Are the Raiders actually a contender in the AFC after win over Chiefs?
By John Buhler
We’re just as shocked as you the Las Vegas Raiders upset the Kansas City Chiefs in Arrowhead.
It was a nail-biter, but the Las Vegas Raiders stunned the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
This was the Chiefs’ first loss since falling to the Tennessee Titans last season before going on their impressive Super Bowl run last year. Though they made it close, you’re typically not beating a rival team at home when you give up 40 points. While we should expect the Chiefs to still win the AFC West, what are the chances the Silver and Black are serious contenders in the AFC?
We need to consider the Raiders part of the 2020 AFC playoff conversation.
With the Chiefs going down at home, there are three undefeated teams left in the AFC: The Buffalo Bills (4-0), the Pittsburgh Steelers (3-0) and the Titans (3-0). Once the Bills play the Titans on Tuesday night, there will only be two undefeated teams left in the conference. At 3-2, the Raiders are giving off serious vibes as one of three AFC Wild card teams this year.
What this game showed us more than anything is nobody is unbeatable in the AFC anymore. The Baltimore Ravens lost to the Chiefs back in Week 3 in primetime, and the Chiefs fell at home to the Raiders in Week 5. Though we should expect both of those teams in the AFC postseason conversation, along with Buffalo, Pittsburgh and Tennessee, Las Vegas has to be right there.
The Silver and Black have three quality wins under the belt, as they got to 2-0 by defeating the Carolina Panthers and the New Orleans Saints earlier this season. Though they lost on the road to the New England Patriots in Foxborough and at home to the Bills in the last two weeks, those aren’t bad losses either. Las Vegas has shown us it can at least hang with the best of the AFC.
Next. Saints bench Michael Thomas for fighting. dark
At the start of the year, the Raiders were seen as a sexy pick to be one of three AFC Wild Card teams. Some people might have been higher on the Denver Broncos or the Los Angeles Chargers over them, but the Raiders have proven to be the Chiefs’ biggest challenger up to this point of the season. They can run the ball and they can generate a pass-rush, two big keys to winning.
Las Vegas won’t sweep the Chiefs, but the Raiders belong in the AFC playoff picture for sure.