The Las Vegas Raiders and the Denver Broncos are two of the oldest rivals in the AFC West. Every time they play, fans expect a hard-fought game. Their most recent meeting, on December 7, 2025, was no different. The Broncos won 24-17 at Allegiant Stadium, and the game gave fans a lot to talk about. In this article, we will look at the full player stats from this matchup, break down what each team did well, and explain why this game mattered for the rest of the season.
Game Overview
The Broncos entered this game with an 11-2 record, one of the best in the NFL. The Raiders, on the other hand, were struggling at 2-11. Even with this gap in records, the Raiders came out strong. They scored a touchdown on their very first drive, something the Broncos had not allowed all season.
But Denver answered quickly. Quarterback Bo Nix opened the game with a long 14-play drive that ended with him running the ball in from 8 yards out. This set the tone for the rest of the match. By the end of the day, the Broncos had won 24-17 and stretched their win streak to 10 straight games.
Head coach Sean Payton said after the game that this win felt different from some of the team’s other close games this season. He noted that his headset came off earlier than usual, which is a small sign that the game was less stressful for the coaching staff.
Quarterback Performance
Bo Nix (Denver Broncos)
Bo Nix had a solid, if not flashy, day. He passed for 212 yards and also added a rushing touchdown. While his passing numbers were not his best of the season, his ability to move the ball on the ground helped Denver control the clock. The Broncos held the ball for 39 minutes and 3 seconds, which is a very long time in an NFL game. This kind of clock control wears down a defense and keeps the other team’s offense off the field.
Nix has had an interesting season overall. In some earlier games against the Raiders, his passing numbers were much higher. For example, in one earlier matchup this season, he threw for 273 yards and two touchdowns. This shows that his performance can change a lot depending on the game plan and how well the offensive line protects him.
Geno Smith (Las Vegas Raiders)
Geno Smith started the game well. He connected with tight end Brock Bowers for a 15-yard touchdown pass on the Raiders’ first drive. This was a great start for Las Vegas and showed that their passing attack could move the ball against a tough Denver defense.
Unfortunately for the Raiders, Smith’s day ended early. In the third quarter, he injured his right hand and shoulder. Head coach Pete Carroll said after the game that Smith’s hand was cut and his shoulder “really locked up,” though there did not appear to be any major long-term damage. Smith was replaced by backup quarterback Kenny Pickett, who had to finish the game under difficult conditions.
This injury was a big blow to the Raiders’ chances of coming back in the game. Losing your starting quarterback in the middle of a close contest almost always hurts a team’s momentum, and that is exactly what happened here.
Rushing Game Breakdown
The running game played a key role in this matchup, especially for Denver. Running back RJ Harvey scored a 3-yard touchdown late in the third quarter, giving the Broncos what looked like a comfortable two-touchdown lead at the time. This was Harvey’s fifth rushing touchdown of the season, and he has also caught four touchdown passes, showing that he is a real dual-threat weapon out of the backfield.
The Raiders, by contrast, had a much tougher time running the ball. Their offense finished with only 229 total yards, compared to Denver’s 356 yards. When a team falls behind and loses its starting quarterback, it becomes very hard to keep a balanced rushing attack going. Las Vegas ended up leaning more on short passes in the second half just to keep drives alive.
In earlier matchups this season between these two teams, the rushing numbers looked different. In one game, Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty had a strong day with 19 carries for 60 yards and a touchdown, while Denver’s J.K. Dobbins matched him with 18 carries for 77 yards. This shows that both teams have capable running backs who can take over a game when given the chance.
Receiving Leaders and Key Plays
Brock Bowers has been one of the most exciting players to watch for the Raiders this season. In the December 7 game, he caught a touchdown pass early on, but after that his production slowed down. This was partly due to Denver’s defense making him a top priority, and partly due to Smith’s injury cutting into the number of throws he saw in the second half.
It is worth noting that Bowers had an incredible game just the week before this matchup, catching 12 passes for 127 yards and three touchdowns against the Jacksonville Jaguars. His talent is clear, and defenses around the league now build entire game plans around trying to slow him down.
On the Denver side, wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. made one of the biggest plays of the game. He returned a punt 48 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter. This special teams score was the only points of the quarter and gave the Broncos a boost at a time when both offenses were struggling to move the ball. Big plays like this often decide close games, and this one was no exception.
Other Broncos receivers like Courtland Sutton and Troy Franklin have also had strong performances against the Raiders this season. In earlier games, Sutton caught 8 passes for 97 yards and two touchdowns, while Franklin has shown he can be a reliable target as well.
Defensive Performance and Impact
Denver’s defense deserves a lot of credit for this win. Linebacker Nik Bonitto had two sacks in the game, bringing his season total to 12 and a half. This kind of pass-rush pressure makes life very hard for any quarterback, and it likely played a role in rattling the Raiders’ offense throughout the game.
The Broncos defense also forced key mistakes from Las Vegas. In an earlier meeting this season, Denver’s defensive back Kyu Blu Kelly intercepted Bo Nix’s pass, and it was actually the second interception of the night for the Raiders’ defense. That game turned into a defensive battle where turnovers made all the difference.
On the other side, the Raiders’ defense also had bright moments this season. They rank near the top of the league in fewest interceptions thrown by their own offense, which shows some discipline on that side of the ball, even during a difficult season overall.
Key Game-Changing Moments
A few plays truly decided the outcome of the December 7 matchup:
- The opening drive touchdown by the Raiders set an early tone and showed Denver’s defense could be beaten early in games.
- Bo Nix’s rushing touchdown on Denver’s first drive matched the Raiders’ score and calmed any early nerves for the Broncos.
- Marvin Mims Jr.’s punt return touchdown gave Denver a lead they would not give up.
- Geno Smith’s injury in the third quarter changed the entire flow of the game for Las Vegas.
- RJ Harvey’s short touchdown run pushed the score to a level that felt safe for Denver, even though the Raiders never stopped fighting.
Each of these moments added up to a final result that was closer on the scoreboard than the actual flow of the game suggested.
Player Stats Summary
Here is a quick summary of the standout numbers from the December 7, 2025 game between the Raiders and Broncos:
- Bo Nix (Broncos QB): 212 passing yards, 1 rushing touchdown
- Geno Smith (Raiders QB): Left game in the third quarter with a hand and shoulder injury, threw a touchdown pass to Brock Bowers
- RJ Harvey (Broncos RB): 3-yard rushing touchdown, fifth of the season
- Brock Bowers (Raiders TE): 1 touchdown catch, limited production after the first quarter
- Marvin Mims Jr. (Broncos WR): 48-yard punt return touchdown
- Nik Bonitto (Broncos LB): 2 sacks, 12.5 for the season
- Team yards: Broncos 356 total yards, Raiders 229 total yards
- Time of possession: Broncos held the ball for 39 minutes and 3 seconds
What This Means Going Forward
This win pushed the Broncos to an 11-2 record and extended their winning streak to 10 games in a row. At the time, Denver was closing in on ending the Kansas City Chiefs’ long run at the top of the AFC West, a spot the Chiefs had held for nine straight years. The Broncos also tied for the top seed in the AFC, showing just how strong their season had become.
For the Raiders, the loss dropped them to 2-11, and losing their starting quarterback to injury only added to a tough year. Backup Kenny Pickett had to step in during a difficult moment, which is never easy for any team. Still, the Raiders showed flashes of talent, especially in the passing game with Brock Bowers, that give fans some hope for the future.
Looking at the bigger picture, the Raiders and Broncos have a long rivalry that goes back to 1960. Over the years, the series has been close, with the Raiders holding a slight edge in the all-time record. Games between these two teams are rarely boring, and the December 2025 matchup added another chapter to this long-running rivalry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the last Raiders vs Broncos game?
The Denver Broncos won the most recent matchup on December 7, 2025, by a score of 24-17. This win extended their winning streak to 10 straight games and kept them near the top of the AFC standings.
What happened to Geno Smith during the game?
Geno Smith, the Raiders’ starting quarterback, got hurt in the third quarter. He injured his right hand and shoulder. Head coach Pete Carroll said the hand was cut and the shoulder locked up, but there was no sign of serious long-term damage. Kenny Pickett came in to finish the game for Las Vegas.
Who were the standout players in the Raiders vs Broncos game?
For the Broncos, Bo Nix (212 passing yards and a rushing touchdown), Marvin Mims Jr. (a 48-yard punt return touchdown), and Nik Bonitto (two sacks) were the top performers. For the Raiders, Brock Bowers stood out early with a touchdown catch, even though his overall production dropped after the first quarter due to the game situation and Smith’s injury.
