Around the AFC West, Week 5: Kansas City Chiefs surge ahead in the AFC West
By Ellen Mathis
Another glance around the AFC West shows a real division lead opening up for the Chiefs but the basement kept pace.
Welcome back to another tour of the AFC West. Last week was simply wonderful. The Kansas City Chiefs took a 2 game lead in the AFC West by beating the Denver Broncos in a thrilling, instant-classic, Monday Night Football game. Let’s take a look at how the rest of the AFC West fared and sneak a peek at what is to come heading into Week 5.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers took on C.J. Beathard and the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. I’ll point out that the Chargers barely had to leave the state of California last month playing three out of four games in the state (just an interesting fact). Anyways, back to football.
As you know, Jimmy Garroppolo is out for the season having torn his ACL in the 49ers loss to the Chiefs, so it was Beathard’s turn to lead the 49ers. Towards the end of the second quarter, the Chargers were trailing, 17-6. This, however, did not faze the Chargers as they put up 11 points in the final 47 seconds of the first half, going into halftime with a tie.
In the third quarter, Melvin Gordon caught a 6 yard touchdown pass from Philip Rivers and Caleb Sturgis made a 25 yard field goal. Sitting ahead, 26-17, the Chargers gave up an 82-yard touchdown to the 49ers tight end George Kittle cutting the Chargers’ lead to 24-26. The 49ers then put up another field goal to give them the lead with 12:39 left to go in the 4th quarter. The Chargers responded with their own field goal with 7:41 left in the game, and that would be enough to give them the win, 29-27.
This game included two missed field goal attempts. The Chargers of last year would have lost this game for sure. The Chargers have missed eight PATs since the start of last season making them the league leaders in something. Luckily, they were able to pull off the win in the end, but I have a feeling that kicking issues will continue to haunt the Chargers. (Yes, that is an October/Halloween joke. Just deal with it.) Gordon continued to play well rushing for 104 yards on 15 carries and adding 55 yards and a touchdown receiving. Rivers had a nice day throwing for 250 yards and three touchdowns.
The Chargers wide receiver Travis Benjamin did not play in the second half after having missed the previous two games due to a foot injury and left tackle Russell Okung left in the second half with a groin injury.
Next week, the Chargers have an important divisional game against the Oakland Raiders. The Chargers have already lost to divisional opponent Chiefs and cannot afford to drop another divisional game. The Raiders lost to the Broncos and are coming off their first win of the season. This game is a meaningful one already because if the Chargers lose, they will join Oakland at the bottom of the AFC West. The game is in L.A. at 3:05 p.m.