AFC Results Impact Bye Week for the Las Vegas Raiders

The Las Vegas Raiders entered their 2024 bye week with a fragile 4-6 record and fading playoff hopes, but a flurry of unexpected AFC results during that break has breathed new life into their postseason chances. While the Raiders rested, recovered, and refined their strategy, key rivals and wild-card competitors stumbled—creating openings in the standings that seemed unlikely just a week prior. AFC Results Impact Bye Week for the Las Vegas Raiders explores how these outcomes reshaped the team’s path forward, influenced their bye-week preparations, and reignited optimism among fans and players alike. For a franchise teetering on the edge of playoff irrelevance, the bye week’s AFC results weren’t just lucky breaks—they were a second chance to salvage the season.

AFC Results Impact Bye Week for the Las Vegas Raiders begins with the most critical outcome: the Jacksonville Jaguars’ 24-17 loss to the Houston Texans. The Jaguars, who entered the bye week holding the final AFC wild-card spot (5-5), were outplayed by Houston’s defense, which forced three turnovers and limited Jacksonville’s rushing attack to just 78 yards. The loss dropped the Jaguars to 5-6, tying them with the Raiders in the standings and erasing Jacksonville’s two-game lead. “That Jaguars loss was huge for us,” said Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who watched the game with teammates during a bye-week film session. “It didn’t just pull us even—it showed us that the teams ahead of us are beatable. They’re not unbeatable juggernauts; they’re making mistakes too.” The Texans’ win also benefited the Raiders indirectly: Houston (now 6-5) moved ahead of Jacksonville in the AFC South, further congesting the wild-card race and giving the Raiders more opportunities to climb with wins. For the Raiders, the Jaguars’ loss was a reminder that momentum in the NFL can shift quickly—especially during the chaotic stretch run.

AFC Results Impact Bye Week for the Las Vegas Raiders continues with other key AFC outcomes that worked in the Raiders’ favor. The Miami Dolphins, a top wild-card contender (7-4 entering the bye week), suffered a surprising 31-28 loss to the Tennessee Titans. Miami’s high-powered offense, which had averaged 32 points per game, was held in check by Tennessee’s secondary, which intercepted Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa twice—including a game-sealing pick in the final minute. The loss dropped Miami to 7-5, keeping them within striking distance of the Raiders if Las Vegas can string together wins. Meanwhile, the Denver Broncos (4-6), the Raiders’ divisional rival, lost 19-16 to the Los Angeles Chargers—leaving Denver tied with the Raiders and eliminating any chance of the Broncos pulling away in the AFC West. Even the New England Patriots (3-7), a team the Raiders face in Week 14, lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, further solidifying New England’s status as a potential “winnable” game. “We couldn’t have asked for a better set of results,” said Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels. “Every loss by a wild-card competitor or divisional rival gives us a little more breathing room. But we know we can’t just rely on others to lose—we have to go out and win our own games.” The bye week’s results didn’t just improve the Raiders’ standings; they also simplified their path: win six of their final five games (including matchups against New England and Denver) and they’d likely secure a wild-card spot.

AFC Results Impact Bye Week for the Las Vegas Raiders includes a look at how these results influenced the Raiders’ bye-week preparations. Instead of refining a “spoiler” mindset (preparing to play spoiler for playoff teams), the coaching staff shifted to a “contender” approach—focusing on game plans that would exploit weaknesses in the teams ahead of them. Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham spent extra time analyzing film of the Ravens (who lost to the Cleveland Browns 31-27 during the bye week), noting that Baltimore’s run defense struggled against Cleveland’s rushing attack (156 yards). “The Ravens lost because they couldn’t stop the run,” Graham explained during a bye-week press conference. “That’s something we can exploit with Josh Jacobs and our offensive line. We adjusted our practice reps to focus on power running—formations that will let us wear down teams like Baltimore.” Offensively, the Raiders worked on fixing their red-zone inefficiency (22nd in the NFL), using the bye week to practice goal-line plays that leveraged wide receiver Davante Adams’ one-on-one skills. For the Las Vegas Raiders, the AFC results didn’t just change the standings—they changed the team’s mindset. “We went from ‘maybe we can sneak in’ to ‘we can win this thing,’” said Jacobs, who rushed for 120 yards in the Raiders’ last game before the bye. “That shift in confidence showed up in practice. Everyone was more focused, more intense. We know what’s at stake now.”

AFC Results Impact Bye Week for the Las Vegas Raiders delves into fan reactions, which shifted from despair to cautious optimism in the wake of the AFC results. Before the bye week, #RaidersPlayoffHopeless was trending on Twitter; after the Jaguars and Dolphins losses, #RaidersPlayoffPush took its place. On Reddit’s r/Raiders forum, a thread titled “Bye Week AFC Results: We’re Back In This!” garnered over 8,000 upvotes, with fans sharing updated playoff scenarios and celebrating the unexpected breaks. Local Las Vegas sports bars, which had been somber after the Raiders’ loss to Cleveland, buzzed with energy as fans debated the team’s chances. “People are coming in again, talking about who we need to beat, who we need to lose,” said Juan Martinez, manager of The Silver and Black Tavern. “Before the bye, a lot of fans were saying they’d skip the rest of the season. Now? They’re buying tickets to the Patriots game. It’s like a weight lifted off everyone’s shoulders.” For the Las Vegas Raiders, this renewed fan enthusiasm is more than just positive vibes—it’s a boost for the team. “We feed off that energy at Allegiant Stadium,” Garoppolo said. “When the fans believe, we believe. The bye week’s results didn’t just help us in the standings; they helped us reconnect with our fanbase. That’s going to matter down the stretch.”

AFC Results Impact Bye Week for the Las Vegas Raiders wraps up with the Raiders’ renewed opportunity—and the challenges that remain. While the bye week’s AFC results opened doors, the Raiders still face a tough schedule: they must play the Baltimore Ravens (8-4), Kansas City Chiefs (10-2), and Miami Dolphins (7-5) in their final five games. Winning those matchups won’t be easy, but the bye week’s results proved that even the NFL’s top teams are vulnerable. “We know we can’t count on other teams to lose forever,” McDaniels said. “The bye week gave us a gift, but we have to earn the rest. We have to go out and beat the Ravens, beat the Chiefs, beat the teams that are supposed to beat us. That’s the only way to make the playoffs.” The Raiders also used the bye week to address key injuries: left tackle Kolton Miller (ankle sprain) returned to full practice, and safety Tre’von Moehrig (hamstring strain) is expected to play in the Raiders’ next game. For the Las Vegas Raiders, the bye week’s AFC results were a turning point—not just in the season, but in the team’s identity. “We’re not underdogs anymore; we’re competitors,” said defensive end Maxx Crosby, who recorded two sacks in the Raiders’ last game. “The AFC results showed us that anything is possible. Now we just have to go prove it.” In the end, AFC Results Impact Bye Week for the Las Vegas Raiders is a story of opportunity and resilience. The bye week didn’t just give the Raiders a chance to rest—it gave them a chance to believe again. With a little help from the AFC’s chaos and a lot of hard work during the break, the Raiders are back in the playoff hunt—ready to seize the second chance they’ve been given.