The Las Vegas Raiders will be under the bright lights for a second time this year, with a primetime divisional matchup against the Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football.

Both teams head into the game on a short week, so health and availability are at the forefront. While reigning Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II is expected to miss another week of action, the Raiders got back one of their top playmakers in Brock Bowers last week.

Quarterback Geno Smith will need all the help he can get from his pass catchers following a trade that sent wide receiver Jakobi Meyers to Jacksonville.

Here's a look at three head-to-head matchups that could make the difference at Mile High.

Geno Smith vs. Broncos pass rush

Good news: Geno Smith is coming off one of his best games with the Raiders, posting season highs in passing touchdowns (four) and completion percentage (74.4) against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Not so good news: The Denver Broncos statistically have the best pass rush in the NFL, and it's not even close.

Denver's defense is leading the league in sacks with 40, 12 more than the team with the second-most sacks. The unit also leads the league in quarterback pressures (100) and quarterback knockdowns (38), which has resulted in them allowing the second-fewest passing touchdowns to opposing offenses.

"Obviously, it starts up front, that defensive front is the best in football right now," offensive coordinator Chip Kelly said. "Now they have the most sacks by 10 or more. ... I think because they can disrupt the timing from their pass rush standpoint, and they can present multiple coverages on the back end, I think he does a great job of mixing and match."

This season, Smith has completed 66 percent of his throws under pressure but has been sacked 21 times and is tied for the league lead in interceptions. Per Next Gen Stats, he's had a 2.86 second average time to throw this season, so getting the ball out quick will be mandatory this Thursday.

"There's a great pass rush on every single defense in the NFL. And protecting our guys up front with getting the ball out, not holding it too long, is very important," Smith said Tuesday. "And it's important that our guys are running their routes and getting to the spots. The protection is critical up front, and then obviously me being accurate with the ball, getting it out on time and on rhythm, allowing us to succeed and be at our best self."

Maxx Crosby vs. Bo Nix

While Maxx Crosby's value to the team has been obvious as ever, he'll be counted upon against an improving young quarterback in Bo Nix. After leading the Broncos to their first playoff berth in nine years as a rookie, Nix has carried the momentum into his second year.

He's the second player in Broncos history to reach 20+ touchdowns (passing, receiving and rushing) and have fewer than 10 sacks taken in Denver's first nine games of a season, the other being Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning. Nix has also thrown a touchdown in 17 consecutive games, the second-longest active streak in the NFL.

"I think Bo is doing a good job of getting the ball out of his hands quickly," defensive coordinator Patrick Graham said. "They got some things set up with the quick game. He's able to get out of issue plays in terms of using his feet."

While Nix is top 10 in the league in passing touchdowns, he's struggled at times with his accuracy. Among quarterbacks with at least three starts, he's 29th in the league in completion percentage (61.2) and 23rd in passer rating (88.5).

With an adequate pass rush from Crosby and Co., Nix could have issues throwing the ball down the field against the Raiders. And it can't go without mentioning that Crosby's 15.5 sacks against the Denver Broncos are the most he has against any singular NFL team in his career.

Pete Carroll vs. Sean Payton

Pete Carroll will clash against his second Super Bowl-winning head coach this season in Sean Payton, who's seemingly completely turned around the Denver Broncos.

After leaving the New Orleans Saints and taking a year off from coaching, Payton inherited a 5-11 team – then proceeded to win 10 games in his second season in charge. While under his direction, he broke Denver's eight-game losing streak to the Raiders with a sweep in 2024. Now in his third season, the Broncos stand at 7-2 and are in the driver's seat to win the AFC West for the first time since 2015.

"He's a really, really good football coach," Carroll said. "I don't know where he considers his start, but all the way back to [Bill] Parcells is where I know he was influenced a great deal. He's always been a really well schooled group that he coaches. They've always had a good attitude about running the football, being physical, and they're a downhill running team, and don't mind working the perimeter, all of that.

"There's nothing about his game that isn't on point," Carroll added. "It's smart, it's aggressive, they're consistent, they take care of the football, they've been doing that for a long time. That's what's made him consistently successful, I think."

As for Carroll, he's a really good football coach in his own right. He also took a year away from coaching before taking his next opportunity to rebuild the Raiders' culture. He's already undergone two massively successful program revitalizations with the USC Trojans and Seattle Seahawks, and stands as one of three coaches in history to win a national championship and a Super Bowl.

"Pete does a great job," Payton told Denver media. "He's always been, I consider, a good friend in the industry. Someone who you know you're going to get a real well-coached team."

Carroll will also be looking to even the score with Payton, as the Broncos head coach is 4-3 in head-to-head matchups against him.

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