Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak
Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
In an alternate universe, the Las Vegas Raiders are sitting atop the NFC South with a 4-5 record. But in this universe, they play in the ultra-tough AFC West, which features two legit Super Bowl contenders, but also whatever the Los Angeles Chargers have stunningly devolved into this season.
So, the Silver and Black are awkardly hovering somewhere in the middle ahead of the trade deadline.
Not long ago, they were tied atop the division. Not long after that, they were firmly holding onto a playoff spot. But a larger sample size this season has proven that, while the Raiders are certainly not a bad team by any measure, they are not a very good one, either.
They beat teams that they should beat. They lose to teams that they should lose to.
Luckily, they are young, and the fanbase largely entered the campaign with minimal expectations. However, after Week 9, the AFC West is starting to really take shape, and it is clear that Las Vegas is just a painfully average team at this juncture; it is unclear where they'll go from here.
Raiders are hovering in the middle of the AFC West as Chargers flounder and Chiefs and Broncos contend
Here are the current standings in the AFC West:
Denver Broncos 7-2
Kansas City Chiefs 6-2
Las Vegas Raiders 4-5
Los Angeles Chargers 0-8
Starting with the Raiders, they suffered a fairly deflating loss at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers. The defense couldn't get any stops early and put Las Vegas' offense behind the 8-Ball, and when they finally cinched things up a bit in the second half, the offense turned it over five times.
Yes, five times, three of which came in scoring position.
Kirk Cousins had an awful day at the office, and while Brock Bowers still put up numbers, he was the only one on the Raiders' offense to do so. Nakobe Dean and Maxx Crosby played fine for the Las Vegas defense, but they are still a unit that, as a whole, is lost and has absolutely zero answers.
San Francisco is not an easy foe, but the Silver and Black made this one way harder than it needed to be. The 49ers were probably going to beat them anyway, but the disheartening part is that the Raiders beat themselves. And at the end of the 38-17 blowout, Fernando Mendoza didn't get any run.
Boo!
For the Broncos, it was another black magic win over the Carolina Panthers. Denver's defense is great, and their offense does just enough, but they also have an insane skill for winning games. They have come out on top in 16 straight one-score contests, which defies all odds, but it just cannot last.
This time, it took some help from the referees, as Sean Payton was allowed to challenge the previous play right as the Panthers were snapping the ball. What the officials saw on the review was, indeed, an interception, but they could also see clearly that the Broncos committed pass interference.
However, you can't change that call. Such is the luck of Payton and the Broncos over the last two years.
Kansas City rolled the New York Jets, 35-12, to end their two-game skid. Patrick Mahomes had a solid game, and Kenneth Walker III looked like his old self on the ground. The defense completely stifled Geno Smith and Co. just a week after their 33-point showing against the Raiders. Of course.
Mahomes did get hurt in this contest, though, as he is day-to-day after a blow to his elbow. That could be a significant factor as the season drags on. Luckily for the Chiefs, they are entering arguably the easiest portion of their schedule, at least what is left of it.
Oh, and Harrison Butker sucks, which rocks on multiple levels.
Los Angeles is laughably bad, as they found a way to give the 2-5 Houston Texans a boost on Sunday. Jim Harbaugh's team was lost once again as they got doubled up, losing 44-22. The Chargers actually ran the ball quite well, but Justin Herbert isn't having success through the air at all.
Their defense was porous and looks like just as much of an issue as the offense is now. But Harbaugh and Joe Hortiz have too much pride to throw in the towel, so they are still reportedly not listening to offers for veteran players on expiring contracts. And Raiders fans shouldn't be upset about that.
Denver and Kansas City are clear contenders this year, and the Chargers will be in the Jeremiah Smith sweepstakes. But where exactly are the Raiders? Floating in obscurity, uncertain of whether they should sell at the deadline to build for the future or to try to salvage this season.
I don't think either decision is necessarily wrong, but Tuesday's deadline will signal exactly where the front office and coaching staff think this team is. Just know that their situation is nothing like any of the ones that their AFC West foes find themselves in.
Brief preview of the Raiders and the AFC West ahead of Week 10
The road does not get easier for the Raiders, as they welcome the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks to Allegiant Stadium on Sunday. Mike Macdonald's team has regressed, and Klint Kubiak knows his defense well, but this is still a stiff foe and will be a war of attrition and familiarity.
Kansas City has to travel to the East Coast for a Sunday morning road matchup against the Arizona Falcons. You never know which Falcons team you're going to get in a given game, but the Chiefs should be able to win this one against an inferior opponent, even on the road.
For some reason, the NFL did not flex the Chargers out of Monday Night Football this week, so fans will be subjected to Los Angeles against the Jacoby Brissett-led Baltimore Ravens. What an absolute treat... not. This might be one of the worst games of the year!
Denver has a bye in Week 10.