An NFL football game technically took place on Thursday night featuring the Denver Broncos and the Las Vegas Raiders.

The Broncos won the game, 10-7, but it was as ugly as it gets. The two teams combined for two touchdowns, three turnovers, 13 three-and-outs, 22 penalties for 161 yards and 14 punts. Offense was absent as Denver produced 220 total yards and Las Vegas had 188 total yards.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

NFL fans took notice and were left mystified by both teams’ performances in the matchup as it was far from the bitter AFC West battle that everyone was expecting.

Still, the Broncos picked up a big divisional win.

Bo Nix was 16-of-28 with 150 passing yards, a touchdown pass and two interceptions. Running back J.K. Dobbins had 18 carries for 77 yards, averaging 4.3 yards per carry. Troy Franklin had five catches for 40 yards and a touchdown.

For the Raiders, quarterback Geno Smith was 16-of-26 with 143 passing yards and an interception. He was sacked six times.

PANTHERS RB RICO DOWDLE TURNS GOFUNDME JOKE INTO A POSITIVE CAUSE

Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly (36) is congratulated by teammate Devin White (45) after intercepting a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, in Denver.  (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Running back Ashton Jeanty had 60 rushing yards on 19 carries and a touchdown. Tyler Lockett, who was playing his first game in the silver and black, had five catches for 44 yards.

If there was a true bright spot in the game, it was in the Raiders’ secondary. Kyu Blu Kelly had two interceptions. They were the first interceptions of his career.

A huge blocked punt by the Broncos led to a Will Lutz go-ahead field goal.

The first half was a defense-dominated punt fest. Between the two teams, there were eight punts, two touchdowns and one turnover.

A.J. Cole was the first Raiders punter to have two punts inside 2-yard line since 2011. One of Cole’s punts bounced in front of the goal line and then took a sideways trajectory before it dribbled out of bounds.

Broncos punter Jeremy Crenshaw had a couple of questionable kicks, but Denver’s defense managed to make a few stops.

The Raiders broke the ice in the first quarter after an errant Crenshaw punt. Smith led Las Vegas on an eight-play, 41-yard drive that ended with a Jeanty touchdown.

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, in Denver.  (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Nix and company got the offense moving on their third drive of the second quarter. He led Denver on a five-play, 53-yard touchdown drive. Nix found Franklin on a 7-yard touchdown catch.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Denver moved to 8-2 with the win. Las Vegas fell to 2-7.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Auburn’s 10-3 loss to Kentucky Saturday was Hugh Freeze’s final game at the helm of the Tigers’ football program.

“Coach Freeze is a man of integrity, and we are appreciative of his investment in Auburn and his relentless work over the last three years in bolstering our roster,” Auburn athletic director John Cohen said in a statement Sunday.

Madi Freeze, the daughter of the former Auburn coach, revealed she was concerned about her father’s well-being in the months leading up to his dismissal.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

In a social media video, Madi said her father’s health declined in the months after an early-stage prostate cancer diagnosis. Freeze’s diagnosis was made public in February.

Due to early detection, doctors believe Freeze’s cancer “is very treatable and curable,” according to a statement from the school. At the time, the 56-year-old was given the go-ahead to continue his coaching duties during his treatment.

BRIAN KELLY FACES HARSH CRITICISM FROM LSU FOOTBALL STAFFERS AFTER DISMISSAL

“In some twisted way, there’s a relief factor for me personally because I’ve watched my dad’s health just deteriorate over this,” she said in a video shared on TikTok. “Other people can see it, I know y’all can see it, he’s not healthy.”

Auburn Tigers head coach Hugh Freeze talks with an official during the third quarter against the South Alabama Jaguars at Jordan-Hare Stadium Sept. 13, 2025. (John Reed/Imagn Images)

She added that Freeze is scheduled to undergo procedures. 

“I’m thankful there’s relief that my dad finally gets to have the surgeries that he needs, and they’re scheduled, and he’s going to get healthy.”

Madi attends Auburn. While she expressed admiration for the school, she also suggested her father was not fully appreciated during his coaching tenure.

“We loved Auburn, and the second we got here, everybody was very adamant that if you love Auburn, it will love you back,” she said. “Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case for us…. We don’t wish bad upon them, but we do hope that they turn to the Lord and find Jesus.”

Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze walks off the field after a loss to Kentucky Nov. 1, 2025, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Freeze departed Liberty after the 2022 season and joined Auburn. He coached the Tigers to a 6-7 record in his first season. Auburn won five games under Freeze in 2024.

Auburn fell to 4-5 on the year after the Week 10 defeat to the Wildcats.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Freeze finished his two-plus seasons at Auburn with a 15-19 record.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Since the advent of the transfer portal and the rise of name, image and likeness (NIL), there have been countless debates about how to create and adjust a system to establish guardrails when necessary.

As the college sports landscape has adjusted to NIL, the gap between college programs with deep-pocketed boosters and alumni and smaller schools with fewer financial resources has continued to widen. 

Although he was in a position to potentially benefit from those perceived advantages during his time as head coach at Tennessee, Tony Vitello railed against NIL’s shortcomings.

“It’s a disaster,” Vitello told Taylor Lewan and Will Compton during a recent episode of the “Bussin’ With The Boys” podcast.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Vitello coached the Volunteers to the program’s first national championship in 2024. Despite his lack of coaching experience at the MLB level, Vitello was named manager of the San Francisco Giants last month.

As he reflected on his successful tenure at Tennessee, Vitello shared some of his grievances with the current NIL system.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL LEGEND NICK SABAN CLAIMS NIL HAS ‘HURT’ THE SEC WHILE HELPING NORTHERN SCHOOLS

“It’s a disaster,” Vitello told Lewan and Compton. “We all have thoughts that you dream a little bigger. I kind of have this weird fantasy or vision of, OK, can college and MLB merge together a little bit and help each other? I certainly shouldn’t be the patron of either. But I can connect the right people and get this thing where it’s a little more fluid. But the one part MLB can’t affect is where NCAA sports are in general.”

Tennessee Volunteers head coach Tony Vitello warms up his players before Game 1 of the series against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Baum-Walker Stadium at George Cole Field May 16, 2025, in Fayetteville, Ark.  (Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

Vitello concluded that NIL has contributed to what he remembers as a chaotic environment.

“It’s just a mess. … It’s like you’re driving in the fog, and you can’t really see but about 100 or 200 feet in front of you. You’re grasping for what’s real, what you can do, what you can’t do. I’m sure someone will throw out that I did something wrong, or I didn’t do this. But, overall, it’s very frustrating when you don’t know the rules to the game.”

Tony Vitello of the San Francisco Giants gives an interview prior to his introductory press conference as the new manager of the Giants at Oracle Park Oct. 30, 2025, in San Francisco. (Andy Kuno/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images)

While walking through the disparity between college baseball programs, Vitello also suggested the NIL era is counterproductive to the push to have schools compete on an even playing field.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

“That’s the whole point of athletics or competition is: Let’s find out who can do it better. But when you really don’t know what the rules of the game are or they’re so lopsided in favor of Tennessee over Middle Tennessee State, it’s kind of hard to have that nose-to-nose competition.”

Vitello replaces Bob Melvin, who departs after two seasons with the Giants. San Francisco has not advanced to the MLB postseason since 2021.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.