The Denver Broncos defeated the Las Vegas Raiders in a game that will not long be remembered by neutral fans as both quarterbacks Bo Nix and Geno Smith struggled on Thursday Night Football
05:30 ET, 07 Nov 2025
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Pete Carroll now has an unwanted NFL record
The Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders played out what might have been one of the worst NFL games of the season on Thursday Night Football - making records for all the wrong reasons.
The Broncos moved to 8-2 after the win over Pete Carroll's Raiders, with the team looking to announce themselves as Super Bowl contenders while having the best record in the AFC over the likes of the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills and Indianapolis Colts. But Bo Nix struggled throughout, along with the Raiders offense with Geno Smith at quarterback. The Broncos won the game 10-7, with both quarterbacks combining for less than 300 passing yards.
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But the statistic that will catch headlines will be that both teams had just 10 first downs between them, while having more penalties (11) against them. It is the first time since 1976 that an NFL game has seen more penalties than first downs.
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In the only previous time that this has happened in NFL history, it had been a game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks - two teams that joined the league that year in 1976 and expansion teams.
While the win had been less than impressive for the Broncos, with a majority of fans still having questions around their team despite being 8-2, it could be severely damaging for Raiders head coach Carroll.
Carroll joined the Raiders as an exciting hire, following his 14-year stint with the Seahawks while having a 137-89 record, going to two Super Bowl's and winning one of them.
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Bo Nix did not have his best game in the win
Las Vegas was seen as a team that could challenge for the playoffs, but have struggled greatly while being 2-7.
They had traded for Smith from Carroll's former Seahawks team, giving them a third-round pick to acquire him before extending him to a contract that sees him make $37.5 million per season.
Through the first-half of the season, Smith leads the league in interceptions thrown while having 11 touchdowns to 12 picks.
Geno Smith was sacked six times on 29 pressures against the Broncos.
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Geno Smith was sacked six times on 29 pressures against the Broncos.(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
Smith was injured in the loss to the Broncos with Kenny Pickett coming into the game, amid questions which will be had as to whether the former will continue as the starter.
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It's been a less-than-ideal season for the Raiders, with Carroll needing to impress before the end of season with Tom Brady likely to be involved in some big decisions this offseason - after he became a minority owner of the team.
Las Vegas may be making a quarterback decision in the coming days.
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