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Game Preview: Denver Broncos @ Las Vegas Raiders
The Denver Broncos travel to Allegiant Stadium for a Week 14 AFC West matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders, a rematch of their low-scoring November meeting in Denver. The Denver Broncos enter at 10-2 and remain firmly in contention for the AFC’s top seed, while the Raiders continue a developmental season at 2-10. Denver is favored at -7.5, and the total sits at 40.5, aligning this game with several AFC playoff scenarios highlighted on the NFL Week 14 odds page available through the league’s preview hub on ScoresAndStats.
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This indoor matchup removes any weather impact, placing the focus entirely on whether Las Vegas can again slow Denver’s offense. In their first meeting, the Raiders’ front generated enough disruption to hold the Broncos to 10 points, but offensive struggles cost them in a 10-7 defeat. Both teams enter Sunday in the same momentum patterns seen before that first matchup: Denver surging, Las Vegas searching.
Odds and Key Information
The market opened with Denver -7 before drifting slightly to -7.5. The total moved down from 41 to 40.5 after early action gravitated toward the under, driven by Denver’s red-zone efficiency against weaker defenses and Las Vegas’ continued offensive inconsistency. The Broncos’ win in Kansas City last week reinforced confidence among bettors, while the Raiders’ personnel concerns pushed the line further. Sean Payton compared Maxx Crosby to a physically dominant youth-league standout capable of altering game structure, emphasizing how seriously Denver takes his impact. Pete Carroll noted that Las Vegas matched up well in their first meeting and that the defensive effort gave them a blueprint.
Denver Broncos Outlook
Denver arrives with one of the league’s most reliable defensive units and an increasingly efficient offense. Bo Nix continues to manage the system cleanly, working effectively with Courtland Sutton and Troy Franklin to diversify intermediate routes. The Broncos’ offensive line has stabilized in recent weeks, allowing fewer pressure disruptions and giving Nix more freedom to make layered reads.
Defensively, Denver remains among the league leaders in opponent scoring and turnover creation. Their improved third-down discipline has helped close out tight games throughout the nine-game winning streak. Personnel availability remains a factor as several contributors appear on the Broncos injury report. Depth at tight end and the interior defensive line may be tested, most notably if D.J. Jones remains limited. Denver’s structure allows for rotational replacements, but lack of continuity can influence early-down leverage.
The Broncos’ road performance has been excellent, having built a franchise-record eight-game road winning streak. Their ability to control possession and maintain situational defense has carried over despite hostile environments. Denver’s priority remains minimizing negative plays against Crosby, whose impact in the first matchup forced Denver to lean heavily on short-passing concepts.
Las Vegas Raiders Outlook
Las Vegas enters with a defense that continues to outplay its record. Crosby anchors an aggressive front capable of winning one-on-one battles and generating momentum-changing stops. The Raiders held Denver to 10 points in the earlier meeting by collapsing the pocket and eliminating most explosive plays. That ability to disrupt timing remains their clearest path to staying competitive.
Offensively, progression remains gradual as the Raiders continue rotating young players through key roles. Geno Smith has shown moments of efficiency but faces difficult situations due to inconsistent pass protection and limited run support. Brock Bowers provides a reliable intermediate target, and his usage should expand if Michael Mayer remains limited. Injury availability remains significant, with several offensive starters appearing on the Raiders injury report. The unit must generate more early-down success to avoid the predictable drop-back sequences that troubled them previously.
The Raiders’ turnover creation offers a route toward competing against superior opponents. Their defensive backfield has produced opportunistic plays throughout the year, allowing the offense to shorten fields. Las Vegas also tends to elevate its intensity in divisional games, and Carroll emphasized the team’s belief that the matchup provides a legitimate opportunity to disrupt Denver’s streak.
Key Matchup Table
| Key Factor | Advantage |
|---|---|
| Pass Rush Impact | Raiders |
| Early-Down Efficiency | Broncos |
| Red-Zone Execution | Broncos |
| Turnover Margin Potential | Raiders |
| Depth Sustainability | Broncos |
Betting Trends
Denver’s nine-game winning streak includes six consecutive wins as a favorite, reflecting their consistent performance profile. Their ability to close out games late has driven strong ATS returns during the midseason surge. The Raiders have trended toward overs in home games as defensive fatigue and short-field situations increase scoring volatility. Divisional familiarity also tends to compress spreads, though Denver’s current trajectory remains a major market driver. Broader league context and matchup comparisons are available across the NFL preview pages on ScoresAndStats, including the NFL picks guide at
ScoresAndStats NFL picks.
The Lean
Denver’s structural edges remain significant. While Las Vegas can again generate pressure, the Broncos’ improved offensive rhythm and superior red-zone output give them a firmer advantage. The projection favors Denver 27-17, mirroring their earlier defensive success against a Raiders offense still searching for stability. That spread margin supports Denver -7.5.
The total projection reaches 44, slightly above the listed 40.5, but matchup characteristics point to slower offensive tempos, heavy defensive fronts and limited explosive-play opportunities. With Las Vegas likely emphasizing possession control to keep its defense rested, the under remains the stronger angle.
Projected Final Score: Broncos 27, Raiders 17
Best Spread Pick: Broncos -7.5
Total Lean: Under 40.5
Why You Need Expert Picks
Late-season divisional matchups often create sharp-vs.-public contrasts, especially when one team enters with a lengthy winning streak. Using the Handicappers Leaderboard at ScoresAndStats NFL experts
provides bettors a verified view of who performs best in volatile market conditions. Expert projections also identify efficiency mismatches and situational triggers that may not appear in surface-level data. Additional structured insights and league-wide perspectives can be found in the NFL odds and picks resources at Scores and Odds NFL,
ensuring every wager aligns with the strongest available information.
