GameScope NFL research

DEN at LV uncertain forecast

Sun, Dec 20 at 4:25 PM ET · Allegiant Stadium

Most likely outcome
DEN wins — 67.2%
DEN win
67.2%
LV win
32.8%

Expected score: DEN 27.4 – LV 18.8

Total anchored to the league-wide baseline of 46.2 points — a shared baseline, not a matchup-specific forecast.

Home-field adjustment included (+65 Elo rating points)

Fair odds (display only): DEN 1.49 · LV 3.05

How this forecast is calculated

Team ratings (Elo): DEN 1603.8 vs LV 1414.2. 393 games trained (Oct 30).

Model: nfl-elo-v2 — Elo ratings trained on real ESPN results (2025 regular+postseason and 2026 regular season to date), chronological replay, K=20, home advantage = 65 Elo rating points, applied only at true home venues: games the feed flags neutral-site get no home bonus, in training and in prediction. Totals baseline is the mean total points of the training games (measured, not assumed). Score-model spread/total probabilities use the engine's bivariate-normal assumptions (score std 13.5, correlation 0.3) — documented approximations, not measured NFL parameters. No backtest against closing lines exists; treat all outputs as experimental uncertain forecasts.

What the win probability uses: Elo ratings only, plus a home-field adjustment of 65 Elo rating points at true home venues (no adjustment at feed-flagged neutral sites).

Contextual research (displayed, not in the calculation): Contextual research only — form, rest, injuries, head-to-head, weather, and travel do not change the win probability above.

Totals: Expected scores are centered on a shared league-wide totals baseline of 46.2 points (the mean total of the training games) — a baseline, not a matchup-specific forecast.

Score-distribution assumptions: Spread/total probabilities assume team scores are bivariate normal (score std 13.5, correlation 0.3) — documented approximations, not measured NFL parameters.

Validation status: No backtest against closing lines exists. Treat all outputs as experimental uncertain forecasts.

Data used

Form & rest contextual research

DEN (5-2) — 56 days rest

Last 5: 4-1 (3 straight wins)

Oct 25, 2026ARIW30-16
Oct 15, 2026SEAW17-14
Oct 11, 2026LACW23-17
Oct 4, 2026SFL14-24
Sep 27, 2026LARW30-26

LV (3-4) — 56 days rest

Last 5: 1-4 (4 straight losses)

Oct 25, 2026LARL21-35
Oct 18, 2026BUFL30-33
Oct 11, 2026NEL17-45
Oct 4, 2026KCL27-30
Sep 27, 2026NOW35-27

Head-to-head contextual research LV 0 - DEN 4

Coverage: 2024-2026 regular+postseason schedules (ESPN)

DateScoreWinner
Oct 6, 2024DEN 34 - LV 18DEN
Nov 24, 2024LV 19 - DEN 29DEN
Nov 6, 2025DEN 10 - LV 7DEN
Dec 7, 2025LV 17 - DEN 24DEN

Injuries contextual research

Week 8 report — availability for Week 15 unknown. These designations were published for Week 8's games. They are the latest available report, kept as dated context; they do not say who will be available in Week 15.

DEN

Talanoa HufangaQuestionableHufanga (ankle) did not participate at the Broncos' practice Thursday, Aric DiLalla of the team's official website reports.
Zach AllenQuestionableAllen (hamstring) was a limited participant at the Broncos' practice Thursday, Aric DiLalla of the team's official website reports.
Jaylen WaddleQuestionableWaddle (chest) practiced in a limited capacity Thursday, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.
RJ HarveyQuestionableHarvey (knee) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.
Brandon JonesQuestionablequestionable
Garett BollesQuestionablequestionable
Tyler BadieInjured ReserveThe Broncos placed Badie (thumb) on injured reserve Saturday, Aric DiLalla of the team's official site reports.
Jonah EllissInjured ReserveThe Broncos placed Elliss (ankle) on injured reserve Saturday, Aric DiLalla of the team's official site reports.
Show all 25 (17 more)
Marvin Mims Jr.ActiveMims (ankle) practiced fully Thursday,Zac Stevens of TheDNVR.com reports.
Pat Surtain IIActiveSurtain (ankle) was a full practice participant Wednesday, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.
Alex SingletonActiveSingleton recorded 19 tackles (12 solo) including 1.0 sacks during Sunday's 30-16 win at Arizona.
Evan EngramActiveEngram caught one of three targets for two yards during Sunday's 30-16 win over the Cardinals.
Troy FranklinActiveFranklin failed to bring in either of his two targets in the Broncos' 30-16 win over the Cardinals on Sunday.
Kage CaseyActive
Tyler OnyedimActive
Jordan JacksonActive
Dallen BentleyActive
Courtland SuttonActiveSutton caught three of five targets for 45 yards during Sunday's 30-16 win over Arizona.
Jonah ColemanActiveColeman (ankle) rushed nine times for 54 yards and caught both of his targets for 15 yards in Sunday's 30-16 win over the Cardinals.
J.K. DobbinsActiveDobbins rushed six times for 23 yards and a touchdown and wasn't targeted in Sunday's 30-16 win over the Cardinals.
Bo NixActiveNix completed 15 of 29 passes for 222 yards and a touchdown while rushing seven times for 73 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 30-16 win over the Cardinals.
Wil LutzActiveLutz went 3-for-3 on field-goal tries and made all three of his PATs during Sunday's 30-16 win over Arizona.
Sam EhlingerActiveEhlinger (coach's decision) is inactive but will serve as the emergency third quarterback in Sunday's game against the Cardinals, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.
Jonathon CooperActiveCooper had his roster exemption removed by the Broncos on Saturday and is available for Sunday's road game against the Cardinals, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.
Kris Abrams-DraineActiveAbrams-Draine recorded six tackles (four solo), three pass breakups, including an interception, and one forced fumble in Thursday night's 17-14 overtime win over the Seahawks.

LV

Ian ThomasQuestionableThomas (shoulder) was a limited participant at the Raiders' practice Thursday.
Jack BechInjured ReserveBech (forearm) practiced fully Thursday.
Jackson Powers-JohnsonQuestionablequestionable
Patrick JohnsonQuestionableJohnson (neck) did not participate in Wednesday's practice, Anthony Galaviz of The Fresno Bee reports.
Folorunso FatukasiQuestionablequestionable
DJ GlazeQuestionablequestionable
Show all 25 (19 more)
Brock BowersActiveBowers (calf) was a full practice participant Thursday.
Quay WalkerActive
Jeremy ChinnActiveChinn finished Sunday's Week 7 loss to the Rams with seven tackles (three solo). He also recovered a fumble.
Nakobe DeanActiveDean produced 12 tackles and an interception in Sunday's loss to the Rams.
Dont'e Thornton Jr.ActiveThe Raiders reinstated Thornton (hamstring) from injured reserve Tuesday.
Cody WhiteActiveWhite caught one of three targets for four yards in Sunday's 35-21 loss to the Rams.
Fernando MendozaActiveMendoza did not appear in Sunday's 35-21 loss to the Rams.
Jalen NailorActiveNailor caught two of five targets for 14 yards during Sunday's 35-21 loss to the Rams.
Kirk CousinsActiveHead coach Klint Kubiak said that Cousins will remain the Raiders' starting quarterback heading into Sunday's game against the Jets, Paul Gutierrez of the team's official site reports. "There is no controversy," Kubiak said. "He is playing at a very high level."
Thomas Booker IVActive
Dalton JohnsonActive
Tristin McCollumActive
Cian SloneActive
Bryce CabeldueActive
Tre TuckerActiveTucker secured five of 12 targets for 103 yards and a touchdown in the Raiders' 35-21 loss to the Rams on Sunday.
Michael MayerActiveMayer caught all three targets for 32 yards in Sunday's 35-21 loss to the Rams.
Mike Washington Jr.ActiveWashington rushed six times for 27 yards in Sunday's 35-21 loss to the Rams.
Ashton JeantyActiveJeanty rushed eight times for 15 yards and brought in all eight targets for 61 yards and a touchdown in the Raiders' 35-21 loss to the Rams on Sunday.
Aidan O'ConnellActiveO'Connell (coach's decision) is inactive but will serve as the Raiders' emergency third quarterback against the Rams on Sunday.

Labels: Out = confirmed unavailable; Doubtful = projected unavailable; Questionable = projected uncertain.

Weather & travel contextual research

n/a — indoor venue

Travel (DEN): ~608 miles, 1h time-zone shift west

Research only — not betting advice. All probabilities are uncertain forecasts from a simple model, never guarantees or 'locks'. GameScope places no wagers.
Scores/records/injuries: ESPN unofficial API (live). Weather: MET Norway.