How Do the Raiders Stack Up in the AFC West?

AFC WEST PREVIEW:

How the Raiders Match Up with the Chargers

In the latest installment of our AFC West Preview Series, Cody Alexander of MatchQuarters.com joins me to break down what Mike McDaniel’s arrival means for Justin Herbert, how the Chargers’ offense could evolve, and what challenges Omarion Hampton, Ladd McConkey, and the rest of the supporting cast present for Rob Leonard as he dives into his first season calling plays for the Raiders defense. We also dive into Chris O’Leary’s defense, Derwin James’ role as the centerpiece of that unit, and where the Raiders may have matchup advantages on both sides of the ball. If you want a true X’s-and-O’s breakdown of one of the Raiders’ biggest rivals, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

CONGRATS ARE IN ORDER!

Jackson Powers-Johnson has gotten plenty of attention since being drafted by the Raiders, but today it’s all about sending a big ol’ congratulations to him and his new wife, former UCLA tennis player Kimmi Hance.

The two got married in Kaua‘i, and if the video above is any indication, it was one hell of a time. 🍾🥂

NASTY WORK

Bill Barnwell knows better. He knows how bad the Raiders' offensive line situation was last year. He knows they averaged just 0.6 yards before contact per rush. He also knows that 1,021 of Ashton Jeanty's 1,321 total yards came after contact (per PFF).

It's mid-July. Football content can get a little thin this time of year, but c'mon.

Now, he didn't say much in the tweet itself, so he's got some cover when people inevitably come for him if Jeanty has a big year next season. But what's the saying? A picture is worth a thousand words.

I have a feeling Raiders fans will have a few thousand words of their own for Mr. Barnwell if things go well for Jeanty this year.

MISS ANYTHING?

Catch up on some of our recent stories:

AFC WEST PREVIEW:

How the Raiders Match Up with the Broncos

If you missed the first installment of our AFC West Preview Series, Cody Alexander and I took a deep dive into the defending AFC West champion Denver Broncos and where the Raiders stand in comparison heading into 2026. We broke down how much ground the Raiders have made up this offseason, why Ashton Jeanty and the running game could be critical to attacking Denver's defense, and how Brock Bowers and 12 personnel create matchup problems for the Broncos. We also flipped sides of the ball to examine Bo Nix's development, Denver's roster changes, and where the Raiders may have opportunities to exploit what looks like one of the league's most complete teams. If you're looking for a scheme-heavy breakdown of the Raiders' biggest divisional rival, this episode is definitely worth checking out.

FANSHOTZ FRIDAY

“FanShotz Friday”

By now, you have seen the phenomenal photos we’ve been using in many of our newsletters. They’re some of the best shots you’ll find of your favorite team, captured through the lens of our friend Arnie Bazemore of Fanshotz.com. Every Friday, we’ll feature Arnie’s favorite Raiders shot of the week that he captures at practice or on game day.

This week, we’re featuring a shot Arnie snagged of Maxx Crosby during last year’s game against the Chargers in Los Angeles.

I picked this photo because we’re in the middle of our AFC West Preview Series, but also because I was at the Annual Sack Summit last week, hosted by Maxx, Von Miller, and Cam Jordan.

It’s always an awesome event, but it also gave us our first opportunity to get eyes on Maxx doing football-related work since last season’s injury. He didn’t do a ton, but he participated in some get-offs, demonstrated a few drills, and moved around well.

More than anything, it was another sign that he’s trending in the right direction.

Check out Arnie’s work at his site linked above and reach out if you’re interested in working with him. He’s a great guy and has been so supportive of me over the years when I was at NBC here in Vegas, and he’s come along for the ride with Silver & Black Sports Network, too.

WHAT’S NEXT?

The weekend!

And the release of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey tonight. I was lucky enough to be invited to an early screening, and man, it was epic. I’m not some massive cinephile, but I can appreciate a good movie now and then. If you’re a movie buff, I’d definitely recommend grabbing a ticket to check it out.

As for things on the SBSN front, keep an eye out for the final installment of our AFC West Preview Series, dropping Tuesday at 10 a.m. PT. We’ll be taking a deep dive into the Chiefs and how the Raiders match up against them, and there are plenty of storylines to unpack. Cody also has a take on Kansas City that I think you guys are going to love.

Catch ya next time,