Week 2 AFC West Roundup
By Justin Smith
San Diego Chargers
4th in AFC West
Record: 1-1
Last Game: Home victory over Jacksonville Jaguars (0-2), 38-14
Next Game: at Indianapolis Colts (0-2) — Sunday, September 25 at 1:00PM EST
So all the AFC West teams play 1:00PM games on Sunday, but the Chiefs get theirs at home. So the three true Western teams all get a fair travel schedule this week.
Philip Rivers is timeless, and showing it once again. He’s going to make Tyrell Williams a star by the end of the year, and barely missed a beat without Keenan Allen or even Danny Woodhead after the RB went down for the year with a torn ACL in the second half of the Jags game.
The Chargers were all over the Jags from jump, much like they were the Chiefs in Week 1. Only this time, they ran the ball hard and didn’t let the Jags back in the game. They learned from their week one mistake, and are one of the biggest surprises in the NFL thus far this season.
Many people predicted this to be a rebuilding year for San Diego, and after blowing that lead in Week 1, coach Mike McCoy even looked resigned to their fate. But then they came out hot again, and never cooled off.
Rivers doesn’t care who’s out there with him — he’s just one of the best pure passers in the history of the game. The guy runs about as fast as I do, and isn’t the most athletic of QBs. Yet for standing in the pocket and dissecting a defense, there are few better.
The Chargers go in to Indianapolis to face a Colts team that is a disappointing 0-2 to start the year, and are much like the Chargers themselves — strong passing game, little defense.
San Diego is better in the running game, and better — and healthier — than the Colts on defense. The Chargers have as good a chance as any of the AFC West teams to win this weekend and be a surprise 2-1 team near the top of the division.
Rivers rarely if ever gets the credit he deserves. But he’s the reason the Chargers have a chance every week. If the Broncos can’t find more offense this division could be wide-open, and the Chargers look to have as good a chance as any.
This is a division where each team has clear strengths and weaknesses.The Raiders have a stellar offense and no defense. The Chiefs have a strong running game, but can’t stop the run. The Broncos have an anemic offense but a transcendent defense. The Chargers have a stellar offense, but their defense is also quite porous.
The Broncos have jumped out to an early division lead but all of these teams have tough schedules and vulnerabilities. It should be an interesting and enjoyable ride — but for now, everyone is again chasing the defending champs.