Los Angeles Chargers

AFC West Roundup: Week 13

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 9:09 p.m. ET

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A weekly update on the AFC West, to keep up with the Oakland Raiders and the rest of the division.

The Chargers were the only AFC West team to lose on the weekend, and they don’t really matter anymore as it pertains to challenging for anything important. As I’ve repeatedly said they could play spoiler down the stretch, but that’s about all they’ve got at this point.

The Broncos stout defense showed up again and made Blake Bortles look like, well Blake Bortles. Amazing stat overheard on the NFL Network — Bortles has more pick-sixes (11) than career wins (10).

Wow. Ouch. Thank you, Kay Adams — who definitely loves her some Raiders. That is a MESSY stat.

Anyway, that put the Broncos back into the second wild card spot. But the true victors on Sunday were the Chiefs. They rode an emotional Eric Berry homecoming in Atlanta to another crazy win and stayed one game back of the Raiders and in the first wild card spot.

The Raiders, after some offensive mistakes in the first half, absolutely turned it on in the second. Down 24-9, they outscored Buffalo 29-0 the rest of the way en route to a 38-24 win. Derek Carr did his thing. Khalil Mack continues to make a case for DPOY. It all set up a very juicy matchup on Thursday night.

Raiders-Chiefs is always good, usually close, and definitely physical. But the Chiefs humiliated the Raiders 26-10 on their home field. Both teams are playing at the highest level. They’re fighting each other for the division title.

It’s going to be a bloodbath.

Let’s check in on the AFC West.

Dec 4, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) stands in the team huddle against the Buffalo Bills in the second quarter at Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Oakland Raiders

1st Place – AFC West

Record: 10-2
Last Game: defeated Buffalo Bills (6-6) 34-28 in Oakland
Next Game: at Kansas City Chiefs (9-3) Thurs, Dec 8, 8:25 EST

The Raiders withstood some drops, penalties, and porous run defense through the first three quarters to keep the game close.

This offense, though, is something to behold. “Close” was 24-9 with a little more than five minutes left in the third quarter. That’s close enough, as Carr and company showed on Sunday.

Twenty game minutes later, the Raiders had blitzed the Bills 29-0 with a combination of big plays, solid runs and defensive magic to salt the game away. It didn’t look close, though it was for most of the game.

Their outburst would’ve netted a 29-0 lead with 10 minutes left in the second quarter, if it happened at the beginning. Carr, Cooper, Crabtree, Murray, Richard, Rivera, Roberts and the offensive line took over their side of the ball.

Khalil Mack again took over his.

Mack stuffed Shady McCoy in the backfield for a loss in the midst of three straight three-and-outs pitched by the defense while the offense got humming.

He bull-rushed QB Tyrod Taylor in the end zone and got his hand on a pass, tipping it up in the air for an easy Nate Allen interception that led to another quick Raiders touchdown.

Then, for the second straight week, Mack took the other team’s soul. With Buffalo having one last gasp but likely little chance, Mack saw to it they had none. He started his rush slowly before bulling past the right tackle and chasing Taylor down from behind. Mack punched the ball from Taylor’s hand and it just fell into his lap, like it was coming home.

Strip-sack fumble recovery. Game over. Again.

The Raiders have their biggest game in years on Thursday night when they travel to Arrowhead to face the Chiefs for first place in the division. They will have to play much more like they did in the final twenty minutes than the first forty if they hope to beat the Chiefs.

The Raiders gave up over 200 yards on the ground to the Bills. Granted they are the #1 rushing team in the NFL, and Taylor is the top rushing QB in the league. But that’s still worrisome. McCoy got loose for multiple big runs. Taylor did as well.

The Chiefs are getting far more creative lately with newly discovered weapons Albert Wilson and Tyreek Hill. They are as healthy as they’ve been all season, particularly on defense. Justin Houston is back to wreaking havoc. They are as dangerous a team as the Raiders have played.

And they beat the Raiders in Oakland, 26-10, forcing the Raiders into their worst game of the season.

The Raiders can win this game, but the key is limiting mistakes while forcing one or two of their own. These teams match up well. The Raiders offense is more explosive. The Chiefs defense is more consistent. Both special teams units are excellent.

This game will likely come down to who can make one or two more plays. Is it Carr or Smith? Is it Mack or Houston? Or is it some unlikely hero/goat from either side?

McCoy went for almost 200 all-purpose yards on Sunday. Spencer Ware is a viable dual-threat. Can the Raiders contain him? Can their own running game with Latavius Murray and Jalen Richard continue their success from last week?

Thursday will tell the story. The Raiders still have two divisional road games after this one, and would be hard-pressed to win the division if they lose a second to the Chiefs. The Chiefs would be hard-pressed to win the division if they fall two games behind the Raiders with three left to play.

No pressure.

October 16, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) passes the football against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first quarter at Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Kansas City Chiefs

2nd Place – AFC West

Record: 9-3
Last Game: beat Atlanta Falcons (6-6) 29-28 in Atlanta
Next Game: vs. Oakland Raiders (10-2) Thurs, Dec 8, 8:25 EST

The Chiefs pulled just about every way to score in the book on the Falcons en route to their one-point win. Including the first ever “pick-2” in NFL history. This team just keeps getting it done, sometimes in the strangest of ways. But they get it done.

It’s hard to swallow another close, comeback victory from the Chiefs. But it’s harder to root against Eric Berry, no matter who he plays for. Taking sports out of the equation for a moment, Berry is a wonderful story of the human spirit and by all appearances a great person and definitely a great player.

To hear a man choke up and say about his hometown (Atlanta) “The last time I came home during the season it was to get chemotherapy… I shed a few tears before the game, I shed a few tears during the game and I shed a few after. It was just a lot of emotions. I tried to contain them and let it show through my play.”

Man, did he ever.

After snagging a beautiful pick-six in the second quarter — and giving the ball to his mom in the stands in a truly touching moment — he lie in wait after the Falcons had scored to go up one with four minutes left. They were going for two to make it a three-point game.

Berry laid off the receiver, but after reading that Ryan wasn’t throwing the slant he jumped the route and was off to the races. Bam. Chiefs lead 29-28. First ever pick-two in NFL history. Cancer survivor comes home and makes the two biggest plays of the game.

Hollywood couldn’t write it better.

Now I am not a Chiefs fan. Far from it. But the humanity of some moments surpasses sports fandom, and Eric Berry’s tour de force on Sunday was one of those moments. And, it set up a classic tilt for this Thursday.

Because who doesn’t want to see their team take on the best? And right now, these teams are the two best in the division and top five in the NFL. And they are both getting better.

The Raiders are improving on defense. The Chiefs are improving on offense. And they’re getting a little bolder and more creative in the process.

Berry’s picks weren’t the only defining moment of the Chiefs win. Albert Wilson’s straight up the middle and then weave for a touchdown punt fake was a thing of special teams beauty. It’s also not something you see an Andy Reid coached team do often.

The Walrus is generally more conservative, but like Chuck Noll in the late 70’s he realizes he’s got some weapons in Wilson and Hill. So he’s using them more often. And it’s working.

This is no good for everyone else, because Justin Houston is healthy again and has four sacks in two games. He just keeps blowing up plays. Marcus Peters is healthy again as well. Dee Ford may be soon. This defense is no joke.

It’s going to have to play it’s best when the Raiders come to town. Oakland is fresh off hanging 29 unanswered points on a decent Bills defense in a little more than 20 minutes game time. They’re feeling confident. And revenge is on their minds.

Arrowhead’s mystique got punctured a bit by the Bucs victory there two weeks ago. The Raiders will be coming for revenge. The aura of invincibility at home is gone. Both teams know how important this game is.

Come on Thursday.

Dec 13, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Oakland Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack (52) prepares to sack Denver Broncos quarterback Brock Osweiler (17) during the second half at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Raiders won 15-12. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Denver Broncos

3rd Place – AFC West

Record: 8-4
Last Game: beat Jacksonville Jaguars (3-9) 20-10 in Jacksonville
Next Game: at Tennessee Titans (6-6) Sun, Dec 11, 1 pm EST

The Broncos bounced back from a stinging loss to the Chiefs two weeks ago to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

Their offense was atrocious, with rookie QB Paxton Lynch barely breaking the 100 yard passing mark and completing 50% of his passes. Devontae Booker continued to run ineffectively, gaining 35 yards on 19 carries (1.9 YPC). He did score a TD, though.

Their only offensive spark, Kapri Bibbs, is now on IR. He had a sparkling 49 yards on 5 carries (9.8 YPC) before injuring his left ankle. That leaves Booker.

In all the Broncos had 10 first downs, were 7% on third down (1 of 13), and had 206 total yards. And they won. Gotta love that defense.

Or gotta love how terrible Blake Bortles is. Bortles leads the NFL with 15 interceptions after throwing two to the Broncos on Sunday, one to Bradley Roby for a pick-six.

The Broncos offense couldn’t move the ball all day. Lynch looked lost, Booker is nowhere near the decisive runner he was two weeks before C.J. Anderson got injured, the O-line isn’t helping and neither is the play-calling.

But that D, though.

At least the pass D. Jacksonville had 333 yards of offense. They rushed for 154 yards. They ran 81 plays to the Broncos 54, and dominated the game on paper.

The Broncos will not get away with such an anemic offensive effort against a desperate Tennessee Titans team coming off a bye. The Titans are at home, and just watched a healthy Andrew Luck strafe the Jets last night to serve notice the Colts are not going quietly.

They need this game. But the Broncos do too.

Either the Raiders will be 11-2 or both the Chiefs and Raiders 10-3. If the Broncos lose this game, they’re looking at being at least two and possibly three games out of the division lead with three games left.

They’re clinging to a one-game lead over Miami for the wild-card, and Baltimore and Pittsburgh are battling it out. Houston is 6-6. Indy is 6-6. Tennessee is 6-6. Things are getting mighty interesting.

The Titans were scoring points in bunches before the bye. They boast the #2 rushing attack in the NFL behind Mariota, Murray and rookie Derek Henry. That is where the Broncos are vulnerable, and where you can believe the Titans will hit them hardest.

If the Titans play a ball-possession game the way the Jags did and dominate the plays and ground attack, the Broncos will be very tired. 81 plays is a ton for a defense.

Although he isn’t spectacular, the Broncos are better when Trevor Siemian plays – though it’s unlikely he can hang with Mariota either. They’re hoping he’s back from a foot injury this week.

The Broncos are in tough with a young, rested team fighting for a playoff spot and yet another 1 pm start to boot. Their defense showed again last week they can win games for this team, but it’s been less frequent yet more needed this season. Can they do it again Sunday?

They’d better hope because 206 yards of offense isn’t going to win you many games. Even with such a great defense.

October 9, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper (89) runs the football past San Diego Chargers cornerback Adrian Phillips (31) for a touchdown during the third quarter at Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

San Diego Chargers

4th Place – AFC West

Record: 5-7
Last Game: lost to Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5) 28-21 at home
Next Game: at Carolina Panthers (4-8) Sun, Dec 11, 1 pm EST

The Chargers last, desperate playoff hopes died a slow death on Sunday. The Bucs, winners of three straight now and tied with Atlanta for first in the NFC South, squeezed the life out of them with time of possession play and timely throws from Jameis Winston.

Rivers proclamation of making the playoffs is officially done. No 9-7 teams this year. Mediocrity in the AFC is not rewarded – unless the AFC South cannibalizes each other.

San Diego now gets to travel to Carolina to play the crazily dysfunctional Panthers. Cam Newton is far more likeable when he’s winning. Sure he’s arrogant and sometimes childish. But fun.

Now? This mopey, poor me childishness isn’t so fun. The tie thing is ridiculous. You can’t buy a shirt? Or send someone to buy you one? You donate millions to charity, which is awesome. So you have the money to buy a shirt. Or hire a seamstress to knit you one on the spot — made of silk, or cashmere.

It was just childish and not funny at all. It reminded me of when Oakland was terrible and things other than football became stories. Things that aren’t stories. Hey guess what? Carolina is terrible this year. They thought they’d be good. Cam has shown he doesn’t take losing well.

So he’s being a bit immature. Ron Rivera is publicly shaming him for it. Ron Rivera is also being immature. Cam is rightfully annoyed by the public shaming and not hiding it well. It’s all drama that’s very high school.

Which means the Chargers will probably win on Sunday. Carolina is a hot mess on and off the field. They make a big play or two every game, sandwiched between 59 minutes of offensive ineptitude and defensive confusion.

Poor Thomas Davis. Poor Luke Keuchly. These warriors deserve better. Let’s hope Keuchly can come back healthy and awesome again.

San Diego deserved better too. Better than shooting themselves in the foot with late-game craziness early in the season. They deserved better than multiple receivers and important players on IR.

Probably better than me riffing on Cam Newton-Ron Rivera for the majority of their time in this piece.

But they didn’t get it. Or a vote to build a stadium in San Diego. Now they’re likely off to LA. With games left against the Chiefs and Raiders, they still have a chance to affect the AFC West race.

Just not their own place in it.