Denver Broncos: Winning Margin Against the Raiders in Week 6

Last week, the Denver Broncos (3-2) lost a challenging road game to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 27-19. In Week 6, the Broncos will face the Las Vegas Raiders (3-2) for a late-afternoon game in Colorado. NFL betting odds have the Broncos as 3.5-point favorites with their current money line set at -175.

What will their winning margin look like against the Raiders in Week 6?

Let’s break it down.

What Kind of Team Are the Denver Broncos in 2021?

Last year, the Denver Broncos were a 5-11 football team, finishing their season in last place in the AFC West. This year, the division is shaping up to be entirely different.

After five weeks, the Broncos are one game behind the first-place Los Angeles Chargers and tied with the Raiders for second place.
Are the Broncos a second-place football team?

Are the Broncos a second-place football team?

Other than the Buffalo Bills (4-1), the Broncos’ defense has the lowest PA (points against) in the AFC.

However, that statistic belies their extremely weak schedule so far this season. The Broncos won their first two games on the road against the New York Giants and the Jacksonville Jaguars.

For their home opener in Week 3, the Broncos shut out the Jets, 26-0.

In Week 4, the Baltimore Ravens handed the Broncos their first loss of the year, a home game where quarterback Teddy Bridgewater left the game with a concussion.

Teddy Bridgewater Last Week Against the Steelers

Bridgewater started against the Steelers last week, throwing for 288 yards with one touchdown and an interception. Almost all of the Broncos’ 19 points came in the fourth quarter of a must-win scenario for Ben Roethlisberger and the flailing Steelers.

So, after winning their first three games against easy opponents, the Broncos’ true colors have started to show a bit more. Outside of that fourth-quarter performance against the Steelers, the Broncos scored only 13 points in seven of their last eight quarters of football.

I believe that they’re favored to win this week because of the Raiders’ woes, not the Broncos’ strength.

Can they win against the Raiders?

Raiders vs. Broncos

So far this year, the AFC West has been full of surprises. The Raiders won their first three games, including a 26-17 road victory against the Steelers in Week 2.

If the Raiders had kept that momentum, the Broncos would probably not be heavy favorites against them in Week 6.

However, the Raiders have given up 48 points in their last two losses. As a result, the over-under point total for the Raiders vs. Broncos currently rests at 44.5.

I like the under here, only because the Raiders’ offense has sputtered. The Broncos will have to rely on their defense to keep that trend alive.

Bridgewater led the Broncos on two 70-yard scoring drives that resulted in touchdown passes in the fourth quarter last week, but I see no reason to expect a break-out performance from him against the Raiders in Week 6.

Denver’s Winning Margin

In their two home games, the Broncos are averaging 16.5 points.

For their winning margin, the Denver Broncos by 1-6 (+310) is about all you can hope for with this game. I’d be surprised if they went over 24.5 (+100).

But stranger things have happened in the AFC West so far this season.

If you think the Broncos have a shot at winning and lighting up the scoreboard, try your luck at the BetMGM’s King of the Weekend promotion. If you pick the top five teams with the most points this week, you could win $50,000. Just sign up for an account and make your picks today.