AFC West Week 2 Review

By Joanne Kong

Twitter: @kongfu4u 

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (1-1)

Kansas City ChiefsHouston Texans

Kansas City Chiefs (12) @ Houston Texans (19)

See AFC South preview and predictions.

DENVER BRONCOS (2-0)

Indianapolis ColtsDenver Broncos Logo

Indianapolis Colts (20) @ Denver Broncos (34)

Is it hard to believe that the Denver Broncos are 2-0?  Is it hard to believe that Trevor Siemian’s only passing touchdown was a short pass to C.J. Anderson during week 1?  Is it hard to believe that the greatest scoring contributors for the Broncos this season are C.J. Anderson with 18 points (3-touchdowns), followed by kicker Brandon McManus with 17 points (4 field goals and 5 extra points), and the Denver defense with 12 points (2-touchdowns)?

It shouldn’t be.  The Broncos made it to the Super Bowl on the back of their defense, and this Sunday, Super Bowl MVP Von Miller was responsible for 3-out-of-the-5 sacks of Andrew Luck.  It’s obvious to say, but the Broncos defense shut down the Colts offense.

  • Colts quarterback Andrew Luck was held to 197 passing yards, a touchdown, an interception and 5 sacks.  Luck started 5 for 18 before the half, scoring two touchdowns in the second half.
  • Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian had 266 passing yards, no touchdowns, an interception and 1 sack.
  • Broncos linebacker Von Miller sacked and stripped Andrew Luck with less than 2 minutes in the game, and fellow Broncos linebacker, Shane Ray, scooped up the fumbled ball and returned it for 15-yards for a touchdown, sealing the Broncos win.
  • Denver is one of only 4 teams who returned a fumble for a touchdown so far this year – Buffalo, Minnesota and Carolina.
  • Denver is one of only 3 teams who returned an interception for a touchdown so far this year – Minnesota and Arizona.

  • Sunday’s loss against the Broncos was a tough blow for the now winless Colts.
  • The Colts wide receiver, Donte Moncrief, left Sunday’s game with a neck and shoulder injury.  Moncrief got an MRI on Monday.  Depending upon the seriousness of the injury, the Colts are looking at a difficult week 3.  Moncrief is one of Luck’s go-to targets.

OAKLAND RAIDERS (1-1)

Atlanta FalconsOakland Raiders

Atlanta Falcons (35) @ Oakland Raiders (28)

You wouldn’t think a quarterback throwing for 299 passing yards, 3 touchdowns and no interceptions would end in a loss, but that’s exactly what happened to the Oakland Raiders.  It was a disappointing loss at home, but the Atlanta Falcons were a formidable opponent with Matt Ryan throwing for 396 passing yards and 3 touchdowns.

  • For a second week in a row, the Raiders defense allowed over 500 yards of offense. Specifically, they allowed 528 yards of offense against the Falcons.  In addition to Matt Ryan’s 396 passing yards, Devonte Freeman and Tevin Coleman rushed for 139 total yards with a rushing touchdown by Coleman.
  • The Raiders had 454-yards of offense, which included 155 total rush yards and a rushing touchdown by Latavius Murray.
  • The Raiders outstanding offensive front line has kept quarterback Derek Carr safe in the pocket, allowing only one sack over the first two weeks (the best offensive protection this season thus far), giving Carr ample time in the pocket and creating rushing lanes for the ground game.

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (1-1)

Jacksonville Jaguarssan-diego-chargers

Jacksonville Jaguars (14) @ San Diego Chargers (38)

It was all San Diego Chargers football in Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.  With another quick start out of the gate, the Chargers were able to keep the momentum throughout the game, unlike week 1, against the Kansas City Chiefs when they lost a 21-point lead.

  • There was no fourth quarter impotence week 2 for this Chargers’ team, looking “solid” up until the end.
  • There was some concern after Danny Woodhead, slotted as a running back, was taken out of the game in the first quarter with a knee injury, but his loss wasn’t missed by the offense.  Chargers quarterback, Philip Rivers, was smiling on the side line in the fourth quarter, knowing the Chargers lead couldn’t be disputed by this disjointed Jaguars team, passing for 220 yards, 4 touchdowns and 0 interceptions (making fantasy owners happy).

  • The two biggest players for the Chargers in week 2 were running back Melvin Gordan, who had 102 rush yards and a touchdown, and wide receiver Travis Benjamin, who had 115 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Benjamin, who was out last year with an injury, has done a tremendous job filling the hole that was left by wide receiver Keenan Allen, who left week 1 with a season ending injury.
  • There was no love for the Jaguars in San Diego.  The Jaguars, who were scoreless until the fourth quarter, were shut down through the air by the Chargers secondary and stuffed on the ground by the Chargers front line, totaling 156 offensive yards before the half.  In the first half, the Jaguars had 2 interceptions, a missed field goal and fumble loss.
  • The Jaguars were unable to gain any momentum, racking up 13 penalties for 93 yards.
  • The Jaguars performance was surprising when looking back at week 1’s close game against the Green Bay Packers.  Bortles had 329 yards and 2 touchdowns in the fourth quarter in Week 2, which probably saved a lot of fantasy teams (including mine).  This was a disappointing loss for the Jaguars, proving that they still have a lot of work ahead of them.
  • Linebacker Kelvin Beachum was carted away during Sunday’s game with a concussion.

  • The Jacksonville Jaguars are 0-2.
  • This Chargers team look like the real deal, fixing the problems they faced in week 1.  They’ll be looking to bring this momentum into week 3.  But, the best thing about this Chargers team is still their theme song, “San Diego Super Chargers”.  Enjoy.

 

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