11-23-11 2:25 pm pac    

                                                                                                                                New KC QB Kyle Orton

My, how things change...

Denver Broncos

(5-5-0)

Denver waived this seasons starter Kyle Orton who was pursued by Dallas and Chicago but was claimed off waivers first by a team with a worse record than both of those teams.

Division rival Kansas City.

Orton could get his shot at revenge when the two teams meet on New Years day, a perfect opportunity to play U2's "New Years Day".

The Broncos have survived not thrived under the passless QB Tim Tebow who is flat out horrible except when it counts.

Like the man who damned Tebow with faint praise, 4th quarter comeback King and former Bronco QB Legend John Elway.

Elways opinion matters not only because of his legacy but because hes Denvers new GM.

With a decimated RB corps the Broncos uglier than sin College option game has sadly worked thus far but its doubtful sucj a gimmick could take Denver deep into the play offs.

Especially once teams figure out their DEs need to stay home and simply set the edge to stop it.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

(4-6-0)

KC fans laughed when Oakland lost its starting QB to a broken clavical but soon lost their sense of humor when their QB Matt Cassel suffered an undisclosed but "significant hand injury".

The Chiefs had already lost All-Pro running back Jamaal Charles, Pro Bowl safety Eric Berry, tight end Tony Moeaki and linebacker Brandon Siler to season ending injuries.

Cassel was placed on IR yesterday and is scheduled for surgery.

Its ironic that Cassel broke his hand against Denver but may get the last laugh and revenge for Orton if things fall their way.

Don't forget, Pro Bowl WR Dwayne Bowe, excellent rookie prosepct Jonathan Baldwin and former Cardinal Steve Breaston will make fine targets for Orton if they can protect him.

Better than they did Cassel.

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

(4-6-0)

Reversing their previous trend, san Diego started fast and is now in danger of stalling out.

With an O line decimated by injury, former Pro Bowl TE Antonio Gates injured, fat and slow and QB Philip Rivers mis-firing several times a game the Chargless Chargers have dropped 5 in a row, their worst losing streak since 2003.

Rivers has tossed a career high 17 picks, 3 of them to Oaklands next opponent, Chicago.

We've stated at the time San Diego's 17 pick jump in the 1st round of the 2010 NFL draft would come back to haunt them.

The Chargers paid Mathews #12th overall money despite the fact Mathews couldn't stay healthy.

He hasn't and its showed.

The Chargers let Darrin Sproles go to the Saints in Free Agency with fingers crossed hoping Mathews could remain viable for an entire season for the first time since...has there been?

Other injuries have hurt but Mathews fumble last week end spelled doom for San Diego and serves as a fitting metaphor.

                   
Photo Dave Einsel / AP                                                                                                RB Darren McFadden


 OAKLAND RAIDERS

(6-4-0)

The Raiders lead the Division in part thanks to the dismantling of their competion at the hands of atrition, rebuilds and poor management but Oakland is the most surprising team of all.

Like their Divisonal foes Oakland has suffered massive losses, including the best RB in the League Darren McFadden, their starting RDE Matt Shaughnessy, their starting QB Jason Campbell, WRs Louis Murphy,  Jacoby Ford and now rookie WR sensation Denarius Moore was seen with a walking boot today.

The biggest loss of all of course was their one and only owner Al Davis.

Rookie Head Coach Hue Jackson has made move after spectacular move as is possessed by the ghost of Al Davis. Starting with the surprise addition and reclamation of former 1st round pick LB Aaron Curry and culminated in the block buster addition of QB Carson Palmer and WR TJ Houshmandzadeh.

He also started adding "W"s to the win column.

Even with McFadden out and much of the roster devastated by injury Oakland continues to adapt, adjust and just win baby.

We'll see if they can do it again against a Cutler-less Bears team known for relying on RB Matt Forte's stellar ground attack.

Many think back up QB Caleb Hanie could pose more of a Tebow like scrambling QB who gave Oakland big trouble a few weeks ago but Oakland will be fine if their DEs set the edge and simply contain. Interestingly enough, the Bears, having failed to claim Orton signed former Raider QB Josh McKown so if anything happens to Hanie...

10-05-11 8:54 am pac                       
   
                               

Denver Broncos

(1-3-0)

RB Willis McGahee's injury riddled up and down career is currently on the up. Filling for 1st round bust Knowshon Moreno, who is building his own injury history, McGahee is putting up 100 yd games again and currently has 259 on the season.

Injuries plaguing the Orange crush with Pro Bowl WR Brandon Lloyd, 2nd over all LB draft pick Von Miller and pass rush specialist Elvis Dumervil among the more prominent who've missed game time so far.

Bronco fans desperate for change and wins went so far as to buy billboard space calling for 3rd string QB Tim Tebow.

What they don't realize is that Orton is among the top 10 QBs in the League and that Tebow is another wasted 1st round draft pick who will never play QB at this level.

Kind of like Raider "fans" who blame Al Davis for everything wrong and credit him for nothing good, it goes to show how fans can see the same thing completely different based on what information they do or do not possess.

HC John Fox is hoping to turn things around but his political logorhea, ie. speaking volumes and saying nothing, leaves us with no clue as to how he expects to do that.

No disrespect, we think Fox will start to put it together at the end of the season perhaps but the way it stands at the quarter mark, Broncos fans should probably start looking toward next season.

Kansas City Chiefs

(1-3-0) 

KC managed to FG their way to a win over the hapless McNabb led Vikings last week but the old adage "Even a garbage can gets a steak now and again" comes to mind.

Constantly pissy HC Todd Haley is on his way out the door.

Thats a good thing for Chiefs fans who can begin to rebuild...again, but thats exactly what they'll have to do.

They have a core of under performing high end draft picks so theres some talent to work with but unless something drastic happens KC maybe battling Denver for highest 1st round draft pick in the AFC West.

San Diego Chargers

(3-1-0)

Leading the Division again, the Gates-less Chargers still find a way to win. Usually that way is named Philip Rivers.

Bowling ball turned RB Mike Tolbert has played a big role in keeping the Chargers winning too but TE Antonio Gates foot injury is not going to heal anytime soon.

He may still be out when we check back here at the half way mark.

His absence is partly responsible for the Chargers leading the League in catches out of the back field.

More dump offs and interceptions by Rivers (He threw two against KC as they eaked out a win 20-17 over the slumping Chiefs) but they are still able to get the ball down field, like the 55 yd TD pass to Vincent Jackson against Miami in week 4.

The Chargers, like it or not are still the team to beat in the AFC West but their and Norv Turner's days are numbered.

Oakland Raiders

(2-2-0)

Oakland has struggled with balance as its offense consistenly puts up 300 yd passing games and boasts the Leagues leading rusher but its Defense has been the polar opposite, twice failing to even come out of the locker room for the second half.

MLB Rolando McClain in taking heat and frankly as an 8th overall draft pick and Defensive Quarterback, he should but a seriously dinged, production less and inexperienced Secondary isn't helping.

The Raiders vaunted pass rush has been unproductive and at times compeltely negated.

What was supposed to be a strength has been the teams greatest weakness. Anyone who follows Oakland or happens to recall us saying before, knows the Raiders have a history of this.

Play calling is a factor and so is D Coordinator Chuck Bresnahan's complete unwillingness or inability to change from a steadfast adherance to a conservative balanced zone and man coverage game plan has been a total and complete disaster.

Playing not to lose is the best way to accomplish a loss.

Some are looking at Oaklands upcoming game with the Texans in a twistedly optimistic light, basically saying based on our schedule, its ok if lose the Texan game because of the weaker opponents we'll face.

This team isn't that bad, in fact, quite the opposite. Oakland can and should beat Houston this Sunday.

They just need to convince themselves of that.

Last Sunday, they beat themselves.

At the quarter mark Oakland is on the precipice.

On the precipice of being great or slipping back into another mind numbingly, dissapointly sub par season.

Despite what some may think, Oaklands schedule means little to nothing.

The Raiders have a tendency to play down to lesser opponents.

If they don't beat the Texans, nothing is guaranteed and the Chiefs or Broncos could climb back into the race.

09-15-11 12:22 am pac                     

Photo Ric Tapia / Image of Sport                                                                                   FS/CB Michael Huff

Oakland at Denver

*Heres the story as promised. Since Denver played Oakland, we'll combine them into one.

Denver's Kyle Orton was 24 of 46 for 304 yds and a TD but he threw a pick, fumbled and was sacked 5 times.

A strong creative Raider D was on display using effective man and zone coverages, and a variety of looks.

The Raiders lost WR Jacoby Ford and FS Michael Huff due to a hammy and groin strain but Denver faired far worse in the physically, heated match up.

The Broncos walking wounded included LB/DE Elvis Dumervil who aggravated a pre season shoulder injury was regulated to situational pass rushing for much of three quarters.

After a whirlwind of media hype surrounding Dumervil and rookie 2nd overall pick and pass rush specialist Von Miller neither came away with a sack.

Denver also saw #1 WR Brandon Lloyd suffer a hamstring tweak. Same with Pro Bowl CB Champ Bailey. Bailey's much worse. Starting RB Knowshon Moreno suffered a groin injury too.

Its clear to see who the aggresor was in Oaklands grudge match. The Raiders are bigger,faster, stronger and with depth on the D line Oakland worked the trenches and rotations.

The Raiders loaded up on obvious running downs like Denvers first play from scrimmage, fielding DE Lamarr Houston, DT Tommy Kelly, DT Big John Henderson, DT Richard Seymour and DE Matt Shaughenessy all on the D line in Oaklands 5-2 defense.

Hybrid cross over Michael Huff dropped into Nickle Corner several times with decent results and played big Nickle in some 4-3 packages, a job fellow Safety Mike Mitchell performed so well until a pre season meniscus tear.

With Mitchell out for the forseeable future and Huff dinged up, Oaklands Safety play will likely have to rely on journeyman Matt Giordano, 2nd yr man Joey Porter and or rookie Chimdi Chekwa who missed alot of Oaklands truncated off season with an early shoulder injury.

Orton passed for 304 yds, but the Raiders did a good job of applying natural pressure and a better job of coverage, especially in the red zone.

The depletion of Safeties is troubling but Giordano surprised and Porter made several nice stops to help beat the Broncos.

With Huff and Mitchell out, Stevie Brown gone and Hiram Eugene on IR, Oaklands Secondary reserves will need to step up even more.

The Silver and Black had 15 of the 25 penalties doled out Monday night but they were more aggressive, better prepared and better Coached than the 23-20 score indicated.

Denver fans booed Kyle Orton and called for Tim Tebow and if they're not careful, they'll get exactly what they deserve.

Kansas City

09-11-11 9:11 pm pac

               
Photo Ed Zurga / AP                                                                        QB Matt Cassel

Kansas City fans were shown flooding from Arrowhead stadium in droves on Sunday. Unfortunately for the Chiefs, the game was still in the 3rd quarter.

How bad was it?

It was the most lopsided season-opening loss in Chiefs history and the worst home loss by the franchise since a 45-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers 35 years ago.

KC was shelled by the visiting Buffalo Bills who did major damage through the air on the arm of QB Ryan FItzpatrick who threw 4 TDs on the day including 2 to 2nd yr TE Scott Chandler.

KC not only suffered a humiliating loss, it may have lost outstanding 2nd yr Safety Eric Berry to a knee injury.

The Kansas City Star reported an hour ago the injury may be serious. Thats bad news for a KC especially considering what happend to them today with Berry out of the line up.

This was as poor an opening as KC has ever had. The kind of bad that has owners cracking their black books to see who a suitable mid season replacement might be and Head Coaches wishing they hadn't signed a long term lease.

 
San Diego

After fielding the worst Special Teams unit in the history of the NFL last year, you'd better believe SD slaved long and tirelessly to address the issue, an issue that in reality, kept the #1 rated Offense AND Defense in the League out of last years play offs.

Thats why they must've been shaking their heads in disbelief at Vikings WR/KR Percy Harvin winding his way down field 103 jaw dropping yds for a TD on the opening kick off of the 2011 season.

Oh, and kicker Nate Kaeding? Injured on the play.

Our sources say it could be a torn ACL in his left leg. MRI scheduled for tomorrow...
 
The hype surrounding Viking RB Adrian Peterson's recently inked $100 million dollar contract may have distracted Minnesota from a second half game plan as the Chargers reeled off 24 unanswered points to over come a 17 point deficit and win the game.

FB Mike Tolbert gashed the Vikes for 3 TDs including 2 dink passes for points from inside the 5 and a 7 yd runs, but was seen limping off the field with whats being reported as a cartilage injury. Nothing severe and should be back.

DE Luis Castillo's injury is another matter. He has a broken tibia and will miss significant time.

It wasn't about the ground game though for San Diego. QB Phillip Rivers did throw two interceptions but he also threw the afore mentioned 3 TDs and was 33 of 48 for 335 yds. He was picked twice by MInnesota but his prolific passing was able to over come the misfires.

08-31-11 2:55 pm pac

Photo Jeff Gross / Getty Images                                        Insert Curly Howard audio: "Nn-Yah-ah-ah!!!"

San Diego

QB Philip Rivers is elite, plain and simple.

Oaklands D line seems to get extra pissed against SD's O line dancers for some reason and they get to Rivers but he still does down field damage.

Sproles is gone and they hope to rely on over drafted RB Ryan Mathews.

He's one of the most well rounded  young backs in the game and a major talent but the injury bug is in love with him.

The Chargers D was #1 last year because they're good and they have depth but the Raiders can and will run on them. Look for a little pay back for LaDanian with some HB passes on the goal line. Bush or DMC can throw.

We'll have to see if the loss of D Coordinator Ron Rivera to a HC job in Carolina has any major effect.

Charger Special Teams units cost them a Play Off trip and were the worst in history last season.

They'll fix that this year.

Denver

Rebuilding.

After the McDaniels debacle, theirs a lot of damage and work to be done. #2 overall Von Miller paired with or spelling Elvis Dumervil could be a potent force and help Denver's secondary get picks but the orange and blue could struggle again this year.

Aside from a new GM and new HC, questions abound on their O line. RG Zane Beadles and Center J.D. Walton are 2nd yr players and starting RT Orlando Franklin is a rookie.

Kansas City

Questions on a once stout O line. They have weapons and Bowe is a legit force as a WR.

The KC D has an under rated Secondary in our opinion. 2nd yr Safety Eric Berry should begin making his presence felt. It took some Silver and Black magic to beat them last year, Oakland can't rely on socery this season.

The Chiefs D line has some serious talent ready to come into its own. Glen Dorsey, Tyson Jackson and Tamba Hali seem poised for greatness.

KC made the Play Offs last year and could again in 2011 if their health holds and Castle doesn't get smooshed.

Oakland

New Coaches all over the map and a very young team. We can't over emphasise the importance of veterans like Richard Seymour and Rock Cartwright. They've got to get and keep the rookies and newbies focused and angry. They need to know what it means to beat Divisional foes. Foes who are going to want revenge for last seasons sweep.

The Raiders are bigger, stronger and faster. If they are clicking and executing, only they can stop themselves, although stats show they are much better when drawing alot of flags. Go figure...

The O has weapons, oh yes it does. The Damocles question is the Oakland O line.

Like the Broncos, Oakland will likely have a few youngsters on the O line as well. Unlike Denver they do have some veteran experience in 12 yr vet and former Bronco Cooper Carlisle. He's undersized, he's too old, he's no longer a system fit, yet all he does is stay healthy and get the job done.

He'll need to be more vocal this year and help his younger team mates.