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Silver Minings: Week 8 AFC West roundup

Raiders win when they don’t even play

By Matt Holder
/ new
New England Patriots v Los Angeles Chargers
Los Angeles Chargers
Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Week 8 was a bye week for the Las Vegas Raiders but somehow they still managed to come out on top as big winners.

The rest of the AFC West was in action and not only did the Los Angeles Chargers lose, but the Cincinnati Bengals also suffered an upset. So, the Raiders are not only in sole possession of first place in their division, but they also stay in second place in the conference standings. Granted, the Kansas City Chiefs have yet to play this week as they face off against the New York Giants tonight on Monday Night Football.

Los Angeles Chargers 24 New England Patriots

Key Stats:

  • Justin Herbert, QB: 18/35, 223 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs
  • Austin Ekeler, RB: 17 total touches, 124 total yards, 1 rushing TD
  • Keenan Allen, WR: 6 receptions, 77 yards, 1 TD
  • Mike Williams, WR: 2 receptions, 19 yards
  • Derwin James, DB: 13 total tackles, 7 solo, 1 TFL
  • Joey Bosa, DE: 2 solo tackles, 0 sacks, 0 QB hits

Heading into the game, I had a feeling this one had some upset potential. The Chargers were coming off a bye but got beat down by the Ravens two weeks ago, while the Patriots were coming off of two of their best performances of the season. Those trends continued this weekend.

New England was able to neutralize Los Angeles’ passing attack as the latter only netted 206 yards through the air. The Bolts were able to move the ball on the ground though, as they totaled 163 rushing yards and 8.2 yards per carry. However, part of that was aided by Justin Jackson’s 75-yard rush.

Defensively, the Chargers struggled to stop the run again while the Patriots racked up 141 rushing yards as a team. The Pats also did a decent job of keeping Mac Jones clean, allowing just one sack and four quarterback hits.

A couple of Justin Herbert interceptions to former Charger Adrian Phillips, including a pick-six where Herbert and former Raider Jared Cook weren’t on the same page, put Los Angeles in too big of a hole to overcome. A late touchdown by the Chargers made the score look a little closer than the game actually was.

Los Angeles heads to Philadelphia next week after the Eagles dominated the Lions yesterday.

Denver Broncos 17 Washington Football Team 10

Key Stats:

  • Teddy Bridgewater, QB: 19/26, 213 yards, 1 TD, 0 INTs
  • Melvin Gordon III, RB: 13 total touches, 62 total yards, 2 total TDs
  • Javonte Williams, RB: 11 total touches, 48 total yards
  • Tim Patrick, WR: 3 catches 64 yards
  • Courtland Sutton, WR: 2 catches, 40 yards
  • Malik Reed, EDGE: 3 solo tackles, 1 TFL, 2 sacks
  • Dre’Mont Jones, DT: 3 total tackles, 1 TFL, 1.5 sacks

Denver ended its four-game losing streak but somehow, it still feels like they lost. They just added to the list of bad teams that they’ve beaten this year and their offense was still atrocious.

The Football Team came into the contest allowing about 30 points per game and the Broncos barely scored more than half of that number. Teddy Bridgewater had another pedestrian performance, and the Broncos only managed to run for 83 yards as a team. The defense was a completely different story, though.

Even without Von Miller in the lineup, Denver managed to accumulate five sacks and seven quarterback hits on Sunday. Malik Reed was the team’s biggest standout and Dre’Mont Jones wasn’t far behind him, while former Raider Shelby Harris registered a half-sack and five total tackles. Rookie linebacker Baron Browning also had a game to remember, racking up eight total tackles - five solo and one for loss.

The Broncos will visit the red-hot Cowboys next weekend.

In other Raiders’ links:

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