The Broncos’ defensive plan was clear: minimize Brock Bowers’ impact and let the Raiders run their offense through other players. Denver’s implementation of this plan was largely successful, as Bowers caught just four of his ten targets for 38 yards, which was his second-worst scoring average of the season. Nonetheless, Bowers (74 receptions) passed Amari Cooper (72 in 2015) to record the most receptions by a rookie in Raiders history in a single season.

With the Broncos focused on limiting Bowers, wide receivers Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker saw the bulk of the remaining targets. Meyers finished the game with 10 catches for 121 yards and a career-high 15 targets. His 10 catches and 121 receiving yards are both the second-most in a game of his career. Since entering the NFL in 2019, Meyers is one of four undrafted players to record multiple games with more than 10 catches (Adam Thielen, Austin Ekeler and Cole Beasley).

Tucker added 82 receiving yards on seven receptions, a career high.

“There were a lot of eyes on Brock,” head coach Antonio Pierce said Monday. “They tried to beat him up and this is what’s going to happen. But that opened the doors for Jakobi. I thought Jacobi had a field day. I thought you saw a breakout game with Tre Tucker and ran after the catch. I just figured something out. “Because we have one of the better players in the league at the tight end position, obviously there are going to be opportunities to take him away and that creates other opportunities for other players.”