Las Vegas Raiders: 3 Hard Takeaways From Broncos' 17-16 Loss to Raiders

Football came back to Denver, but it wasn't a happy day for the Broncos. They lost to the Las Vegas Raiders, making it their seventh loss in a row against them. The final score was 17-16.

For a long time, we haven't seen the Broncos play such a competitive and skilled game. It was exciting, but it wasn't enough. Even though the Kansas City Chiefs lost their game earlier in the week, the Broncos couldn't take advantage. This loss was their first game against a division rival in the 2023 season, and now the Raiders are leading the AFC West.

The Broncos haven't been able to beat the Raiders since they moved to Las Vegas from Oakland in 2019. Most of their recent games have been really close, which makes this loss even harder to take.

So, what did we learn from this first game with the new head coach, Sean Payton? Is it going to be the same story as before, or did we see something different in Week 1 that gives us hope? Let's look at three things I noticed from this season opener.

1. Russell Wilson Is the Real Deal:

The Broncos' season success depends a lot on how well Russell Wilson and Sean Payton work together. Football is a team game, but Wilson played really well in this game. He completed 27 out of 34 passes, threw for 177 yards, and got two touchdowns with a high QB rating. Wilson looked confident and in control, especially when he had to make quick decisions. He also made some impressive plays when things didn't go as planned. Wilson proved he's a leader on this team, and he still has a lot of good football left in him.

2. Javonte Williams Is Back:

Javonte Williams had a bad injury last year, tearing three ligaments in his knee. People wondered if he could ever play the same way again. But in this game, he showed he's healthy and strong. Williams rushed for 52 yards and was also used as a receiver. He broke tackles and gained yards even when defenders tried to stop him. The Broncos have other good running backs too, but they should give Williams more chances to carry the ball.

3. Vance Joseph's Defense Needs Improvement:

Vance Joseph is now the defensive coordinator for the Broncos. In the past, he was the head coach, but things didn't go well then. This time, he's in charge of the defense, and it was an okay performance in the first game. Both teams had the same number of first downs and similar stats. However, the Broncos didn't put enough pressure on the Raiders' quarterback, and that made a big difference. They need to improve their pass rush and make better decisions during the game. Fixing penalties and mistakes is also essential.

In the end, losing doesn't feel good, but it's about how the team responds to this setback. Will they run from it, or will they face it head-on? We'll see in Week 2.