Sep 24, 2026 · 47 min
Raiders’ perfect start could reshape the AFC conversation
Hour 2: What Would a 3-0 Start Mean for the Raiders?
The panel tests whether early NFL results reveal genuine contenders or merely expose weaknesses in teams under pressure.
- 1A 3-0 Raiders start would force a serious reassessment of their relevance, schedule, and quarterback development plan.
- 2Dallas faces defensive questions while Baltimore, Buffalo, and Kansas City compete for early control of the AFC landscape.
- 3Deshaun Watson’s Cleveland return carries immediate stakes as poor play could deepen the fracture with Browns fans.
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The panel considers whether a 3-0 Raiders start would make the team genuinely relevant or simply reflect a favorable opening stretch.
The brief
Mina Kimes, Louis Riddick, and Stephen A. Smith open by weighing Baltimore against Dallas, with the Eagles, Bengals, and Cowboys’ defensive problems shaping the debate.
Deshaun Watson’s first Cleveland home game becomes a referendum on patience: poor play could bring intense booing and further strain his relationship with Browns fans.
The central thought experiment asks whether a 3-0 Raiders start would make Las Vegas relevant, especially given the schedule, Tom Brady’s influence, and Fernando Mendoza’s development.
A Jets win over Detroit would challenge assumptions about both teams, while Buffalo and Kansas City face a broader argument over the AFC’s strongest roster and quarterback.
The episode widens to Kawhi Leonard’s Toronto extension, Arch Manning’s test against Tennessee, Tuskegee’s spotlight, and a revealing debate over everyday restaurant choices.