Football ESPN's John Clayton: Chargers Losing Grip on AFC West

Ugly Duck · 10-11-2010, 09:03 AM

Chargers open the door: The Chargers have lost their stranglehold of the AFC West and have opened the division to any team wishing to challenge. Their loss to the Raiders showed Philip Rivers can't do it alone. Rivers completed 27 of 42 passes for 431 yards and two touchdowns, but for the third consecutive road game, he couldn't convert that final two-minute drive to get the victory.

The Chargers are a different team this year. Statistically, they entered the game ranked No. 1 on offense and No. 1 on defense, but defensive coordinator Ron Rivera has been doing it with smoke and mirrors. One-time star players such as Shawne Merriman have become invisible. Recent defensive draft choices such as Larry English, Vaughn Martin, Cam Thomas, Darrell Stuckey and others have been either injured or inactive, leaving Rivera with a growing list of street free agents and undrafted players.

The Chiefs now lead the division with a 3-1 record. The Chargers had grown accustomed to 5-1 records in the AFC West. With losses in Kansas City and Oakland, the Chargers will have to scramble to win the division with maybe an eight- or nine-win record.

Chiefs improving in the ratings: The Kansas City Chiefs didn't prove they are ready for prime time, but at 3-1, they have progressed to a point where they can go against local evening news or maybe a game show or two. The Chiefs were able to hang with the Indianapolis Colts in a 19-9 road loss. Their success can be attributed to a 2-3-6 scheme that held Peyton Manning to 244 passing yards, one red zone touchdown and no completion longer than 24 yards. Defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel, who knows Manning from their old battles when he coordinated the New England Patriots' defense, used a lot of packages in which he dropped eight defenders into coverage, forcing Manning to call a lot of running plays and settle for field goals.

Chiefs coach Todd Haley tried a game-opening onside kick that didn't work and gave Manning a field goal drive from the Chiefs' 35-yard line. Haley researched game-opening onside kicks back to 2000 and found the team that tried it won six of 11 games.

"Opening that way wasn't going to win or lose the game for us,'' Haley justified afterward.

Haley also went for a fourth-and-2 that failed at the Colts' 8 in the first quarter, figuring a team playing the Colts has to steal a few possessions or go for seven instead of three. Where the Chiefs failed and have worries is in the passing game. Dwayne Bowe dropped back-to-back passes, including one that would have been a touchdown, in the third quarter. Quarterback Matt Cassel was far from clutch, throwing six incompletions over three consecutive possessions when the Chiefs were tied or trailed by three. The Chiefs must be wondering if they have a good enough quarterback to win against an elite player like Manning.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/notebo...yton-last-call

el borracho · 10-11-2010, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ugly Duck

[B] The Chiefs must be wondering if they have a good enough quarterback to win against an elite player like Manning.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/notebo...yton-last-call

Ha! I hope they aren't still wondering!

vailpass · 10-11-2010, 09:42 AM

The AFC West is as big a pile of dog shit from top to bottom as I can ever remember. Not a single team that scares anybody come playoffs. Sad times.

BIG_DADDY · 10-11-2010, 09:44 AM

Cassel must go.

InChiefsHeaven · 10-11-2010, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vailpass

The AFC West is as big a pile of dog shit from top to bottom as I can ever remember. Not a single team that scares anybody come playoffs. Sad times.

The Chiefs are scarier than the Donkeys...so there is that...

vailpass · 10-11-2010, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InChiefsHell

The Chiefs are scarier than the Donkeys...so there is that...

Degrees of bad.
No doubt McKid has Denver looking mighty un-Denver like. Fugging embarassing.
Nobody in the AFC West scares anyone this year. In my 35 years of following the league I can't remember it being so broke-dick all the way around.

Dark Horse · 10-11-2010, 11:02 AM

The AFC West is similar to a pond in the fall. It's turning over and when ponds do that they stink.

Spott · 10-11-2010, 11:03 AM

They are still the most talented team in the division. They always start out like this and seem to finish the regular season strong.

vailpass · 10-11-2010, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spott

They are still the most talented team in the division. They always start out like this and seem to finish the regular season strong.

San Diego? With no V. Jackson and not enough Defense they aren't all that much. Sure they might win the West but somebody has to. Come playoff time the AFC West will get worked. Again.

Sure-Oz · 10-11-2010, 11:10 AM

Rivers is having an insane year and they're still losing. Miracle by the raiders at the end there, i pretty much thought SD was going to kick a fg and win that

Dark Horse · 10-11-2010, 11:11 AM

It seems to me the whole league is weak right now, just when you think a team is ready to take over there division they get exposed and lose.

King_Chief_Fan · 10-11-2010, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ugly Duck

The Chiefs must be wondering if they have a good enough quarterback to win against an elite player like Manning.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/notebo...yton-last-call

I wonder if the Chiefs are still wondering about that. I hope not

LaChapelle · 10-11-2010, 11:55 AM

This is a contract year for the NFLPA
and yet the effort is lackluster all around

ku_jhawk23 · 10-11-2010, 11:56 AM

The Kansas City Chiefs didn't prove they are ready for prime time,

Didn't we already play in "prime time" and beat a team that many pundits had going to the super bowl this year and almost all guaranteed an easy division champ? I can't stand dismissive comments like this.

I'm not saying the home-cooked refs cost the Chiefs the game (see the hold on Albert only being called after the play is over and Freeney complaining to the ref...and ignoring the absolutely blatant hold on Vrabel on the very next set of downs resulting in a 20(ish) yard gain by Wayne), but I'd sure like to see this game played again in Arrowhead.

What about this game didn't prove we're "ready for prime time?" I'm pretty sure no team on our schedule is looking forward to the game anymore.

LaChapelle · 10-11-2010, 11:58 AM

first
Matt Castle
of many

10-11-2010, 09:03 AM
Ugly Duck MVP Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Petaluma, CA, USA Casino cash: $9955920	ESPN's John Clayton: Chargers Losing Grip on AFC West Chargers open the door: The Chargers have lost their stranglehold of the AFC West and have opened the division to any team wishing to challenge. Their loss to the Raiders showed Philip Rivers can't do it alone. Rivers completed 27 of 42 passes for 431 yards and two touchdowns, but for the third consecutive road game, he couldn't convert that final two-minute drive to get the victory. The Chargers are a different team this year. Statistically, they entered the game ranked No. 1 on offense and No. 1 on defense, but defensive coordinator Ron Rivera has been doing it with smoke and mirrors. One-time star players such as Shawne Merriman have become invisible. Recent defensive draft choices such as Larry English, Vaughn Martin, Cam Thomas, Darrell Stuckey and others have been either injured or inactive, leaving Rivera with a growing list of street free agents and undrafted players. The Chiefs now lead the division with a 3-1 record. The Chargers had grown accustomed to 5-1 records in the AFC West. With losses in Kansas City and Oakland, the Chargers will have to scramble to win the division with maybe an eight- or nine-win record. Chiefs improving in the ratings: The Kansas City Chiefs didn't prove they are ready for prime time, but at 3-1, they have progressed to a point where they can go against local evening news or maybe a game show or two. The Chiefs were able to hang with the Indianapolis Colts in a 19-9 road loss. Their success can be attributed to a 2-3-6 scheme that held Peyton Manning to 244 passing yards, one red zone touchdown and no completion longer than 24 yards. Defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel, who knows Manning from their old battles when he coordinated the New England Patriots' defense, used a lot of packages in which he dropped eight defenders into coverage, forcing Manning to call a lot of running plays and settle for field goals. Chiefs coach Todd Haley tried a game-opening onside kick that didn't work and gave Manning a field goal drive from the Chiefs' 35-yard line. Haley researched game-opening onside kicks back to 2000 and found the team that tried it won six of 11 games. "Opening that way wasn't going to win or lose the game for us,'' Haley justified afterward. Haley also went for a fourth-and-2 that failed at the Colts' 8 in the first quarter, figuring a team playing the Colts has to steal a few possessions or go for seven instead of three. Where the Chiefs failed and have worries is in the passing game. Dwayne Bowe dropped back-to-back passes, including one that would have been a touchdown, in the third quarter. Quarterback Matt Cassel was far from clutch, throwing six incompletions over three consecutive possessions when the Chiefs were tied or trailed by three. The Chiefs must be wondering if they have a good enough quarterback to win against an elite player like Manning. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/notebo...yton-last-call
Posts: 10,146

10-11-2010, 09:42 AM	#3
vailpass Psycho Bag Of Squanch Join Date: Sep 2001 Casino cash: $9594244	The AFC West is as big a pile of dog shit from top to bottom as I can ever remember. Not a single team that scares anybody come playoffs. Sad times.
Posts: 69,591

10-11-2010, 09:44 AM	#4
BIG_DADDY THE RED MENACE Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Texas Casino cash: $5088410	Cassel must go. __________________ The diabolical genius of Marxism-Socialism is that it provides the emotional and intellectual road map for autocrats to persuade millions of people to support their own enslavement to government. ~Mark Levin April 15, 2019
Posts: 32,384

10-11-2010, 11:02 AM	#7
Dark Horse Veteran Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Kansas Casino cash: $8665015	The AFC West is similar to a pond in the fall. It's turning over and when ponds do that they stink.
Posts: 1,383

10-11-2010, 11:03 AM	#8
Spott Court Jester Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Orlando Casino cash: $3092400	They are still the most talented team in the division. They always start out like this and seem to finish the regular season strong.
Posts: 19,706

10-11-2010, 11:11 AM	#11
Dark Horse Veteran Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Kansas Casino cash: $8665015	It seems to me the whole league is weak right now, just when you think a team is ready to take over there division they get exposed and lose.
Posts: 1,383

10-11-2010, 11:55 AM	#13
LaChapelle Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Casino cash: $10004900	This is a contract year for the NFLPA and yet the effort is lackluster all around
Posts: 8,588

10-11-2010, 11:56 AM	#14
ku_jhawk23 Starter Join Date: Mar 2005 Casino cash: $7754910	The Kansas City Chiefs didn't prove they are ready for prime time, Didn't we already play in "prime time" and beat a team that many pundits had going to the super bowl this year and almost all guaranteed an easy division champ? I can't stand dismissive comments like this. I'm not saying the home-cooked refs cost the Chiefs the game (see the hold on Albert only being called after the play is over and Freeney complaining to the ref...and ignoring the absolutely blatant hold on Vrabel on the very next set of downs resulting in a 20(ish) yard gain by Wayne), but I'd sure like to see this game played again in Arrowhead. What about this game didn't prove we're "ready for prime time?" I'm pretty sure no team on our schedule is looking forward to the game anymore.
Posts: 278

10-11-2010, 11:58 AM	#15
LaChapelle Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Casino cash: $10004900	first Matt Castle of many
Posts: 8,588