KC Chiefs rivals in AFC West will be bad for foreseeable future

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - OCTOBER 10: Head Coach Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs shakes hands with Head Coach Josh McDaniels of the Las Vegas Raiders after the Chiefs defeated the Raiders with a final score of 30-29 to win the game at Arrowhead Stadium on October 10, 2022 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - OCTOBER 10: Head Coach Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs shakes hands with Head Coach Josh McDaniels of the Las Vegas Raiders after the Chiefs defeated the Raiders with a final score of 30-29 to win the game at Arrowhead Stadium on October 10, 2022 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images) /
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There was much talk of an “arms race” in the AFC West this offseason. Now, there are three disastrous teams for the Chiefs to play for the foreseeable future.

All offseason, the NFL world was buzzing about how the AFC was loading up to knock off the Kansas City Chiefs after they traded away Tyreek Hill to the Dolphins. The Cincinnati Bengals believed they had fixed their offensive line, the Buffalo Bills had retained all of their superstars, and most of all, the AFC West had loaded up on talent to take on the Chiefs.

Now, entering week 11, the Chiefs are not only leading the AFC West, they find themselves at the top of the entirety of the AFC. In a year that the Chiefs were expected to take a step back, they are once again leading the pack. This is particularly devastating news for the fan bases of the Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, and L.A. Chargers. Not only does it appear that this season is over, but it also appears that they might be in trouble for the next 3-5 seasons.

Let’s explore each team’s struggles for the future.

Las Vegas Raiders

Main Problem for 2022-2023:

The problem with the Raiders seems hard to diagnose, but generally, if there is not just one thing to point to as the main problem, you have a coaching issue. For the Raiders, it was supposed to be the beginning of a new era of leadership with Josh McDaniels at the helm. Instead, it has been a season of nightmares.

McDaniels entered the season believing that they were not only in contention for the AFC West, but also the AFC. They traded away future assets to land All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams from the Packers and then signed Chandler Jones to a lucrative deal. Those moves are indicative of a team that is pushing its chips to the center of the table. But they did not anticipate this rocky start to the season. After all of the moves made, there is nothing to show for it.

The Raiders currently sit at the bottom of the division with a 2-7 record. Despite a trio of Hunter Renfrow, Darren Waller, and Davante Adams, the passing attack is lackluster and they currently rank 17th in NFL passing yards. Another perceived strength going into the season was their ability to rush the passer. With Chandler Jones and Maxx Crosby, there was little concern to start the season. Now, with just ten sacks registered, the Raiders find themselves dead last in that category.

Being bad at what you expect your strengths to be is exactly why McDaniels will likely not last very long in Las Vegas. If he makes it past this season, the Raiders will be in even worse shape than they are now, which is bad news for them and great news for the Chiefs.

The main problem after this season:

At the time this article is being written, it seems difficult to imagine a world in which McDaniels gets another opportunity with the Raiders next season. Stranger things have happened, however, and if he is retained that would clearly be the biggest issue going forward. But let’s get hypothetical and assume that he is on his way out. The next biggest issue becomes clear: it’s the Quarterback.

For years, everyone has rushed to the defense of Derek Carr as the guy that gets brought down by the lack of talent around him. This year, he has immense talent around him. In fact, the Raiders may have one of the most talented supporting casts in the NFL, but he has very little to show for it. While the offensive line is a clear problem because they have not had a single game this season in which they have stopped Carr from getting sacked at least once, that is a problem that could be mitigated to an extent with good quarterback play.

Carr currently sits in the top half of the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns. He has done a nice job keeping the Raiders competitive over the years and consistently finishes around the top ten in passing yards. That being said, this year is the biggest indictment yet for the age-old question, “Can he lead us to a Super Bowl?” The answer is and has been no. In eight seasons, he has one playoff appearance. In his ninth, he won’t even come close.

The biggest issue for the Raiders going forward is going to be waiting on Carr’s contract to expire in three years so that they can move on to a quarterback that is capable of winning in the big games.

The Bottom Line:

It’s not as though the Raiders have no shot after this year. The NFL can change quickly and there are certainly some talented players on the team. It has just become very painfully obvious (less painful for Chiefs fans) that Derek Carr is not the guy and Josh McDaniels is incapable of being an NFL head coach. The Raiders could be in playoff contention if they hire a quality head coach, but they will not be able to overtake Mahomes and the Chiefs until Carr is out of the starting spot. This sets them back at least three years.