AFC West Week 6 Preview and Predictions

By Joanne Kong

Twitter: @kongfu4u 

OAKLAND RAIDERS (4-1) & KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (2-2)

Kansas City ChiefsOakland Raiders

Kansas City Chiefs @ Oakland Raiders

These two division rivals have met 111 times since 1960.  Since Derek Carr has become the quarterback of the Oakland Raiders, Oakland has won only 1 out of 4 games.

One might think that this rivalry was one-sided, favoring the Kansas City Chiefs.  And why not, in 2015, the Raiders lost both games against the Chiefs.  But this season has had a lot of surprises.

The Chiefs got torched in Week 4.

What’s there to say.  The Kansas City Chiefs entered their bye-week with heavy hearts and bowed heads as the Pittsburgh Steelers kept the Chiefs scoreless for 3 quarters of the game.  What was worse was that the Chiefs defense allowed the Steelers to score a whopping 43 points.

A lackluster Alex Smith had the bye-week to contemplate what went wrong and how to fix the problems on offense.  Smith, having a slow start to the season due consistent missed opportunities, bad play calls and failed red-zone attempts, has totaled only 5 touchdowns and 1073 passing yards for the season.

On the other side, narrow victory should be the Oakland Raiders new slogan.

Derek Carr

Derek Carr

In week 5, the Raiders had another narrow victory over division rivals, the San Diego Chargers, 34-31.  The turning point of the game came late in the 3rd quarter, when the Chargers fumbled the ball, leading to a Raiders touchdown to Micheal Crabtree, a 2-point conversion to Amari Cooper and the lead.  While the Chargers did score 21-points in the second half, it just wasn’t enough, as they unsurprisingly managed a bad snap on a last second field goal that would have tied the game.  While narrow victories might be the Raiders slogan, fourth quarter impotence describes the Chargers.

The Oakland raiders Offense vs. Kansas City Chiefs Defense.

It’s safe to say that the Raiders have solidified their offensive line, although still waiting for a healthy Latavius Murray.  Although Murray’s absence has been missed, it hasn’t prevented the offense from doing what it needs to do.  With the addition of wide receiver Micheal Crabtree combined with Amari Cooper, Oakland has created a receiving core not to be reckoned with.  Add in quarterback Derek Carr, who currently has the 8th most passing yards this season and the 3rd most touchdowns, and an improved offensive line that has only allowed 2 sacks, and the Raiders offense is really starting to roll.

The Chiefs defense has their work cut out for them on Sunday.

With the exception of week 4, the Chiefs defense was respectable, to say the least.  They currently lead the league in interceptions (8), led by cornerback, Marcus Peters, having 4 interceptions.  They are 1 out of only 9 teams with an interception for a touchdown, and 1 out of only 8 teams with a defensive fumble returned for a touchdown.  Unfortunately, the Chiefs currently are among the least sacks this season (5).  Only the New York Giants have less.  Week 6 probably won’t increase the Chiefs sack total, as the Raiders front line has been among the best this season in protecting quarterback Derek Carr, but with two weeks to plan, perhaps they can get something going.

The Kansas City Chiefs Offense vs. Oakland Raiders defense.

The good news, the Chiefs will have running back, Jamal Charles, back in week 6.  What he will add to the Chiefs offense is anybody’s guess, though, as the Chiefs have been notorious easing injured players back onto the field.  Luckily, the Raiders have given up more offensive yards than the total number of “Simpsons” episodes.  And for those who don’t know the “Simpsons”, that’s a lot.  Tight end, Travis Kelce has been Smith’s favorite target, leading with 22 receptions for 220 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Wide receiver, Jeremy Maclin leads the team in receiving yards with 244 yards and a touchdown.

The Chiefs offense will need to step up if they want to compete with Oakland, who’s scored an average of 28.4 points per game.

As for the Oakland defense, they’ve allowed the most yards this season in the league.  If the Chiefs can’t score against this defense…well, maybe they need another bye-week to think of a better strategy.

What can we expect in Week 6?

  • Micheal Crabtree has a touchdown.
  • Jamal Charles has a touchdown.

The Oakland Raiders win.

DENVER BRONCOS (4-1) & SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (1-4)

Denver Broncos Logosan-diego-chargers

Denver Broncos @ San Diego Chargers

It was bound to happen.  The Denver Broncos could only rely on their defense for so long, and that came to an end in week 5 against the Atlanta Falcons.  With Broncos quarterback, Trevor Siemian still out, the Broncos started rookie Paxton Lynch.  As a result, the Broncos were held to only a field goal for 3 quarters of the game, managing to score 13 points in the 4th quarter in comeback mode, which was too little, too late.   Lynch was sacked 6 times by the Falcons defense.  Yes, I said 6 times.  Prior to week 5, the Broncos quarterbacks were sacked only 9 total times in 4 games.  Plus, the Broncos defense had one of the worst games this season with only 2 sacks and no interceptions.

The Denver Broncos can’t lose.

The good news, Broncos quarterback, Trevor Siemian, will start in Thursday night’s game against the San Diego Chargers.

The presence of Siemian will be more important than ever to lead the offense since coach Gary Kubiak won’t be on the sidelines.

More good news.  The San Diego defense has allowed the 5th most passing yards this season.  That’s a lot of good news for Broncos wide receivers, Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas, who’s contribution to the team has increased many times over since Siemian has gained confidence under center.

Even more good news.  The Chargers 4th quarter blunders are as reliable as the sun rising in east.  It goes with fail.  The Chargers will somehow mess up their lead in the 4th quarter, giving the opposing team an opportunity to win.  The Chargers are 1-4 for exactly that reason.

The Chargers can’t win.

Every team can have an off week.  The Chargers are looking to have five.

The Broncos will be looking for some revenge, and it’s unfortunate that the Chargers will be on the receiving end of it.  The Broncos defense has allowed the 5th fewest passing yards tis season.  This doesn’t bode well for quarterback Philip Rivers who’s had 68 percent completion percentage, 1469 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and 3 interceptions against mediocre defenses.

The Chargers haven’t faced off against a dominant defense this season.  It might explain why the games have been close.

Philip Rivers

Philip Rivers

No team enters a game thinking they will lose, and the Chargers might be looking to take advantage of the Broncos weakness in their rush defense, currently allowed the 9th most rushing yards, rather than test the Broncos pass defense.  The Chargers might take an early lead, but history has told us, they won’t keep it.  The Chargers shouldn’t have too much confidence in their rush game, because the Broncos are likely to be prepared.

The Broncos currently lead the league with 19 sacks, 5 interceptions, an interception for a touchdown, 5 forced fumbles and a fumble return for a touchdown.

What can we expect in Week 6?

  • Philip Rivers has a touchdown.
  • Cody Latimer has a touchdown.
  • Denver defense has a touchdown.

The Denver Broncos win.

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