Mendoza throws 2 TDs as Raiders beat Broncos 39-20

Las Vegas, NV - The Las Vegas Raiders did not need the bigger yardage total to produce the more convincing result. Fernando Mendoza threw two touchdown passes, Las Vegas scored on all seven of its red-zone trips and the Raiders defeated the Denver Broncos 39-20 in Week 15.

Denver finished with 311 offensive yards to Las Vegas' 298, and Bo Nix led all passers with 238 yards. The Raiders, however, repeatedly came away with points after reaching the red zone. Their seven trips inside the 20 produced four touchdowns and three field goals. Denver had two red-zone possessions and recorded neither a touchdown nor a field goal on either one.

That contrast defined a game in which neither offense consistently converted on third down. Las Vegas went 2-for-11, while Denver finished 3-for-11. The Raiders converted their only fourth-down attempt, and the Broncos went 0-for-3.

"Seven trips down there and points every time is something we can feel good about," Mendoza said. "I had a mistake I'd like back, but we stayed productive and gave ourselves chances to finish with points."

Mendoza completed 20 of 32 passes for 216 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, finishing with a 90.1 passer rating. Jalen Nailor was his leading target, catching seven passes for a game-high 97 receiving yards and a touchdown. His longest reception covered 22 yards.

Jack Bech accounted for Mendoza's other touchdown pass among his two receptions for 11 yards. Ashton Jeanty supplied the Raiders' rushing touchdown and finished with a game-high 60 yards on 18 carries. Jeanty also produced the game's longest run, a 17-yard gain.

"The opportunities were there, and my job was to give the offense something on every target," Nailor said. "Seven catches is good, but the touchdown and getting the win are what stand out."

Las Vegas finished with 15 first downs, 216 passing yards and 82 rushing yards. Those were relatively modest totals for an offense that put 39 points on the board, but the Raiders' perfect scoring rate across seven red-zone possessions gave their performance a distinct statistical shape.

The Raiders' defense added two interceptions and two sacks against Nix. Denver recorded one interception and two sacks of its own, with Talanoa Hufanga returning his interception 19 yards and adding two pass deflections. Zach Allen accounted for 1.5 of the Broncos' two sacks.

Nix completed 22 of 38 passes for 238 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. His longest completion went for 24 yards, matching the game-long reception shared by Denver targets Evan Engram and Courtland Sutton. Engram led the Broncos with 60 receiving yards on five catches.

"The two interceptions are on me, and we didn't convert enough of our opportunities," Nix said. "You can move the ball and still come away disappointed if you don't finish possessions the way you need to."

Denver's rushing production was led by RJ Harvey, who carried a game-high 19 times for 58 yards and a touchdown. The Broncos finished with 73 rushing yards as a team. Jaylen Waddle caught four passes for 43 yards and scored Nix's lone passing touchdown.

The Broncos held advantages in passing yards, offensive yards and third-down conversions, even though both teams struggled in the latter category. Las Vegas countered with one more first down, a nine-yard edge on the ground, the better fourth-down percentage and the striking red-zone difference.

For the Raiders, the win represented an immediate response after entering the game at 8-5 and coming off a loss. Denver arrived at 6-7 with consecutive victories, but the 19-point defeat ended that two-game winning streak. Las Vegas emerged from Week 15 with the result and a flawless scoring return on its seven red-zone trips.

Up Next

The Las Vegas Raiders will remain home in Week 16 to host the Tennessee Titans as they look to build on the victory. The Denver Broncos return home and will try to rebound against the Buffalo Bills.