For the second straight game, the Raiders squandered an opportunity to convert late in a game.
Four days after a failed two-point conversion at the end of overtime left Las Vegas on the short end of a 30-29 decision against the Jacksonville Jaguars in a relatively competitive contest, the Raiders lost 10-7 in an ugly performance in primetime at Denver after placekicker Daniel Carlson's 48-yard field goal attempt went wide right.
It was a rather quiet night for both offenses, with the Raiders gaining only 188 yards while the Broncos finished with 220. Both had just 10 first downs.
The 188 yards were the second-fewest for the Raiders this season, behind the bleak 95 they tallied at Kansas City on Oct. 19.
Denver's physical defense was too much for quarterback Geno Smith, especially after offensive linemen Jackson Powers-Johnson and Dylan Parham suffered ankle injuries in the first half.
Smith was sacked six times and hit 11 times.
The Raiders (2-7) don't play for another 11 days, when they host the Dallas Cowboys for a Monday Night Football clash on Nov. 17.
The AFC West-leading Broncos (8-2) won their seventh straight game.
Here are three takeaways from Thursday's game:
DEFENSE SHINES: The 10 points and 220 yards allowed to Denver were both season lows for the Raiders' defense. The points allowance tied their effort from Oct. 12, when they beat the Tennessee Titans, 20-10. But the yardage was somewhat impressive considering how well the Broncos had been playing at home this season. In their four previous games in Denver, the Broncos scored no less than 20 points and were averaging 31.2 points at home. They were also averaging 415.5 yards per home game.
LOCKED IN, AND OUT: After trading wide receiver Jakobi Meyers to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Tuesday, quarterback Geno Smith turned to his newest veteran in the lineup, Tyler Lockett, who was targeted more than anyone else. Lockett, who played with Smith in Seattle, caught five passes for 44 yards, including a 19-yard reception. Conversely, one game after an exceptional performance against the Jaguars, tight end Brock Bowers was interestingly limited to three targets and caught one pass for 31 yards. Bowers camejust into the game with the third-most receptions on the team (31), two back of Meyers and one back of Tre Tucker. He also entered the contest with the third-most targets (40), behind Meyers (49) and Tucker (43).
GENOCEPTION: Smith continued to struggle with throwing interceptions, as he threw his league-leading 12th pick of the season. Smith and Miami's Tua Tagovailoa both came into Week 10 wih 11 interceptions. Smith, whose quarterback rating was 83.7 before the game, finished 16 of 26 for 143 yards with the one pick and a 60.3 rating. The 143 yards were his third-lowest output of the season, while it was the fourth time this season he didn't throw a touchdown.