Is the AFC West now a two-team race, or can the Raiders get back into it?
Kiz: Denver has jumped out to a 3-1 start. Even better: With Sad Eli and the worst NFL team in New York coming to Colorado for the weekend, the Broncos have what amounts to a second consecutive bye week. They need the easy W, because Kansas City is the hottest team in the league. But what happened to the Raiders? Are they done? Is the AFC West now a two-team race?
Jhabvala: I’m hesitant to declare the Raiders out. It’s too early and if/when Derek Carr miraculously comes back after suffering a back injury against the Broncos, they could easily storm back. What’s more: The Broncos face a grueling 12-game stretch that includes consecutive road games at the Chargers, Chiefs and Eagles following their meeting with the depleted Giants on Sunday.
Kiz: Our old friend Jack Del Rio is in full-scale desperation mode in Oakland. After winning a dozen games in 2016, the Raiders look as if they might need luck to finish 8-8 this year. The team is far too dependent on Carr, which is why Del Rio is pushing Carr to play against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, only two weeks after the quarterback suffered a serious back injury against the Broncos.
Jhabvala: Perhaps you’re right. I also think the expectations of Marshawn Lynch in his return after a year away from the game were maybe too high. Lynch is averaging a career-low 3.4 yards per carry. After ranking sixth in rushing yards per game last season, the Raiders now rank 23rd. Ask the Broncos how vital a rushing attack is to an offense.
Kiz: The calendar says there’s a whole lot of meaningful football to be played. But not for the Raiders. Two weeks from today, Oakland could well find itself four games back in the loss column to Kansas City and three back of Denver. The AFC West figures to be a fight to the finish between the Chiefs and Broncos. Hate to break it to Raiders Nation, but the best your team can do in 2017 is play a spoiler role.
Jhabvala: I’m more interested in the Chiefs than the Raiders, to be honest. Kansas City has the most exciting offense in the league with, among their many weapons, receiver/returner Tyreek Hill and running back Kareem Hunt. They’re forcing defenses to change the way they play them, making Oct. 30 the most anticipated game on the Broncos’ docket. Broncos linebacker and Kansas City native Shane Ray will return from injury for that game and has already made a bold proclamation: “I want to be a part of the reason why we take them down and really take over our division,” he said Monday. It may be a two-team race now. But Kiz, you and I have seen how quickly things can change.