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Denver Broncos: 3 make or break games following the bye week

By Travis Wakeman

Oct 17, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams (33) is tackled by Las Vegas Raiders safety Tre'von Moehrig (25) and linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski (44) in the fourth quarter at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams (33) is tackled by Las Vegas Raiders safety Tre'von Moehrig (25) and linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski (44) in the fourth quarter at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 24: Quarterback Derek Carr #4 of the Las Vegas Raiders waits to take the field for warmups before a game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Allegiant Stadium on October 24, 2021, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Raiders defeated the Eagles 33-22. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 24: Quarterback Derek Carr #4 of the Las Vegas Raiders waits to take the field for warmups before a game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Allegiant Stadium on October 24, 2021, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Raiders defeated the Eagles 33-22. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

Week 16 at Las Vegas Raiders

It’s the day after Christmas and the Broncos will be in Vegas to battle the Raiders, a team that seems to have their number as of late.

Like the Chargers, the Raiders are also right in the middle of the race for both the AFC West crown and a Wild Card. All of the teams in the AFC West won’t make the playoffs, so with the Broncos having five of their final seven games within the division, each game will obviously be huge.

The Broncos close the season with games against the Chargers and Chiefs, but this game will be pivotal because it could be an elimination game of sorts. Between now and Week 16, the Raiders face a much more difficult schedule than the Broncos.

The Raiders have also lost some of that early-season steam they had built up and there have been several off-the-field stories that have dominated their season. If the Broncos could go at least 3-1 between Weeks 12 and 15 and then beat the Raiders here, they could find their way into the postseason.

Of course, considering their recent level of play, that is wishful thinking.

But it’s not impossible. It all depends on how the team comes out after the bye week. Will they come out refocused and determined to get back into the race or will they look flat and unprepared like they did against Philadelphia and in several other games this season?

The Raiders have won three games in a row against the Broncos and five out of the last six. The Broncos’ only win over them in that time span came by one point.

That needs to come to an end the day after Christmas.

If the Broncos could hit the 9-win plateau with two games remaining in the season, they could take a lot of pressure off themselves and be in a good spot to make the playoffs, with a chance to do so even if they lost in Weeks 17 and 18 and finished the season 9-8.

Related Story. 5 players Broncos should bench during bye week. light

Of course, the level of play will have to be so much better than what we saw this past week for any of this to even matter.

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