3 Takeaways from Raiders' Week 11 Win vs. Broncos

The Las Vegas Raiders are a disappointing 3-7 through 11 weeks of the 2022 NFL season. However, they've gone 2-0 against the Denver Broncos.

On Sunday, the Raiders beat their AFC West rival for the second time this year, as they went on the road and pulled out a 22-16 overtime win at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver. Derek Carr threw a game-winning 35-yard touchdown pass to Davante Adams only 1 minute and 36 seconds into OT to end it.

Las Vegas had an opportunity to try to win the game late in the fourth quarter, but its offense stalled in the red zone. Daniel Carlson booted a 25-yard field goal to tie it at 16 with 16 seconds to go in the fourth quarter, and then the Raiders won the coin flip ahead of overtime.

Here are three takeaways from Las Vegas' Week 11 win.

The Raiders Proved They're Capable of Winning Close Games

AP Photo/Jack Dempsey

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) celebrates with wide receiver Davante Adams, right, and wide receiver Keelan Cole (84) after Adams scored the winning touchdown during overtime of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos in Denver, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

So many close games have gone the wrong way for the Raiders this season. In fact, six of their seven losses have been by seven or fewer points. If they had won even just a couple of those, their record would look much better at this point.

Finally, one of those competitive contests resulted in a Las Vegas victory. Sunday's win marked the Raiders' smallest margin of victory this season, as they previously defeated the Broncos 32-23 in Week 4 and beat the Houston Texans 38-20 in Week 7.

Denver had a late lead on Sunday, as it pulled ahead 16-13 on Brandon McManus' 48-yard field goal with 3 minutes and 30 seconds remaining. But Las Vegas battled back to win.

“That’s Raiders football right there,” Carr said of the team's effort, per Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “That’s the kind of stuff we’re trying to push.”

Now that Las Vegas has won this type of game once this season, it will look to fare better in the competitive matchups it's sure to have down the stretch. And now, it may have the confidence to perform better in those tight, late situations.

Adams Is Putting Together Yet Another Impressive Season

AP Photo/Jack Dempsey

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (17) waves after scoring the winning touchdown against the Denver Broncos during overtime of an NFL football game in Denver, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Because of the Raiders' struggles, it may be getting overlooked a bit that Adams is having quite an impressive first season in Las Vegas. That isn't a surprise, though, as the 29-year-old has been one of the NFL's best wide receivers for much of his nine-year career.

On Sunday, Adams had seven catches for 141 yards and two touchdowns, his third multi-TD game of the year. It also marked the sixth time that he's had more than 100 yards in a game this season. Over 10 games, he has 64 receptions for 925 yards (fourth in the NFL) and 10 touchdowns (second).

Adams had no defenders even close to him on his game-ending TD in overtime. And that's what he thought might happen with that play, telling head coach Josh McDaniels ahead of time.

"Based off of what I'd seen earlier, I mentioned to Coach, 'I think we'll be able to do this,'" Adams said, per Levi Edwards of the team's official site. "Obviously, not force anything, but if it presents itself, we'd have a home run."

Whether the Raiders finish the season strong or not, Adams is doing everything he can to try to lead them to success. That isn't likely to change over the next seven weeks, either.

Carlson Showed Poise After a Rare Miss Ended Streak

AP Photo/Jack Dempsey

Las Vegas Raiders place kicker Daniel Carlson (2) watches his field goal during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos in Denver, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Carlson's incredible streak is over. In the second quarter on Sunday, the 27-year-old missed a 46-yard field goal attempt. Before that, he had made 41 consecutive FG attempts, which was only three shy of the NFL record held by Adam Vinatieri.

After that, Carlson's day got much better. He booted a 52-yard field goal in the third quarter and two more in the fourth—one of which was a 57-yarder and the other being a 25-yarder to force overtime. So it ended up as another stellar performance for the Auburn product.

“Obviously, when I’m older, I’m sure I’ll be like, ‘Dang, I wish I had gotten that,'" Carlson said of chasing the record, per Adam Hill of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "But I was able to come back and make a couple kicks later, and we got the win. That helps a lot.”

Of course, there's nothing stopping Carlson from chasing that record again. He's already made two in a row since that miss, so he's already off to a good start for putting together another long streak.