The Denver Broncos just had one of their complete and dominating wins in a long time.

Bo Nix put up one of the best games a rookie quarterback has played in the NFL.

Now the Broncos (6-5) are in the thick of the AFC Playoff picture and a legitimate NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate. Now Denver will look for the season sweep of the Las Vegas Raiders (2-8) on Sunday. Prior to their 34-18 win in Week 5, the Broncos hadn’t beaten Las Vegas in eight straight games.

To keep the playoff hopes alive, Denver needs to follow up their win over the Atlanta Falcons with another strong performance this week.

Offensive Rankings

Denver: Twenty-third in total offense (312.5 yards per game), 20th in rushing offense (116.0 YPG), 25th in passing offense (196.5 YPG), 20th in scoring (21.4 points per game).

Las Vegas: Thirtieth in total offense (285.0 yards per game), 32nd in rushing offense (75.2 YPG), 17th in passing offense (209.8 YPG), tied for 24th in scoring (18.7 points per game).

Defensive Rankings

Denver: Third in total defense (289.4 yards per game), sixth in rushing defense (98.6 YPG), seventh in passing defense (190.7 YPG), third in scoring (16.6 points per game).

Las Vegas: Tied for 13th in total defense (327.8 yards per game), 15th in rushing defense (125.1 YPG), 11th in passing defense (202.7 YPG), 29th in scoring (28.5 points per game).

Here are the MHR staff’s keys to Sunday’s game.

No let up from the Broncos

Denver absolutely dominated and demolished the Falcons. It’s natural to have a letup the following week, especially against a bad opponent. The Broncos need to avoid this and adopt the same mindset they did against Atlanta. Don’t think about Las Vegas’s record or any of the struggles. Focus on the task at hand this week, and that’s playing another complementary football game. — Ian St. Clair

Dominate on third downs

To keep winning games, the Broncos need to continue winning on the money down. Check out how they’ve done on 3rd down over the last month:

• Vs CAR: 11 of 17 (64.7%)
• @ BAL: 6 of 14 (42.9%)
• @ KC: 7 of 13 (53.8%)
• Vs ATL: 6 of 11 (54.5%)
• Total: 30 of 55 (54.5%)

What’s crazy about that is that the Broncos are still down at just 36.99% (20th) on the season- evidence of just how much this offense has improved since those early struggles. Turning that around has resulted in two blowout wins and a heartbreaker of a what-should’ve-been in the last month. And that 54.5% mark is top 5 in the NFL over that time period. Continuing that success will mean dominating teams like the Raiders who lack the QB or the offensive horsepower to match the Broncos. — Taylor Kothe

Generate turnovers

The Raiders were lowkey sticking it to the Broncos defense early in their last matchup, but that pick-six by Pat Surtain changed everything. Gardner Minshew hasn’t been the same quarterback since and the Broncos defense needs to keep that lack of confidence a thing next week. If they can get him to commit just one turnover, I think that’ll keep the edge completely in favor of Denver’s D in this game. — Tim Lynch

Own the line of scrimmage

The offense can control the game by running the football and keeping Bo Nix clean. The big guys up front did the work against the Falcons, and that should continue against the Raiders. On defense, the line can make Gardner Minshew wish he was cutting grass instead of being shoved into it. Being disruptive in the backfield, and causing issues in the run game should lead to turnovers, good field position on offense and points. — Adam Malnati

Contain Brock Browers

Bowers went for 8-97-1 in the Week 5 clash with the Raiders and has become the target of choice for Minshew over the last several weeks, clearly apparent from his 13-126-1 line last week against Miami. I fully expect Surtain can shut down Jakobi Meyers on the outside, but some combination of McMillan, linebackers, and safeties — maybe even two of the above — will need to key on the rookie tight end. If the Broncos succeed vs. Bowers, Vegas is going to be hard-pressed to move the ball. — Jonathan Rice

Keep up the creative playcalling

Against the Falcons, Head Coach Sean Payton did a tremendous job of being creative with his playcalling. I thought it was one of the best games he called all season. Pro sets and pistol look, extensive use of motion, and multiple types of screenplays had the Broncos’ offense rolling and firing on all cylinders. Various players at multiple skill positions had their names called and rose to the occasion. The Raiders’ defense is in the top half of the league in rushing and passing yards allowed, but one of the worst-ranked teams in points allowed. That should provide the Broncos’ offense another prime opportunity to keep the momentum going in their favor. — Christopher Hart

What are your keys to Sunday’s game?

If you enjoy Christmas with the same enthusiasm as Buddy the Elf, you’re probably no stranger to the twinkly, tinsel-draped holiday pop-up bars serving eggnog in kitschy Santa mugs while Mariah Carey tunes play on repeat. But now sidling up to a Santa-themed bar can be a part of your holiday travel plans if you happen to be flying through the Mile High City this year: Denver International Airport claims to be the first ever airport to create a holiday pop-up bar.

Ahead of the busy holiday travel season—and decked to the nines with super-sized holiday inflatables, red and green lights, and Christmas trees—Santa’s Layover Lounge just opened. But you’ve got to know where to look for this somewhat hidden holiday bar: It’s hovering above Concourse B on the airport’s mezzanine level where there are no gates, but a collection of restaurants and shops. (If you’re headed to your gate, you might spot the candy cane and ornament inflatables hung from the rafters and the “Sleigh the Layover” sign.

The holiday lounge, a partnership between DEN and Skyport Hospitality, will be open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m daily until Jan. 5, 2025.

“We’re always looking for ways to create surprises for passengers—things that are unexpected in an airport,” Stacey Stegman, head of communications at Denver International Airport, said in an interview at the pop-up bar. “We want people to walk through and go ‘Wow’ I didn’t know I could see that an airport.”

Santa’s Layover Lounge is temporarily taking over the Lounge 5280 Wine Bar. The pop-up serves flatbread pizzas named after Santa’s reindeer as well as a holiday turkey sandwich with cranberry jam and gravy and a butternut squash soup with chopped bacon and croutons.

As for the drinks, you bet there’s punny cocktails like the Pa Rum Pa Rum Punch and the Polar Expresso Martini. Some of the cocktails headlining the holiday menu are spiked with local liquors, like a gingerbread old fashioned made with Family Jones rye whiskey and a Mule-tide Carol with Breckenridge Distillery’s Bourbon, cranberry juice, orange bitters and ginger ale.

For kids (and those with a sweet tooth), the Ghirardelli hot chocolate bar comes stocked with sweet additions like peppermint, gingerbread, or caramel syrup as well as toppings like candy cane pieces, mini marshmallows, Butterfinger candy pieces, and red-and-green sprinkles.

With 77.8 million passengers passing through Denver International Airport annually, the airport ranks as the No. 6 on the list of the busiest airports in the world. While holiday travel can no doubt be stressful, Stegman says she hopes the airport’s fun-spirited bar creates joy for passengers.

“We’ve seen a lot of Christmas bars in downtown areas, but you’ve never before seen one at an airport and what better way to ease the stress and anxiety of travel than to create this space where people can take a breather and enjoy the holiday spirit,” Stegman says.

In past years, Denver International Airport has become creative with its holiday programming by operating an ice skating rink. The rink isn’t open this year, but holiday decor, piano players playing holiday music in the Great Hall, and wandering carolers dressed in old fashioned outfits and appearances by Santa.

Skyport Hospitality is partnering with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and is matching every guest contribution dollar-for-dollar, up to $5,000.

Traveling this holiday season? Here’s 10 tips for travel experts to make your holiday travels go smoothly.