The AFC West picture after five weeks has a familiar look at the top, but the middle is starting to get crowded in a hurry. Kansas City sits alone at 4-0 after its bye, Denver moved to 3-2 with a win, and Las Vegas is also 3-2 after taking a hard hit in Week 5. The Chargers are still searching for their first win at 0-5.
For the Raiders, Sunday was the kind of loss that stops momentum cold. Las Vegas entered Week 4 with a shot at the division lead, but back-to-back defeats have dropped the team to third in the standings. The 45-17 loss to the New England Patriots was the most embarrassing moment of the season, and it came at a time when the Raiders were trying to build on their hot start.
Even so, the division race is far from settled. The Chiefs were off in Week 5, sitting comfortably at the top while the rest of the AFC West tried to keep pace. Behind them, the Broncos and Chargers played a game that didn’t leave either side feeling great, even though Denver came away with a 23-17 win.
The Chargers have the bleakest outlook of the bunch. Justin Herbert was sacked five times, injuries continue to stack up, and the 0-5 start has the season looking like a full-blown disaster.
Denver’s win nudged the Broncos ahead of Las Vegas in the standings, but the performance didn’t inspire much confidence. Sean Payton is back to calling plays for the offense, yet the results didn’t change much. Bo Nix went 16-of-27 for 123 yards and one touchdown, a line that underscored how ordinary the offense looked.
Las Vegas has more urgent concerns of its own after the Patriots piled up 536 yards of offense and controlled the game on the ground and through the air. The Raiders were left leaning heavily on Brock Bowers, and not much else worked. If that level of play continues, the Raiders will be stuck in the lower part of the division they’ve been trying to escape.
Week 6 gives everyone another shot to reset. Denver opens the week Thursday night against the Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City gets back in division play against the Chargers, and the Raiders will try to get back on track against the Buffalo Bills.
In Other News...
Brock Bowers Is Forcing A Bigger Raiders Decision
Brock Bowers keeps pushing the Raiders into a conversation they can no longer avoid. The tight end has become one of the most central pieces of the offense, and his latest production only adds to the sense that Las Vegas has a true cornerstone on its hands. He has already stacked up a second 100-yard receiving game this season, another reminder that his role is no longer just promising - it is essential.
For a franchise trying to sort out its long-term offensive identity, Bowers is making the next step obvious even if the timing is not. His work has placed him alongside some of the most productive young pass-catching tight ends in the league, and it has also raised the stakes for future contract talks. The Raiders do not have to decide everything right now, but the direction this is heading is hard to miss. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Have A Jeanty Concern They Cant Ignore Right Now
Ashton Jeanty was out there in Week 5 against the Patriots even while dealing with multiple injuries, a reminder of how quickly the Raiders have come to lean on the rookies presence. For a team still trying to find its footing, having Jeanty on the field matters beyond the box score, and his willingness to suit up says plenty about how he views his role.
The concern, though, is not whether Jeanty wants to play. It is how much the Raiders can keep asking of him if he is already beat up this early in the season. Klint Kubiak confirmed the injuries and praised the toughness it took to keep going, but for Las Vegas, the larger question now is how long that kind of commitment can hold up if the hits keep coming. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders O-Line Struggles Are Turning Up Heat On One Starting Guard
The Raiders offensive line has been a sore spot through the first five weeks, and the guard play has been at the center of it. Spencer Burford and Jackson Powers-Johnson have both had uneven stretches, while D.J. Glaze and Tyler Linderbaum have provided more stability as the team tries to keep the front from becoming a weekly issue.
Burfords recent run has only sharpened the conversation around that spot, especially after a rough outing against New England that stood out in the grading. If the guards do not settle in soon, the Raiders may have to look harder at other options, including second-year guard Caleb Rogers, who remains a possibility to work his way back into the mix. [Read more 🡒]