Sutton Sees 'Tide Turning' for Broncos After Sweep of Raiders

Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton, one of the longest-tenured players on the team, achieved a milestone he had never experienced before: a road win against the Las Vegas Raiders. The Broncos' 29-19 victory over the Raiders not only completed a season sweep of their division rivals but also marked Denver’s first road win in Las Vegas or Oakland since 2015—the final year of Peyton Manning’s career with the Broncos.

The victory was significant for the Broncos, as it also marked their first season sweep of the Raiders since 2014. Sutton, who was drafted by Denver in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft, reflected on the achievement: "It's crazy the games just kind of flow, the years just kind of flow together, you remember certain games ... but when [Broncos cornerback] Pat Surtain II told me we hadn't beaten these guys in Oakland or Vegas in the past 10 years, that's crazy to think about," Sutton said. "To know we had fallen short that many times, it was kind of disappointing... To come here and take care of business and get the win — the tide is turning. The Broncos are in the spot we want to be in, back in the AFC West [race] and that's an exciting spot to be in."

With the win, the Broncos improved to 7-5 and secured the No. 7 spot in the AFC playoff race. Next, they will face the Cleveland Browns (3-8) on Monday night before taking a bye in Week 14. While the Kansas City Chiefs (10-1) lead the division and the Los Angeles Chargers (7-4) are just ahead of Denver, the Broncos are positioning themselves for a playoff push.

The win was especially sweet for head coach Sean Payton, who emphasized the progress the team has made. "Gritty ... tough," Payton said. "A year ago, we don't win that game. So, it wasn’t our best, but it was good enough and we’re on to the next one. I said to [the team], our team a year ago doesn’t win this game. But this team did. You build some grit. We were the better team today."

The game was far from perfect for the Broncos. They trailed 13-9 at halftime, thanks to some early struggles on offense and special teams. Despite missing two key cornerbacks, the Raiders were aggressive with their pass rush, which unsettled rookie quarterback Bo Nix. In the first half, the Broncos’ offense only managed three field goals and a punt, while their special teams allowed a 59-yard kickoff return that set up a Raiders touchdown and a 34-yard pass on a fake punt that led to another Raiders field goal.

However, the Broncos' defense stepped up in the second half, as it has consistently done this season. A key interception by Brandon Jones early in the third quarter gave the Broncos excellent field position on the Raiders' 18-yard line. Just two plays later, Nix connected with Sutton for an 18-yard touchdown, giving the Broncos a 16-13 lead—a lead they would never relinquish.

The Broncos' defense, which came into the game leading the league in sacks, finished with five on the day. Nix credited the defense for the team's momentum shift: "That was kind of what sparked us, was the pick. Defense played really well again, start to finish. After that [interception], we score, and it's like OK, this is our time to take it over, and we did after that."

Sutton, who had no receptions in the first half, finished with 8 catches for 97 yards and 2 touchdowns—his first two-touchdown game since 2019. The victory was a testament to the Broncos’ resilience and growth, particularly as they continue to battle for playoff contention in the competitive AFC.

Read More: Israeli Government Orders Boycott of Haaretz Newspaper