Broncos Player Facing Potentially Costly Punishment After Polarizing Incident
Head coach Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos and Washington Commanders took the field for “Sunday Night Football,” but a play from outside linebacker Nik Bonitto could garner attention from the league in the coming days.
Bonitto is a key part of the NFL’s most ferocious pass rush.
However, one interaction, which ended up involving a pair of Commanders players, could leave him lighter in the pocket.
Broncos’ Nik Bonitto Could Face Costly Punishment From NFL
GettyNik Bonitto #15 of the Denver Broncos reacts after defeating the Las Vegas Raiders.
Bonitto and the Broncos led the Commanders 6-0 when the 2024 Pro Bowler and Second Team All-Pro attempted to pull Washington center
The play drew a flag for unnecessary roughness, costing the Broncos 8 yards (half the distance to the goal) on a first-and-15 for the Commanders, who scored on the ensuing play.
“Don’t see why Nik Bonitto gets flagged here,” DNVR’s Ryan Green posted on X, with a clip.
9News’ Mike Klis noted on X that “The penalty on Bonitto wiped out a great play by
“Can see … Nik Bonitto pulls Biadasz because he’s still tangled up (on the turf) with John Franklin-Myers,”
“Didn’t look like Biadasz was trying anything with JFM.”
The bigger issue for Bonitto is that the league could levy a fine over the incident, with
The difference there is that Rowe’s penalty was deemed “unsportsmanlike conduct.” That
It is notably not what officials ruled during the game.
Nik Bonitto Could Have Recent History on His Side
The official rule, as stated in Section 12, Article 8, Item H, is that “pulling an opponent off a pile of players in an aggressive or forcible manner,” with Biadasz and Franklin-Myers likely constituting the “pile.”
The penalty is typically 15 yards and can result in players being disqualified if their actions are deemed flagrant.
In that sense, Bonitto and the Broncos were fortunate.
Bonitto is on a
The fine will be a fraction of his current deal. It may not even come. The league may deem that his infraction does not meet their criteria. They
However, that is only part of the rub for Bonitto and the Broncos.
Commanders Player Gets Away With Shove on Nik Bonitto
GettyLarmey Tunsil #78 of the Washington Commanders looks on against the Green Bay Packers.
To make matters worse for Bonitto and the Broncos, Commanders left tackle
However, the officials did not throw a flag and penalize Tunsil.
“I’m trying to figure out how no official saw Laremy Tunsil’s shove,”
The Broncos entered Week 13 as the third-most-penalized team in the
However, that stands out when there are clear inconsistencies in the NFL’s officiating.
“The unsportsmanlike conduct penalty should have been offsetting,” DNVR’s Zac Stevens posted
The NFL typically announces punishments levied from a game on the following Saturday. That gives Bonitto and the Broncos some time before they know for sure which way the league went.
Raiders’ Playoff Hopes Shattered After Devastating Loss to Chargers
Another game, another lackluster Raiders performance under coach Pete Carroll at the Los Angeles Chargers
It’s the same thing every week.
And Pete Carroll is running out of people to blame.
Here’s a hint, Pete, it’s all on you.
Sunday, Carroll’s Las Vegas Raiders hit the field and it was the same old crap — another uncompetitive defeat as they lost 31-14 at the Los Angeles Chargers. The Raiders are 2-10.
There was some renewed hope for the Raiders, who haven’t won since Week 6, because they fired offensive coordinator Chip Kelly last week and named quarterback coach Greg Olson the interim offensive coordinator. But it was the same old thing as the Raiders, who came into the game averaging just 15 points, couldn’t move the ball consistently.
The offensive line woes continued as the Geno Smith was sacked five times and the Raiders ran for just 31 yards. Kelly wasn’t good in Las Vegas at all, but it wasn’t all on him. it’s the same thing with special teams coach Tom McMahon, who Carroll fired after Week 10.
Carroll can’t blame any scapegoats after this one. it’s on him.
The Raiders have allowed 46 sacks this season and 25 in the past four games. Plus, they haven’t run for 75 yards in a game in the past four games, either. The offense is stuck, no matter who is calling the plays.
The Raiders are arguably worse than they were under Antonio Pierce, who was fired after one season in which the Raiders went 4-13 and were beaten by double digits nine times.
The Raiders have lost 10 straight AFC West dating back to the start of last season. It is the longest current division streak in the NFL. The Raiders are now 1-7 at SoFi Stadium and 0-7 with fans in the stands. Oh, and they have been eliminated from the playoff contention.
Carroll talked a lot before the season about winning 10-plus games often in his career. Well, he has lost double-digit games in his first season with the Raiders, who haven’t won six Week 6. The Raiders have been beaten by double digits seven times and three straight times. They have allowed 30 plus points six times.
It’s fair to wonder if this team will win another game this season and it’s also fair to wonder how the Raiders can justify bringing Carroll back in 2026.
Here are some of the key aspects of the game:
Run game tells big story:
The Chargers had 192 yards on the ground and the Raiders had just 31, against a defense was has been vulnerable against the run. That dominance by Los Angeles on the ground told the story of this game. Once again, Las Vegas defense struggled to tackle and finish plays.
Third-down defense is awful:
The Raiders’ couldn’t get the Chargers off the field, even with quarterback Justin Herbert playing most of the game with a broken left (non-throwing) hand that will require surgery Monday. The Chargers converted their first six third-down attempts and were 12 of 17 on third down. The Raiders were also bad on third down on offense as they went 2-for-8. Carroll called the efforts on both sides of the ball on third down “atrocious.”
Bowers is incredible:
At least, the Raiders have Brock Bowers. The second-year tight end made his presence felt as usual with four catches for 63 yards. He scored both of the Raiders’ touchdowns including an silly one-handed grab near the ground in the fourth quarter. He is so special.
Caleb Rogers starts on reshuffled offensive line:, but doesn’t last long:
Third-round pick, guard Caleb Rogers made his first start of the season. In fact, it was his first playing time on offensive, period. Rogers started in place of Jordan Meredith, who is out with an ankle injury. He was questionable. Alex Cappa started at center in place of Will Putnam who was pulled after starting the past two games. It was Cappa’s first career start at center. With Meredith out, the Raiders were without three staring offensive linemen as Kolton Miller and Jackson Powers-Johnson are also out with ankle injuries. Atonio Mafi, elevated from the practice squad for the game, was playing right guard in the second quarter for Rogers. Rogers went back in the third quarter. Mafi then played again. It’s a really odd way to treat young players.
First 100-yard rusher allowed:
An opponent broke the 100-yard rushing barrier against the Raiders for the first time as Kimani Vidal had 126 yards on the ground.
Not a great start by defense:
The Las Vegas defense forced opponents to go three and out in eight of their first 11 games, which led the NFL. That didn’t happen Sunday as the Chargers went down the field 74 yards on 14 plays to take a 7-0 lead on a drive that burned eight minutes and 50 second. The Chargers picked on Raiders’ linebacker Devin White on the drive. He’s had some rough times. He was called for two personal fouls on the Chargers’ second drive of the game.
CB switch:
Cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly intercepted Justin Herbert at the goal line in the second quarter. He replaced rookie Darien Porter on the second drive. Porter did play some in the second half.
Chargers mistakes:
The Chargers were handling the Raiders but they made two big mistakes in the red zone in the second quarter as Herbert threw and interception and then they couldn’t take advantage as they were stuffed by White on fourth and inches. The Raiders turned those mistakes into a 7-7 game late in the quarter, but the Chargers ran away from the Raiders in the second half.
Crosby milestone:
Maxx Crosby sacked Herbert twice. It was his seventh and eighth sacks of the season. He is the 12th player in NFL history to record, at least, seven sacks in his first seven seasons. Also, Crosby has sacked Herbert eight times the most of any Chargers’ opponent. He also has 20 tackles for loss this season. It’s the third time he’s done that. He had four tackles for loss Sunday. He’s done that in two straight games. He is so good.
Rookie receivers hurt:
Second-round pick Jack Bech hurt his chest in the second quarter and Dont’e Thornton was being evaluated for a concussion in the second half. Time will tell if they will miss time moving forward. That would be unfortunate since they both need as much playing time as possible.
