The Las Vegas Raiders enter Sunday’s home game against the Denver Broncos as clear underdogs on the betting board. Oddsmakers list the Raiders as 7.5-point underdogs, with moneyline prices in the +325 to +350 range for an outright win and longshot Super Bowl LXI futures sitting around +100000. However, anyone who follows betting markets or real money slots knows that long odds do occasionally come in, even if they are not the most likely outcome. The game kicks off Sunday, December 7, 2025, at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada.
Broncos Hitting Stride Against Sliding Raiders
Denver arrives at Week 14 in strong form, riding a nine-game winning streak and sitting at 10-2 after another comeback victory in Week 13. The Broncos have become the league’s most consistent escape artists in tight games, posting an 8-2 mark in one-score contests and regularly erasing early deficits to close out wins. Their late-game resilience, combined with the Raiders’ recent slide, helps explain why the point spread sits above a touchdown.
Las Vegas, meanwhile, has dropped five straight and now sits at 2-10 after a series of lopsided losses. Since playing Denver close in a 10-7 defeat back in Week 10, the Raiders have lost by double digits to Dallas, Cleveland, and the Los Angeles Chargers, struggling to stay competitive after halftime. A combination of offensive inconsistency and defensive breakdowns has left them scrambling to keep games within reach.
Game Totals
Oddsmakers have also set the total for Broncos-Raiders at 40.5 points, reflecting both Denver’s defensive strength and Las Vegas’ offensive struggles. The Raiders rank near the bottom of the league in total offense and scoring, entering Week 14 around 30th in yards and 31st in points per game. Denver, by contrast, has climbed into top-five territory in both total defense and scoring defense, regularly holding opponents to scores in the teens or low 20s.
Those trends are clearly evident in the matchup metrics. The Broncos’ pass rush has piled up one of the league’s highest sack totals while their offensive line has allowed relatively few, helping Denver control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. For the Raiders, sustained drives have been hard to find, and red-zone efficiency has lagged, forcing them to settle for field goals or empty possessions far too often.
Raiders Upset Path
The Raiders’ best path to an upset may come through a more aggressive offensive game plan and a cleaner performance from their young skill players. Rookie tight end Brock Bowers remains a key piece, and his matchup against All-Pro corner Patrick Surtain II will be one of the most-watched battles on the field. While Surtain usually lines up on the outside against top receivers, Denver can use him creatively in coverage schemes that account for Bowers’ ability to win up the seam and after the catch.
For Las Vegas, getting Bowers involved early could help loosen up a Broncos defense that thrives when it can dictate passing situations. Short, quick throws to the tight end and backs may be necessary to slow Denver’s pass rush and give the quarterback time to settle in. If the Raiders can avoid early three-and-outs and establish some rhythm, they can at least put pressure on Denver to answer on the scoreboard instead of letting the Broncos dictate tempo.
Tight Week Week Ten Game
The first meeting between these teams offers a reminder that the gap may not be as wide as the current spread suggests. In Week 10 at Denver, the Raiders’ defense held the Broncos to just 10 points and forced the game into a low-scoring grind. Las Vegas created pressure and limited explosive plays, but the offense was unable to produce enough to secure the road win. That performance, though, shows the Raiders can drag Denver into a slower, more physical game if they execute cleanly.
Meaningful Game for Denver
This time, however, the context is very different. The Broncos enter Week 14 with realistic hopes of chasing the AFC’s top seed, battling the New England Patriots in the standings despite not having a head-to-head meeting on the schedule. A win over the Raiders would help Denver’s conference tiebreakers and could function like a “virtual” edge over New England if the teams finish with similar records. With the Patriots on a Week 14 bye, the Broncos have a chance to close ground and keep pace in the race for home-field advantage.
After facing the Raiders, Denver returns home for a physical matchup against the Green Bay Packers, raising the possibility of a trap spot. The stakes against Las Vegas may help the Broncos avoid that letdown. Playing a division rival on the road with seeding implications attached tends to sharpen focus, and Denver’s recent habit of escaping “ugly” games has reinforced the idea that style points do not matter as much as stacking wins.
For the Raiders, this game serves as both a measuring stick and an opportunity to disrupt a rival’s playoff path. Snapping Denver’s win streak at home would not erase the frustrations of a 2-10 start, but it would provide a tangible positive in a season defined by inconsistency and missed chances. Playing spoiler in the AFC West remains one of the few levers Las Vegas can pull in December.
From a betting standpoint, the spread and moneyline reinforce the perception gap between these teams. A 7.5-point number on the road signals strong market confidence in Denver’s ability to control the game, even if its wins have often come in a late, tight fashion. The Raiders’ +325 to +350 moneyline reflects a low implied probability of an outright upset, while their distant +100000 Super Bowl odds underscore how little expectation exists for a deep postseason run.
Division Games Always Tough
Still, divisional games often defy projections. If Las Vegas can protect the football, avoid early breakdowns, and replicate some of the defensive success it had in the first meeting, the Raiders can at least challenge the spread and make Denver work for a tenth straight win.
For Raiders fans, Sunday’s matchup offers a chance to see whether this team can respond to adversity against one of the NFL’s hottest opponents. For Denver, it is another test of its ability to grind out results in a playoff-caliber environment. The numbers make the Broncos clear favorites, but the Raiders still have one more chance this season to complicate the AFC picture and salvage a signature victory at home.
