Mile High Report
The Denver Broncos took on their rival Las Vegas Raiders this afternoon for their Week 14 gridiron matchup. It was a fast-paced game that went by very quickly. When the clock struck zero, the Broncos had earned their eleventh victory of the season defeating the Raiders 24-17. Here are some instant reactions and key takeaways from today’s victory.
Bo Nix and Broncos offense found a good rhythm this afternoon
It’s been an up and down season for the Broncos on offense. Despite some decent outings and late-game heroics, they are still trying to find their groove. With today’s performance against the Raiders, I think it’s safe to say a lot of progress was mad with the building blocks toward success down the stretch being laid.
Fans who were hoping for a fast start in today’s game weren’t disappointed. The Broncos engineered a terrific scoring drive on the game’s first possession. Bo Nix and his teammates drafted up a 19-play drive that went 81 yards and took nearly nine minutes off the clock. It was capped off with an eight-yard Nix scamper for a touchdown. You couldn’t have asked for a better start.
After a pedestrian second quarter effort, the Broncos began their second half endeavors with another clock eating drive. It was a 16-play adventure that went 86 yards and resulted in a 3-yard RJ Harvey touchdown. It was really nice to see them have a strong start to the third quarter strong for a change. That had been a weakness of theirs for most of the season.
One of the big changes for the offense in today’s game was Nix operating under center. That is something I have been advocating for since the early part of the season. I think that had a great impact on not just his efficiency, but for the whole offense—especially the running game. They certainly controlled the pace of the game and dominated the time of possession.
Nix finished today’s game going 31-of-38 for 212 yards. There weren’t many splash plays down the field, but he was precise and methodical delivering completions to eleven different players. The offense achieved 27 total first downs. Overall, I was encouraged by the effort.
A tip of the hat to RJ Harvey and the Broncos’ rushing attack
Without J.K. Dobbins in the lineup, the Broncos’ rushing attack has failed to impress over the past several weeks. One of my keys to the game was establishing the run. Being able to do that will be crucial in order to finish the season on a high note and make a deep playoff run. And guess what? The Broncos had 152 yards rushing the ball today. You love to see it!
Rookie running back RJ Harvey was someone I mentioned who needed to step up in order for Denver to win this game. The second-round pick certainly did that. He was a focal point in the team’s offensive plans. Harvey had 17 rushes for 75 yards and a touchdown. He also...
