AFC West – Week Eight Recap
Halfway through the season and the Chiefs continue to lead the division. None of the other teams have shown great consistency other than the Broncos with three consecutive losses. The Chargers were showing potential with three consecutive wins and then they faced the Broncos. As for the Raiders one just does not know which team to expect, the Super Bowl contender or the team the Browns would like to play.
THE STANDINGS
Kansas City Chiefs 6 and 2
Denver Broncos 3 and 4
Los Angeles Chargers 3 and 5
Oakland Raiders 3 and 5
The Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs hosted the Broncos in Arrowhead Stadium. Arrowhead is loud and poses issues for visiting teams. Home field advantage and an excellent team proved to be too much for the Broncos.
What Went Wrong
The Chiefs are not rushing. Kareem Hunt rushed for 46 yards on 22 attempts. The only other players on the team to run with the ball was quarterback Alex Smith who ran for 33 yards on four attempts. A quarterback should not be one of a team’s leading rushers. Kareem Hunt is essentially the Chief’s running game. While it may have gotten them this far, it is not how teams win Super Bowls. The Chiefs also had a hard time finding the end zone. The Chiefs scored 15 points on field goals. Five times the Chiefs got close enough for Harrison Butker to put the ball through the uprights, but they could not seal the deal with a touchdown.
What Went Right
As much as the Chief’s rushing game lacks depth their receiving game has variety. This week Travis Kelce was the go to target for Alex Smith bringing in seven passes for 133 yards and a touchdown. Kareem Hunt and Tyreek Hill were Smith’s other favorite targets of the game. The Chiefs were also able to capitalize on a turnover when Marcus Peters returned a fumble recovery for a touchdown in the first quarter.
What is Next
Next week that Chiefs travel to the House Jerry Built and take on the Cowboys.
The Denver Broncos
The Broncos traveled to Kansas City for a tough division rivalry game.
What Went Wrong
The Broncos’ biggest issue against the Chiefs (as in most of their losses) is the Quarterback. One has to question was Trevor Siemian ready to take over the starting quarterback role. The second question is who was Denver’s alternative. Siemian threw three interceptions and was sacked three times. Which bears the next question is Siemian the problem or is it the offensive line? If Siemian had better protection would he throw fewer interceptions? Where do changes need to be made? Speaking of turnovers Denver was not able to capitalize on the Chief’s turnovers.
What Went Right
Statistically Denver played a better game than the Chiefs. With relatively even passing yards (198 for Denver to 202 for Kansas City) and 177 yards rushing compared to Kansas City’s 79 Denver played a good game offensively. They also had more first downs and a higher third down conversion rate. Denver has the potential be successful. They must find their way in to the end zone.
What is Next
The Broncos travel to Philadelphia to take on the 7 and 1 Eagles.
The Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers with their three straight wins headed to Foxboro to take on the Patriots.
What Went Wrong
The Chargers lost 77 yards in penalties. Penalties equal mistakes and mistakes lose games. The Chargers did not make it into the red zone. The turnover ratio was also a problem for the Chargers. The Patriots did not give up the ball. No fumbles and no interceptions. The Chargers on the other hand fumbled twice and Philip River threw and interception. All of these things combined led to the Chargers loss. It was a relatively close game and the Chargers fought hard but mistakes and turnovers do not win games.
What Went Right
Melvin Gordon lead the Chargers in rushing including an 87 yard touchdown sprint. Gordon outran the entire Patriot defense carefully skirting the sideline. The Charger’s defense kept the Patriots from reaching the end zone on six occasions causing the Patriots to attempt field goals. As Stephen Gostkowski missed two of the six field goal attempts the game stayed a little bit closer. Defensive success can be attributed in part to Adrian Phillips and Jahleel Addae who accumulated twenty-one tackles. Desmond King, Joey Bosa, and Darius Philon worked with the Chargers defense to sack Tom Brady three times.
What is Next
The Chargers get week nine off to rest, regroup and relax.
The Oakland Raiders
The Raiders after a win over the Chiefs headed to Buffalo to take on the Bills.
What Went Wrong
Two interceptions and two fumbles recovered by the Bills did not help the Raiders cause. One of the fumble recoveries was returned for a touchdown. The Raiders were not able to cause the Bills to turn the ball over. Oakland only covered 54 yards on the ground. The Raiders were unable to keep the ball. The Bills had possession of the ball for almost eleven minutes more than the Raiders.
What Went Right
Derek Carr was successful throwing for 313 yards and a touchdown. He completed 31 out of his 49 passes. Carr was protected by his offensive line this week and was not sacked at all. Michael Crabtree continues to be one of Carr’s favorite targets accounting for 83 of the receiving yards. Cory James, NaVorro Bowman and Shalom Luani led the defense with 21 tackles. The Raiders were able to score both times they made it into the red zone.
What is Next
The Raiders leave the cold of Buffalo and go on to take on the Dolphins in sunny Miami.
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