Week 4 AFC West Roundup
By Justin Smith
A weekly update on the AFC West, to keep up with the division and discuss the chances of the Oakland Raiders grabbing a playoff spot.
The AFC West had a mixed bag last weekend, with the Broncos dominating the Bucs, the Raiders continuing to show moxie on the road, the Chargers coughing up yet another fourth-quarter lead, and the Chiefs forgetting they had a game on Sunday night.
The Raiders have weathered an early-season road storm en route to a 3-1 record and have positioned themselves well after the first quarter of the season, but there is a lot of football left to play with more difficult road trips to endure. With the 3-1 start, the Raiders are in a better position to challenge for the playoffs after four games than they have been since the 2000 season.
The Broncos still remain at the top of the division and are one of three remaining undefeated teams in the NFL, and the only in the AFC. After QB Trevor Siemian went down in Tampa with an AC-joint sprain, rookie Paxton Lynch came in and played well. Denver is looking a lot like New England — plug and play for success.
Can the Raiders challenge Denver for the division? Can the Chiefs bounce back after the absolute debacle in Pittsburgh? Will the Chargers be able to overcome their own mistakes?