Raiders Stuck in AFC West Basement as Chiefs, Chargers, and Broncos Soar
HENDERSON, Nev. — The AFC West is a tale of two extremes: the haves and the have-nots. And unfortunately for the Las Vegas Raiders, they’re stuck on the wrong side of the divide. That gap could grow even wider this Friday (3 p.m. ET, Prime Video) when the Raiders (2-9) face the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs (10-1).
As it stands, the Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers (7-4), and Denver Broncos (7-5) are all playoff-bound if the season ended today. Meanwhile, the Raiders are staring at the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. It’s a stark contrast that highlights just how far Las Vegas has fallen behind its division rivals.
Should the Raiders lose to the Chiefs, they’ll be one step closer to a winless 0-6 record in division play. The last time that happened? 2006. And what did the Raiders get for their troubles that year? JaMarcus Russell, a name that still haunts the franchise.
When asked about the state of the AFC West, Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce didn’t mince words. After a deep breath, he said, “They’re winning. Quarterback play, bottom line. Quarterback play.”
Quarterback Play: The Great Divide
It’s hard to argue with Pierce’s assessment. Just a day earlier, the Raiders were swept by the Denver Broncos for the first time since 2014, thanks to rookie quarterback Bo Nix. The loss marked the Raiders’ seventh straight defeat, their longest losing streak since 2014, when they opened the season 0-10.
“We were bringing the house at [Nix],” Pierce said. “Very first play of the game, we came after him. At the end of the game, we [were] coming after him. The kid never flinched. Didn’t blink.”
Pierce also pointed to the brilliance of other AFC West quarterbacks, including Chiefs superstar Patrick Mahomes and Chargers standout Justin Herbert. “You watch [Mahomes] … it’s 27-27 and he’s running the ball. Looked like he was going to go out of bounds and steps up and goes another 20 yards. And then you look at [Herbert], right? Because you see these guys and, really, the quarterback play with the other three teams, to me, is the biggest difference.”
To be fair, Pierce wasn’t throwing his own quarterbacks under the bus. But let’s be honest: Gardner Minshew, Aidan O’Connell, and Desmond Ridder don’t exactly stack up against Mahomes, Herbert, or even Nix, who’s making a strong case for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
“That’s the elephant in the room,” said Raiders cornerback Jack Jones. “You can’t ignore that. So it is what it is.”
A Season of Setbacks
The Raiders’ quarterback carousel has been a microcosm of their season. Minshew, signed to a two-year, $25 million deal in March, started the season but was benched after five games in favor of O’Connell. Then, O’Connell broke his thumb in his second start, forcing the Raiders to sign Ridder off the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad. Minshew returned, only to suffer a season-ending broken collarbone in Sunday’s loss to the Broncos.
Now, with O’Connell coming off injured reserve, he’s expected to start against the Chiefs—assuming his thumb holds up. But can he replicate last season’s Christmas Day magic, when the Raiders pulled off a 20-14 upset at Arrowhead Stadium? It’s a tall order, especially considering O’Connell didn’t complete a pass after the first quarter in that game.
More Than Just Quarterbacks
While quarterback play is a glaring issue, the Raiders’ struggles go deeper. They have the NFL’s worst rushing attack (74.6 yards per game), the fewest takeaways (5), and the worst takeaway differential (-17). Trading three-time All-Pro receiver Davante Adams to the New York Jets in October didn’t help, nor did injuries to key defensive players like Malcolm Koonce, Nate Hobbs, and Jakorian Bennett.
Even star edge rusher Maxx Crosby has hit a rough patch, going four games without a sack—the longest drought since 2021. “I feel like I’ve been rushing my best,” Crosby said. “That’s just how it goes sometimes.”
Looking Ahead
Despite the bleak outlook, Pierce remains optimistic. “What do the 2025 Raiders look like, and are you a part of that?” he asked. “There’s going to be changes made … and I think it’s important for these guys to put their best foot forward.”
Running back Ameer Abdullah echoed that sentiment. “The game of football, at the NFL level, your freaking resume is always out there. … I expect everyone to do the hell out of their job this week to give ourselves a chance against Kansas City.”
For the Raiders, the focus isn’t just on salvaging this season but on closing the gap in the AFC West for years to come. Whether they can do that remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the road ahead won’t be easy.
Originally Written by: Paul Gutierrez
