RAIDERS-BRONCOS AT A GLANCE
Kickoff: 1:05 p.m. PST Sunday at Allegiant Stadium
Fresno TV/radio: KGPE-47/KFPT (790 AM)
Information: Raiders 5-3, Broncos 3-5
The road: Bovada favors the Raiders by 3.5; OddsChecker has it Raiders by 4.
The Matchup
The Raiders have a mini two-game win streak.
Can they proceed that momentum in opposition to the Broncos with an enormous recreation in opposition to fellow AFC West rival Kansas Metropolis looming?
Actually coach Jon Gruden doesn’t imagine his workforce is trying forward.
“We don’t look previous anyone,” Gruden stated. “Now we have sufficient points proper now. We’re simply attempting to prepare for the subsequent day and the subsequent recreation, and that’s all Denver. We received numerous respect for Denver, imagine me. We’ve competed in opposition to them previously, we all know them nicely they usually know us nicely. It’s going to be a tricky one for us.”
The Raiders have completed nicely on the highway this season, going 4-1.
Nevertheless it’s in Las Vegas the place the Raiders want a turnaround after a house opening win over the New Orleans Saints.
The Raiders are simply 1-2 at their new stadium.
“It’s disappointing,” Gruden stated. “That’s actually disappointing. We solely received one fan that involves the sport, so we blame Bob Stiriti our safety man, he’s our solely fan. Now we have to get Bob Stiriti fired as much as make some noise. That’s been an actual downside. We love taking part in in our stadium. Now we have large respect for who we signify.”
Possibly the frustration will finish Sunday, with oddsmakers favoring the Raiders. However the Broncos are able to placing up a combat, as they did in opposition to the Atlanta Falcons.
The Broncos trailed 27-6 within the third quarter and 34-13 within the fourth in Week 9 earlier than falling to the Falcons 34-27.
Denver is with out star defensive finish Von Miller, who was positioned on injured reserve due to an ankle harm suffered in opposition to the Tennessee Titans within the season opener.
Gruden is aware of in regards to the risks posed by Broncos head coach Vic Fangio’s protection, even with out Miller.
“Now we have numerous respect for (Nick) Chubb. (Jeremiah) Attaochu has given us issues previously. It’s a credit score to this coach, Fangio. He’s the most effective. You don’t actually know who’s coming in Denver, so it’s a must to actually be in your recreation. They’ve performed they usually’ve been in severe battles each week with out their quarterback (Drew Lock), with out Von Miller, with out some key gamers.”
▪ Former Broncos operating again Devontae Booker signed a one-year cope with the Raiders in March.
▪ The Raiders have received 4 straight dwelling video games in opposition to the Broncos and lead the all-time sequence 64-53-2.
Damage report
Raiders: OUT: DT Maurice Hurst (ankle). DOUBTFUL: T Kolton Miller (ankle). QUESTIONABLE: G Gabe Jackson (sickness).
Broncos: OUT: LB Joseph Jones (calf). QUESTIONABLE: CB Bryce Callahan (ankle), T Demar Dotson (groin, hand), WR Jerry Jeudy (shoulder), T Jake Rodgers (shoulder), WR Diontae Spencer (shoulder).
Prediction
It’s one other massive AFC West matchup for the Raiders. To date, the Raiders are 2-0 within the division this season, with the rematch in opposition to the first-place Chiefs forward subsequent week.
Consultants have staked out the next positions:
NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal expects a detailed recreation, however provides the Raiders a 27-23 win.
CBS Sports’ Will Brinson additionally thinks will probably be shut, however nonetheless picks the Raiders for a 31-28 victory. Pete Prisco sees a shootout, with the Raiders popping out on high 34-31.
All 10 ESPN experts are going with the Raiders.
AFC West video games are all the time powerful, regardless of the matchup. However will this recreation even be shut?
The Raiders went on the highway inside the division and defeated the Chiefs by eight factors and the Chargers by five factors.
Two of the 5 Raiders’ victories on this season’s schedule had been by 10 (New Orleans and Cleveland).
Prediction: Raiders 37, Broncos 20
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