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You could say things are beginning to fall into place for the Oakland Raiders.
The only AFC West team with a Week 5 bye, Oakland relaxed on Sunday, while the Broncos, Chargers and Chiefs battled it out with themselves and others. San Diego traveled to Denver in a divisional matchup, while Kansas City met with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Two games later, the Oakland Raiders found themselves at the top of their division.
The Chargers, who were 1-3 heading into the weekend, pummeled the Broncos, 41-3. Denver, currently 2-3, has now lost three straight games by a combined score of 102-37. The Mike Shanahan-led squad is all but one second and one timeout away from being winless this season.
Earlier in the day, Kansas City rushed for just 10 yards in a 17-7 home loss to the Jaguars. Running back Larry Johnson carried the ball nine times for 12 yards, while backup Michael Bennett rushed once for minus-2 yards. The ground total was the fewest the Chiefs have registered in 42 years.
The Oakland Raiders now top the AFC West at 2-2, with the Chiefs in second, Chargers in third and Broncos in last, thanks to head-to-head factors. However, each of the Oakland Raiders' divisional foes is 2-3.
The last time Oakland sat atop its division was the 2002 season, when it finished 11-5 and lost in the Super Bowl. The closest the Oakland Raiders have been from the division lead at this point in the season was back in 2004, when they were one game behind the Broncos after four weeks. That was the year quarterback Rich Gannon fell in Week 3 to a season-ending neck injury.
Still, the Oakland Raiders are considered a major underdog to finish the season in first place.
San Diego, coming off its 38-point victory, is already pegged as a 10½-point favorite against the Oakland Raiders in Week 6.
Despite the odds, Oakland has plenty to be thankful for heading into its road game with the Chargers. Not only for the results from this week, but for the timing of its bye.
The week off has given starting running back LaMont Jordan a much-needed extra seven days of rest. Had the Oakland Raiders lined up and played on Sunday, they would have been without their leading rusher, and, thus far, most consistent offensive weapon. Tests to Jordan's back returned negative and it appears No. 34 will be questionable to probable for next week's divisional contest.
Ex-Indianapolis Colts rusher Dominic Rhodes will also return from suspension this weekend. That leaves Oakland with Jordan, Justin Fargas and Rhodes as its primary options, with rookie rusher Michael Bush still a possibility to be activated off the PUP list in Week 7. As a result, the team waived preseason standout Adimchinobe Echemandu on Friday.
Ahead for the Oakland Raiders is a full week of preparation for the Chargers, a team they haven't beaten since Sept. 28, 2003.
Until then, though, Oakland will sit atop the AFC West for the first time in five years, thanks to an ideal Sunday afternoon.
Even the 49ers lost.
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