Checking in On the AFC West

by Chris Thorman on Oct 2, 2007 9:59 AM CDT

AFC WEST	W	L	PF	PA	STRK
Kansas City	2	2	56	66	Won 2
Oakland	2	2	102	100	Won 2
Denver	2	2	72	95	Lost 2
San Diego	1	3	68	102	Lost 3

The Broncos

Denver had the unfortunate task of trying to take down the defending Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts this past week. The Broncos committed two turnovers and gave up three passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown to lose 38 to 20. The Sports Guru gives us his take:

What is there to say after an 18-point loss, especially when you have 223 yards rushing and give up 226? I said all last week that I was not going to be devastated if we lost to the World Champs in their building, and I'm not. If that makes me something less of a fan than those of you out there getting ready to jump ship than I guess I am. I like to think it makes me more of a realist. Don't take this as not having confidence in the Broncos, or think that I didn't swear at the television with any less vigor with each yard Joseph Addai churned out. It's the knowledge that the two teams on the field yesterday are in two different places, and what we saw was a direct result of that.

Guru goes on to cite the absence of safety John Lynch, poor special teams play and an athletically challenged defense for the loss.

The Raiders

The Raiders, with Daunte Culpepper at the helm, ran all over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. Culpepper alone accounted for all five Oakland touchdowns as he passed for two and ran for three. The Raiders had 299 yards rushing in a 35 to 17 win. You know something? The Raiders may not be half bad this year. Wait. Only 65 yards passing on Sunday? Nevermind. They will be that bad this year. saint fills us in:

Daunte being Daunte, high touchdown to turnover rates and third best running QB of All-Time performances, makes the defense play honestly against the deep ball/passing game in general and let's Tom Cable's offensive line, Zack Miller and Griffith open up holes big enough for Cable Cars to drive through them. Thus, the Cable Car Offense which is currently the #1 rushing attack in the NFL with a 194.2 yards rushing per game average. That is more than double the average from 2006 when the Raiders managed a meager 94.9 yards per game.

Oakland is a missed field goal away from being 3-1 but they're also another missed field goal away from being 1-3. One word to describe the Raiders this year- fiesty.

The Chargers

Not going to spend more time than we already have on the Chargers. Their team is in disarray. They have no heart. Nobody believes in their head coach. And they have one of the most fair weathered fan bases I've seen in a long time. Rob delivers the eulogy:

Taking care of he football was one of Marty Schottenheimer's biggest mantra. So far this year, the Chargers have seemed to forget about that mentality. Losing the football at the most inopportune times have killed the Chargers this year. Having opposing defenses score on you after you cough up the football is an almost guaranteed way to lose a game. The Patriots did it to the Chargers and the Chiefs did it to them as well. That took those team's point total up into the thirties, and with the way the Chargers' offense has been playing, scoring 30+ points seems to be too much to ask.

You have to love the NFL. Parity reigns and makes each week that much more exciting. The AFC West is up for grabs people. You have to like the Chiefs position right now, with six out of the next eight at home.

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Comments

These next 8 weeks are do or die time

We gotta build a little cushion, b/c we end 3 outta 4 on the road. After a difficult start, there's a buzz going around Kansas City. People are starting to get revved up because we now know that we at least have the capability of beating most teams.

by Joel Thorman on Oct 2, 2007 12:09 PM CDT reply actions

I'm torn right now

On one side, I'm really optimistic and believe the Chiefs have what looks like to be the best team in our division right now, and with this upcoming schedule, I really think we can take control of first in our division, and then control our own destiny to finish up the season. That's the good side.

On the bad side, is the realistic fate of our Chiefs. While I think we'll make it into the playoffs, or come damn close, I don't think we'll make it very far again, just because of the talent both New England and Indianapolis have. Best case scenario the Chiefs win in the first round against a wild card team, then travel to either NE or IND for a road game, then if they win that, they most likely have to travel to the other team's stadium the following week for the AFC Championship. That is one of the toughest 3-game stretches you could ever imagine, and I don't think our Chiefs have the talent to knock either one of those teams, not to mention both of them in back to back weeks. So then I'm left with the Chiefs out of the playoffs again early, and basically in the same spot we were starting this season, just with all our players a year older (good for some of them, bad for most), and a draft pick in the early to mid 20's.

But I guess I'll take the present over the inevitable future, because watching this year's team succeed is much more fun than looking forward to next year.

by Chiefs n Chopper on Oct 2, 2007 12:40 PM CDT reply actions

Home field

I think that the outcome of the Chiefs season is mostly going to be determined by how we play at home. If we win out, which given our history isn't that much of a stretch, then we have a good chance of making the playoffs. If we get tripped up two or more times at home, then I don't like our chances.

As for the playoffs, I agree with Chiefs n Chopper. I just can't see us going very far, especially with the likely scenario of facing New England or Indy at home in the second round.

It's early, but this season is shaping up to be like so many of the previous ones...the Chiefs will be just good enough to find their way into the playoffs, but no farther.

by smg49 on Oct 2, 2007 1:00 PM CDT reply actions

Hmmm

Well, I still say that our possibilities are:

Tank the season: Get 1st round franchise QB (a la Peyton Manning)

Do mediocre: continue next season with whatever QB we end up with this year

Do great: no change at QB, but no change necessary?

If Croyle improves, then we don't need a new QB. But if neither he nor Huard can get the job done, our best bet is to find a really good QB in the draft this next year.

Coincidentally, I about peed myself when we almost got Brady Quinn this year. Don't deny it, you did too.

by Picky on Oct 2, 2007 1:28 PM CDT reply actions

I won't deny it

I almost did too.

I hate Cleveland.

But think about this re: that draft day trade. Dallas is the #1 team in the NFC right now. Not many arguments there. They'll have their own first round pick (probably in the high 20s) and the Browns which will probably be below 15 and the Browns 2nd round pick. Not bad for a team that's already pretty young on both sides of the ball.

by Joel Thorman on Oct 2, 2007 2:19 PM CDT up reply actions

Why?

Who did Brady Quinn beat in college? I remember him routinly getting clobbered against any and every decent team he faced. Besides do we really need this?

by Bill Grigsbys Cirrhosis on Oct 2, 2007 2:33 PM CDT up reply actions

ummmm.

Ok. nevermind. Maybe we didn't do so badly after all (BOWE BOWE BOWE) ;-)

'sides, you've all seen Mrs. Croyle. (insert sizzling noise here) I don't think we will see any pics like that of Brodie.

by Picky on Oct 2, 2007 2:54 PM CDT up reply actions

Doesn't matter that much who he beat.

His team wasn't unbelievable, Willingham had shitty recruiting classes. He turned Smardzjia (sp?) into an all-star. Besides, ND routinely plays one of the tougher schedules in the country. He set pretty much every QB record at ND. He's got the size and arm strength to succeed in the NFL. He's pretty bright on top of that. He ran an NFL style offense once Weis got there. Weis once said that by Quinn's senior year he could have run 2/3 of NFL offenses.

by Joel Thorman on Oct 2, 2007 3:47 PM CDT up reply actions

that would have been amazing

Maybe the Chiefs can do something like that too by throwing in some of our later picks to sweeten the deal, (did we get a draft pick for Tynes, or did we just let him go, because I know we have picks coming to us from the Hall and Green trades).

So my thinking would be trade up, and try and get a better pick if it's available, but don't throw away draft picks on some guy who would be around later in the draft and not cost us as much.

As far as the possibilities you mentioned, I'm never going to root for the Chiefs to tank a season, especially cause I don't think one pick would change the course of this team. So while I'd love to see us do great and no change be necessary anywhere, I envision a mediocre season, and if a qb is what we most desperately need, answer that in the draft with our first round pick (although I'd think LT is something we need more)

by Chiefs n Chopper on Oct 2, 2007 3:03 PM CDT up reply actions

No need for QB

No need for a QB in next years draft. Pick O-line and hold out for Tim Tebow in '09.

by Bill Grigsbys Cirrhosis on Oct 2, 2007 3:05 PM CDT up reply actions

Tynes

was traded for a 7th rounder I believe.

by Chris Thorman on Oct 2, 2007 3:10 PM CDT up reply actions

Actually

it may be for "future considerations". Not sure what that means.

by Chris Thorman on Oct 2, 2007 3:14 PM CDT up reply actions

im pretty sure we get a 7th round pick

if he made the team out of training camp, which he did.

so im pretty sure that yes, we do get a draft pick for him.

regarding quinn, i am glad we didnt get him. i think croyle is very similar to him (somewhat mobile, very strong arm, pretty accurate, inconsistent, will turnt he ball over) and we got bowe to add to him.

i would have chosen bowe over him even if he WAS available.

by rockchalk on Oct 2, 2007 6:41 PM CDT up reply actions

Hmm

They're similar except BQ ran an NFL offense for 2 years, started for 4 and stayed healthy the whole time. Croyle....eh, not so much. Played at a somewhat high level for one year, didn't stay healthy and has still proven in his second year that he can't get comfortable in an NFL offense. Quinn isn't a gunslinger in the true sense of the word. His decisions are more meticulate and he utilizes every position on the field (aka why Sal Fasano and John Carlson are successful). He's got a lot more size than Croyle which probably bodes well for his future (i.e. staying healthy).

Croyle really didn't do anything in college except be an SEC QB (since when did that become enough credentials to be drafted high?)

by Joel Thorman on Oct 3, 2007 12:03 AM CDT up reply actions