Broncos and Raiders each had more penalties than first downs tonight. Only the second time since 1950 this happened, and it’s fitting the first was a battle of 0-5 expansion teams in 1976. https://t.co/tBBuivX3oY
— Bill Smith (@BillSmithNFL) November 7, 2025
The Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders played a sloppy game of football in a primetime affair on Thursday night. The Broncos eventually pulled out a 10-7 win, but the game was marred by penalties, turnovers and mistakes from both sides.
It’s a surprise the officials’ yellow penalty flags didn’t turn green because of the grass. Laundry hit the turf 22 times total, 11 for each team. None of the penalties even resulted in a first down for Denver or Las Vegas. Several of the Bronco penalties happened on offense, killing any chance of kickstarting any scoring or action.
“I would say I think we had eight penalties,” said head coach Sean Payton after the game when asked about the offense’s struggles. “Let’s start there. Then when you take those penalties and you say, all right. I felt like it was a night when it was third down, and I was looking on the wrong section of the third-down sheet, and when you get over there too much, it becomes difficult.”
The frequent penalties also set a dubious NFL distinction: Denver and Las Vegas combined for more penalties (22) than first downs (20), for only the second time since 1950. The Broncos had 11 penalties for 83 yards, and the Raiders had 11 for 78 yards.
Let’s not make this type of history again!