Five takeaways from the Broncos' 32-23 loss to the Raiders

The Denver Broncos lost 32-23 to the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium. The loss drops the Broncos’ record to 2-2 on the season. It was the Broncos’ fifth consecutive loss to the Raiders and seventh-consecutive loss when playing the Raiders on the road.

Here’s what you need to know…

The injuries stack up

The biggeest news of the day was a pair of injuries to key contributors.

Randy Gregory left the game with a knee injury. He went into the medical tent before leaving the field on the cart. After the game, he told reporters that he was “good.”

Javonte Williams left the game with a knee injury of his own. Like Gregory, he went to the tent and was carted off the field. He was on crutches in the locker room after the game. He has an MRI scheduled for tomorrow.

PJ Locke left the game after the opening kickoff with a concussion.

Melvin Gordon fumbles again

Melvin Gordon fumbled twice in last week’s matchup with the 49ers, bringing his season total to three.

The Broncos’ coaching staff seemed to be intentionally keeping the running back off the field on Sunday. He didn’t touch the field in the first quarter, but when Javonte Williams only managed nine yards on his first six carries, it was Gordon’s turn to try to provide a spark.

He fumbled on his first play.

The Broncos were driving into Las Vegas territory with a chance to take the lead at the time, but the fumble was returned for a touchdown and the Raiders took a lead they would never relinquish.

Williams’ injury came shortly after, forcing Gordon back into the game. If Williams misses time, Gordon is likely going to be the primary beneficiary of his touches.

The defense disappoints

The Broncos still had a chance late in the game.

Denver kicked off with 7:32 left in the game, facing a 25-23 deficit. They just needed a stop, or even to hold the Raiders to a field goal, and they’d have a chance to win the game with a quarterback who specializes in comebacks.

But the defense allowed a 10-play, 75-yard drive that resulted in a touchdown. More than five minutes came off the clock. The game was essentially over.

The Denver defense was one of the best in the league through the first three weeks of the season but it struggled on Sunday, particularly in the running game. Josh Jacobs put up 144 yards on 28 carries. Nobody could stop him.

The Broncos aren’t doomed for the rest of the season but defensive incompetence was a key piece of Sunday’s loss.

The offensive line struggles

The Broncos lost in the trenches on both sides of the ball.

Offensively, the running game never got going. The Broncos ended the game with 85 yards on 20 carries. Russell Wilson led the way with 29 yards and a touchdown on his four carries.

Wilson wasn’t protected though. He took three sacks and was hit consistently throughout the game. There was rarely a pocket for him to take advantage of.

Garett Bolles was called for two holding penalties. Graham Glasgow was called for another.

Reinforcements should be on the way eventually, in the form of Quinn Meinerz and Billy Turner, but the current group isn’t getting the job done.

Russell Wilson holds his own

The bright spots for the Broncos were few and far between, but their quarterback did his best to keep the Bornoc in the game. He completed 17 of his 25 passes for 237 yards and two touchdowns. He posted a 124.9 passer rating.

It’s a shame Wilson didn’t get the ball back at the end of the game to put a stamp on the performance.

KJ Hamler was his leading receiver with one 55-yard catch. Jerry Jeudy put up 53 yards on four catches and Courtland Sutton provided 52 yards on five catches. Both Jeudy and Sutton caught touchdowns.