The Kansas City Chiefs aren't playing tonight but it sure feels like they are. That's because the Monday Night Football game between the Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers has major divisional implications.
The Chiefs stand in first place in the AFC West at 6-4 followed by the Oakland Raiders at 5-5. The Broncos sit at 3-6 so a win or a loss by them doesn't change their status much. They've been too inconsistent all year to take them seriously.
The Chargers, on the other hand, could cause some problems for the Chiefs with a victory. That would move them 5-5 on the year and one game behind the Chiefs. The Chiefs travel to San Diego to play the Chargers on Dec. 5 12 so that's looking more and more like a huge game.
You can't ever really break the season down into one game but for the Chargers this is it. Will they win and make this a three-team race? Or will they falter?
For the next three and a half hours, I'm a Broncos fan. We need these Chargers to lose.
Go Denver!
(Note: SB Nation blogs for the evening are Mile High Report and Bolts From The Blue)