Versus: Raiders looking to get their usual suspects rolling in home matchup against Broncos

Nov 20, 2024 at 04:00 PM

Levi Edwards

Digital Team Reporter

The Las Vegas Raiders gear up for their second annual matchup against divisional rival Denver Broncos this week.

Their previous Week 5 duel didn't go the Raiders' way, with Denver overcoming a 10-point first-quarter deficit to win 34-18. This time around for the Raiders, an emphasis will be placed on getting the ball into their top playmakers' hands and not letting their feet off the gas.

"We've just got to find a way in that second half to get over this hurdle of not finishing games," Head Coach Antonio Pierce said Monday. "Either not getting off the field, not finishing drives in the end zone, keeping the opponent off the field on third down. Not beating ourselves with mistakes and penalties at crucial moments in the game. ... But I think the other part about it, what I'm seeing from our players is I don't see anybody quitting.

"I don't see nobody quit in this building. I don't see no quit from our staff. I see everybody just trying to figure out ways and answers in a very fluid situation with injuries and everything else that's going on with our team this year."

Here are three matchups that could contribute to the Raiders breaking their six-game losing streak this Sunday.

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Maxx Crosby vs. Mike McGlinchey

Maxx Crosby, to no surprise, continues to be a focal point for every opposing offensive line.

Through 11 weeks, Crosby remains at the top of ESPN's rankings for edge run stop win rate at 37 percent. He's also sits at sixth in the league rankings in edge pass rush win rate at 24 percent – all while continuing to battle through an ankle injury sustained in Week 2's victory against the Baltimore Ravens.

"I haven't seen anything like it as a coach," defensive line coach Rob Leonard said of Crosby's toughness. "Again, I talk about it all the time, you don't do that without a routine, a good support staff around him with his wife and the trainers here. He's elite. I've never seen anything like it."

"The Condor" leads the team in pressures (35) and 16 quick pressures (under 2.5 seconds), according to NFL Next Gen Stats. Additionally, he accounts for over 33 percent of the Raiders' team total sacks and nearly a quarter of the team's tackle for loss total. He's likely to line up against right tackle Mike McGlinchey, who's allowed the sixth lowest pressure rate among right tackles this season (7.0).

McGlinchey didn't play in the last two Raiders-Broncos games due to injuries, however, Crosby accounted for 1.0 sacks and two quarterback hits against McGlinchey in their Week 1 matchup in 2023.

Brock Bowers vs. Broncos secondary

Rookie tight end Brock Bowers caught a career-high 13 catches and 126 yards against the Miami Dolphins in Week 11.

Looking back at the film, a huge factor behind his success were the multiple ways he was lined up schematically. Scott Turner, in his first game as interim offensive coordinator, lined Bowers up at tight end, motioned him over to wide receiver and even lined him up in the backfield. All of this with the goal of giving the rookie as many one-on-one coverages as possible. Of Bowers' 126 receiving yards, 62 percent of them were yards after catch – a statistic he ranks seventh in the league in.

"I know he gifted he is running after the catch when he's got the ball in his hands," tight ends coach Luke Stekel said. "We had one against Denver the first time we played when he went up and took it off the roof and you found him in open space and he ran another 40 yards for a touchdown. So, one thing I'd like to see selfishly is just to see him get the ball with some open space around him, see what he can do with it."

With how many places Bowers is lined up on the field, it's nearly impossible to allot a specific assignment against him in coverage throughout the game. Therefore, look for the Broncos defense to use a variety of zone coverages to attempt to take him away. This will include cornerbacks Patrick Surtain and Riley Moss who have combined for 14 pass deflections and four interceptions in 2024, as well as linebacker Cody Barton who had an interception in the Broncos' Week 11 win over the Atlanta Falcons.

Raiders rushing offense vs. Broncos rushing defense

As the Raiders keep looking for continuity in the ground game, the task may become more difficult with injuries.

Both Alexander Mattison (ankle) and Zamir White (quadricep) went down with injuries against the Dolphins last Sunday, putting their availability in question for Week 12 as neither practiced Wednesday, per the injury report.

"Next man up mentality," Pierce said of the running back room. "Get some of these younger guys some reps, see how they do, and hopefully we get these guys back by the end of the week."

It also doesn't help that the Broncos rushing defense is allowing the sixth-fewest rushing yards per game (98.6) with the third-highest expected points contributed by rushing defense (26.89) in the league.

If one or both of the Raiders' top running backs can't go Sunday, they'll rely heavily on Ameer Abdullah, who contributed with a receiving touchdown against the Dolphins. It's also possible that rookie Dylan Laube could see a few snaps as well as Sincere McCormick or newly-signed Chris Collier potentially activated from the practice squad.

"[I]f you remember last time we played Denver, Ameer had a really good game," Pierce said. "Had some big plays for us, some great opportunities in the passing game, in the running game, obviously special teams. But if he happens to be the lead back this week, we're going to feel really comfortable about him. I mean, he's an explosive player, he's a vet, he knows the system, very savvy. It's just making sure everybody's comfortable, especially up front in protection, being keyed in on that."

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Signage during the Las Vegas Raiders Holiday Meal Packing event at Intermountain Health Performance Center.