Around the AFC West, Week 8: Chargers blow big lead to Broncos
By Ellen Mathis
Let’s recap Week 8 as every team in the AFC West won except the Chargers who found yet another fun way to blow a game at the end.
Yaaaaawn. I do love a good Kansas City Chiefs victory that causes me no stress or anxiety. That was our Sunday, Chiefs Kingdom! I’m so glad because the closeness of the election means I just sweat in other areas of life.
Regardless, here we are, still atop the AFC West and looking mighty fine. Let’s look at our rivals in the AFC West and see how they managed in this halfway point of the 2020 season.
Las Vegas Raiders
This game was a snoozefest, just like the Chiefs, but for a completely different reason. The Raiders traveled to Cleveland to take on the Browns. The weather was awful in Cleveland for the game which caused their matchup to be a low scoring, defensive slugfest.
Josh Jacobs had his first 100 yard game of the season, which was certainly necessary since the winds were whipping. Derek Carr logged the only touchdown pass of the day when he hit Hunter Renfrow. I know people always say time of possession is incredibly important, but in this game, it really was. The Raiders dominated time of possession, which led them to a victory on the road. Head coach Jon Gruden also added that Carr’s legs were part of the secret sauce that led to their victory.
Tell 'em, @derekcarrqb.#LVvsCLE | FOX pic.twitter.com/NqN1HZDIzB
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) November 1, 2020
Carr’s scrambling kept them in the game on a day when even the smallest mistake could have been drastic. I’m certain the Raiders are excited to get back to their dome.
The Raiders left this game with a few notable injuries. Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst injured his ankle. Additionally, offensive tackle Sam Young injured his knee and safety Jeff Heath injured his hip. The Raiders were also watching the status of Trent Brown. He had previously been dealing with COVID, and just when they thought he would return, he suffered a horrible mishap with a pregame IV. He was hospitalized when air entered his bloodstream.
#Raiders OT Trent Brown was hospitalized today after a mishap with his pre-game IV that caused air to enter his bloodstream and required immediate medical attention, per me and @TomPelissero. Brown will stay overnight for further tests.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 1, 2020
He has been released, but a scary moment no doubt.
Next week, the Raiders travel to Los Angeles to challenge the Chargers for the first time this year. It will be interesting to see if rookie Justin Herbert can challenge the sometimes leaky Raiders defense. The weather won’t play a factor on this one. I hope the Chargers knock them off, but I don’t have high hopes; the Chargers always find fun ways to lose.
Game time is Sunday at 3:05 p.m.