HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Previous Raiders teams were more than accustomed to the feeling of coming off a loss, but this year’s team is surprisingly experiencing it for the first time about a month into the season.
asserted
team → come → season
Las Vegas had every chance to remain unbeaten this past Sunday before losing 30-27 to Kansas City, which until last season had won nine consecutive AFC West titles.
asserted
which → have → titles
The Chiefs (4-0) now look as if they could be ready to begin another streak.
uncertain
they → look → streak
Now the Raiders must turn their attention to Sunday’s game at New England and forget how close they came to beating the Chiefs.
“I think we just have so much to be focused on now moving forward that keeps our attention on today, really,” quarterback Kirk Cousins said Wednesday.
asserted
Cousins → turn → today
“That’s what mature teams got to do is be able to respond and look ahead and keep pushing no matter what happens.”
asserted
what → ’ → what
This was expected to be a rebuilding season for the Raiders under first-year coach Klint Kubiak, but after winning their first three games, they appeared to be ahead of schedule.
asserted
they → expect → schedule
Las Vegas (3-1) remains in position to make an unexpected playoff run.
asserted
Vegas → remain → run
Of the 49 teams to open a season 3-1 since the playoffs expanded in 2020, 38 qualified for the postseason.
asserted
38 → open → postseason
But this also is a challenging part of their schedule.
asserted
this → challenge → schedule
After this weekend, the Raiders host Buffalo and the Los Angeles Rams — the two consensus betting favorites to win the Super Bowl.
asserted
Raiders → host → Bowl
Simply facing the Patriots alone should be enough to get the Raiders’ full attention.
asserted
facing → face → attention
“It’s not about who exactly we’re playing,” defensive end Maxx Crosby said.
asserted
Crosby → ’ → who
“No matter what, we want to be the best version of ourselves.
asserted
we → want → ourselves
We know New England’s a great team and we’re going on the road again, so we got a lot of work to do until we get to Sunday.
asserted
we → know → Sunday
“They got a team coming off the appearance in the Super Bowl, so we know we got to be at our absolute best.”
asserted
we → get → best
He was perhaps the best player on the teams that over the previous two seasons combined to win seven games.
asserted
that → combine → games
Las Vegas already has as many wins as last year’s team, which went 3-14.
asserted
which → have → team
“You just got to be present,” Crosby said.
asserted
Crosby → got → ?
“You got to be focused on right now, and that’s all you can keep your mind at.
asserted
you → got → mind
Because if you’re thinking too far ahead, too far behind, worry about the loss the week before or the win the week before, it’s all an illusion.”
asserted
it → think → loss
Kubiak said he wasn’t concerned about the team having the proper focus.
asserted
team → say → focus
“A very mature group,” Kubiak said.
asserted
Kubiak → say → ?
Injury update
Wide receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr., who has been out all season with a hamstring injury, practiced in full Wednesday to open his 21-day window.
asserted
who → practice → window
During that span, the Raiders can activate Thornton and add him to the 53-man roster, place him on season-ending IR or release or trade him.
asserted
Raiders → activate → him
“It would be good to get him back out there and get him playing and reacclimating,” Kubiak said.
asserted
Kubiak → get → him
“He’s a great teammate.
asserted
He → ’ → ?
He’s a great person.
asserted
He → ’ → ?
He’s worked really hard.
asserted
He → work → ?
He stayed patient, had a great attitude, and was the kind of guy you really pull for.”
asserted
you → stay → guy
Right guard Jackson Powers-Johnson (groin) went through a limited practice.
asserted
Johnson → go → practice
He did not play against the Chiefs.
asserted
He → play → Chiefs
Wide receiver Jalen Nailor (concussion) did not practice.
asserted
Nailor → practice → ?
He was hurt against Kansas City.
asserted
He → hurt → City
Kubiak was Seattle’s offensive coordinator when the Seahawks beat the Patriots in last season’s Super Bowl.
asserted
Seahawks → beat → Bowl
“They were a great defense last season,” Kubiak said.
asserted
Kubiak → say → ?
“They’re a great defense this season with a lot of talented players, really talented coaching staff.
asserted
They → ’re → players
They play hard, and this is a defense that we have a ton of respect for.”
asserted
we → play → respect
The Aporia
