AFC West report: Everything goes right for KC Chiefs in Week 10
By Ellen Mathis
And just like that, everything is right again. That’s right folks, the AFC West has righted itself and the proper number one is on top.
Following Sunday’s crazy games, the Chiefs entered this week on top of the AFC West following poor performances from Denver, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. It really could not have been a better weekend. But before I gush too much about the performance of the Chiefs, let’s take a look at the underachievers in the rest of the division in this week’s AFC West report.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers played host to the Vikings who were coming off their own tumultuous off-the-field week with issues surrounding Dalvin Cook and following two straight losses. The Chargers were looking to maintain the top spot in the AFC West. Seems like something they might have wanted to fight for right? Well, turns out, they didn’t care too much as the Vikings walked into their stadium and handed the now struggling Chargers another loss. What is interesting about the Chargers is this:
Sunday marked the 3rd straight game the Chargers have lost by 7 points or fewer.
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) November 15, 2021
Also:
Most one-possession losses since 2019:
Chargers 19
Panthers 17
Bengals 16
Lions 15 pic.twitter.com/2WSLD9G3RX
Seriously. What is wrong with that team? Can they never actually do anything right? With that loss, while Justin Herbert morphed into Old Man Rivers, the Chargers are now looking up at the Chiefs, with one head-to-head match-up yet to play. While their schedule is slightly more forgiving than the Chiefs, they still need to match the reigning divisional champs in the hopes that they will get the one seed. The Chargers haven’t been playing well lately so this does not bode well for them as they look to this weekend.
What also doesn’t bode well is the following news that broke on Tuesday night:
The Chargers have placed DE Joey Bosa and DT Jerry Tillery on the COVID-19 list.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) November 16, 2021
The Chargers play the Steelers on Sunday Night Football in what looks like it could be the battle of the backups.
Steelers and Chargers play Sunday night, and currently QB Ben Roethlisberger, S Minkah Fitzpatrick, DE Joey Bosa and DT Jerry Tillery are all on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. https://t.co/22UsuLk7zp
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 16, 2021
While Roethlisberger is vaccinated and if cleared will play, it is still an interesting and potentially playoff-shifting development. If the injured and sickly Steelers pull out a win over the Chargers, the AFC playoff picture becomes even more muddied. I certainly don’t know what team is actually good and frankly, if someone tells you they know, they are lying.