Two classic AFC West rivals, the Las Vegas Raiders and Denver Broncos, couldn’t be on more different trajectories as they prepare to face off for the second and final time this season at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday.
The Broncos (10-2) are right on the New England Patriots’ tail for the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs, but a much more difficult schedule down the stretch puts added importance on games against teams like the Raiders (2-10).
The Broncos certainly know as well as anyone how scrappy Maxx Crosby and the Raiders defense can get, especially when they have nothing to lose.
In their first meeting in Denver last month, the Raiders’ defense had Broncos quarterback Bo Nix under pressure all day and allowed just 10 points as a unit. For most teams, that’s more than good enough for a win. For the Raiders, it earned them a 10-7 loss.
In terms of stopping Crosby, Payton drew on his experience coaching sixth-grade football during his season-long suspension in 2012 amid the Bountygate scandal. Like a middle school athlete who matured sooner than their counterparts, Crosby looks like a man among boys at times.
“I had the DVDs of the opponents, and there was always that one kid who could destroy the game,” Payton said. “It’s the same as Maxx Crosby. There’s one kid who drove to practice with a beard and the rest of them are all sixth grade. So like, how do we make sure this kid doesn’t ruin the game?”
Since that initial Week 10 meeting, neither team has been pulled off the path they were already on. The Broncos’ win that night was their seventh in a row, and they’ve won their last two games to stretch that streak to nine. The Raiders, who entered that matchup with consecutive losses, have since lost three more games in a row and were among the first handful of teams eliminated from postseason contention.
While most 2-10 teams would rightfully enter a matchup against a top team like the Broncos with little confidence, the fact the Raiders managed to compete the first time gives coach Pete Carroll a reasonable belief that they can be the ones to end Denver’s hot streak.
“Their team has done some remarkable things this year,” Carroll said. “They’ve had remarkable games, comebacks and finishes and all that kind of thing that we really respect. We know we’re up against a really tough opponent, but yet we did match up all right. We’re looking forward to see if we can take the next step.”
Denver tight end Nate Adkins (knee) and defensive end D.J. Jones (ankle) did not participate in practice on Wednesday.
Las Vegas tight end Michael Mayer (ankle). wide receivers Alex Bachman (thumb) and Dont’e Thornton (concussion) and guard Dylan Parham (back) did not participate in Wednesday’s practice session.
