AFC West Roundup, Week 16: Chargers Clinch, Broncos Lose

After narrowly lacking the playoffs final season, the Los Angeles Chargers will make an look within the event this go-round. Though they’re changing the Las Vegas Raiders because the AFC West’s wild card consultant, little else has modified inside the division.

The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs nonetheless sit on the prime as they jockey with the Payments for the primary seed, and the Denver Broncos haven’t left their put up within the basement of the division. For a fan base spoiled with the joy of chasing Lombardi trophy’s, Broncos Nation is compelled to settle with the joy of their seventh head teaching search in 13 years.

Denver Broncos vs Los Angeles Rams

Closing Rating: 14-51

Recap: It’s troublesome to pinpoint probably the most embarrassing facet of the Broncos blowout loss to the Rams on Christmas day. Was it the crew’s $242 million quarterback throwing three interceptions, or the 51 factors laid on them by the NFL’s second lowest scoring crew? Was it Randy Gregory throwing a punch after the sport, or Dalton Risner and Brett Rypien getting heated? Maybe it was Nathaniel Hackett’s common presence on the sideline, however irrespective of which perspective you’re taking, we are able to all agree it was a painful exclamation level on a misplaced season. The primary 5 possessions of the sport set the tone for the remainder of the afternoon. The Rams opened with a discipline objective, adopted by a Russell Wilson interception which led to a Rams landing. Déjà vu struck as Wilson tossed one other one to the protection, and the Rams offense put it into the endzone two performs later.

Denver responded with an 8-play drive leading to three factors to get on the board, making considerably of an effort to get again into the sport. As an alternative of that taking place, the Rams put up one other seven factors as Baker Mayfield, in his third recreation with the crew, threw his second landing of the primary half. Simply while you thought it couldn’t worsen, a 3 and out for Denver was adopted by one more Rams landing drive, with Cam Akers tallying his second rating. One other Broncos discipline objective to finish the half made it a 31-6 recreation on the break, and nearly all hope was misplaced.

The second half began simply as the primary, with a Wilson interception. Though the Broncos ultimately discovered the endzone, the Rams kicked two discipline targets and scored a landing on their three full possessions within the second half. Including insult to damage, they returned a Brett Rypien interception 86 yards to the home, closing out the sport 51-14. The Broncos gave up 118 yards and three touchdowns to Cam Akers, and a 124.7 score to Baker Mayfield. Jerry Jeudy caught six passes for 117 yards in the one respectable efficiency for the Broncos offense. We’re on to the Chiefs and the Jerry Rosburg period.

Accidents: N/A

Week 17 Matchup: Denver Broncos @ Kansas Metropolis Chiefs

Seattle Seahawks vs Kansas Metropolis Chiefs

Closing Rating: 10-24

Recap: The Chiefs led a gradual and methodical recreation all through its entirety, starting with a landing on their second drive of the sport. After a handful of punts traded forwards and backwards, the Chiefs took a 14-point lead after a seven-play drive halfway by way of the second quarter. Patrick Mahomes stayed true to his phrase that totally different go catchers would profit from week to week, as his first landing went to Kadarius Toney and the second to Jerick McKinnon. KC and Seattle would commerce discipline targets previous to the tip of the primary half, leaving the rating 17-3 in favor of the Chiefs.

Within the second half, Seattle opened with a punt, two turnovers on downs, and an interception. The interception led to a different rating from Mahomes, this time on the bottom and he ran it in from three yards out. Lastly, Seattle bought the ball shifting on offense, however it could show too little too late. A Noah Fant landing with simply over two minutes made it a 24-10 recreation, which is how it could finish. Mahomes was sharp on this one, throwing for 224 yards and two scores, Travis Kelce dominated with 118 yards, and the Chiefs are rolling once more.

Accidents: N/A

Week 17 Matchup: Denver Broncos @ Kansas Metropolis Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders vs Pittsburgh Steelers

Closing Rating: 10-13

Recap: The Raiders opened Saturday evening’s contest with a 14-play landing drive, capped by a Hunter Renfrow reception from Derek Carr. Don’t let the sturdy begin idiot you, nonetheless, this could be a gradual recreation within the freezing chilly Pittsburgh evening. Each offenses did not get something going for a lot of the primary half, with the Steelers lacking a discipline objective earlier than knocking one by way of the uprights with 1:49 left within the half. The Raiders responded with a 53-yard drive to shut the half, netting one other three factors, and taking a 10-3 lead.

The second half was a lot of the identical as the primary six possessions resulted in three interceptions, two punts, and one other Steelers missed discipline objective. Regardless of the miss, Pittsburgh would rebound with a made discipline objective on their subsequent drive earlier than a few Raiders punts. That’s when Kenny Pickett led a 10-play, 76-yard recreation profitable landing drive. After changing a fourth and one on the 15-yard line, Pickett hit George Pickens for six on the subsequent play, leaving the Raiders with simply 46 seconds. A Derek Carr interception would shut the sport out, with the Raiders falling to 6-9 on the season.

Accidents: Chandler Jones (elbow), Denzel Perryman (shoulder)

Week 17 Matchup: Las Vegas Raiders vs San Francisco 49ers

Los Angeles Chargers vs Indianapolis Colts

Closing Rating: 20-3

Recap: There have been some unhealthy offenses across the NFL this season, particularly proper right here in Denver. I’m undecided we’ve seen something worse than what we witnessed from the Colts on Monday, nonetheless, as Nick Foles bought the nod at quarterback over Matt Ryan. The Chargers have been something however sharp, however they didn’t must be on this one. As most of the AFC West video games did, the competition started with a collection of punts and turnovers. The primary seven possessions featured two punts and two interceptions from the Colts, and two punts and one interception from the Chargers. Lastly, with 8:41 left within the second quarter, Austin Ekeler punched one in for six after a 13-play drive. The Colts have been lastly in a position to transfer the ball, taking it 60 yards in eight performs for a discipline objective. The Chargers, now in rhythm, closed the half with three of their very own to take a 10-3 lead with them into the locker room.

The second half was much more brutal than the primary for Indianapolis, because the crew began with an interception, adopted by a punt, after which closed with three straight turnovers on downs. Sandwiched within the center was some sloppy play from LA, however they did handle to kick a discipline objective and muster up one other landing for Ekeler. The sport would finish there, with a 20-3 rating in favor of the Chargers. Ekeler’s two touchdowns have been the one two of the sport, however the Keenan Allen and Mike Williams duo was efficient, combining for 180 yards.

Accidents: Derwin James (concussion), Zander Horvath (ankle)

Week 17 Matchup: Los Angeles Rams @ Los Angeles Chargers

Predictions for Week 17

With the Broncos recreation being my solely miss final week, my file on the season stands at 25-20.

I stated that the Rams are a nasty soccer crew and thought the Broncos would win. I suppose I underestimated how unhealthy the Broncos are. We regularly see groups rally round a change on the head teaching place, so perhaps we are able to – oh that’s proper, Denver travels to Kansas Metropolis this week. Give me the Chiefs at residence. The Chargers will handle enterprise in opposition to their neighbors and the Raiders will fall brief in San Francisco. In brief, I’m taking the 2 good groups within the division to win, and the 2 unhealthy groups to lose.

What are your predictions for week 17? Tell us within the feedback!