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The Las Vegas Raiders entered their Week 4 clash with the Kansas City Chiefs as one of only three remaining undefeated teams in the AFC. Although Klint Kubiak's squad ultimately fell 30-27, the game revealed a larger truth: for the first time in ages, the Raiders look like legitimate AFC playoff contenders.
A 4-0 start would have been ideal. The last time Las Vegas accomplished that was in 2002, a season that ended with an 11-5 record and a Super Bowl appearance. Instead, the Raiders sit at 3-0 after pushing the NFL's dominant team of the past decade to a three-point margin. That is a respectable consolation.
With Kubiak leading the way and several key pieces in place, this Raiders team should now carry postseason expectations. Here is why.
Klint Kubiak Proves to Be a Legitimate Offensive Mastermind
The track record of NFL head coaches' sons becoming head coaches is mixed. There have been rough cases like Mike Shula and Mike Nolan, plenty of average ones such as Wade Phillips, Jim Mora Jr., Brian Schottenheimer, and Rex Ryan, and at least one standout in Kyle Shanahan. Klint Kubiak, whose father Gary worked under Kyle Shanahan's father for years, appears to be trending toward the top of that list, even if the sample size is small.
Kubiak arrived in Las Vegas with a solid resume, including calling plays for the Seattle Seahawks last season on their way to a Super Bowl victory. He earned his head coaching opportunity and is demonstrating an ability to maximize veteran quarterbacks, much as he did with Sam Darnold and is now doing with Kirk Cousins.
The Raiders' offense has clear holes, particularly at wide receiver. Nevertheless, Kubiak is squeezing the most out of his available talent: a dependable running back duo in Ashton Jeanty and Mike Washington Jr., plus an elite tight end pairing of Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer. Most crucially, he has built a system that leverages Cousins' strengths—reading defenses and delivering quick throws—while masking his athletic limitations. The result is the No. 8 scoring offense in the NFL this season.
That offense would have had a chance to win in Week 4 against the Chiefs if not for a late special teams turnover.
The Raiders Defense Is Playoff-Caliber
The other side of the ball may be where Las Vegas has improved most. The Raiders caught a break this offseason when the Baltimore Ravens backed out of a trade for Maxx Crosby, keeping the Pro Bowl pass rusher in town. With their star still on the roster, the franchise made savvy free-agent additions to surround Crosby with seasoned veterans who understand how to win.
That effort began with a pair of former Georgia teammates at linebacker, Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker. These two lead the Raiders in tackles and consistently make impact plays to keep the team competitive. Veteran cornerback Taron Johnson has also delivered, including a touchdown-saving chase-down of Kenneth Walker III in Week 4. Defensive end Kwity Paye already has 2.0 sacks, forming a nice complement to Crosby on the edge.
General manager John Spytek also drafted well in April, selecting safety Treydan Stukes and cornerback Hezekiah Masses, who have quickly become starters in the secondary. As fourth-round corner Jermod McCoy works his way back from injury, that defensive back depth should only grow stronger.
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Originally reported by yahoo.