Raiders moving on from Derek Carr is the only way to catch the Chiefs

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 07: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs signals at the line of scrimmage against the Las Vegas Raiders during the second half of the game at Allegiant Stadium on January 07, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 07: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs signals at the line of scrimmage against the Las Vegas Raiders during the second half of the game at Allegiant Stadium on January 07, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Getty Images) /
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Dec 15, 2019; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) celebrates next to tight end Darren Waller (83) after rushing for a first down against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fourth quarter at Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 15, 2019; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) celebrates next to tight end Darren Waller (83) after rushing for a first down against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fourth quarter at Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /

After an off-season of hype around the AFC West, it ended up being for naught as the Chiefs are once again the only team standing. How did we get here and can the Raiders close the gap in 2023?

When the NFL released the 2022 regular season schedule, many Raiders fans circled the Week 18 game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Allegiant Stadium as perhaps the biggest game of the season. After adding Davante Adams and Chandler Jones to a team that made the playoffs in the previous season, more was expected from Las Vegas.

Instead, the season finale for the Raiders was anything but a season-defining matchup. With a final score of 31-13, the Chiefs once again embarrassed Las Vegas. With a 9-1 record against the Raiders, this is just what Patrick Mahomes does at this point.

Of course, the Chiefs embarrass a lot of teams. When they take the field this Sunday in the AFC Championship, it’ll be the fifth straight year they have played in the semi-final game. The cream of the crop in the division and perhaps the league, catching them is going to be a daunting task for the Raiders.