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State of the AFC West Week 9

Well well well, here we are after week 9, a week I'd been looking forward to for awhile. I had a crazy day on Sunday which of course had a perfect ending. Last night's game was the proverbial "icing on the cake". The Chargers are now 1 game back at the halfway point of the season with 8 games to go. The Broncos still  have the advantage with the 1 game lead and a win over the Chargers as a potential tiebreaker. As far as the schedules, of the 8 games remaining, 3 are easy division games (2 KC 1 OAK), but 4 are against tough teams (SD, NYG, INDY, PHI) and their game this week at Washington. On the other hand, the Chargers get the Browns and Titans, don't have to play Indy, but they only play the Chiefs one more time. As far as momentum, it is clearly on the side of the Chargers who have capped their three game winning streak with an emotional win at the Meadowlands. The Broncos on the other hand are riding a two-game losing streak that included two disappointing second halves. Oakland and KC are still out of the picture.

Jump the break for individual teams.


AFC West Standings

W L T PF PA
Denver 6 2 0 150 124
San Diego 5 3 0 206 179
Oakland 2 6 0 78 201
Kansas City 1 7 0 126 205

(updated 11.10.2009 at 1:30 AM PST)



Star-divide

 

Oakland Raiders: The Raiders had a quiet bye week getting healthy and trying not to lose any football games. Running back Darren McFadden, wide receiver Chaz Schilens, left guard Robert Gallery and right tackle Cornell Green returned to practice Monday and are expected to play against the Kansas City Chiefs this week. So that's good news. Although Tom Cable won't be charged criminally, the NFL is evaluating the situation and sending out people to determine if Cable should attend anger management classes. The National League of Women (NOW) and other women's rights groups are calling for Cable's job. The Raiders next division match-up is this week's pillow-fight of the week in Oakland. Let the battle to determine the most dysfunctional team begin, too bad nobody will see it because it will likely be blacked out.


Oakland Raiders Injuries

Questionable

Player Injury Type Injury Date
Cornell Green calf 11/09/2009
Tony Stewart chest 11/09/2009
Gerard Warren toe 11/09/2009
Jon Alston shoulder 11/09/2009
Ricky Brown ankle 11/09/2009
Robert Gallery fibula 11/09/2009
Tommy Kelly elbow 11/09/2009
Chris Johnson groin 11/09/2009
Chaz Schilens foot 11/09/2009

Out (IR / Out / Suspended / Physically unvailable)

Player Injury Type Injury Date
John Bowie knee 09/30/2009
Oren O'Neal ankle 10/14/2009


Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs played a close game against the Jaguars which inevitably ended in another loss. As the Chiefs march toward another top 5 draft pick, the big story is still the rapid fall of Larry Johnson which ended in his release from the Chiefs. Although they will probably end up paying him a lot of money since I doubt anyone will pick him up, this gives Jamaal Charles more opportunity to play and gets rid of a clubhouse cancer. Chris Chambers seem to have rejuvenated their offense, at least for the moment, with two TD passes. The addition seems to have helped the Chiefs and the Chargers at the same time, and Chris will probably be happier too. As already mentioned, the Chiefs next division game is at Oakland which I'm sure will be terribly exciting. 


Kansas City Chiefs Injuries

Questionable

Player Injury Type Injury Date
Jon McGraw thigh 11/09/2009

Out (IR / Out / Suspended / Physically unvailable)

Player Injury Type Injury Date
Devard Darling knee 09/01/2009
Jarrad Page calf 11/04/2009
Jackie Battle shoulder 10/14/2009
Colin Brown undisclosed 09/05/2009


Denver Broncos: Will the real Broncos please stand up? Are they the 6-0 team or the 0-2 team? Are they the second-half juggernaut or the second-half duds? Is Kyle Orton the QB who threw one INT in 7 games or 3 INT's in one game? Are they a punishing opponents on the lines or the team that didn't get ONE rushing first-down against the Steelers? The answer is probably somewhere close to the middle. Teams are starting to key on the Broncos weakness and adjusting their game-plans as such. Kyle Orton looks nervous as opposed to the pillar of strength he looked like earlier in the season. Either way, the Broncos are much better than everyone thought but they still aren't an elite team. The Steelers were clearly the superior team last night, even at Mile High. The Broncos have lost some momentum going forward but they are still healthy and still have the advantage over the Chargers. Now is the time for Josh McDaniels to adjust to the adjustments that other teams are making. Going forward, we will see if the Broncos and McDaniels are studs or duds. The game at Washington this weekend may tell us a lot about the Broncos. Their next division match-up looks to be a huge game with playoff implications at Mile High against the Chargers.


Denver Broncos Injuries

Questionable

Player Injury Type Injury Date
Ryan McBean knee 11/10/2009
Peyton Hillis other-excused 11/10/2009
David Bruton groin 11/10/2009

Out (IR / Out / Suspended / Physically unvailable)

Player Injury Type Injury Date
Nick Greisen knee 08/05/2009
J'Vonne Parker knee 08/08/2009


San Diego Super Chargers: The Bolts are flying high after an emotional victory at the Meadowlands and gaining the momentum in the AFC West race if not the advantage. They are finally getting healthy, emotionally and physically, as well and it looks like All-Pro center Nick Hardwick will make his return to Qualcomm Stadium this weekend against the Eagles. The Chargers are still a little banged up at the linebacker position; SP95 was injured in the Giants game and Kevin Burnett and Tim Dobbins are still ailing. It looks like Phillips and Burnett will play this weekend while Dobbins will sit. LB Jyles Tucker is also most likely out this weekend.  It looks like the Eagles are having the same problem the Chargers were earlier in the season: inability to keep anyone healthy. If Westbrook is out and the Eagles must depend on the passing game, the Chargers could win big with improved pass rush from Shawne Merriman and Shaun Phillips. The Chargers are also only 2-2 this season and they need to improve their play at home. The game is already sold out so we know it will be loud this weekend. Our next division match-up is Week 11 at Mile High Stadium.


San Diego Chargers Injuries

Questionable

Player Injury Type Injury Date
Tim Dobbins knee 11/09/2009
Nick Hardwick ankle 11/09/2009
Kevin Burnett ankle 11/09/2009

Out (IR / Out / Suspended / Physically unvailable)

Player Injury Type Injury Date
Ryon Bingham arm 09/05/2009
Jamal Williams triceps 09/19/2009
Antwan Applewhite hamstring 10/20/2009
Brandon Hughes knee 09/02/2009



Philadelphia Eagles Injuries

Probable

Player Injury Type Injury Date
Max Jean-Gilles shoulder 11/09/2009

Questionable

Player Injury Type Injury Date
Victor Abiamiri knee 11/09/2009
Chris Gocong other-excused 11/09/2009
Akeem Jordan knee 11/10/2009
Brian Westbrook ankle 11/09/2009
Quintin Demps ankle 11/09/2009

Out (IR / Out / Suspended / Physically unvailable)

Player Injury Type Injury Date
Shawn Andrews back 09/15/2009
Stewart Bradley knee 09/01/2009
Omar Gaither foot 10/22/2009
Cornelius Ingram knee 09/01/2009
Fenuki Tupou chest 09/05/2009


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good post

but denver has a easyer sch we have 4 tough games left u have 5 my pred we will meet in the first round 4-vs 5

okay i have cereal palsy arhrtis and chronic fatiue as well i have a grea life loveing folks some days are better that other days i got a make a wish in 2001 saw my favorive team the broncos was the trip of the lifetime i wish everyone couild gotten to enjoy that with me i know some of u hate the broncos and that ok but i bleed organ and bule

by j-man on Nov 10, 2009 3:40 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

Know what I hate?

I’m a diehard Chargers fan, but why the hell do all the people who post the blogs try to make the chargers sound better than we really are? Do you honestly think teams like the Bengals who are playing out of their minds consider us a “hard” team? And do you also notice how Tec didn’t include our hard games, but included the Broncos hard games, like that’s gonna make us forget about them or something. Like, I said, I love our team, but we are not NEARLY as great as some of these blog posts describe. Maybe it’s just hopeful thinking. Yayy, VJ is tied 1st for most TD catches, and is in the top 10 in yardage, and Rivers is up there too in yardage and pass TD’s. Know why? THAT’S all we do. That’s all we CAN do. How does that make us a hard team? All we’re gonna do is throw and throw, and pray to the lord that one of our RB’s break a tackle and stay out of the backfield. I’m not hating on our team….but man….I’m just worried.

My faith in the San Diego Chargers will always be at maximum strength for as long as I live. CHARGERS ROLLLL!

by ChargersFanT.I.D. on Nov 11, 2009 7:08 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

Maestro lover

Mountain West Connection ::Above the Rest::
Bolts From The Blue "There’s a gleam men. Let’s go get the gleam! Focus and Finish!!! One play at a time!!! Let's Go!!!"
Representing the San Diego State University Aztecs, home of the 2009 College Cheerleading National Champions in the all women's division.

by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Nov 11, 2009 7:39 AM PST up reply actions   2 recs

poo holes lover

Mountain West Connection ::Above the Rest::
Bolts From The Blue "There’s a gleam men. Let’s go get the gleam! Focus and Finish!!! One play at a time!!! Let's Go!!!"
Representing the San Diego State University Aztecs, home of the 2009 College Cheerleading National Champions in the all women's division.

by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Nov 11, 2009 3:18 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Haha

Samantha’s boning ARod.

Wisdom can not be cultivated through ignorance of information.

by Wonko on Nov 11, 2009 3:28 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I can’t decide if I prefer calling him Samantha or Mark Twain…

Bolts from the Blue // "Game over." - Jamal Williams
Bloody Elbow // "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." - H.L. Mencken

by Richard Wade on Nov 11, 2009 3:52 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I'll just call you Jamul

Mountain West Connection ::Above the Rest::
Bolts From The Blue "There’s a gleam men. Let’s go get the gleam! Focus and Finish!!! One play at a time!!! Let's Go!!!"
Representing the San Diego State University Aztecs, home of the 2009 College Cheerleading National Champions in the all women's division.

by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Nov 11, 2009 4:05 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

But I’m moving back to Spring Valley soon.

Bolts from the Blue // "Game over." - Jamal Williams
Bloody Elbow // "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." - H.L. Mencken

by Richard Wade on Nov 11, 2009 6:14 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Here's something interesting.

We actually have one more net point than the Broncos. We’re +27, and they’re +26.

We're boned.

by Zach (maestro876) on Nov 11, 2009 3:27 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

Thank you Chiefs game.

Wisdom can not be cultivated through ignorance of information.

by Wonko on Nov 11, 2009 3:29 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

The Broncos

also had games against the Browns and Raiders, that they won by 21 and 20 points respectively.

We're boned.

by Zach (maestro876) on Nov 11, 2009 3:41 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

At least that's two

Our entire positive point differential is from that Chiefs game.

Wisdom can not be cultivated through ignorance of information.

by Wonko on Nov 11, 2009 3:59 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

They haven't played the Cheifs yet

Mountain West Connection ::Above the Rest::
Bolts From The Blue "There’s a gleam men. Let’s go get the gleam! Focus and Finish!!! One play at a time!!! Let's Go!!!"
Representing the San Diego State University Aztecs, home of the 2009 College Cheerleading National Champions in the all women's division.

by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Nov 11, 2009 4:05 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

And we haven't played the Browns

Of course we have played the Raiders and somehow can’t seem to slaughter them.

Didn’t the Broncos lose to the Raiders last year?

Wisdom can not be cultivated through ignorance of information.

by Wonko on Nov 11, 2009 4:11 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

And we don't get to play the same Raiders as the other teams do.

The Raiders will play 2-game seasons until they finally take us down.

by Neoplatonist Bolthead on Nov 11, 2009 5:41 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

They took out

the Broncos in Denver last year; that was awesome…

"Football is a physical sport, sometimes you have a disagreement on what's going on, and you have a discussion about it." Kris Dielman

by Brian (DaBolts) on Nov 11, 2009 6:15 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

And they beat the Broncos in Oakland in 2007.

They’ve beaten the Chiefs and the Broncos the last couple years. We’re the last big monkey on their backs.

We're boned.

by Zach (maestro876) on Nov 11, 2009 7:30 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I remember

When any year we swept the Raiders was a successful season, even if we lost every other game.

"Football is a physical sport, sometimes you have a disagreement on what's going on, and you have a discussion about it." Kris Dielman

by Brian (DaBolts) on Nov 11, 2009 7:42 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Did that stop?

Bolts from the Blue // "Game over." - Jamal Williams
Bloody Elbow // "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." - H.L. Mencken

by Richard Wade on Nov 11, 2009 8:35 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Hell no

The holy roller was like a dozen Hochuli’s followed by the trading Fred Dean and ‘Big Hands’ Johnson. I was certain the end of days was nigh.

"Football is a physical sport, sometimes you have a disagreement on what's going on, and you have a discussion about it." Kris Dielman

by Brian (DaBolts) on Nov 11, 2009 10:09 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Good.

Beating the Raiders always has been and always will be enough.

Bolts from the Blue // "Game over." - Jamal Williams
Bloody Elbow // "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." - H.L. Mencken

by Richard Wade on Nov 13, 2009 11:08 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

The slow start is something we are subject to.

The Chargers always capitalize in the second half of the season. At the beginning of the year I predicted every game and thought we would have a 12-4 season. I have only missed one (Broncos game) but I picked the Broncos to win at home. If we beat them then, and my streak stays hot, we could go 12-4. My 4th loss of the season was also to the Titans who are underachieving this season. We have a great shot at Wild Card no matter what happens.

When lightning strikes, horses run.

by Flow on Nov 11, 2009 11:24 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

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