LAS VEGAS — The Broncos are on the verge of a playoff berth.
With a 24-17 decision over the Raiders at Allegiant Stadium, Denver is closing in on punching a ticket to the dance.
The Broncos never trailed in Sunday's win over their division rival, and Denver completed a season sweep while also earning its fourth consecutive win over the Raiders.
Denver's road win streak now sits at five games, and the Broncos have earned 10 consecutive victories to vault themselves into the top spot in the AFC playoff picture.
These were the players and plays that made the difference in the Broncos' Week 14 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
GAME-CHANGING MOMENT
Marvin Mims Jr.'s touchdown gave the Broncos the lead for good, but there was no dramatic turning point in a game that Denver largely controlled from start to finish. Denver scored on its opening drive and — after allowing an initial tying Raiders touchdown drive — did not give up points after Las Vegas' opening possession until the game was well in the Broncos' control. The Broncos controlled the game on the ground, converted seven of their first nine third-down attempts and held the Raiders to just eight total yards over the next four drives after the opening scoring possession.
DEFINING STATISTIC
152 rushing yards.
The Broncos ran their way to a win against the Raiders, as Denver rushed for at least 100 yards for the first time since Week 9. Denver's 152 rushing yards represented the team's most since a Week 8 win over the Texans and helped the Broncos control the clock. In Sunday's win, Denver posted touchdown drives of 8:54 and 9:13 — and another scoring drive of more than 10 minutes — which helped skew the time-of-possession battle in their favor. The Raiders, meanwhile, ran for just 40 yards.
MEMORABLE HIGHLIGHT
This one was easy to hand out, as Mims made a spectacular play in the second quarter of Sunday's matchup. After fielding a punt, Mims was swallowed up in a mass of Raiders players — and then somehow emerged from the clump of players.
After he broke free from the scrum, there was no one to stop Mims from scoring the first punt-return touchdown of his career. Mims raced down the sideline and fired off a Mile High Salute to cap the go-ahead touchdown. With the play, Mims became the first Broncos player to record a punt-return touchdown since Diontae Spencer in 2020.
BOX-SCORE STANDOUTS
Rookie running back RJ Harvey recorded 100 scrimmage yards and added his ninth touchdown of the season. Harvey now leads all rookies this season in scrimmage touchdowns, moving out of a tie with the Raiders' Ashton Jeanty.
Quarterback Bo Nix became the first Broncos quarterback to ever score four rushing touchdowns in back-to-back seasons, and his eight career rushing touchdowns are the third most by a quarterback in franchise history.
Nik Bonitto, John Franklin-Myers and Malcolm Roach all recorded sacks as Denver got to Smith on three occasions. Bonitto also took down Raiders backup quarterback Kenny Pickett in the fourth quarter to secure his third game this season with at least two sacks.
