you and to avoid you and to race right on past the tackles. And he has a great motor."
Tackles Stone Forsythe and DJ Glaze will take their best shot at blocking Bonitto, as offensive line play has been a big area of concern. Geno Smith has been sacked 25 times in his last four games, six of those coming from the Broncos defense in Week 10. Bonitto has recorded at least one sack in his last four games against the Raiders as well.
"He's a quick guy, his get off is his main tool," said Glaze when asked about matchup with Bonitto. "So you have to make sure you're good getting off the ball, you can't get behind against him because he's very good at bending that edge."
Ashton Jeanty vs. RJ Harvey
These two rookie running backs have vastly different playing styles, yet have been asked to handle the same responsibilities within their respective offenses.
No. 6 overall pick Ashton Jeanty is more of a traditional ground and pound back, churning out yards after contact at his exceptional rate with his ability to shed defenders one-on-one in open space.
RJ Harvey, the Broncos' second-round pick out of UCF, is more of a slashing, east to west running back with the ability to use his speed and ball carrier vision to wiggle through the line of scrimmage.
Despite their different styles, they're both leaned on heavily by their teams in the passing game. In Jeanty's last five games, he's racked up 165 receiving yards on 28 catches. Additionally, his four receiving touchdowns are the second-most of all Raiders and second among all running backs in the league.
"I think just obviously [with] catching, securing that ball, and being able to get yards after the catch," Jeanty said of his abilities, "and then just reading the coverage, whether it's man or zone, because that dictates our routes sometimes."
On the flip side, Harvey has racked up 112 receiving yards on 14 catches in his last five outings. In the Broncos' Week 13 win, he also rushed for two touchdowns, his second career game with multiple touchdowns on the ground.
It will be a fun battle of versatility between these two rookies, who both have eight career touchdowns.
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