Nobody is separating from the pack in the AFC West, and after the latest round of games, the division still looks wide open.
Kansas City remains in first place, but the Chiefs no longer look untouchable. They jumped out to a big lead against Denver and still couldn’t finish the job, with a lack of firepower showing up when it mattered most. With Tyquan Thornton out, Patrick Mahomes doesn’t have a dependable deep threat, and that has nudged Kansas City into a more modernized West Coast approach that leans on the run game.
Even Andy Reid’s game management is back under the microscope. Until the offense gets rolling, the Chiefs can’t afford mistakes like calling a pass on third-and-2 in opposing territory while trying to close out a game. Kansas City has about three more “cupcake games” to sort it out before the schedule turns ugly in a hurry.
Denver, meanwhile, keeps winning in a way that still doesn’t quite make sense on paper. The Broncos are 6-2 and sitting atop the division after another comeback victory, and they’ve done it without changing much of anything.
They still fall behind early. Bo Nix still hasn’t looked dramatically different from his first few games in the league.
And yet the results keep piling up, leaving Denver with a strong shot at a second straight AFC West title.
That doesn’t mean the warning signs have disappeared. The Broncos still don’t pass the eye test, and there’s no reason to believe this offense is ready to carry a Super Bowl run.
Either Nix has to take a real step forward, or Denver has to find more help around him. There’s at least some hope on the second front, with rookie Jonah Coleman emerging as a possible lead back who could give the running game some real punch.
Behind them, the Raiders are hanging around at 4-4 after finally ending their losing streak, but the win over the Jets didn’t do much to quiet the noise. The offense keeps flashing, and Brock Bowers remains the best offensive player in football.
But the trenches are a problem, and the defense has been a mess. Las Vegas has now allowed more than 30 points in five straight games and sits second-worst in the league in points allowed per game.
That’s a brutal combination for any team trying to stay in the playoff race.
And then there’s the Chargers, who are sinking fast. Los Angeles has given up at least 22 points in every game this season, while the offense has only reached that mark once, in a 23-point outing against Seattle in Week 4. Even if the defense played its best game every week, the Chargers would still be 1-6.
Still, nobody has been fired or benched, and there doesn’t seem to be much heat anywhere. Mike McDaniel continues to get defended.
Jim Harbaugh’s seat doesn’t appear close to warming up, likely because of his contract. Justin Herbert is also struggling in ways that go beyond coaching.
At this pace, the Chargers are barreling toward the No. 1 overall pick, which could make for a very interesting offseason.
In Other News...
Maxx Crosby Just Sent Raiders Fans A Strong Message
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For Raiders fans, the more important part is where Crosby seems to stand now. He has made clear hes committed to Las Vegas and believes in where the team is headed, which matters for a franchise trying to build around a core piece who still looks like one of its most important players. Even with outside noise swirling, Crosbys message pointed back to the Raiders and to the possibility of what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Midseason Free Agency Decisions Are Starting To Get Uncomfortable
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Tre Tucker and Matt Gay stand out as the clearest names in the keep-and-invest category, while the other end of the list is where the tension really starts to build. Some players are being viewed as stopgaps or as pieces the Raiders can move on from if the right young talent is ready to take over, which is exactly the kind of midseason roster conversation that can get awkward fast when a front office is trying to balance present needs against future flexibility. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Face A Kirk Cousins Decision Fans Didnt Expect
The quarterback market around Kirk Cousins has taken a turn the Raiders probably did not see coming. With the November 10 trade deadline approaching, insider Tom Pelissero has suggested Las Vegas could have a real decision on its hands, and not just the kind that brings back a modest late-round flier. Cousins play and contract situation have helped create a more serious conversation than many around the league expected, which matters for a Raiders team still sorting out its long-term direction under center.
Minnesota has surfaced as a possible landing spot, and it is easy to see why the idea has traction. The Vikings have playoff aspirations, and there is already a built-in connection to Cousins through Kevin OConnell, which only adds another layer to the speculation. For Las Vegas, the question is no longer simply whether there will be interest, but whether the kind of return attached to Cousins changes the calculus before the deadline arrives. [Read more 🡒]