Broncos vs. Raiders: 3 takeaways from Denver's 34-18 win

The Broncos defeated the Raiders, 34-18, on Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High in Week 5 of the NFL season.

Here are three takeaways from the home win:

Streak ends

Finally, after eight consecutive losses to their AFC West rival, the Broncos beat the Raiders. Rookie quarterback Bo Nix completed 19 of 27 passes for 206 yards. He tossed touchdowns to running back Jaleel McLaughlin and wide receiver Josh Reynolds. Nix also ran for a score. The defense produced interceptions from cornerback Pat Surtain (twice) and cornerback Riley Moss. Denver held Las Vegas scoreless in the second and third quarters. It’s not always pretty. But the Broncos (3-2) are on a three-game win streak ahead of Week 6 against the Chargers at home.

Surtain goes 100

Surtain intercepted Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew at the goal line and ran it back 100 yards for a touchdown. A huge momentum shift. Las Vegas was on the cusp of leading 17-3 early in the second quarter. Instead, the Broncos tied the game and led 13-10 going into halftime. It marked the first pick this season for Surtain. His return for a touchdown was the second-longest in franchise history, trailing only cornerback Aqib Talib (103 yards, 2017). Surtain is living up to the $96 million contract extension he signed in September.

1970s vibe

The Broncos debuted their throwback uniforms, honoring the Orange Crush era, with vintage orange and slick royal blue helmets — featuring the classic ‘D’ logo. It seems to be a fan favorite. But the 1970s vibe didn’t stop there. The end zones at Empower Field were painted throwback blue with old-school ‘BRONCOS’ type. Retro graphics replaced current logos on the video board and music from the band ABBA played during breaks. Linebacker Randy Gradishar (1974-83) addressed the crowd before kickoff and received his Pro Football Hall of Fame ring. The Broncos deserve credit for their attention to detail.