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The Denver Broncos lost to the Las Vegas Raiders 32-23 on the road in Week 4 and dropped to 2-2 on the year. Las Vegas improved to 1-3 with the win.
Denver took a 7-3 lead over Las Vegas in the first quarter after Russell Wilson threw a five-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Courtland Sutton.
The Raiders then matched that score with a touchdown of their own, followed by a Broncos field goal. Then in the second quarter, with the game tied 10-10, running back Melvin Gordon fumbled and Las Vegas recovered and returned the ball 68 yards for a touchdown to take a 16-10 lead (the ensuing PAT was unsuccessful).
That marked Gordon’s fourth fumble of the season and his fifth fumble in his last five games dating back to last year. Gordon went into the team’s medical tent after his fumble, but he later returned to the game in the second half. The running back was limited for two days of practice last week with a neck injury and he didn’t get his first rush against the Raiders until late in the second quarter.
After that fumble put the Broncos down 16-10, Wilson led a 75-yard drive that ended with a 20-yard touchdown pass to receiver Jerry Jeudy. That tied the game at 16-16 (Denver’s PAT was blocked).
Las Vegas then kicked a field goal to take a 19-16 lead into halftime.
The Raiders added field goals in the third and fourth quarters to increase their lead to 25-16 with just under 10 minutes remaining in the game.
Wilson then led a six-play, 75-yard drive that ended with the quarterback scoring on a three-yard run that made it 25-23.
Las Vegas then marched down the field and Josh Jacobs scored his second touchdown of the game to make it 32-23 with 2:02 remaining. Denver turned the ball over on downs after that and the Raiders ate up enough clock to seal a win.
Broncos running back Javonte Williams suffered a knee injury early in the second half and was ruled out after being carted from the sideline to the locker room. That left Gordon and Mike Boone as the team’s remaining backs — they combined to rush six times for 28 yards.
Broncos safety P.J. Locke and outside linebacker Aaron Patrick also left the game with concussions and pass rusher Randy Gregory suffered a knee injury in the fourth quarter.
Up next for Denver is a short turnaround before hosting the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday Night Football in Week 5. The Colts are 1-2-1.
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