Broncos grades: Bo Nix’s run of high-quality football continues in Denver’s ugly-but-important road win vs. Raiders

OFFENSE — B

The Broncos settled for field goals early and cashed in touchdowns as the game went along. Bo Nix continues to play really good football and Courtland Sutton is in the midst of his most productive streak since 2019 at least and arguably of his career.

Some of Denver’s most important work Sunday at Las Vegas, though, didn’t even come on a scoring drive. Take a 40-yard march out from their 1-yard line that helped flip field position, for example. It helped put the game back on the Broncos’ terms.

The Broncos have been on a big-time run of third-down work and they shook off a 1-of-6 start Sunday to stay hot there, too. Sutton and rookie Devaughn Vele have given Nix the confidence to get the ball to them on the money down just about any time, anyhow.

DEFENSE — C+

Early in the game, defensive lineman Zach Allen’s absence could be felt in a real way. The Broncos’ defense didn’t have its usual bite. The pass rush struggled. The Raiders were free to turn their attention to defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers. Safety Brandon Jones’ interception in the third quarter proved a turning point both in game flow and energy. Denver had just started revving up its pass-rush and they did a better job of harassing Gardner Minshew from there. This wasn’t the prettiest outing of the year, but Vance Joseph’s group hung in there and made plays.

SPECIAL TEAMS — C

The good was really good. Wil Lutz knocked home five field goals — including first-half blasts from 54 and 53 yards — and Riley Dixon and the punt team did their normally stout work.

The bad, though, was really bad. The Broncos gave up a 59-yard kick return to Las Vegas rookie Dylan Laube that set up the Raiders’ early touchdown drive. Then they got duped on a fake punt that went for 34 yards and kept alive a first-half field goal drive.

In the past three weeks, the Broncos have played stretches of their normally solid special teams, but they’ve also had really big swings the wrong direction — the blocked field goal at Kansas City and the two gaffes Sunday. If they’re going to make a run to the postseason, they’re going to have to get back to being consistent in the third phase.

COACHING — B

Not every game’s a masterpiece. The Broncos burned all their second-half timeouts when they didn’t have the right looks. They couldn’t figure out how to slow down pass rusher Maxx Crosby. They struggled with penalties. This grade got docked a half-letter late because of a baffling clock-management series by Payton in the fourth quarter.

But Denver on Sunday figured out a way to win a divisional road game that in recent seasons it’s lost more often than not.

Part of that is because the Broncos’ offensive coaching staff, led by Sean Payton, has done a terrific job as the season’s gone along of figuring out how to put Nix in good situations. They’ve found stuff he likes, they’ve got scheme for days and they’re pushing the right buttons at the right time.

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