Around the AFC West: K.C. loads up, while L.A. and Oakland move on
Dec 20, 2019, 6:46 AM
The Broncos return home in Week 16, hoping to end the season on a high note over the next two games. First up, the hapless Lions on Sunday.
This is a game that the Broncos should be able to have great success on both sides of the ball. After that, another home game but this time against the Raiders.
Things are shaping up where the Broncos could win two games in a row, finish with a 7-9 record, and hopefully carry some momentum over to the 2020 season.
The rest of the division is concerned with momentum also. The Chiefs need some for the postseason and perhaps getting home-field advantage for one game in the playoffs. The Chargers and Raiders are like the Broncos and mainly just trying to show something they can build on for next year.
Let’s take a spin around the AFC West to see what the competition is up to.
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Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs were able to pick up veteran pass-rusher Terrell Suggs earlier in the week on waivers. The Cardinals waived Suggs last week after he totaled 5.5 sacks and seven quarterback hits in 13 games this season.
After his release, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Suggs “will strongly consider not reporting to his new claiming team if it is anyone other than the Baltimore Ravens.” Most people remember Suggs for his amazing 16-year career with the Ravens.
Well, the Ravens didn’t get him back and the Chiefs are a team that could face the Ravens in the AFC Championship Game. Suggs said there was no hard sell to join the Chiefs – and for good reason.
“It’s hard to turn down (playing with) the reigning MVP and a playoff team, the exciting things they’re doing, this atmosphere,” he said. “Hopefully, I can come in and contribute right off the bat.”
The Chiefs defense has been playing much better in recent weeks. Adding a future Hall of Fame pass-rusher like Suggs could help put them over the top – even if he does have to go through Baltimore to get to another Super Bowl.
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Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers have a good running back duo in Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler. However, we may be seeing more of Ekeler going forward with two games remaining in the regular season. In Week 15 against the Vikings, Gordon had a nightmare performance with only 28 yards rushing and two fumbles lost.
Gordon is set to be an unrestricted free agent in 2020. He’s not done much to improve his market his year, especially after holding out and not really producing at a high level. The Chargers are likely to move on from their former first-round pick unless maybe they could sign him for a team-friendly deal.
Playing at home for the final time in 2019, this may be Gordon’s last game in front of the home crowd. He asked quarterback Philip Rivers for advice on how to deal with this.
“He said, ‘Whether you’re here or not, you have a couple games left, you can’t let fans or whatever steal your happiness. You gotta come out here and suit up and just have fun with the game.’ That was the best advice someone could have given me in this position. I’ve been trying to take that approach,” Gordon said.
Instead of keeping Gordon for a lot of money (even if it is a good deal), the Chargers might just take a longer look at Ekeler as their lead back. Even backup Justin Jackson, who has been dealing with a minor hamstring injury, might get some more work here at the end of the season.
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Oakland Raiders
Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (shoulder) is unlikely to play Sunday, Dec. 22, according to head coach Jon Gruden.
“I don’t believe Josh will be able to play this week. We’ll hold out hope that he can play against Denver (in Week 17),” Gruden said.
Jacobs has been their workhorse back, and the 2019 first-round pick has produced as expected. In 13 games this year, Jacobs has 242 carries for 1,150 yards and seven touchdowns. He also has recorded 20 catches for 166 receiving yards over that time. Jacobs is the centerpiece of what they do on offense, and he was able to play in Week 15 despite missing a lot of time in Week 14.
This week, the shoulder injury is just too much for Jacobs. That means the Raiders will go back to DeAndre Washington as their lead back (like they did in Week 14). With an extra week of rest, Jacobs may be ready for the season finale against the Broncos in Week 17.
