Week 14 AFC West Roundup
By Justin Smith
Kansas City Chiefs
1st Place – AFC West
Record: 10-3
Last Game: defeated Oakland Raiders (10-3) 21-13 at home
Next Game: home to Tennessee Titans (7-6) Sun, Dec 18, 1 pm EST
The Chiefs defense and special teams have been unreal over the last month and a half. The Chiefs are getting 49% of their scoring from their defense and special teams. That is astounding.
And it was on display again against the Raiders in their all-important Thursday tilt last week. Without Tyreek Hill’s punt return touchdown, the Raiders likely win that game and seize control of the AFC West.
Instead, Hill took advantage of a tired Raiders punt coverage team who were on their second go-around in less than two minutes after a penalty forced a re-kick. That re-kick was poorly done by usually stellar Marquette King, who for some reason booted it right to the dangerous Hill in the middle of the field.
Hill did what he does, making the Raiders look slow and silly en route to a back-breaking punt return TD that put the Chiefs up 21-3 at the time and seemed to have them poised for a potential blowout.
Credit to the Raiders defense for holding the team in it all second half while two Raiders’ fingers caused myriad problems for the offense.
The Chiefs defense was decent but not dominant — it was Derek Carr’s obvious discomfort with his pinky finger and Michael Crabtree’s dislocated ring finger that caused much of the Raiders offensive woes.
The Chiefs, though, clamped down when needed. They are the very definition of a bend-but-don’t break defense. They rank near the bottom of the NFL in yards allowed — yet near the top in points allowed and red-zone defense. When it counts, their defense is stalwart.
Holding the Raiders to six points after three turnovers just proves that. The Chiefs have gotten where they are with special teams and defense, and an offense that does just enough to win but can turn it up If needed.
Their win over the Raiders put them at 10-3 and tied with the Raiders for record, but also gave them the sweep of the season series and any tie-breaker necessary. They’ll need to keep pace with the Raiders to maintain their divisional lead, and that may not be easy.
They welcome in a tough and growing Titans team this weekend, one that excels at running the ball. After that, in week 16, they get the Broncos at Arrowhead and they finish in San Diego.
The Broncos will be desperately clinging to a playoff spot as they are currently up only one game on the Dolphins, Titans and Ravens who are all playing good football right now. They will also have revenge on their minds. This will not be an easy game.
The Chargers may have packed it in by then, and the Chiefs likely win that one. But their next two are not easy, even though they are at home. A single loss gives the Raiders a window to regain the AFC West lead.