Cote: Raiders-Broncos Thursday seems like a rout. Here’s why it isn’t. Our pick
NFL WEEK 10 THURSDAY PICK
RAIDERS (2-6) at BRONCOS (7-2)
Line: DEN by 9 1/2.
Cote’s pick: DEN, 24-17.
TV: 8:15 p.m. Thursday, Prime Video.
NFL Week 10 kicks off Thursday night with what seems a mismatch at a fast glance, although division games like this one from the AFC West tend to tighten a bit. Broad view: Denver has won nine straight road games, and Las Vegas has lost eight straight division games. Fine-tuning on the matchup: Bronco defense’s 40 sacks lead the league by a mile, and that figures to hector and possibly devour mistake-prone Raiders QB Geno Smith. Still, Vegas had been a nemesis that had beaten Denver eight games in a row before the Broncos flipped that and swept in 2024. That further makes Raiders a tempting dog getting nearly double-digits. But Vegas struggles to generate points, has lost its last three road games by a combined 112-30, and faces here the NFL’s No. 4-ranked scoring defense. Bottom line: Denver is still missing star CB Patrick Surtain, and Smith is much better since reuniting with WR Tyler Lockett and with a healthy TE Brock Bowers, a fantasy wrecking ball last week. Saddle up Broncos D for the win, but ride Geno’s reinvigorated attack for the cover.
Note: Betting line courtesy ESPNBet as of midafternoon Wednesday.
This story was originally published November 5, 2025 at 3:39 PM.
