Silver Minings: Raiders need to win to keep pace with Chiefs

It looked like, for a while at least, the Raiders would have a chance to be in first place by themselves in the AFC West with a win over the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football.

Then Patrick Mahomes started doing Patrick Mahomes things on Sunday. After being stymied by the Chargers for much of the game, Mahomes and the Super Bowl champions won 23-20 in overtime at SoFI Stadium to move to 2-0. Mahomes is 9-0 in his career in September games.

The Chargers fell to 1-1, but there was a major silver lining for LA. First-round 2020 draft pick quarterback Justin Herbert looked great in an emergency start because of a pre-game injury suffered by Tyrod Taylor. So Herbert’s future appears bright.

Meanwhile, the Denver Broncos fell to 0-2 in a, 26-21, loss at Pittsburgh. The Broncos lost quarterback Drew Lock for two to six weeks with a shoulder injury. The Broncos have lost two close game and the injuries are piling up.

To recap: The Chiefs remain clutch. the Chargers may have a quarterback and the Broncos are a mess. Now, it’s time for the Raiders to keep pace with Kansas City.

In other Raiders’ links:

• Feeling good about Ruggs: Adam Caplan reports the Raiders are still feeling good about rookie receiver Henry Ruggs III starting tonight. He has a knee injury, but he practiced Saturday.
• Take a guess: Who will be the first person to light the Al Davis torch at Allegiant Stadium?
• Old buddies: Jon Gruden and Sean Payton go way back.
• Monday Night Memories: Gruden and Jason Witten know a thing about Monday Night Football.
• Look at who likes this team? Terry Bradshaw?