AFC West Roundup: Week 13
The Broncos kept their three-game lead in the division with a win in San Diego, but Kansas City is still in the hunt after beating Oakland.
The Broncos opened the game with a bang, scoring a touchdown to cap their game-opening 76-yard drive. Demaryius Thomas had the touchdown, as well as a 21-yard gain in the series.
Chargers QB Philip Rivers had trouble finding his receivers against the Broncos, in part because Denver's defensive front was able to affect his throws by getting into the backfield. DE Malik Jackson wasn't able to get a sack, but he notched seven quarterback hurries, per Pro Football Focus.
ILB Danny Trevathan took an interception 25 yards to the house to put the Broncos up 14 points at the end of the first quarter.
Denver's secondary was a nightmare for the Chargers' receivers, who totaled just four receptions on eight targets.
The Broncos kept a two-touchdown lead for much of the game, though they couldn't build on it further. This interception nullified what could have been a game-sealing drive.
OLB Von Miller had a huge day, sacking Rivers twice and recording a fumble recovery on a fumble he forced. The 17-3 win gave the Broncos their 10th win of the season.
Kansas City has been one of the AFC's toughest teams recently with a five-game winning streak comign into Sunday's game, but the Raiders got on the board first with this scoring run by RB Latavius Murray.
Turnovers threatened to derail the Chiefs' hopes for a sixth straight win. TE Travis Kelce coughed up this one to safety Charles Woodson, giving the Raiders a chance to score with a minute left in the first half.
WR Michael Crabtree made good on that opportunity, reeling in a 25-yard reception for a touchdown to put Oakland up 14-7 at halftime.
After a third quarter in which the Raiders maintained their small lead, turnovers began to hit the Raiders' side. LB Josh Mauga picked off a Derek Carr pass intended for RB Ray Helu, and he returned it 66 yards to the Oakland 2-yard line.
Chiefs WR Jeremy Maclin scored a touchdown after Mauga's interception, and then another after another Carr interception on the following drive set up the Chiefs to start a drive at Oakland's 13-yard line.
Carr threw yet another pick in the fourth quarter -- his third in four drives to begin the quarter -- and this time Tyvon Branch returned it 38 yards for a touchdown. The deluge of takeaways for Kansas City caused a 21-point run to give them a 34-20 victory.
