The Raiders took a 13-9 halftime lead against the Broncos, fueled by a strong special teams performance. Rookie Dylan Laube’s 59-yard kickoff return set up a touchdown drive, marking his first return and the Raiders’ longest since 2019. An AJ Cole fake punt converted a crucial fourth down, leading to a field goal. Defensively, the Raiders held the Broncos to three field goals and showed resilience despite injuries in the secondary.

By the numbers

• Dylan Laube’s 59-yard kickoff return is the Raiders’ longest since 2019.
• AJ Cole’s 34-yard completion is the longest completion by a punter in the NFL since 2017.

State of affairs

• The Raiders defense allowed 129 passing yards and 44 rushing yards in the half.
• Ameer Abdullah started at running back, totaling 22 rushing yards and 32 receiving yards in the first half.

What’s next

The Raiders look to keep the momentum going in the second half by utilizing their special teams and improving offensive consistency. Improvements on defense will be crucial to countering the Broncos’ adjustments.

In short

The Raiders showed strategic improvements on special teams and defense, providing a solid foundation for the second half. To secure victory, they must continue to capitalize on opportunities while sharpening their defensive efforts.