Chiefs: AFC West Picture

Laddie Morse

The Kansas City Chiefs are making the prediction proposition easier and easier. Yes, there still may be a heart-attack element involved with the process — because K.C. doesn’t make winning their games by blowout numbers — but by winning all their games in the end, they have become the best thing since sliced bread. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the division they’re in: the AFC West.

Here’s a look at the current AFC West standings:

The Raiders fired coaches — Luke Getsy, OC, Rich Scangarello, QB Coach, and James Cregg, O-Line Coach — this past week and that’s never a good sign in the middle of a season. Although their head coach, Antonio Pierce, said he was the one responsible for the firings, in the aftermath, he was also told by Mark Davis that his job is not safe either.

The Raiders should probably look forward to next season and begin looking for a Head Coach right now. If they hope to make the playoffs this season they have to go perfect the rest of the way. I have no pity for the Raiders, but they are coming off of five straight losses and this is their BYE Week. Their next four opponents are: the Dolphins, the Chiefs, the Broncos and the Buccaneers. While Miami is 2-and-6, the Chiefs won’t go easily into the night, and their division foe, Denver, is 5-and-4 and winners of 5 of their last 7, and although the Bucs just lost to the Chiefs, they have a strong defense and just gave K.C. a run for their money.

I predict that the owner of the Raiders, Mark Davis, will fire his HC, Antonio Pierce, before this season comes to a close.

It looks like the Denver Head Coach, Sean Payton, has turned a corner and able to lead his team to multiple victories. IOW, it look like the Broncos will be able to make the playoffs in Payton’s second season. Following their first two games of the season (one score losses to the Seahawks and the Steelers) in the Broncos 5 wins this year, they are holding opponents to 11.6 points per game plus. Since then, their only two losses are to the Chargers and the Ravens.

The Broncos will always be disliked-foes of the Kansas City Chiefs. In fact, this is Broncos Week right now!

After the Chiefs face off against the Broncos this Sunday at noon in Arrowhead Stadium, Denver plays:

Here’s what the rest of the Chargers schedule looks like including the current record of those teams thaye will be playing:

Weeks 9 and 17 and 18 look easy for the Chargers. The rest? Not so much. Those six games in between, are all with teams that have playoff hopes. Some of the may not make it, but they will be a tough out none the less. Of course, the Raiders may have a new head coach by the time the Chargers play them. That alone is reason enough for that game to be tough.

In an article called, “Ranking Chargers and every team in the AFC wild-card picture” by Jason Reed, he says:

“2. LA Chargers •Actual AFC playoff seed: 6th – The LA Chargers have one of the best quarterbacks in the sport and a defense that is finally supporting him. Los Angeles is the only team in the NFL that has not allowed 20 points in a game this season and that is likely going to continue with the Chargers playing the Titans in Week 10.”

Reed lists the Baltimore Ravens as the number one team in the AFC Wild Card picture.

The Chiefs are in the cat-bird seat. With a win over the Broncos they will lock up another winning season. Here’s the rest of the Chiefs schedule with the current records of the teams they’ll be facing:

In an article for ArrowheadPride.com Matt Stagner wrote a piece called, “5 winners and 4 losers from the Chiefs’ overtime win over the Buccaneers” in which he says:

“The Winners are: DeAndre Hopkins, Travis Kelce, Kareem Hunt and Patrick Mahomes. While he also lists three losers as being: Xavier Worthy, Nick Bolton, plus Christian Rolland-Wallace and Joshua Williams” then he goes on to say, that the Chiefs still need a CB.

What do you think?

Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne