The early AFC season has already produced a few clear vibes: the Chargers are trying to steady themselves, the Chiefs are having fun with a new weapon in the backfield, and Kirk Cousins is settling into life in Las Vegas with a coach he clearly enjoys working for.
In Los Angeles, Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh made it plain he isn’t second-guessing Justin Herbert despite the team’s 0-2 start.
“I wouldn’t change a thing about Justin.”
That was Harbaugh’s message as the Chargers work through an uneven opening to the season. The quote was short, but the point was clear: Herbert isn’t the issue Harbaugh wants to touch.
Over in Kansas City, Patrick Mahomes is already enjoying what Kenneth Walker has brought to the offense. Walker is leading the league in rushing yards through two weeks, and Mahomes said the combination of Walker’s running and the offensive line’s push is opening up everything else.
“It’s fun for me,” Mahomes said, via Nate Taylor of ESPN. “Him running the ball and our offensive line driving off the ball the way they’re driving off, it’s making the defense have to account for that.
If not, we’re going to run the ball for 200 yards or whatever we did the week before [against the Denver Broncos]. You want to be able to do it all.
We showcased that we can throw the ball down the field, we can play action and can also still run the ball.”
Walker sounded just as pleased with how the partnership is working. He pointed to the way defenses react, the conditioning work the team put in during camp, and the fact that the workload has felt manageable because of that preparation.
“You can see what the defense is doing and how they’re playing,” Walker said of his performance. “I get stronger.
The way we condition, it’s a lot easier in the game. We worked on [our endurance] in training camp with a lot of long practices.
We knew what we had to do. When you go through those practices, you have no choice [but to succeed].”
He also liked what it means to play alongside Mahomes.
“It’s super fun,” Walker added about playing with Mahomes. “We’re able to, I guess, freestyle it.
If somebody is open or if the play breaks down, he’s able to make a play. It’s great to play with him.”
And in Las Vegas, Cousins appears to be comfortable in his new setup under head coach Klint Kubiak. His agent, Mike McCartney, said Cousins is enjoying the situation and especially the chance to work with Kubiak and Mendoza.
“He loves playing for Klint,” McCartney told Jason La Canfora. “I think he really does enjoy (working with) Mendoza, too, and kind of putting his arm around him.
Kirk’s in his element being a leader and he still plays with a lot of passion. It’s the third preseason game and I’m watching the pregame and he’s hyping everyone else up and I’m like, ‘I just can’t wait for this game to be over with.’
Here he is getting everybody going, you know. He has the credibility in that building, in that locker room, in that quarterback room, to really impact the young guys and show them the way, and he’s really good at that.
I do think he’s in his element and I think he’s going to play with a lot of energy this year.”
In Other News...
Raiders 3-0 Push May Depend On One Saints Weakness
The Raiders head into their matchup with New Orleans looking for a third straight win, and the path could run straight through Tyler Shough. Las Vegas has already made a habit of leaning on pressure under defensive coordinator Rob Leonard, and that approach makes sense here against a quarterback who has spent the season under constant duress.
Shough has been the leagues most pressured passer so far and has taken eight sacks in two games, a combination that has helped expose how much trouble he can get into when the pocket breaks down. For the Raiders, the challenge is turning that weakness into the kind of disruption that can shape the game, because their chase for 3-0 may hinge on whether Leonards fronts and blitzes keep forcing mistakes. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Head Into Saints Game With Key Availability Still Unsettled
The final injury report is in, and the Raiders are still sorting through a few moving pieces ahead of their Week 3 trip to face the Saints. Several players were listed as limited or questionable, but the expectation is that most will be available, giving Las Vegas a chance to keep some continuity on both sides of the ball while it heads into another early-season test.
The one clear absence is rookie safety Treydan Stukes, who remains out with a concussion, and veteran Isaiah Pola-Mao is set to start in his place. Between that shuffle in the secondary and the possibility of Brock Bowers returning, there is still a fair amount for the Raiders to monitor before kickoff, especially with Klint Kubiak and Kirk Cousins both pointing to how important the defensive response will be in New Orleans. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Face A 3-0 Test Against A Saints Wrinkle They Must Solve
The Raiders head into Week 3 with a chance to build on a 3-0 start, but the Saints present a specific kind of problem that has already shown up on film. Under coordinator Brandon Staley, New Orleans has leaned into a blitzing concept against teams that operate from under-center looks, and it helped create pressure problems for the Ravens. For Las Vegas, that means this is not just another early-season test, but a matchup that could hinge on how well the offense handles a wrinkle designed to disrupt timing before a play can fully develop.
One possible answer is to lean into personnel that can help steady the picture and give the offense more flexibility. The Raiders may turn to fullback Connor Heyward in 21 personnel, a setup that could help them counter the Saints pressure looks while opening up more options around the formation. It is the kind of adjustment that does not guarantee clean answers, but it does give Las Vegas a path to keep its offense from getting boxed in by a defense that is clearly looking to force one. [Read more 🡒]