The Las Vegas Raiders didn't make it a happy first game for Denver Broncos new head coach Sean Payton, as they defeated their AFC West opponent on the road in Week 1
's career after the quarterback's worst season. Wilson looked much better than he did last year with Nathaniel Hackett at the helm, completing 27 of 34 passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns without an interception.
Lutz was good from 24 yards out to push Denver's lead to 16-10 midway through the fourth quarter. That capped a 16-play, 75-yard drive that followed Jackson's end-zone interception after the Raiders had reached the Denver 1. Russell Wilson #3 of the Denver Broncos reacts after his team's 17-16 loss against the Las Vegas Raiders at Empower Field At Mile High on September 10, 2023 in Denver, Colorado.
Wilson's 5-yard strike to Courtland Sutton with 18 seconds left in the second quarter gave Denver a 13-10 halftime lead as Wilson retreated to the locker room having completed 17 of 19 passes — with one of the misses being a clock-stopping spike — for 125 yards.