Denver Broncos vs Las Vegas Raiders Match Player Stats: Bo Nix’s Record Day Leads Denver to Victory

Denver Broncos vs Las Vegas Raiders match player stats from December 20, 2026, reveal a clear victor: the Broncos’ offense outclassed the Raiders in nearly every critical category. Under the lights of Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, Denver walked away with a 24-17 victory that sent a loud message to the rest of the AFC. 

With 65,000 fans in attendance and a national CBS broadcast, this divisional clash delivered everything expected from a heated rivalry — and the Denver Broncos vs Las Vegas Raiders match player stats prove that efficiency, not flash, won the day.The Raiders struck first, but Denver responded with 21 unanswered points across the second and third quarters. 

While Las Vegas mounted a late comeback bid, the Broncos’ defense stiffened when it mattered most. The final box score tells a story of quarterback mastery, defensive adjustments, and a rookie signal-caller who outdueled his veteran counterpart in every measurable way.

Match Overview Table

Core Match Statistics Overview

Team Stats Table

Quarterback Efficiency Gap

• Bo Nix finished with a pristine 133.3 passer rating, throwing for 308 yards and three touchdowns without a single interception. The Raiders’ quarterback room combined for just 250 yards, one touchdown, and a costly pick.
• The Denver Broncos vs Las Vegas Raiders match player stats show a 55-point difference in passer rating — a gap that directly dictated the final score.

Run Game Balance

• Neither backfield dominated, but Denver’s committee (led by rookie Harvey with 55 yards on 19 carries) kept the Raiders’ defense honest. Las Vegas managed only 80 rushing yards, forcing them into predictable passing downs.

Third-Down Clutch Factor

• Las Vegas converted at a higher rate (50% vs. 41.7%), but Denver’s defense delivered three critical stops on third-and-short that forced punts and changed field position.

Period-by-Period Analysis

First Quarter: Both Teams Trade Punches

• The Raiders opened with a sharp, methodical drive that ended in a rushing touchdown, answering Denver’s initial score. The Denver Broncos vs Las Vegas Raiders match player stats from the first frame show both quarterbacks completing over 70% of their passes.
• Denver’s offensive line held up against the Raiders’ blitz packages, allowing Nix to find Sutton for three first-down conversions.

Second Quarter: The Turnaround

• Denver’s defense forced a three-and-out, then capitalized on a Raiders fumble to set up a short-field touchdown. Las Vegas went scoreless in the quarter, managing only 48 total yards.
• The Broncos’ pass rush recorded two sacks in the period, including a strip-sack that swung momentum permanently.

Third Quarter: Denver Extends the Lead

• Nix hit his second touchdown of the game on a perfectly placed 27-yard strike to Sutton, pushing the lead to 21-7. The Raiders’ offense looked disjointed, failing to convert a single third down in the quarter.
• Las Vegas’s offensive line allowed constant pressure, forcing rushed throws and check-downs that went nowhere.

Fourth Quarter: Raiders’ Late Charge Falls Short

• Las Vegas finally found life, scoring 10 points to cut the deficit to 24-17 with 4:32 remaining. However, Denver’s defense forced a turnover on downs at the Broncos’ 40-yard line to seal the win.
• The Denver Broncos vs Las Vegas Raiders match player stats in the final frame show Denver controlling the clock for over 10 minutes, bleeding the game dry.

Detailed Team Player Statistics

Denver Broncos Player Statistics

Bo Nix (QB)

Nix was surgical, spreading the ball to seven different receivers. His three touchdown passes were placed with pinpoint accuracy, and his zero interceptions came against a Raiders defense that blitzed on 38% of dropbacks. This performance cemented his place in Broncos history.

Courtland Sutton (WR)

Sutton was Nix’s security blanket, hauling in 10 catches for over 100 yards and a score. His ability to win contested catches on third down kept four separate scoring drives alive.

Rookie RB Harvey (RB)

Harvey didn’t find the end zone on the ground, but his 92 receiving yards out of the backfield were instrumental in keeping the Raiders’ linebackers occupied. He averaged 4.8 yards per touch overall.

Las Vegas Raiders Player Statistics

G. Smith (QB)

Smith showed flashes but was undone by inconsistent deep-ball accuracy and a critical red-zone interception. He was sacked three times and hurried on six other dropbacks.

Ashton Jeanty (RB)

Jeanty ran hard but found few running lanes. His lone touchdown came on the opening drive, but he was largely neutralized thereafter as Denver stacked the box.

Brock Bowers (TE)

Bowers was a reliable outlet, but the Raiders failed to get him involved vertically. His 58 yards came mostly on dump-offs and underneath routes.

Statistical Leaders Summary Table

Why They Won / Why They Lost

Why Denver Won

Balanced Offensive Production

Denver’s offense was unpredictable, mixing run and pass effectively to keep the Raiders’ defense off balance. The Denver Broncos vs Las Vegas Raiders match player stats show a near 3:1 pass-to-run ratio, but the threat of the run kept safeties honest and opened up the deep ball.

Defensive Adjustments After the First Quarter

After allowing a touchdown on the opening drive, Denver’s defense surrendered just 10 points over the final three quarters. They held Las Vegas to 3-of-9 on third downs in the second and third quarters combined.

Red Zone Discipline

Denver scored on three of four red-zone trips (one touchdown, two field goals), avoiding the turnovers that had plagued them in previous weeks. That efficiency was the difference in a one-score game.

Why Las Vegas Lost

Inability to Run the Ball Consistently

The Raiders managed just 80 rushing yards on 23 carries (3.5 YPC). This one-dimensional attack allowed Denver’s defensive ends to pin their ears back and tee off on Smith.

Critical Turnover at the Worst Possible Time

Smith’s interception in the second quarter came on a drive that had reached Denver’s 35-yard line. Instead of a potential tying score, the Broncos turned that takeaway into a touchdown and a 14-7 lead they never relinquished.

Poor Third-Down Execution in the Middle Quarters

While Las Vegas finished 6-of-12 on third downs, they went 0-for-4 in the second and third quarters combined — a stretch where Denver built its 21-7 lead.

Historical Context & Advanced Insights

Season Series Breakdown

The Broncos completed the season sweep of their divisional rivals for the first time since 2019. This victory improved Denver’s record to 9-4, while Las Vegas dropped to 5-8, effectively ending their playoff hopes.

Advanced Statistical Insights

The most telling advanced metric from the Denver Broncos vs Las Vegas Raiders match player stats is the Adjusted Net Yards per Attempt (ANY/A). Nix posted a 9.62 ANY/A, while Smith managed just 5.12. 

That 4.5-yard difference per pass attempt reflects Denver’s ability to generate explosive plays (five completions over 20 yards) versus Las Vegas’s dink-and-dunk approach (zero completions over 25 yards). Additionally, Denver’s defense generated pressure on 36% of dropbacks without blitzing heavily — a testament to their front four’s dominance.

Game Implications & Key Lessons

What This Means for Denver

• At 9-4, the Broncos are firmly in the AFC playoff picture and control their own destiny for a division title. This win gives them a tiebreaker edge over the Raiders and Chiefs.
• Bo Nix broke the franchise rookie record for passing touchdowns in a season with this three-touchdown performance. The offense is peaking at the perfect time.
• The defense’s ability to make halftime adjustments (zero points allowed in the second and third quarters) shows a coaching staff that can adapt — a critical trait for playoff success.

What This Means for Las Vegas

• At 5-8, the Raiders’ playoff hopes are mathematically on life support. The offense’s inconsistency against winning teams has been a season-long theme.
• The running game must become more productive. Jeanty averaged just 4.1 YPC, and the Raiders can’t rely on 40 pass attempts per game to win.
• Defensively, the Raiders generated four sacks but allowed Nix too much time on third down. They need more coverage sacks rather than relying solely on blitzes.

Key Lessons

• Quarterback efficiency wins divisional games. Nix’s 133.3 rating dwarfed Smith’s 78.1.
• Winning the turnover battle is non-negotiable. Denver’s lone takeaway was more impactful than Las Vegas’s.
• Establishing the run, even modestly, opens up play-action. Denver’s 90 rushing yards set up three play-action touchdown passes.
• Defensive adjustments between quarters separate good teams from great ones. Denver’s second-half shutout proved that.
• Red zone execution decides close games. Denver scored on 75% of red-zone trips; Las Vegas scored on 66% but settled for a field goal late that kept it a one-score game.
• Third-down conversions in the middle quarters are momentum killers. Las Vegas went 0-for-4 in the second and third frames — a death knell.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won the Denver Broncos vs Las Vegas Raiders game on December 20, 2026?
The Denver Broncos defeated the Las Vegas Raiders by a score of 24-17 at Allegiant Stadium.

What were Bo Nix’s stats in the game?
Bo Nix had a quarterback rating of 133 after completing 23 of 32 passes for 308 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions.Third. How many points did Courtland Sutton score.
Courtland Sutton caught one touchdown and had 10 receptions for 111 receiving yards.

Who was the leading rusher for the Raiders?
Ashton Jeanty led the Raiders with 61 rushing yards on 15 carries and one touchdown.

What was the attendance at the game?
Approximately 65,000 fans attended the game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

What channel broadcast the game?
The game was broadcast nationally on CBS.

Conclusion

The Denver Broncos vs Las Vegas Raiders match player stats paint a clear picture of a team hitting its stride at the perfect moment. Bo Nix’s historic efficiency, Courtland Sutton’s reliability, and a defensive front that clamped down after the first quarter combined to deliver a statement win on the road. 

Las Vegas showed fight late, but their inability to establish the run and protect the football in critical moments proved fatal. In a rivalry defined by physicality and momentum, Denver’s execution in the middle quarters was the ultimate separator — a blueprint they’ll carry confidently into the postseason chase.