It has to be slightly demoralizing for the Las Vegas Raiders and Denver Broncos to play in the same division as Justin Herbert and Patrick Mahomes. While the Kansas City Chiefs sit at the bottom of the AFC West right now, any slip-ups by Denver or Los Angeles could be detrimental to their chances of staving off Kansas City in the division.
The Raiders have stumbled after jumping out to a 3-0 start, losing each of their last two games by double-digits. The Broncos have also suffered back-to-back losses after starting the season 3-0, so both teams will look to get back on track with a win in Week 6.
Who will win this AFC West showdown in Denver? Check out our Raiders vs Broncos predictions and best bets below.
Please note that all odds and lines are current as of 6 PM EST on Friday, October 15.
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Raiders vs Broncos Prediction
Through the first three weeks of the season, the Broncos rolled to a 3-0 record with double-digit wins over the Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Giants, and New York Jets. They’ve struggled against tougher competition in their last two games, however, falling to the Baltimore Ravens and Denver Broncos.
The Raiders have followed a similar trajectory, winning their first three games but looking lethargic in their last two against better defenses. The offense has managed just 23 points over the past two weeks combined after averaging 30 points per game over their first three.
Derek Carr is coming off a pair of lackluster games in which he combined for 402 passing yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. That trend doesn’t bode well for Carr heading into this matchup at Empower Field, where he’s just 2-4 in his career.
As for the Broncos, Teddy Bridgewater has a 7:1 TD/INT ratio and tends to limit his mistakes. Denver also likes to run the ball with Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams and will look to exploit a Las Vegas defense allowing the eighth-most rushing yards per game.
With the Broncos’ formidable defense primed for a solid performance at home, I expect Denver to prevail in a relatively low-scoring affair.
Prediction: Broncos 23, Raiders 17
Raiders vs Broncos Best Bets
2021 NFL Betting Record: 0-2-0 (-2.0 Units)
Best Bet: Broncos -4 (-105) at Betfred
Wager: 1 Unit
Following a 27-19 loss to the Steelers on the road in Week 5, the Broncos are poised to bounce back at home in Week 6. Denver’s defense has been one of the best in the NFL this year and will square off with a Las Vegas team that has lost their rhythm on offense in recent weeks.
The Broncos have outscored their opponents 33-23 in two home games this year despite losing Bridgewater to injury against Baltimore in the second one. The Raiders are also in disarray following the sudden dismissal of head coach Jon Gruden.
Given the state of both teams at the moment, I’ll take Denver to win by at least four points at Betfred.
- Read our full Raiders vs Broncos Prop Bets.
Best Bet: Under 44 Total Points (-110) at Betfred
Wager: 1 Unit
Denver’s defense is allowing just 15.2 points per game this year — the 2nd-fewest in the NFL. They’ve been even stingier at home, allowing only 23 points over two games combined. That should spell trouble for a Raiders offense that has lost its mojo recently.
Denver’s offense is also low-scoring, averaging just 20.4 points per game this season (24th in the NFL). The Broncos play conservatively under Vic Fangio, preferring to go run-heavy and control the clock rather than push the ball downfield and risk mistakes.
Accordingly, I expect a slow, low-scoring game to play out in Denver this weekend, making the Under our NFL bet of the day.
Thanks for reading our Week 6 Raiders vs Broncos Predictions & Best Bets. For more NFL betting tips, check out our NFL Week 6 Early Lines & Odds.
