AFC West Standings: Week 2
Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE
The second week of the 2012 NFL season is in the books and the race to win the AFC West is taking shape.
Let’s take a look at where each team stands in the early-going.
1. San Diego Chargers (2-0)
2. Denver Broncos (1-1)
3. Kansas City Chiefs (0-2)
4. Oakland Raiders (0-2)
The Chargers are on top after defeating the Raiders in Week 1 and the Titans in Week 2. San Diego crushed the Titans 38-10 and despite not having the hardest schedule thus far, they still appear to be the cream of the division.
Up Next: The Chargers will play their second straight home game when they host the Atlanta Falcons Sunday afternoon on Fox. Atlanta has feasted on the AFC West thus far, beating the Chiefs in KC and the Broncos last night on MNF. This will be San Diego’s first big test as the Falcons look like Super Bowl contenders.
The Broncos looked good in Week 1, dispatching the Pittsburgh Steelers, but they looked mortal last night when they traveled to Atlanta to take on the Falcons. Peyton Manning threw three first quarter interceptions allowing the Falcons to get out ahead quickly. Denver eventually closed the gap in the 4th quarter but fell short in a 27-21 loss.
Up Next: The Broncos face their third straight tough game as they return home to host the Houston Texans. Houston has won both its first two games easily and will aim to put the Broncos under .500.
Kansas City has looked like one of the NFL’s worst teams through two weeks. They got creamed by the Falcons and Bills in consecutive weeks. They’ve been weak on both offense and defense. KC’s defenders are giving up an average of 142.5 yards per-game on the ground and 235 yards per-game through the air.
Up Next: Things don’t get easier for the Chiefs as they take their horror show on the road to take on the New Orleans Saints. The Saints are also 0-2 after losing to the Panthers and Redskins in consecutive weeks. Still, the Saints are scoring points and if KC can’t get its defense under control, an 0-3 start could be on the way.
The Oakland Raiders, like the Chiefs, just look awful. The Raiders are averaging a pitiful 34 yards per-game on the ground, despite featuring versatile RB Darren McFadden. Oakland got smacked around last week by the Miami Dolphins, giving up 35 points to a rookie QB many experts think the Dolphins reached for in the first round of the NFL draft.
Up Next: The Raiders will be at home to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers. If Oakland can’t find a way to get McFadden going, they also could remain in the AFC West basement with the Chiefs.