The Denver Broncos host the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday Night Football, aiming to extend their six-game winning streak and maintain their AFC West lead. Denver enters the matchup at 7-2, while the 2-6 Raiders are coming off a 30-29 overtime loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. ET from Empower Field at Mile High, with the Broncos favored by 9.5 points.
The Broncos have been one of the NFL's surprise stories in 2025, winning six straight games to sit atop the AFC West by one game over the Los Angeles Chargers. Denver's defense leads the league with 40 sacks and ranks first in third-down stops (28.2%) and red-zone touchdown percentage allowed (34.8%). Quarterback Bo Nix has been steady, completing 61.2% of his passes for 1,976 yards, 17 touchdowns and six interceptions in nine games. He has also rushed for 207 yards and three scores. Wide receiver Courtland Sutton has been Nix's top target, hauling in 38 receptions for 566 yards and four touchdowns, including 118 yards and a score against the Chargers in Week 3.
The Raiders, meanwhile, sit last in the division and have lost two straight, including a one-point heartbreaker in overtime to Jacksonville. Las Vegas traded wide receiver Jakobi Meyers to the Jaguars on Tuesday for fourth- and sixth-round picks, leaving their offense shorthanded. Quarterback Geno Smith completed 67.5% of his passes for 1,664 yards, 11 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in nine games, adding 81 rushing yards. Tight end Brock Bowers returned from a knee injury last week, catching 12 passes for 127 yards and three touchdowns in the loss. Wide receiver Tre Tucker leads the team with 32 receptions for 427 yards and four scores.
Denver has won nine straight home games, the longest active streak in the NFL, while Las Vegas is 0-7 in road prime-time games since 2017. The Broncos are 4-0 at home this season, averaging 31.3 points per game. Experts like Zack Cimini project a Broncos win, leaning under the 43-point total due to Denver's defensive strength. The Raiders' defense ranks 23rd in scoring (26.3 points allowed per game) and faces a short week after playing 77 snaps against Jacksonville.
