The Las Vegas Raiders managed to end September undefeated, taking down the New Orleans Saints 35-27 in Week 3 to remain tied for first place in the AFC West. That sets the stage for a huge matchup next Sunday, where the top spot in the division is on the line against the 3-0 Kansas City Chiefs. But before that, let’s also check in on how the Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos fared on Sunday.
- QB Patrick Mahomes: 20/24 (83.3%), 246 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
- RB Kenneth Walker III: 18 carries, 70 yards, 1 TD, 1 receiving TD
WR Rashee Rice: 7 catches, 88 yards
LB Nick Bolton: 11 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 PD
CB Mansoor Delane: 10 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 PD
QB Patrick Mahomes: 20/24 (83.3%), 246 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
RB Kenneth Walker III: 18 carries, 70 yards, 1 TD, 1 receiving TD
WR Rashee Rice: 7 catches, 88 yards
LB Nick Bolton: 11 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 PD
CB Mansoor Delane: 10 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 PD
It seemed like Kansas City was pretty much on cruise control in Miami. Mahomes hit Travis Kelce for a 48-yard gain on the Chiefs’ first play from scrimmage, setting up a Walker touchdown to go up 7-0 on the opening drive. The Dolphins did answer with a touchdown drive of their own, but that was the closest the game got, as the Chiefs came right back and scored the next time they had the ball. It’s safe to say Mahomes and the Chiefs are back, winning two out of three contests by multiple possessions. But the Raiders have done the same, heightening the stakes for next week’s matchup.
- QB Justin Herbert: 20/34 (58.8%), 226 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
RB Omarion Hampton: 15 carries, 56 yards
WR Tre’ Harris: 6 catches, 76 yards
LB Daiyan Henley: 9 tackles, 2 FRs
EDG Tuli Tuipulotu: 6 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 TFL, 2 QB hits
QB Justin Herbert: 20/34 (58.8%), 226 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
RB Omarion Hampton: 15 carries, 56 yards
WR Tre’ Harris: 6 catches, 76 yards
EDG Tuli Tuipulotu: 6 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 TFL, 2 QB hits
The Chargers Chargered. Los Angeles had a legitimate chance to pull off a major upset on the road. The team jumped out to a 10-0 first-half lead, then weathered Buffalo’s run to tie it before taking a 13-10 lead into the fourth quarter, where everything unraveled for the Bolts. In the final frame, Hebert threw a pick that set up a Bills touchdown to take the lead, and a turnover on downs gave Buffalo good field position to put the final nail in the Chargers’ coffin. That means Los Angeles is 0-3 and still searching for answers after the first month of the season.
- QB Bo Nix: 17/34 (50.0%), 186 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, 1 rushing TD
RB J.K. Dobbins: 17 carries, 49 yards
Enjoying this article? Support our work with a small crypto donation.WR Pat Bryant: 2 catches, 44 yards, 1 TD (1 2pt conversion)
S Talanoa Hufanga: 5 tackles, 1 sack, 3 PDs, 2 INTs
DT Zach Allen: 2 tackles, 1 sack, 5 QB hits
QB Bo Nix: 17/34 (50.0%), 186 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, 1 rushing TD
RB J.K. Dobbins: 17 carries, 49 yards
WR Pat Bryant: 2 catches, 44 yards, 1 TD (1 2pt conversion)
S Talanoa Hufanga: 5 tackles, 1 sack, 3 PDs, 2 INTs
DT Zach Allen: 2 tackles, 1 sack, 5 QB hits
This game looked like a snooze fest in the first half before the Broncos finally woke up in the third and fourth quarters. Denver’s offense couldn’t get anything going, with no points heading into the locker room, before putting up 30 to pull off the come-from-behind win. Still, the Broncos offense is struggling to find its footing under new play caller Davis Webb. They only put up 257 yards and were outgained by 225 yards in the contest. But Denver gets credit for fighting and being the more disciplined team, as the Rams had 13 penalties for 91 yards to the Broncos’ five and 38.
- Kansas City 3-0 (+38 point differential)
Las Vegas 3-0 (+34)
Denver 2-1 (-10)
Los Angeles 0-3 (-32)
Kansas City 3-0 (+38 point differential)
- 17 things we learned: “Raiders’ star tight end Brock Bowers made his season debut after missing two games with a knee injury. He was his brilliant self as he had 10 catches for 116 yards and a score,” S&BP’s Bill Williamson wrote. “He is going to be so special in Kubiak’s offense. He had three catches on the first drive of the game. Kubiak couldn’t wait to get his new toy involved.”
Raiders still underdogs: Speaking of the big matchup against the Chiefs, our friends at FanDuel Sportsbook have Las Vegas as 4.5-point home dogs.
Klint Kubiak fired up in locker room: Hat backwards and yelling at the top of his lungs, the coach was feeling it after the fourth-quarter comeback in the Big Easy!
Vegas gets an ‘A-‘: “The Raiders might be for real,” CBS Sports’ John Breech wrote. “They started 2-0 without Brock Bowers in the lineup and their offense got a huge jolt with his return on Sunday. Kirk Cousins suddenly has a security blanket and used it early and often, with Bowers catching 10 passes for 116 yards and a TD. Through three weeks, Cousins has proven that he can still sling it, which makes this a dangerous team. At the rate things are going, Fernando Mendoza might not start a game all year.”
17 things we learned: “Raiders’ star tight end Brock Bowers made his season debut after missing two games with a knee injury. He was his brilliant self as he had 10 catches for 116 yards and a score,” S&BP’s Bill Williamson wrote. “He is going to be so special in Kubiak’s offense. He had three catches on the first drive of the game. Kubiak couldn’t wait to get his new toy involved.”
Vegas gets an ‘A-‘: “The Raiders might be for real,” CBS Sports’ John Breech wrote. “They started 2-0 without Brock Bowers in the lineup and their offense got a huge jolt with his return on Sunday. Kirk Cousins suddenly has a security blanket and used it early and often, with Bowers catching 10 passes for 116 yards and a TD. Through three weeks, Cousins has proven that he can still sling it, which makes this a dangerous team. At the rate things are going, Fernando Mendoza might not start a game all year.”
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