Division Win Still Attainable for the Las Vegas Raiders

With six games left in the NFL regular season, the Las Vegas Raiders find themselves in a familiar yet promising position: just two games back of the AFC West-leading Kansas City Chiefs, with a path to the division title that remains clear and achievable. While the Chiefs have dominated the division for years, recent shifts—including the Raiders’ overtime win over the Los Angeles Chargers, key players returning from injury, and a favorable remaining schedule—have reignited hope that a division win is no longer a long shot but a realistic goal. This isn’t just optimism; it’s a conclusion rooted in data, matchups, and the Raiders’ recent on-field growth. Division Win Still Attainable for the Las Vegas Raiders breaks down the critical factors that make a division title possible, the steps the team must take to seize the opportunity, and why dismissing their chances would overlook the momentum building in Las Vegas.

The first reason a division win remains attainable is the Raiders’ remaining schedule, which includes two head-to-head matchups against the Chiefs and a favorable mix of home games against weaker opponents. The Raiders will face Kansas City in Week 14 (at home) and Week 17 (on the road)—two games that could directly determine the division winner. If the Raiders win both, they would not only erase their current two-game deficit but also take control of the tiebreaker (head-to-head record) if the teams finish with identical records. Beyond the Chiefs, the Raiders’ remaining opponents include the struggling New England Patriots (3-7), the injury-plagued Denver Broncos (4-6), and the Jacksonville Jaguars (5-5)—all teams the Raiders are favored to beat, according to NFL oddsmakers. Winning these “winnable” games would allow the Raiders to build momentum heading into their matchups with the Chiefs, ensuring they stay in contention until the final weeks. Division Win Still Attainable for the Las Vegas Raiders frames the schedule as a gift: it gives the Raiders control over their own destiny, with no need to rely on other teams to lose to climb the standings.

Another key factor in the Raiders’ division title hopes is the return of healthy key players, who are elevating both the offense and defense at the right time. Defensive tackle Bilal Nichols, who missed three games with a shoulder injury, has returned to full strength and is clogging running lanes (he recorded 8 tackles and 1 sack in the win over the Chargers), while rookie cornerback Jalen Hawkins is emerging as a shutdown option (his overtime interception against the Chargers was his third in the last four games). On offense, tight end Darren Waller has fully recovered from hamstring issues and is once again a reliable target (he caught 6 passes for 78 yards against the Chargers), and the offensive line—once a liability—has allowed just 2 sacks in the last three games, giving Jimmy Garoppolo time to throw. These healthy returns have transformed the Raiders from a inconsistent team into a balanced one: the offense is scoring 26 points per game in the last month (up from 19 earlier in the season), and the defense is allowing just 19 points per game (down from 25). Division Win Still Attainable for the Las Vegas Raiders emphasizes that health is often the unsung hero of division races—and the Raiders are getting healthy at the perfect moment.

For the Las Vegas Raiders, recent momentum—specifically, their ability to win close games—has proven they have the mental toughness needed to compete in a tight division race. Earlier in the season, the Raiders lost three games by four points or less, struggling to execute in crunch time. But in the last month, they’ve flipped the script: they beat the Chargers in overtime, won a 23-20 nail-biter against the Broncos, and narrowly lost to the Chiefs by three points (a game they led until the final two minutes). This shift isn’t accidental; it’s the result of coach Josh McDaniels’ adjustments to late-game playcalling (he’s leaning more on Josh Jacobs’ rushing in the fourth quarter) and the defense’s improved communication (they’ve forced 5 turnovers in the last three games). For the Las Vegas Raiders, winning close games isn’t just about luck—it’s about confidence. Players like Maxx Crosby (who has 4 sacks in the last three games) and Davante Adams (who has 3 game-winning catches this season) are stepping up when it matters most, and that mental edge will be critical in their upcoming matchups with the Chiefs. Division Win Still Attainable for the Las Vegas Raiders explores how momentum isn’t just a feeling; it’s a habit—and the Raiders are building the habit of winning when it counts.

The Las Vegas Raiders also have a secret weapon in their division title chase: the Chiefs’ own vulnerabilities, which are becoming more apparent with each passing week. While the Chiefs remain the division favorites, they’ve shown cracks in recent games: their offensive line is struggling (they’ve allowed 12 sacks in the last four games), their defense is giving up big plays (opponents have scored 4 touchdowns of 40+ yards against them in the last month), and star tight end Travis Kelce is dealing with a knee injury that has limited his production (he’s caught just 10 passes for 98 yards in the last two games). These weaknesses play directly into the Raiders’ strengths: their pass rush (led by Crosby) can exploit the Chiefs’ offensive line issues, and their secondary (now healthy with Hawkins) can limit the Chiefs’ big-play potential. In their earlier matchup this season, the Raiders lost to the Chiefs 27-24 but outgained them in total yards (380-350) and had more time of possession (35 minutes to 25). For the Las Vegas Raiders, this means they already know how to compete with the Chiefs—they just need to fix the small mistakes (like a late interception that sealed the loss) to come out on top. Division Win Still Attainable for the Las Vegas Raiders notes that the Chiefs aren’t unbeatable—and the Raiders have the blueprint to beat them.

Finally, the Raiders’ ability to address their lingering flaws—specifically, reducing turnovers—will be the final piece of the puzzle in their division title quest. Through the first 10 games, the Raiders turned the ball over 18 times (10th-most in the NFL), costing them at least two wins. But in the last three games, they’ve cut that down to just 2 turnovers, with Garoppolo avoiding costly interceptions and Jacobs protecting the football. If the Raiders can keep this up—especially against the Chiefs, who lead the NFL in takeaways (22)—they’ll eliminate the biggest obstacle to their success. General manager Dave Ziegler acknowledged this in a recent interview, saying, “Turnovers were killing us earlier. But the team has focused on ball security, and it’s showing. If we can keep protecting the ball, we can beat anyone.” For the Las Vegas Raiders, this focus on detail isn’t just about winning one game—it’s about winning a division. Every turnover avoided is a chance to stay in the game, and every game won is a step closer to the AFC West title. Division Win Still Attainable for the Las Vegas Raiders concludes that the Raiders have all the pieces: a favorable schedule, healthy players, momentum, a path to beat the Chiefs, and a commitment to fixing their mistakes. The division title isn’t guaranteed—but it’s absolutely attainable. For Raider Nation, that’s more than enough to believe.