The Raiders see an eight-game winning streak against the Broncos end with a 34-18 loss amid penalties, turnovers and drama

DENVER — The reeling Raiders are dealing with drama, dysfunction and now an ugly loss to a Denver Broncos team that has been theirs since moving to Las Vegas in 2020.

This one also started so well before it got so ugly.

Gardner Minshew hit a crucial pick-six in the second quarter before he was later benched and the Raiders committed 11 penalties as their eight-game winning streak against the Broncos ended in a 34-18 loss on Sunday.

“I don’t think there’s anything positive about losing,” said Raiders coach Antonio Pierce, whose QBs threw three interceptions.

Now it’s time to reevaluate the Raiders (2-3) as questions hang over them.

There’s still the situation with Davante Adams, the talented receiver who missed Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury. Not only is he struggling, but he’s apparently also on the trading floor. The Raiders have reportedly been in discussions with multiple teams since early last week, when Adams told the team he would prefer to play elsewhere.

In Las Vegas, back pass rusher Maxx Crosby suffered a sprained ankle. He had two sacks from rookie QB Bo Nix, who threw for 206 yards and two TD passes.

“I could have 10 sacks and we lose, I won’t be happy,” Crosby said. “It sucks.”

Things started promisingly for Minshew and the Raiders as they took a 10-0 lead. They were close to making it 17-3 in the second quarter after reaching the Denver 5-yard line. Minshew rolled out and threw his target, tight end Brock Bowers, to the ground, and the pass went right into the hands of Pat Surtain II, who raced 100 yards for the score.

Just like that, it was 10-10.

“I killed our momentum with the pick-six,” said Minshew, who threw for 137 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions before being subbed. “I didn’t even manage to give us a chance to be competitive in the game. That’s up to me.”

Surtain’s pick opened the door for the Broncos (3-2) to defeat the Raiders for the first time since Dec. 29, 2019. This also happened to be the last game for the Oakland Raiders before the franchise moved to Las Vegas.

Minshew’s performance potentially opened the door for Aidan O’Connell, who came on late in the third quarter and trailed 20-10. He finished 10 of 20 for 94 yards and a pick (another from Surtain).

Pierce ignored a question about whether O’Connell might be under center next weekend when the injury-plagued Raiders host Pittsburgh, saying only: “I don’t know.”

However, he was concerned about the penalties – 11 for 79 yards. One of those was a call to Janarius Robinson, who ran out of time in the first half to apply “leverage” on a 59-yard field goal attempt by Wil Lutz. Although the kick flew wide left, Lutz got another chance thanks to the penalty and drilled a 44-yarder to give Denver a 13-10 lead at halftime.

“Two of the things we talk about we can’t do on the road — turning the football over and calling penalties,” Pierce said. “We led by a big margin on both of those things, and that’s not a good thing.”

A resolution with Adams could be coming soon. Adams said in his weekly spot on the “Up and Adams Show” that he hasn’t heard from Pierce since a screenshot surfaced showing Pierce apparently liking a social media post about a possible trade for the receiver.

Just another dramatic week for the Raiders.

“Do you think I’m not used to something like this happening?” Crosby said. “I’ve been involved in this my whole career. It is what it is. Davante is my boy. I love Davante and he will do what he will do. I pray for him and wish him all the best.”

“But we’re focused on the Raiders, we’re focused on who’s here now and we’re focused on winning. We have to find ways to make that happen.”