The NFL returns to action tonight following a historic trade deadline as the Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders kick off Week 10 under the primetime lights. Denver enters the matchup tied for the best record in the league. While Las Vegas sits at 2–6, they showed signs of life in last week’s overtime battle against the Jaguars, setting the stage for a potentially competitive showdown.
Beyond the intrigue on the field, fans can expect plenty of gameday entertainment, highlighted by an exciting halftime show that promises to add even more energy to Thursday Night Football.
Halftime Entertainment for Raiders vs. Broncos
The Broncos are hosting the Raiders at Empower Field at Mile High. The evening will begin with a beautiful rendition of the national anthem by Denver-based singer Kayla Ruby. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:15 p.m., with the “Let’s Glow Back” light show set to take over at halftime.
The performance will feature Miles the Mascot, the Denver Broncos Cheerleaders, Thunderstorm, Stampede, and students from three local high schools. Each fan will receive an LED wristband at their seat to participate in the synchronized light display.
Raiders supporters will no doubt show up in their trademark game-day gear. Still, Denver hopes the spotlight will shine brightest on its own sideline, thanks to the return of the team’s classic throwback uniforms — a look that remains extremely popular with fans.
As the festivities wrap up, Broncos faithful will be eager to finish the night with a statement on the field. A victory over their long-time rival would extend Denver’s winning streak to seven and keep them level with the Colts for the top record in the league if Indy wins on Sunday against the Falcons.
Raiders-Broncos Preview
The Raiders lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 9 after attempting a two-point conversion in overtime and failing to convert. The real shock to the system, though, will be how fast EDGE rushers Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper pressure Geno Smith in Week 10.
As of this writing, the Broncos’ defensive line ranks fourth in pass-rush win rate, while the Raiders are middle of the pack in pass-block win rate. The Broncos are also 12th in run-stop win rate.
That’s important because the Raiders can’t just avoid the pass rush by running Ashton Jeanty into the ground.
Likewise, the Broncos rank first in pass-block win rate, while the Raiders’ defense is 16th in pass-rush win rate. So, look for Nix to bounce back against an inferior defense like the Steelers’ from Week 8, since he’s not facing an elite unit like the Texans from Week 9.
Most of the time, football isn’t this simple: the 2-6 Raiders are bad, and the 7-2 Broncos are good. Expect a Week 8-type result in Week 10 from Nix. Yes, he had a poor game in Week 9. And yes, the Texans’ defense is one of the best in the league. On the other side of the coin, though, the Raiders’ defense currently allows the 14th-most yards per game, including the 13th-most passing yards per game.
Nix’s PFSN QB Impact Score won’t stay down for long. As of Week 9, he’s ranked 15th in the league. Look for the Broncos to reach 8-2 in Week 10, and then we can circle back to how good Nix truly is.
