Arrowhead Addict
FanSided

Around the AFC West: All division rivals fall in Week 3

By Ellen Mathis

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 28: Eric Fisher #72 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates after a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens during the fourth quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on September 28, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 28: Eric Fisher #72 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates after a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens during the fourth quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on September 28, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 4
Next
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 27: Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden stands on the field before the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on September 27, 2020 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 27: Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden stands on the field before the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on September 27, 2020 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

A look around the AFC West as the Chiefs grab the top spot in the division while the rest of the rivals stumble in their quest for the AFC West crown.

Oh, what a beautiful morning! I am certainly eating crow (HA…bad bird joke) this morning. I had the Chiefs dropping to the Ravens on Monday Night Football. The Chiefs hadn’t played their best and the Ravens looked almost unstoppable. Plus it was in Baltimore. Well, go ahead, prove me wrong.

Before we reflect on if any team from any decade could stop these Chiefs when they are clicking, let’s look at our AFC West divisional foes and see how their Week 3 went.

Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders traveled to New England to take on the Patriots. After the Raiders beat the New Orleans Saints, analysts were wondering if the Raiders team was for real. Could they keep up with the likes of the Chiefs? Nope. The Patriots kicked the pants off the Raiders by using their run game and the Raiders couldn’t stop anything. The Raiders made Rex Burkhead look like Gale Sayers.

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1310284251598696448

Derek Carr was his typical self. Put pressure on him and you are just going to make him cry and fumble the ball. One particularly egregious play saw Derek Carr initially get sacked in the end zone for a safety. But wait! It turns out that he actually fumbled and it lead to not 2 points but 6.

Carr was not good, but he was without his rookie weapon Henry Ruggs III and it didn’t help that Josh Jacobs also lost a fumble. Regardless, the Raiders can’t hope to keep up with the Chiefs in the AFC West if they play like this. The Raiders fell to 2-1 after the 36-20 beat down by the Pats.

As mentioned, Ruggs was unavailable due to injuries to his knee and hamstring and Jon Gruden has expressed concern over the injury. The Raiders also lost right tackle Trent Brown and linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski to injuries. It doesn’t appear that these will be long-term injuries, but any injury to the offensive line is going to be something to watch with Carr under center.

Next week, the Raiders host the high flying Buffalo Bills. The Bills are coming off a dramatic win over the Los Angeles Rams and quarterback Josh Allen is playing so well, he just might find himself in the MVP conversation. The Bills are considered a playoff team and will be vying with the Patriots for their division, so every game for them is a must win. Will the Raiders be able to slow them down? I doubt it.

Game time is Sunday at 3:25 p.m.

Home/Kansas City Chiefs News