Sports

A kerfuffle emerged this week regarding the claim by multiple Vikings defensive players that Lions receiver Kalif Raymond engaged in "dirty play" with a blindside (but apparently legal) block on linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel during the Week 9 game. On Thursday, Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores took a softer approach.

"I didn’t think it was malicious," Flores told reporters, via Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com. "I think it was kind of a bang-bang situation. I see kind of both sides of it. I do think it's something that maybe [the NFL] will take a look at. I'll leave it there. Thankfully, there was no big injury and he's OK. So we'll chalk it up to football and we'll let the league kind of look at it and see if they want to take a harder stance or anything like that."

Raymond, who was coming in motion from right to left, hit Van Ginkel from the side, just after the snap. The block knocked Van Ginkel down; he still tackled Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs for a one-yard loss.

Given the timing of the play, it appeared to be designed that way. And, again, it apparently was not a violation of the existing rule against blindside blocks. The question for the offseason is whether a play like that, when a player going north-south is hit from the side by someone running west-east, should be permitted.

Broncos right guard Quinn Meinerz is in the training room in the third quarter with an illness.

The team lists him as questionable to return.

Calvin Throckmorton has replaced the All-Pro guard.

Outside linebacker Jonah Elliss is questionable to return with a hamstring injury, and inside linebacker Karene Reid is out with a hamstring injury.

Broncos kicker Wil Lutz missed a 59-yard field goal, leaving the game tied 7-7.

The Raiders and Broncos are tied 7-7 at halftime.

Denver has outgained Las Vegas 116 to 112. The Raiders, though, had a 32-yard run by Ashton Jeanty to the Denver 30 called back by a holding call on Jack Bech. They had a 31-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown by Tre Tucker negated by an offensive pass interference penalty on Dont'e Thornton Jr.

The Raiders also hurt themselves by going for it on fourth-and-5 from the Denver 38, and safety Talanoa Hufanga sacked Bo Nix for a 9-yard loss when Raheem Mostert failed to pick up the blitz. Smith chewed out his running back coming off the field and again on the sideline, with Kenny Pickett playing peacemaker, before the two made nice.

The Broncos used the good field position for their initial first down — which came with 5:50 left in the half — and for their first points. The big play came when Bo Nix hit rookie Pat Bryant for a 44-yard gain to the 5, which set up Troy Franklin's 5-yard touchdown reception.

The Broncos had four three-and-outs to start the game before the touchdown drive. They ended the half with an interception as Kyu Blu Kelly picked Nix with 27 seconds left in the half.

Nix is 9-of-15 for 101 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

Geno Smith is 12-of-18 for 94 yards. He has taken five sacks, including 1.5 by Nik Bonitto. Brock Bowers has one catch for 31 yards, and Jeanty has 10 carries for 35 yards and a touchdown.

Punter A.J. Cole has been the Raiders' MVP with punts that went out of bounds at the 2 and the 1, backing up Denver. The home fans have booed Broncos punter Jeremy Crawshaw off the field, as he has only a 38.8-yard net average, which included a 30-yarder in the swirling wind.