NFL AFC West Week 14 Preview
Some interesting things have been going on in the AFC West over the past week starting with the firing of Denver head coach Josh McDaniels. After winning his first six games as an NFL head coach, he went just 5-17, making several questionable personnel decisions and was eventually involved in a videotape scandal. Running backs coach Eric Studesville was named interim coach for the rest of the season.
The Raiders seemed to have found their mojo, and after losing 13 straight games to San Diego, Oakland swept the four-time defending champion Chargers in 2010. However, they lost quarterback Bruce Gradkowski for possibly the rest of the season after he suffered his second shoulder separation this year in Week 12.
Meanwhile, Kansas City extended its lead atop the AFC West by two games with its third consecutive win, its best streak since starting the season 3-0 as they look poised to win its their first division title since 2003.
Now let’s take a quick look at each NFC West Week 13 match up’s.
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SUN, DEC 12 TIME (ET)
Oakland at Jacksonville 1:00 PM CBS – Oakland found its running game against the Chargers last weekend and showed just how important it is to their success in the win-loss column.
Likewise, the Jaguars bounced back from their loss to the Giants with a win at Tennessee extending its lead atop the AFC South on the efforts of RB Maurice Jones-Drew who turned in the NFL’s second-best rushing effort of the season with 186 yards on 31 carries.
The table is set for a running clinic. Both teams like to run the ball—and then run some more– with the Jags boasting the second best rushing game in the league and Oakland being number three. However, both teams have its share of struggles when it comes to stopping the oppositions run. The Raiders are yielding 125 YPG while Jacksonville is just a tad better with 109.
If the teams are forced to go to the air, the Raiders may have a slight advantage, but I really don’t see this game turning into a passing affair.
The Jaguars had the edge on the ground when these teams met Dec. 23, 2007 — Oakland’s first trip to Jacksonville. Fred Taylor and Jones-Drew spearheaded a 201-yard rushing day in the Jaguars’ 49-11 rout.
This year’s contest will be much closer, but with the end result being the same.
PREDICTION- Jacksonville
Denver at Arizona 4:15 PM CBS –At first glance this could be a sleeper with both teams in the midst of complete meltdowns, both on and off the field with absolutely no chance of making the postseason.
However, those circumstances could set up a very interesting matchup with both sides just trying to save what little dignity they have left.
The Cardinals followed up their shellacking by the Niners with a loss to the Rams last weekend pushing their winless streak to seven. Denver is currently riding a three game winless streak and they will be a team without their head coach who was fired after last week’s debacle.
The Broncos’ Kyle Orton, who had his worst game in two seasons going 9-of-28 for 117 yards, is only more proof that Denver is in big trouble for a once storied franchise.
As for the Cards, their quarterback situation is about to get worse as they look to avoid their first eight-game skid since Sept. 17-Nov. 12, 2006. With Max Hall placed on injured reserve this week and the volatile Derek Anderson questionable after suffering a concussion, Arizona is expected to hand over the offense to rookie fifth-round pick John Skelton or newly signed Richard Bartel.
The Broncos have won seven straight versus the Cardinals since a 17-17 tie in 1973.
If Arizona can mix in a little Tim Hightower against a deficient (31st) Broncos run defense, they could spread a little early Christmas cheer for the hometown fans.
PREDICTION- Arizona
Kansas City at San Diego 4:15 PM CBS –The AFC leading Chiefs will have a chance to put some daylight between them and second place by using their No. 1 rushing attack on a very good San Diego rushing defense.
Meanwhile, the Chargers will try to restore their shattered egos after losing to the Raiders who beat them for the first time in 14 meetings.
The Bolts may catch a bit of a break as the Chiefs could be without quarterback Matt Cassel — not that he has factored into a majority of KC’s wins–but the lack of a decent passing threat will allow San Diego to stack the box in an effort to slow down Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones.
Charles will be facing a Chargers defense that was shredded for 251 rushing yards by Oakland last weekend.
For the Chargers, they will search for a way to expose a mediocre Chiefs secondary as Phillip Rivers, who is second in the league with 3,642 passing yards, looks to get back on the rails after an uncharacteristic performance versus Oakland last weekend.
He has averaged 309.0 yards and thrown 11 TDs and three interceptions in five games against Kansas City since 2008.
Does defense really win championships? We’ll find out in this one.
PREDICTION- Kansas City
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