Las Vegas Raiders vs. Denver Broncos Week 18: AFC West Showdown — How to Watch & Preview

Game at a Glance

• Matchup: Las Vegas Raiders (away) vs. Denver Broncos (home)
• Kickoff: Wednesday, January 6 at 1:00 PM UTC
• Venue: Empower Field, Denver, CO
• TV Channel: CBS
• Week: 18 of the 2026 NFL Season
• Stream: Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, fuboTV, and more

How to Watch CBS — Live Stream & TV Options

The game airs on CBS — CBS's Sunday afternoon NFL window. Here is every way to watch, whether you have cable or have cut the cord entirely:

Paid Streaming Services

• Paramount+ with SHOWTIME
• fuboTV
• Hulu + Live TV
• YouTube TV
• DirecTV Stream
• Sling TV (Blue)

Free or Trial Options

• Paramount+ (free trial available)
• Over-the-air antenna (free HD)

Mobile Streaming

NFL+ (mobile & tablet streaming)

Note: Paramount+ is CBS's streaming home. A Paramount+ Essential plan is enough to stream CBS NFL games.

Game Preview: Las Vegas Raiders vs. Denver Broncos

Week 18 of the 2026 NFL season brings a compelling contest as a franchise that knows how to win it all — one Lombardi to their name — the Las Vegas Raiders — travel to Empower Field to face the Denver Broncos, a championship-caliber program with 3 Lombardi Trophies. This is a AFC West divisional clash — the most personal rivalry in football. Division opponents know each other's schemes, personnel, and tendencies better than any other foe on the schedule, and that familiarity breeds an intensity rarely matched in the regular season.

The Las Vegas Raiders: Can Gardner Minshew Win on the Road?

Head coach Antonio Pierce brings his squad into hostile territory at Empower Field, where the Mile High faithful at 5,280 feet — a true home-field advantage will be at full volume. The Las Vegas Raiders lean heavily on quarterback Gardner Minshew to lead the offense, and his ability to process quickly under crowd noise will be a decisive factor. Raider Nation will be watching closely — a road victory would send a statement to the rest of the league.

The Las Vegas Raiders's success on the road this season depends on establishing a run game to control clock, limiting third-down conversions against them, and avoiding early turnovers. Any of those three break down, and the advantage shifts firmly to the home side.

The Denver Broncos: Home Fortress at Empower Field

Coach Sean Payton's squad holds the significant edge of playing in front of Mile High faithful at 5,280 feet — a true home-field advantage at Empower Field at Mile High. The Denver Broncos know this stadium's quirks — the crowd noise disrupting communication, the turf conditions, the sight lines — and they will use every bit of that institutional knowledge to manufacture early advantages. Quarterback Bo Nix has shown comfort working from home, where the play-action game and RPO concepts generate explosive plays against crowded boxes.

The Denver Broncos are a championship-caliber program with 3 Lombardi Trophies, and the franchise views home games as non-negotiable wins on their path toward postseason contention. Expect a highly scripted first-quarter game plan designed to neutralize the Las Vegas Raiders's best weapons.

Key Matchups to Watch

Gardner Minshew vs. Broncos Country crowd noise: Communication breakdowns at the line of scrimmage are one of the most underrated factors in road games. Watch how Gardner Minshew handles pre-snap adjustments and whether the Las Vegas Raiders come out with a quick-tempo approach to minimize noise impact.

Trenches battle: The collision between the Las Vegas Raiders's offensive line and the Denver Broncos's defensive front sets the physical tone. If Gardner Minshew has a clean pocket, the Las Vegas Raiders move the chains. If the home pass rush generates early disruption, Bo Nix can take over in a controlled environment.

Red-zone efficiency: Both teams' red-zone offense and defense will be under the microscope — scoring touchdowns instead of settling for field goals is often the difference in close NFL games, and this matchup figures to be exactly that.

What's at Stake in Week 18

In divisional play, the winner gains a critical leg up in the AFC West standings. With each divisional game worth double in the playoff race — win percentage against division opponents is the second tiebreaker — both franchises are treating this as essential.

With the playoff picture nearly locked in, this Week 18 matchup between the Las Vegas Raiders and Denver Broncos carries outsized importance. Don't miss a snap.

How to Watch on Every Device

Whether you're watching on your TV, phone, or tablet, here's the full breakdown:

• Smart TV (Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV): Download the Paramount+ app and sign in.
• iPhone / Android: NFL+ (mobile & tablet streaming)
• Laptop / Desktop: Stream at paramountplus.com or any of the live TV streaming services listed above.
• Cable / Satellite subscribers: Tune to CBS on your provider. No extra action needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time does Las Vegas Raiders vs. Denver Broncos kick off?

Las Vegas Raiders vs. Denver Broncos kicks off at Wednesday, January 6 at 1:00 PM UTC on Wednesday, January 6, 2027. This is a Week 18 NFL game.

What channel is Las Vegas Raiders vs. Denver Broncos on?

The game is on CBS. CBS's Sunday afternoon NFL window. Check your local listings for the exact channel number in your market.

How can I stream Las Vegas Raiders vs. Denver Broncos without cable?

You can stream this game without cable using Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV. Paramount+ with SHOWTIME is a popular option for cord-cutters.

Where is Las Vegas Raiders vs. Denver Broncos being played?

This Week 18 game is being played at Empower Field. The Denver Broncos are the home team.

Is the Las Vegas Raiders vs. Denver Broncos game available on NFL+?

NFL+ (mobile & tablet streaming). NFL+ allows mobile and tablet streaming of live local and national games. Check NFL+ availability for your location and device.