Fansided

3 reasons the Raiders win the AFC West

By Scott Rogust

DENVER, COLORADO - OCTOBER 17: Josh Jacobs #28 and Derek Carr #4 of the Las Vegas Raiders celebrate during the second half against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field At Mile High on October 17, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO - OCTOBER 17: Josh Jacobs #28 and Derek Carr #4 of the Las Vegas Raiders celebrate during the second half against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field At Mile High on October 17, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /
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Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) is brought down by Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard (94) in the third quarter of the NFL Week 7 game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021. The Bengals moved into the top of the AFC North with a 41-17 win over the Ravens.Cincinnati Bengals At Baltimore Ravens Week 7
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) is brought down by Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard (94) in the third quarter of the NFL Week 7 game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021. The Bengals moved into the top of the AFC North with a 41-17 win over the Ravens.Cincinnati Bengals At Baltimore Ravens Week 7 /

1. AFC is wide open

This is not the AFC of the past two years, where the Chiefs were the overwhelming favorites to make the Super Bowl. We touched upon that earlier. The conference is very much wide open in 2021.

Early on this season, the Buffalo Bills looked like they were the most complete team not just in the AFC, but in the NFL as a whole. They did easily defeat the Chiefs in primetime in Week 6, but they followed that up by falling into a loss to the Tennessee Titans on Monday Night Football.

Following their win against Buffalo, the Titans essentially shut out the Chiefs this Sunday. But we can not gloss over the fact that this very team lost to the lowly New York Jets in overtime earlier this season. That was the Jets’ first and only win of the year thus far.

The Baltimore Ravens thrived for the majority of this season with quarterback Lamar Jackson playing like an NFL MVP favorite. That happened after their overtime loss to the Raiders in Week 1, as they won five straight games, before getting blown out by the Cincinnati Bengals 41-17 on Sunday.

Then there are the Los Angeles Chargers, whom the Raiders lost to back in Week 4. Even with the strong play of quarterback Justin Herbert in his second-year, they did nothing against the Ravens last week.

Long story short, there is no overwhelming favorite to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. That can work in the Raiders’ favor, especially if they continue playing at a high level after the bye.

Next. 3 NFL coaches who should be on the hot seat after Week 7. dark

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