AFC West Roundup: Week 6
With the Broncos and Raiders falling in their respective division games, the top of the AFC West is the same as it was a week ago, but Kansas City and San Diego are gaining ground.
The Chargers jumped out early against the Broncos Thursday night and did not look back. Late-game woes that doomed the Chargers against Kansas City, Indianapolis, New Orleans and Oakland, but Denver couldn't catch San Diego after falling behind 21-3 in the fourth quarter. San Diego left the door open for a comeback, but Denver's late charge ended when a Hail Mary from 45 yards out fell incomplete as time expired. Next up for Denver: vs. Texans Next up for Chargers: @ Falcons
It was over when: quarterback Trevor Siemian's Hail Mary pass was knocked down as time expired. The Broncos had recovered an onside kick to simply give them a chance, but there would not be enough time to mount a game-tying drive.
Top performer: In his first game back from a shoulder injury, Trevor Siemian threw 50 times, completing 30 passes for 230 yards and a touchdown. On the other side, QB Philip Rivers marched the Chargers down the field to their first and only touchdown of the day, putting the Broncos on their heels for the rest of the game. Rivers finished with 178 passing yards and a touchdown with no interceptions.
Coming off a bye week following a blowout loss at the hands of the Steelers, the Kansas City Chiefs reminded everyone that they're a force to be reckoned with in the AFC West. The Chiefs smothered the Raiders in the second half as they shut out the potent Oakland offense. Alex Smith, Spencer Ware and the offense did enough on the other side of the ball to win the contest comfortably. With the win, the Chiefs pulled within a half game of the division lead and dropped the Raiders into a first-place tie with the Broncos. Up next for Oakland: at Jacksonville Jaguars Up next for Kansas City: vs. New Orleans Saints
It was over when: Kansas City traveled 65 yards on the opening drive after halftime and scored a touchdown to go up by 10 points. The Alex Smith screen pass went to defensive lineman Dontari Poe, who scored his second career touchdown. The Raiders would go three and out on their next two possessions and turn the ball over later in the game as they struggled to move the ball against a stout Kansas City defense.
Player of the game, Kansas City: Even as Jamaal Charles works his way back into the offense, Spencer Ware continues to show his value to the Chiefs. Ware rushed for 131 yards and a touchdown while averaging 5.5 yards per carry. Player of the game, Oakland: Yet again, Amari Cooper proves to be the most valuable player for the Oakland Raiders. Despite a relatively quiet week on offense as a whole for the Raiders, Cooper was a bright spot. The second-year receiver caught 10 passes for 129 yards on 13 targets as the Raiders struggled to get much else going.
