Initial thoughts on the Broncos’ 34-18 win over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 5 at Empower Field at Mile High:

Say what you say, Bo: A year ago, Russell Wilson took it easy. Sean Payton was in his ear, berating him on prime-time national television in Detroit, and the then-Broncos quarterback said virtually nothing. Fast forward to Sunday, and Bo Nix was having none of it. Confronted by the Denver coach after rookie wide receiver Troy Franklin dropped a tough but catchable deep ball in the end zone, Nix didn’t just stand his ground. He left Payton to IMT. Then he went out and led two consecutive touchdown drives, pushing one in and throwing another to Josh Reynolds from 9 yards out. Could it be that the Broncos just needed someone to yell at Payton?

Rai-duh pride: One of the most frustrating aspects of the Broncos’ eight-game losing streak against the Raiders (which is now thankfully over). It’s the funky Rai-duhs!!! A franchise with a well-deserved reputation for repeatedly shooting itself in the foot!!! Like Sunday, when Gardner Minshew floated a ball to Pat Surtain II on the Broncos’ goal line for a 100-yard pick-six. Or when Janarius Robinson committed an unnecessary personal foul on Wil Lutz’s 59-yard field goal at the end of the first half. Ten points that were absolutely given to the Rai-duhs and a 13-10 Denver lead that never should have had.

Take an archer: Get ready to hear this in the next decade: Brock Bowers could have been a Bronco. When he went 12th overall in last spring’s NFL draft, the team’s brain trust decided to draft its next franchise quarterback instead (fingers crossed). So it came about that on a day when third-year tight end Greg Dulcich was a healthy scratch, the Raiders rookie found Big Bro’s safety PJ Locke for a 57-yard touchdown catch on the fourth snap of the game and generally ran trampled in his Mile High debut. Get used to it, Broncos Country. This guy is going to be around for a long time.