Quick turnaround this week as the Las Vegas Raiders gear up for Thursday Night Football against the Denver Broncos—available exclusively on that one shopping website we all somehow subscribe to. Don’t worry, though. We’ve got you covered with everything you need before kickoff: injury updates, fantasy tips, betting picks, and more. Let’s dive in.
Vibes
The Raiders are coming off a tough overtime loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. It was a game in which Las Vegas looked much improved, but it was not enough. Unfortunately, the Raiders still were ‘sellers’ at the trade deadline, moving on from Jakobi Meyers. So, despite the positive momentum, it does feel like the organization is officially punting on this year.
Meanwhile, the Broncos keep chugging along at 6-2. Most of those wins have followed the same formula of doing the absolute bare minimum on offense to be carried to victory by one of the league’s best defenses. Who knows how sustainable that will be in the long run, but it is working pretty well for now.
Injury News
The Raiders’ injury report is looking fairly light given the short week. The only names to watch are Isaiah Pola-Mao (hip) and Adam Butler (back). Both are a bit banged up, but could still play. Meanwhile, the Broncos are likely to be without star corner Pat Surtain II (pectoral). They could also have to scramble to find a kicker if Wil Lutz cannot play due to illness.
Fantasy Focus
It is hard to say if anyone really gets a big fantasy bump from the Meyers trade, as he was not super productive over the last few weeks. This would not be the weeks to test any theories, though as Las Vegas takes on a stout Denver defense. Bowers, Jeanty, and maybe even Tre Tucker should still be worth playing, though. As for Denver, Cortland Sutton and Troy Franklin could be poised for big games this week against a Raiders secondary that has struggled. Also, this would be a good week to start JK Dobbins, as Denver will likely be playing with a lead for much of the game.
Gambling Corner
In general, betting on Thursday Night Football is a losing proposition—the variance is simply too high. But if you’re determined to get action on this one, the Raiders have a reasonable chance to cover the +9.5 spread. Denver should win, but the Broncos have a habit of letting opponents hang around.
For props, Brock Bowers anytime touchdown at +180 looks like the safest play on the board. He is the Raiders’ offense right now. And Geno Smith to throw two or more interceptions at +197 is hard to ignore, given how this Denver defense matches up and the likelihood that Las Vegas will be playing from behind most of the night.
Expectations
At this point, Raider Nation should simply hope the team keeps it close. Las Vegas can try to build on last week’s effort and at least look competitive against a strong opponent. But don’t expect a win. Geno Smith isn’t the quarterback who’s going to crack this Broncos defense.
Final Prediction: Broncos 24, Raiders 16
Related: Brock Bowers Is Carrying The Raiders—And Geno Smith’s Season
*Top Photo: Ramble Illustration/Getty Images