Around the AFC West: Big breaks, big returns and big targets
Sep 27, 2019, 6:25 AM
The Broncos have begun the 2019 season with an 0-3 record. Things are looking dire for this year, but a win on Sunday against the Jaguars would greatly help.
The AFC West has only one winning team so far after three games, with the Chiefs sitting undefeated at 3-0. Both the Chargers and the Raiders have 1-2 records, so the Broncos aren’t technically “out of it” after a few games – it’s close, but the team has a small sign of life within the division.
Let’s take a spin around the AFC West to see what the competition is up to.
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Kansas City Chiefs
Sometimes, things just bounce your way – especially if you’re great. There is no doubt the Chiefs are one of the best teams in football, and they are going up against the undefeated Lions (2-0-1) on Sunday.
In that game, the Lions are likely to be without their best defender, Darius Slay, due to a hamstring injury. He’s one of the best cornerbacks in the game and could eliminate one of the many targets for Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Without Slay, Mahomes should have zero problem carving up this Lions defense and moving his team to a 4-0 record.
The Chiefs are still waiting to see on the status of starting running back Damien Williams. He had to miss last week, and that led the Chiefs to use LeSean McCoy and Darrell Williams in a running-back-by-committee. There’s no need to rush him back this week, especially since they should easily be able to take care of a Lions defense missing their top defender.
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Los Angeles Chargers
Melvin Gordon has ended his holdout and has rejoined the Chargers this week. The two-time Pro Bowl running back was granted permission to seek a trade, but nothing never materialized and he needed to report in order to accrue enough games to be a free agent in 2020. Gordon wants more money and long-term security, but will play out the final year of his rookie contract, which was set to pay him $5.6 million in 2019. Fines for holding out with lower that number, but Gordon has a chance to help this team in the near future.
The Chargers are seeking a two-game roster exemption for Gordon. At the time of this writing, it is unknown if the league will grant that. The team doesn’t want to make a roster move until Gordon is ready to play, thus the request for the exemption. Gordon is not going to play this week against the Dolphins, but he could be back for the Week 5 game against the Broncos.
When he returns, Gordon should help the team close out games. They’ve been rushing the ball fine with Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson, but the Chargers have been outscored 45-16 in the second half of games this season. Gordon is known to get stronger as the game goes on (6.7 yards per carry average in 2018 fourth quarters) and could keep the chains moving when the Chargers get a lead.
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Oakland Raiders
Rookie first-round pick Josh Jacobs has the natural skill to be one of the best all-purpose running backs in the league if only the Raiders used him that way. After three games, Jacobs only has one catch – and it was a 28-yard reception against the Broncos in Week 1. Apparently, the team has realized the error in their ways and will look to correct that going forward according to head coach Jon Gruden.
Gruden says he wants to get Josh Jacobs the ball most, especially in the passing game: "We've got to get more out of Josh as a receiver."
— Jimmy Durkin (@Jimmy_Durkin) September 23, 2019
The Raiders can use Jacobs as a receiver to help their passing game. That group of weapons is pretty solid and the team has an emerging playmaker we all saw get it done at a high level against the Broncos earlier this year.
Raiders tight end Darren Waller has become one of the most productive players at his position in 2019. After three games, Waller leads the NFL in receptions by a tight end (26) and he trails only Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (284) in receiving yards by a tight end with 267. Only Eagles tight end Zach Ertz (30) has more targets than Waller (29) this season. We all know Waller’s troubled past that he retold during HBO’s “Hard Knocks,” but he’s put that all behind him and is standing out as one of the best in the game.
