In a matchup that left much to be desired on the field, the uniforms of both teams were undeniably attractive, but the game itself fell flat. In the Thursday night opener of Week 10, the Las Vegas Raiders faced off against the Denver Broncos, resulting in a contest that was marred by penalties and a lack of offensive production.
Throughout the game, both teams struggled to maintain discipline, committing a staggering total of 11 penalties each. This unusual statistic is particularly noteworthy as it led to an equal number of first downs for both teams—just 10 each. According to Bill Smith of NextGenStats, this rare occurrence marks only the second time since 1950 that a game has concluded with such a peculiar statistic. The only other instance was in 1976 when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers faced the Seattle Seahawks, both of whom were expansion franchises at that time.
In addition to the penalties, both the Raiders and Broncos experienced challenges in putting points on the board. In fact, the total number of penalties exceeded the number of points scored in the game. Ultimately, the Broncos emerged victorious with a final score of 10-7, pushing their record to an impressive 8-2. Meanwhile, the loss deepened the struggles for the Raiders, who now sit at a disappointing 2-7.
While the uniforms may have been aesthetically pleasing, the game itself was a reminder of the challenges that both teams are facing this season. As the Broncos celebrate their win and solidify their position in the standings, the Raiders will need to regroup and address their ongoing issues if they hope to turn their season around.
