Tucker catches 2 TDs as Raiders beat Broncos 27-10

Denver, CO - Tre Tucker caught two touchdown passes, Fernando Mendoza threw for 218 yards and the Las Vegas Raiders defeated the Denver Broncos 27-10 in Week 11.

Las Vegas finished with 396 offensive yards and consistently diversified its workload. The Raiders threw for 218 yards and rushed for 178, more than doubling Denver's 77 yards on the ground. They also recorded 21 first downs to the Broncos' 16.

The rushing production came from a combination of power and volume. A.J. Dillon ran 10 times for a game-high 78 yards and a touchdown, including the game's longest rush at 30 yards. Ashton Jeanty handled a game-high 16 carries and added 72 yards, with a long run of 22.

"There was room for both of us to contribute, and we stayed focused on getting positive yards," Dillon said. "When my opportunities came, I wanted to run with purpose and make them count."

Mendoza completed 23 of 37 passes with two touchdowns and two interceptions, finishing with a 73.9 passer rating. Tucker was the scoring threat in the receiving group, turning five catches into 50 yards and two touchdowns. Brock Bowers supplied a steady target with seven receptions for a team-high 74 yards.

The two interceptions kept Mendoza's performance from being clean, something the quarterback acknowledged afterward.

"The touchdown production was important, but I know I have to be better with the football," Mendoza said. "We had balance, the running backs gave us a lot, and there are still things in the passing game that I can clean up."

Tucker's two scores stood out in a game in which no other Las Vegas receiver reached the end zone.

"You want to be reliable whenever the ball comes your way," Tucker said. "Two touchdowns feels good, especially with the result, but there were a lot of people involved in moving the offense."

Red-zone performance provided another sharp statistical contrast. Las Vegas made five trips inside the 20 and finished with two touchdowns and one field goal. Denver reached the red zone three times but did not score a touchdown there, coming away with one field goal.

The Raiders did not own every efficiency category. They converted 3 of 11 third downs, while Denver went 5 of 16. Fourth down was a different story statistically: Las Vegas converted both of its attempts, and the Broncos finished 0-for-3.

Denver produced the game's leading passer and receiver despite finishing with 10 points. Bo Nix completed 21 of 43 passes for a game-high 222 yards and a 64.2 passer rating. He also ran three times for 21 yards and scored the Broncos' only rushing touchdown.

Courtland Sutton caught eight passes for a game-high 91 yards, while Troy Franklin added five receptions for 76 yards and recorded the game's longest catch at 28 yards. Alvin Kamara led Denver's rushing attack with 55 yards on 12 attempts, including a 21-yard run.

"There were yards there, but the points and the efficiency weren't where they needed to be," Nix said. "Going without a touchdown on three red-zone trips and coming up empty on fourth down are numbers we have to own."

Denver's defense recorded two sacks and intercepted Mendoza twice. Las Vegas countered with three sacks of its own, including two from Keyron Crawford, but did not record an interception.

Those defensive numbers formed part of a game in which the passing totals were nearly even - Denver held a 222-218 edge - while the rushing totals were not. Las Vegas' 101-yard advantage on the ground gave the final statistics a much different shape than the quarterback yardage alone suggested.

The victory got the Raiders back on the winning side after they entered the week at 6-4 and coming off a loss. Denver, which entered at 4-5 with a one-game losing streak, absorbed a second consecutive defeat.

Up Next

Las Vegas will remain on the road in Week 12 to face the Cleveland Browns, while Denver will travel to meet the Pittsburgh Steelers and look to rebound from the loss.