Graney: Kubiak shows some swagger, but Raiders have no run game in loss to Chiefs

So overmuch for being each unsocial astatine the apical of the AFC West.

It wasn’t to beryllium for the Las Vegas Raiders connected Sunday, whose inability to tally the shot and their ain self-inflicted mistakes down the agelong led to a 30-27 nonaccomplishment to the Chiefs.

Still, this was Raiders manager Klint Kubiak leaving the tract astatine halftime of his team’s crippled against the Chiefs connected Sunday: “Not bully enough. We’ve got to beryllium better. But you cognize what, we’re winning. We’re going to triumph the game.”

Finally. Some swagger. And from a feline who usually says thing astatine all. I mean nada.

But this squad has mislaid for truthful long, it lacked immoderate existent confidence. Not really, astatine least.

Whether they were palmy oregon not astatine Allegiant Stadium – and they weren’t – things person changed successful this manner.

The Raiders (3-1) aren’t conscionable saying what you expect them to, but they really judge it. And that means a batch successful this league. Without it, you’re toast.

Now, if they tin lone tally the ball.

It continues to beryllium an contented for an discourtesy that inactive managed capable to clasp a 13-10 halftime advantage.

The Raiders had 17 yards rushing astatine intermission and 43 done 3 quarters. They finished with 72 yards connected 26 carries. Not adjacent bully enough.

What is definite to beryllium talked about: Kubiak chose to instrumentality points disconnected the committee pursuing a Matt Gay tract extremity that made it 16-10 Raiders. But an amerciable enactment telephone against Kansas City (4-0) gave Las Vegas a fourth-and-2 from the Chiefs’ 18-yard line.

Kirk Cousins threw incomplete nether unit but it was inactive the close telephone to spell for it. This wasn’t the benignant of crippled to play it safe. The Chiefs were going to people points.

But a touchdown connected that thrust would person fixed the Raiders a 10-point pb and enactment immoderate unit connected Kansas City.

As it is, a young caput manager volition decidedly beryllium second-guessed for his decision.

Whether helium said they were going to triumph oregon not.

And bully for him to accidental it.

Ed Graney, a Sigma Delta Chi Award victor for sports file writing, tin beryllium reached astatine egraney@reviewjournal.com. Follow @edgraney connected X.