The Las Vegas Raiders and Denver Broncos face off in a critical AFC West showdown. Both teams enter Week 5 with identical 2-2 records and are looking to gain ground in a division dominated by the Kansas City Chiefs. The Raiders are coming off a hard-fought 20-16 win over the Cleveland Browns, while the Broncos secured a 10-9 victory over the New York Jets in a defensive battle. For the Raiders, quarterback Gardner Minshew II has shown flashes of potential, completing 70.7% of his passes for 877 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. However, Las Vegas has struggled to establish a consistent ground game, averaging just 76.3 rushing yards per game, which ranks near the bottom of the league.

Defensively, the Raiders have given up 24.3 points per game, struggling to stop the run and generate turnovers. The Broncos, on the other hand, have relied heavily on their defense. Bo Nix, their starting quarterback, has struggled with turnovers, throwing 4 interceptions and just 1 touchdown in his first four games. However, Denver’s defense has been stellar, allowing just 13.8 points per game and ranking second in the NFL in total yards allowed per game. They’ve been particularly effective against the pass, giving up only 146.0 passing yards per contest. The key for this game will be whether the Raiders can find a way to move the ball against Denver’s suffocating defense. If Minshew and the offense can put together a few scoring drives, they could put pressure on a Denver offense that has struggled to score consistently. Conversely, if the Broncos’ defense forces turnovers and sets up short fields, it could be a long day for Las Vegas.