AFC West Week 9 Preview and Predictions

By Joanne Kong

Twitter: @kongfu4u 

OAKLAND RAIDERS (6-2) & DENVER BRONCOS (6-2)

Oakland RaidersDenver Broncos Logo

Denver Broncos @ Oakland Raiders

The tie atop the AFC West will be broken this week as the two top teams meet at Oakland Alameda Coliseum on Sunday.

The Oakland Raiders are a team that has proven time and time again that, regardless of how ineffective their defense is, it can win games.  Losing 17-10 in the third quarter, the Raiders tied against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, bringing the game into overtime and winning 30-24.  Raiders quarterback, Derek Carr, threw for a franchise record of 513 yards, completed 40-out-of-59 passes without an interception and 4 touchdowns.

But the most amazing part of the victory is that it was achieved with the Raiders tallying a spectacular 23 penalties for 200 yards, an NFL record.

The Denver Broncos are known as a defensive powerhouse with a floundering offense.  In week 8, the Denver defense hit San Diego quarterback, Philip Rivers, 17 times, sacked him 4 times and intercepted the ball 3 times, one of which was returned for a touchdown by cornerback Bradley Roby.

Of course, Denver’s quarterback, Trevor Siemian, didn’t have it so easy.  Linebacker, Melvin Ingram, sacked Siemian and forced a fumble, which was recovered by defensive end, Tenny Palepoi.   In the fourth quarter, cornerback, Casey Heyward intercepted Siemian, returning the ball for a touchdown.

This Sunday will be a different type of showdown.  The Broncos, who’ve seen some success at home (4-1) will travel to Oakland.  Oakland is 1-2 at home with losses to the Atlanta Falcons and the Kansas City Chiefs.  While the Denver defense has allowed the LEAST amount of passing yards in the league, Oakland has allowed the 5th MOST passing yards.  The Denver defense has allowed an average of 17-points per game, Oakland has allowed an average of 25.4-points per game.  However, the Denver defense has allowed an average of 117.4-rushing yards per game, while Oakland has allowed 125-rushing yards per game.  Both teams ranked among the most allowed rushing yards to opponents, so both teams can look to take advantage of the ground game.

With Broncos leading running back, C.J. Anderson, on injured reserve, rookie DeVontae Booker will continue leading the backfield.  In week 8, Booker rushed for 54-yards and had a touchdown.  In Oakland, Latavius Murray has rushed for 279 total yards and 5 total touchdowns for the season.

This will be a hard-fought match.

A top Oakland offense against a top Denver defense.  Regardless, you can expect the Denver Broncos will be ready for Derek Carr.

The Denver offense has been regressing throughout the season.  Although working hard, Siemian can best be described as inconsistently effective.  The Oakland defense has been on the opposite side of the spectrum.  The Swiss cheese defense has shown improvement of late, slowly developing with defense end Khalil Mack putting up five sacks in the last five games.

Oakland’s last home game ended in a loss (10-26) to the Kansas City Chiefs.  Carr, discombobulated, was unable to connect with his receivers, making one mistake after another.  He’ll need to have a short term memory and keep his composure to lead this team to a win.

What can we expect in Week 9?

  • Derek Carr has a rushing touchdown.

The Oakland Raiders win.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (5-2)

Jacksonville JaguarsKansas City Chiefs

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Kansas City Chiefs

After the fifth loss of the season, buzz about head coach Gus Bradley potentially being on the chopping block was quieted this past Saturday when the Jacksonville Jaguars announced the firing of offensive coordinator, Greg Olson, replacing him with quarterback coach, Nathanial Hackett.

Change was needed for this Jaguars team, but firing Greg Olson will hardly solve the problems on offense.  Even coach Bradley said that while coach Hackett will bring a “different feel” to the offense, schemes and verbiage will remain the same.

But wasn’t it those offensive schemes that were the problem?

In week 8, the division rival Tennessee Titans kept the Jaguars scoreless in the first half of the game.   But, it wasn’t just the Titans defense that kept the Jaguars scoreless.  Jaguars quarterback, Blake Bortles, has significantly regressed as the season continues.  And, Bortles knows it.  After the announcement regarding the Jaguars new offensive coordinator, Bortles told the press that he too was looking to change, expecting to work with private quarterback coach, Adam Dedeaux, on his mechanics.  During the 2015 offseason, Bortles worked with coaches Dedeaux and Tom House, who has worked with Tom Brady and Drew Brees.

cat-jumping

This cat has nothing to do with the Jaguars or the Chiefs, but he’s cute and perhaps shows the intensity missing from the Jaguars team.

The Chiefs are also looking at some problems week 9.  Quarterback, Alex Smith, was briefly taken out to be analyzed for concussion symptoms in the first quarter of week 8 after taking a huge hit.  After being cleared, he returned to be taken out again after a second hit.  Back-up quarterback, Nick Foles, provided an impressive performance with 223 passing yards and 2 touchdowns, helping lead the Chiefs to a 30-14 victory against the Indianapolis Colts.

Currently, the Chiefs have stated that, although Alex Smith did not suffer a concussion, they will start Nick Foles anyway.

With or without Alex Smith, the Chiefs are a tough team to beat, currently on three-win streak since their bye-week.

The Chiefs aren’t the best defensive team in the league, although defensive back, Marcus Peters, does lead the league with 5 interceptions.  Nor do the Chiefs have the best offense, although running back Spencer Ware has rushed for 511-yards and 2-touchdowns and Alex Smith has passed for 1638-yards, 8-touchdowns and 2-interceptions.  Although both Smith and Ware will be out this week, the Chiefs are a well-rounded team with the ability to find ways to win.

Blake Bortles - AP Photo

Blake Bortles – AP Photo

The Jaguars will need a miracle to win Sunday’s match-up against the Chiefs.  Although Jaguars quarterback, Bortles, has the 11th most passing yards (1904) and 12 total touchdowns, he also has 9 interceptions and was sacked a total of 17 times.  Chiefs linebacker, Dee Ford, has recorded 7 sacks this season, among the most in the league, and will have the opportunity to improve on his totals this week.

The Jaguars offense will be the deciding factor in this game.  We’ve seen the Chiefs defeated this year, the Pittsburgh Steelers game in week 4 being case and point.  And, we’ve seen Bortles make some great passing plays when given time, although the Jaguars ground game has been near non-existent this season even with the addition of Chris Ivory.  It seems impossible for the Jaguars to fix the run game the same week as an offensive coordinator change.  Let’s face it, if they couldn’t do it in the past eight weeks, it’s hard to believe that they’d be successful on the ground in the 9th week.  Of course, I’ve been wrong before.

What can we expect in Week 9?

  • Allen Hurns gets a touchdown.
  • Charcandrick West gets a touchdown.

The Kansas City Chiefs win.

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (3-5)

Tennessee Titanssan-diego-chargers

Tennessee Titans @ San Diego Chargers

The Tennessee Titans are just one game behind the Houston Texans, who are currently in first place in the AFC South.  The Titans, who went 3-13 in 2015 and who haven’t finished first in the AFC South since 2008 when they lost to the Baltimore Ravens in the playoffs, are now in contention to take this division.

The 4-4 Titans must prove themselves once again as they travel to San Diego to face-off against the Chargers.

The 3-5 Chargers have had some tough losses.  In the end, they are in last place, again, in the AFC West.

There’s a lot to consider when looking at these two teams.

Marcus Mariota

Marcus Mariota

In the past four games, Titans quarterback, Marcus Mariota, has had 10 touchdowns and 1 interception, winning 3-out-of-4 games.  Titans running back, DeMarco Murray, has been a needed addition to the Titans.  Murray has the second most rushing yards in the league (756) with 6 touchdowns.  Unfortunately, a toe injury has limited him in practice and potentially in the game against the Chargers.  Regardless of Derrick Henry’s recent improvement, the loss of Murray would create a huge hole in the Titans offense.  This injury comes at a inopportune time, as the Chargers defense has allowed the 6th least rushing yards in the league (86 yards per game).

On defense, the Titans have totaled 22 sacks and 6 interceptions.  Individually, outside linebackers Brian Orakpo (7.0 sacks) and Derrick Morgan (5.5 sacks) have been key providing pressure on the quarterback, while cornerbacks Jason McCourty and Perrish Cox (each with two interceptions) have been key in coverage.  Cox managed to practice in-full this week, although technically still on concussion protocol, and is expected to be cleared before Sunday’s game.  Sunday’s win against a high-powered offense, such as the Chargers, would give the Titans a reason to feel good about both offense and defense.

But a win this Sunday won’t be easy for the Titans.

Melvin Gordon - Getty Images

Melvin Gordon – Getty Images

The Chargers running back, Melvin Gordon has carried the ball 161 times for 572 yards, is currently the NFL’s touchdown leader (10) with 8 of them being rushing touchdowns.  Gordon will have his work cut out for him against the Titans defense, who allowed the 5th least rushing yards (82.5 yards per game).  In the air, Chargers quarterback, Philip Rivers, has thrown for 2285 yards, 15 touchdowns and 7 interceptions.  Rivers likes to spread the ball around, which will make the offense harder to defend.  Wide receiver, Travis Benjamin, tight end, Antonio Gates, and tight end, Hunter Henry, have three touchdowns a piece, while wide receiver, Tyrell Williams has 530 receiving yards.

On defense, defensive end Joey Bosa has tallied 4 sacks and 11 quarterback hits and line-backer Melvin Ingram has 5 sacks.  In the secondary, Casey Hayward has 4 interceptions.  In total, the Chargers defense has 18 sacks, 9 interceptions, with 1 returned for a touchdown and 9 forced fumbles with 1 returned for a touchdown.  Even with only 3 wins on the season, the Chargers defense is nothing to take lightly.

What can we expect in Week 9?

  • Marcus Mariota has a rushing touchdown.

The Tennessee Titans win.

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