Week 15 AFC West Roundup
By Justin Smith
Oakland Raiders
1st Place – AFC West
Record: 11-3
Last Game: Defeated San Diego Chargers (5-9) 19-16 in San Diego
Next game: home to Indianapolis Colts (7-7) Sat, Dec 24 – 4:25 EST
The Raiders fell from the #1 seed in the AFC to the #5 seed when they lost to the Chiefs, losing their division lead in the process. As KC has beaten Oakland twice this season, they own any tie-breaker needed against the Raiders.
But they also needed to keep pace with the Raiders to maintain that lead. They weren’t able to against Tennessee at home on Sunday, opening the door for the Raiders. The game-winning kick by Ryan Succop is a story in itself.
The Raiders played their usual de facto home game in San Diego. A good 70% of the crowd at Qualcomm sported silver & black. Philip Rivers relied on a silent snap count at times — in his home stadium.
Yeah, the Chargers can’t get out of San Diego fast enough. And most San Deigans couldn’t care less.
The Raiders used a complete team game in this one to beat the Chargers. They ran 61 plays — 32 pass plays and 29 run plays. Perfect balance.
They limited the Chargers to 268 yards total, including a paltry 73 rushing yards on 3.3 YPC. The defense had three straight three-and-outs in the second half and kept the team in the game while the offense stagnated at times.
Latavius Murray had 81 hard fought ground yards, and Derek Carr made plays when needed. The Raiders pulled off yet another close, fourth-quarter comeback to win 19-16 and seize first place back in the AFC West.
This weekend, they host a Colts team who have been on fire in two of their last three games.
Three weeks ago they torched the lowly Jets, which is no big deal. But last weekend they strafed the normally defensively sound Minnesota Vikings for 36 points. They probably could’ve broken 50.
Andrew Luck has been fantastic since coming back from a concussion in Week 12. The Raiders need to get pressure on Luck, because he’s not the same QB when he’s got happy feet.
The Raiders will need to stymie an ageless Frank Gore in the run game and get pressure on Luck to limit the Colts offensive possibilities. In T.Y. Hilton and Philip Dorsett the Colts have two shifty, speed receivers that give big corners Sean Smith and David Amerson trouble.
The Colts also seem to find random tight ends to score touchdowns and screw fantasy owners alike. Earlier in the season it was Jack Doyle. Then Duane Allen had one huge game. Last week it was someone named Erik Swoope. Another former basketball player turned tight end. From the U.
Ho-hum. It all adds up to a potentially explosive matchup between two potent offenses and two defenses prone to giving up big plays.
The Raiders need this one badly to keep pace with the New England Patriots — who will most likely destroy the Jets this weekend. With Denver and Kansas City playing each other, another Raider win would either clinch the division or eliminate the Broncos. Either way, sweetness.