If the Broncos lose…
A loss would drop the Broncos to 5-11 and would represent a finish that would be two less wins than a year ago. No one wants to see regression like that.
Unless you’re a fan that wants the team to have the highest draft pick possible.
If the Broncos were to lose to the Raiders and each of the Eagles, Bengals, Lions, Giants and Panthers all got victories, the Broncos could vault all the way up to the No. 5 pick in the draft. The team has only drafted in the top five a total of five times in team history.
This would give the Broncos a chance to land one of the best prospects in the class such as Micah Parsons, a linebacker from Penn State or Alabama’s great cornerback, Patrick Surtain.
But a loss would also allow the Raiders to pick up a season sweep of the Broncos for the first time since 2010, dating back to when Josh McDaniels was the head coach. Nobody wants to see that, even if it does mean a higher draft pick.
In this draft, outside of getting a guy like Trevor Lawrence or Justin Fields, there really is no player that the Broncos must get into the top five in order to get. If there is a player that they really like, there is always the chance to make a move up the board via trade.
In other words, if the Broncos can beat the Raiders, they will. If they can pummel the Raiders, they will.