AFC West
by KingJohnIX | 3 years ago | 0 Comments
AFC West
Intro: Nearly 4 weeks into the season we are going to dive into each division and how they are doing. Are my predictions spot on? Way off? Who is surprising? Who is disappointing? Who is still at the bottom?
Team 1: Las Vegas Raiders (BM) 3-1
Key Players: Josh Jacobs is the most important man on this offense. Through the first 3 weeks this team didn’t even have a passing touchdown. On the flip side Johnathan Abrams is the unquestioned leader of this defense. Leading the team in tackles with 16 and interceptions with 3. If this team wants to sustain success they will need a couple more guys to step it up.
Offensive Ranks:
Points: 30 ppg (10th)
Total Yards: 389.8 YPG (6th)
Passing Yards: 272 YPG (7th)
Rushing Yards: 117.8 YPG (11th)
Turnovers: 5 interceptions
Offensive Writing: This offense is in the top 10 in nearly every category. The Raiders are able to have a balanced offense complimenting the run with the pass game. Derek Carr is doing a great job managing the game and limiting turnovers. The only thing this team is lacking is some better pass protection. The O-Line has given up 10 sacks through 4 games. This line will need to improve as the year goes on.
Defensive Ranks:
Points: 24 ppg (12th)
Total Yards: 356 ypg (22nd)
Passing Yards: 245 ypg (24th)
Rushing Yards: 111 ypg (21st)
Turnovers Forced: 10 interceptions
Defensive Writing: This defense may be the definition of bend but don't break. They are only allowing 24 points per game, which is by far in the top half of the league. But yardage wise they sit in the bottom 10 across the board. The one aspect his team is excelling at is forcing turnovers. With 10 interceptions through 4 games you can’t ask for much more than that.
Team 2: Kansas City Chiefs (KJ) 2-2
Key Players: Patrick Mahomes, Javian Hawkins,Travis Kelce, Mecole Hardmon, Jarran Reed and Willie Gay
Offensive Ranks:
Points: 29 ppg (14th)
Total Yards: 424 ypg (4th)
Passing Yards: 285 ypg (5th)
Rushing Yards:138 ypg (4th)
Turnovers: 7 interceptions
Offensive Writing: The Chiefs offense is an up and down roller coaster this season. Or at least the passing game is. Through the first 2 weeks Mahomes had only 2 Tds to 6 interceptions. Since then he has 7 tds to 1 int. The run game has been a consistent factor in all of the games with Hawkins being a surprising edition to the team.
Defensive Ranks:
Points: 28 ppg (17th)
Total Yards: 386 ypg (25th)
Passing Yards: 243 ypg (18th)
Rushing Yards: 142 ypg (26)
Turnovers Forced: 4 interceptions
Defensive Writing: The defense has not been great this season. They are in the bottom half of the league in every category there is. Even in their best game of the season they still have up 21 points, and 100 rushing yards. Though switching to a 3-4 has allowed the team to utilize their personnel a lot more effectively. They even totaled 5 sacks against the Eagles. Things could be looking up for the Chiefs.
Team 3: Los Angeles Chargers
Key Players: Austin Ekeler, Austin Ekeler,Austin Ekeler,Austin Ekeler,Austin Ekeler
Offensive Ranks:
Points: 35 ppg (6th)
Total Yards: 437 ypg (5th)
Passing Yards: 300 ypg (5th)
Rushing Yards: 136 ypg (11th)
Turnovers: 7 interceptions
Offensive Writing: This team can throw the ball with the best of them. They have 5 guys over 100 receiving yards through 4 games with 3 of those over 250 yards. But the man that makes this offense tick is Austin Ekeler. He has 472 rushing yards paired with 21 receptions for 238 receiving yards. This offense may be one of the best in the league but they need a lot of defensive help if they want to get back to their winning ways.
Defensive Ranks:
Points: 35 ppg (29th)
Total Yards: 442 ypg (30th)
Passing Yards: 332 (31st)
Rushing Yards: 109 ypg (15th)
Turnovers Forced: 8 interceptions
Defensive Writing: This defense is bad, watching them try to stop an offense is like trying to hold back a river with a paper bag. Its like Oprah out here, you get a touchdown, you get a touchdown, everyone gets a touchdown. Just out here handing out receptions to receivers like free Ipads. They are going to have to fix something on this team if they want to compete for the division like they should be doing with that high powered offense.
Team 4: Denver Broncos
Key Players: Melvin Gordon
Offensive Ranks:
Points: 25 ppg (21st)
Total Yards: 328 (23rd)
Passing Yards: 203 ypg (23rd)
Rushing Yards: 124 ypg (14th)
Turnovers: 12 interceptions
Offensive Writing: I mean the Broncos put 11 guys on the field when its their turn to run an offense. I am not sure you can call much of an offense especially if something were to happen to Melvin Gordon. That man is the whole offense, leading the team in rushing, receptions and second in receiving yards. This offense may not be so bad if they hadn’t thrown 12 picks in 4 games that will dile back what you can do as a team.
Defensive Ranks:
Points: 28 ppg (16th)
Total Yards: 380 ypg (22,d)
Passing Yards: 239 ypg (15th)
Rushing Yards: 140 ypg (25th)
Turnovers Forced: 6 interceptions
Defensive Writing:: The Broncos are actually sporting the second best defense in the division. That isn't saying a lot but they could have a few more wins if their offense took care of the ball better. This defense is keeping them in every game so far. They lost to the Giant by 3, Jets by 4 and Ravens by 8. In these 3 losses the Broncos threw 11 of their 12 interceptions. That could lead to something big soon if they figure the offense out.