Another look around the AFC West as the Chiefs remain the team to beat, the Chargers remain in the hunt of first place, and the Raiders continue to fall.
Welcome back to another week of Around the AFC West. This week, we are looking back at a relatively quiet week in the division as we gear up for one of the biggest matchups this season.
Before we look at the forthcoming Rams-Chiefs game, let’s look at how things are going around the AFC West heading into Week 11.
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos enjoyed their bye week this week and also maintained a relatively quiet bye. This hasn’t always been the case for teams this season, but good for the Broncos. If we all remember, they entered the bye week after a devastating loss to the Texans and former teammate Demaryius Thomas. The Broncos are watching their season slip away. While other teams watch explosive offenses lead their teams to victory, the Broncos are plagued by inconsistent play.
This week, the Broncos head to Los Angeles to take on the Chargers. This is a game that Chiefs Kingdom will likely have their eyes on. As reluctant as I am to ever cheer for the Donkeys, I am hoping the Broncos can put together one complete game and upset the Chargers. The Chargers, on the other hand, are looking to continue their hot streak.
Reports are out that Vance Joseph does expect Royce Freeman, Darian Stewart, DaeSean Hamilton, and Bradley Roby to all practice this week. That is good news for a team that has been consistently hobbled with injuries. Unfortunately, Joseph’s news did not include all players. The Broncos officially placed center Matt Paradis on IR and signed Gino Gradkowski.
As much as I would love a Broncos upset here because it both hurts the Chargers in their race to win the division and lowers the Broncos draft choice, I don’t anticipate a win. The Broncos are just too dysfunctional with inconsistent quarterback play, poor line play, and untimely penalties—and that is just the beginning of their issues. The Chargers will be able to overcome this one. Game time is 3:05 p.m.