Week 8 saw the Las Vegas Raiders get a much-needed win to not only end a four-game losing streak, but also reinvigorate the Raiders’ playoff hopes. On that note, let’s check in on the rest of the AFC West to see how the weekend treated the Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs.
Chiefs vs. Broncos
Score: 28-24 Chiefs win
KC Key Stats:
- QB Patrick Mahomes: 30/41 (73.2%), 321 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs
- RB Emmett Johnson: 1 carry, 15 yards, 5 catches, 128 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD
- WR Rashee Rice: 7 catches, 53 yards, 1 TD
- EDGE George Karlaftis: 2 tackles, 1 sack, 3 PDs
- LB Nick Bolton: 9 tackles, 1 QB hit
DEN Key Stats:
- QB Bo Nix: 20/32 (62.5%), 222 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs
- RB Jonah Coleman: 11 carries, 41 yards, 1 TD, 4 catches, 63 receiving yards
- WR Jaylen Waddle: 3 catches, 39 yards, 1 TD
- LB Alex Singleton: 14 tackles, 1 sack, 1 PD
- DT Malcolm Roach: 4 tackles, 1 sack
After the Chiefs cruised to a 31-10 victory over the Broncos in the season opener, Denver managed to even the season series with a huge fourth-quarter
comeback. Down 11 points heading into the final frame, the Broncos scored 15 unanswered points to pull off the win. It took a missed field goal by Harrison Butker and a goal line stand to finish the job, but Denver made it happen to take control of the division heading into the second half of the season.
For the second week in a row, Kansas City’s opponent managed to keep Walker in check. The running back was held below 70 rushing yards for the second time this season and didn’t eclipse triple digits for just the third time. Instead, the focus was on each team’s rookie back, with Johnson serving as the Chiefs’ leading receiver and Coleman amassing more than 100 yards from scrimmage.
KC Next week: vs. Jets
DEN Next week: @ Panthers
Chargers vs. Rams
Score: 24-9 Chargers lose
LAC Key Stats:
- QB Justin Herbert: 24/32 (75.0%), 257 yards, 0 TDs, 2 INTs
- RB Kimani Vidal: 8 carries, 23 yards, 2 catches, 7 receiving yards
- WR Ladd McConkey: 4 catches, 86 yards
- CB Tarheeb Still: 3 tackles, 1 INT
- EDGE Tuli Tuipulotu: 4 tackles, 1 sack
What’s there to say about the Chargers at this point? They’re litterally the worst team in the league, sitting as the only winless club through eight weeks. The offense is attrocious, failing to score a touchdown while Herbert looks like a shell of himself. One might think that would lead to a change at offensive coordinator, but it seems like head coach Jim Hargbaugh is content rolling with Mike McDaniel moving forward.
Next week: vs. Texans
Standings
- Denver 6-2 (+7 point differential)
- Kansas City 5-2 (+36)
- Las Vegas 4-4 (-9)
- Los Angeles 0-7 (-76)
In Other Raiders’ Links:
- Raiders playoff standing gets a boost: Las Vegas is still a few games out of the AFC West lead, but see where they fit into the wild card race after Week 8.
- 17 things we learned vs. Jets: “Sunday, in the second quarter, the third-year backup running back returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown,” S&BP’s Bill Williamson wrote. “It was the Raiders’ first kick return for a score since Jacoby Ford did it 15 years ago. Laube was the first NFL player this season to return a kick for a score.”
- Ashton Jeanty on reduced workload: “We won. It doesn’t matter how I feel about how much times I get the ball. Whatever it takes for the team to win, I just want to win. That’s all,” via The Athletic’s Sam Warren, who also noted that Jeanty was aware heading into the game that he’d be getting fewer carries.
- Klint Kubiak post win: “We have to keep stacking wins,” the coach said in the locker room (h/t Raiders’ X/Twitter account). “I’m happy, I’m fired up, I’m proud of you, I’m proud to be your coach. I love you guys, but I love you enough to hold you accountable.”
