Tag Archives: Oakland Raiders

New England is Home to Second Chances

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Somewhere on the NFL’s boulevard of broken dreams, there is an exit. All individuals who put on a uniform have to take it. This is the road to retirement. After cruising along for eight, nine, ten years, there is no shame in hitting the blinker and seeing what’s around the bend. It’s a road that some players are forced to take when their careers hit a bump or suffer a breakdown. Often, they are looking for second chances.

Most players in the NFL only get to stay on it for a few short years and then they are exploring other options. The higher the draft selection, the longer your careers are expected to last. Seventh-round selections have to fight for anything that they get. Picks in the third round are given a bit more leeway. If you’ve invested a first-round draft pick and selected one of the top 32 players to come from a college that year, you will try to make those investments return dividends.

When it becomes clear that it is simply not worth it, a team may be faced with the painful thought of cutting or trading that player. Sometimes, waiting for them just prior to final off-ramp is Bill Belichick. He’s not begging or holding a sign of woe. The car he’s in is not trying to get off of the same exit. No, he’s the traffic cop. He’s pulling you over and giving you one final chance to follow his rules. And maybe, just maybe, you have a chance at continuing on with your NFL career. The New England Patriots have given you a second chance.

The Moving Parts

The Patriots seem to collect former first-round picks lately. In addition to the 3 on the active roster at the moment, along with Isaiah Wynn on the IR. The Patriots have six first-round selections that they have acquired by trade or signing. The current roster includes Adrian Clayborn, Stephon Gilmore, Cordarrelle Patterson, Danny Shelton and Corey Coleman on the practice squad. This includes all the various other reclamation projects that they have worked on in recent years. Brandin Cooks, Jonathan Cooper, Barkevious Mingo, Kenny Britt, Shea McClellin and Michael Floyd all have contributed to the Patriots.

 

Why does Belichick do this? What motivation could he have for picking up another team’s castoffs? Why is he trying to reclaim and revive those players? Is it because the New England Patriots suck at drafting? Not at all. Is it because every other team is making a mistake by getting rid of the player? A little.

The Talent

FOXBOROUGH, MA – SEPTEMBER 12: New England Patriots player Corey Coleman (10) participates in New England Patriots practice at the Gillette Stadium practice facility in Foxborough, MA on Sep. 12, 2018. (Photo by Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

The biggest reason is the measurables of the player. The prospects that get drafted in the first round are all the biggest, fastest most explosive players at their positions for the most part. And even within round one, there are drop-offs. The first ten picks are usually reserved for the elite athletes that will make an immediate impact at their positions. Then, from 11- to around the mid 20’s depending on the draft, you go from elite to the very good or question marks. Then, when you start talking about the last part of the first round (where the Patriots are usually selecting), you have to pick and choose from the good with question marks to the good athletes, but not very good football players yet.

Occasionally, a player will go against the grain and measure outside the accepted range of the ideal NFL player, but not often. Not every short defensive tackle is the next Aaron Donald despite how many people say they are. So when Belichick is trading for a former top 10 pick that is not making it with his old team, he’s not trading for Jonathan Cooper. Belichick is trading for the guard that was 6 ft 2 in and weighed in at 311 pounds. He’s trading for the guy that jumped a 27 inch vertical, a 9 foot broad and ran a 5.07 40-yard dash. That’s the guy that Bill Belichick wants on the Patriots and hope he can get a good football player out of him

The Expectations

The New England Patriots are also banking on a  team’s discouraged expectations. When the Cleveland Browns selected Danny Shelton with the 12th pick of the 2015 draft, they were hoping that they were getting more than a run stuffing nose tackle. The Patriots traded a 2018 third rounder for an interior defensive tackle that is excellent against the run and weighs 345 pounds all while getting a 5th round pick to add on. It’s all about the expectations and the quality of player they are getting exceeds the rookie that they could draft anywhere in the 3rd through the 5th in any draft. There is an argument over taking on a rookie contract in its final year versus having a young, cost-controlled rookie, but that is an entirely different article.

The Payoff

Finally, the Patriots represent a sort of Holy Land for a certain population of NFL Players. For those that have been drafted high in the first round and have played on teams like the Cleveland Browns, the Oakland Raiders, the Chicago Bears, their career has thus far been lacking in January football. When a player has a chance to play in that game that he has not experienced before, you are getting a highly motivated individual. They may do things they never considered when playing in December before. Instead of going shopping, they may be staying for that extra couple of hours of film session. That extra piece of pie can look inviting, but if you want to run the ball in the Super Bowl you may hold off.

Second Chances

OAKLAND, CA – DECEMBER 14: Randy Moss #81 of the New England Patriots catches a touchdown in the first quarter past Rashard Baker #27 of the Oakland Raiders during an NFL game on December 14, 2008 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

It is certainly a risk and Belichick has probably been wrong on half wrong more times than he’s been right. This is a risky business and you have to take chances. When you are perennially playing deep into the playoffs, you have to look at inventive ways to acquire talent. This has proven to be an effective one. Belichick will undoubtedly continue to look for bargains in the second chance bin at the store.

 

All photos courtesy of Getty images unless noted otherwise.

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Top 5 Most Disappointing NFL Teams of the Season

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5. GREEN BAY PACKERS (7-9)

Awful season for the Pack, and yes, I know Aaron Rodgers missed the better part of it. Of course, it would be unfair to expect them to remain a premiere team with an inexperienced rookie under center. However, can they really be considered a great team if they can not win without Aaron Rodgers? They were 4-1 prior to his injury in Week Six and were 3-6 without him. I think this confirms the notion that Green Bay is not a good team, Rodgers is just a phenomenal quarterback. Luckily for Green Bay, Rodgers will be back and healthy for next season. However, they have to be a little concerned about the state of the rest of the team, considering the fact that they fold like a two dollar lawn when Rodgers is not playing.

4. DENVER BRONCOS (5-11)

Image result for trevor siemian loss

denverpost.com

The Broncos have been lead by a dominant defense over the past few seasons. They have not really had much offensive firepower since the Manning days, but a viable offense was always enough to get by. It looked like they would use this recipe once again to compete for a playoff spot this season. However, this plan did not go as expected. There were certainly concerns regarding their offense this year, specifically at QB. They have a talented group of wide receivers and a solid run game with CJ Anderson. Unfortunately none of their three quarter backs could play well enough to allow the defense to win them games. It is safe to say that the Siemian, Osweiler and Lynch experiments all failed.

The dreadful offense was actually so bad that it affected the effectiveness of the defense. Denver’s inability to sustain drives forced the defense to constantly be on the field for 35 minutes or more all season long. No matter how talented, there is no defense that will be able to stay fresh and healthy while being on the field that much. Hey, at least Denver was bad enough to land themselves a solid first round draft pick. They may want to consider drafting a QB that can throw the ball.

 

3. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (5-11)

This was supposed to be the year for the Bucs to make a playoff run. It was Winston’s third year in the league and it appeared that he may have had enough experience to lead this team to a great year. Well, unfortunately, he was responsible for the steep regression of the offense. Last year, Jameis threw 28 TD’s and 18 interceptions in 16 games. Not great numbers, but it was reasonable to think he could reduce the turnovers this year. He did manage to do that thanks to an injury that forced him to sit out for three games. This year he only threw 19 TD’s and 11 interceptions while his QBR dropped from 64.7 to 50.3.

Winston was not the only one to blame for Tampa’s struggles though. The defense was horrendous as they ranked 22nd in points allowed per game and dead last in yards allowed per game. What looked like a bright future for Tampa may in fact not be so bright.

2. NEW YORK GIANTS (3-13)

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footballstories.com

2016 was a whole lot more fun for the Giants than 2017. Many expected them to struggle last year but they went 11-5, riding one of the leagues best defenses. In 2017, it was the exact opposite, they were expected to be a great team but ended up being the second worst. Maybe they should try to suck next year, in hopes that they can continue the trend? Anyways, in 2016 they ranked 2nd in the league allowing 17.8 points per game. It was quite the turnaround in 2017, as they ranked 27th in the league allowing 24.3 points per game. With Eli Manning’s struggles and the loss of OBJ, those defensive numbers are not going to cut it. I think this team as a whole, especially Eli will benefit greatly with a coaching upgrade from McAdoo.

OAKLAND RAIDERS (6-10)

In my opinion, the Raiders were by far the biggest disappointment of the season. Many assured they would make the playoffs, possibly even make the Superbowl or perhaps even win it. Well, lets just say the answer was D, none of the above. Everything went wrong for this team. Derek Carr was not close to the guy he was last year. Amari Cooper continued to be inconsistent. Marshawn Lynch is evidently no longer Beast Mode anymore, as he averaged less than 60 rushing yards per game. The defense was picked apart all year. The secondary was particularly bad as they ranked 26th in the league in pass yards allowed per game. From 12-4 to 6-10 with a very similar looking roster and coaching staff is puzzling. With the recent firing of head coach Jack Del Rio, we will have to see how this team performs in the future. I supposed the only positive to take away from this season is the fact that they managed six wins in a tough division while playing their absolute worst. For Oakland fans, lets hope this year was a representation of this team’s floor.

 

*Questions or comments? Follow me on Twitter @MLBfromNH*

*Featured picture credit goes to bostonherald.com*

NFL Week 15 Winners and Losers

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Week 15 featured a plethora of the season’s best match ups on paper. Chiefs vs Chargers, Panthers vs Aaron Rod- I mean the Packers, Seahawks vs Rams and of course: New England at Pittsburgh. Many of you probably know how the latter ended and are filled with either joy or rage based on geographic location. If you do not know how it ended, New England won 27-24 thanks to another heroic performance by Tom Brady, as well as a controversial call. Both teams played well enough to win and appear to be on a collision course to meet in the AFC Championship, therefore neither made the Winner or Loser list this week. Anyways, With playoff implications running haywire, let’s see who prevailed and who failed.

P.S. this week’s winners and losers lists are predominantly focused towards teams with playoff scenarios

Week 15 Winners

Dallas Cowboys: 20-17 W @ Oakland

I feel as though Dallas has been featured in this segment on almost a weekly basis. I guess that says something about the inconsistency of Dak and company sans Ezekiel Elliott. The Cowboys have very quietly won three straight games. This win streak has them right in the thick of wild card contention. Dallas will have to win their last two games, which will be tough. In Week 16 they host Seattle and then travel to Philly to face the Wentz-less Eagles. Good news for Dallas: Zeke returns this week and they are seemingly a completely different team when he plays. His return makes their final two games look a lot more winnable. I don’t think any team wants to face Dallas with a well-rested Zeke come playoff time.

Cowboys playoff scenarios: if Detroit loses one of their final two games AND New Orleans, Atlanta or Carolina lose their final two games, then Dallas will earn a wildcard spot.

Detroit Lions: 20-10 W vs Chicago

Okay, a 10 point win at home vs the 4-9 Bears? Big deal. Certainly not the most impressive win, but it was not unimpressive. More importantly, Detroit did what they had to do to remain in playoff contention. This win improved their record to 8-6. Perhaps the best news for Detroit this week was Aaron Rodgers being placed on IR. This means that in Week 17 Detroit will get to host the Rodgers-less Packers, making it a very winnable game. Well, before I get ahead of myself they still have to rely on teams above them to collapse as well as win at Cincinnati in Week 16. Should not be a very tall task versus a team that has been outscored 67-14 over the past two weeks. But hey, you never know. I mean, wouldn’t that be the most Lions-y thing to do?

San Francisco 49ers: 25-23 W vs Tennessee

I feel as though the Niners deserve a spot under this column. Jimmy G and company delivered a quality win over a quality opponent. Jimmy G carried the load offensively going 31-43 with a TD, no picks and a 89.5 QBR. This performance included a clutch fourth quarter drive. Jimmy G took the Niners down the field from their own 25 with a little over a minute remaining. After going 3-4 for 45 yards, Garoppolo set up the 45 yard game-winning field goal for Robbie Gould. And just like that, San Fran has now won three straight with Jimmy under center.

Okay, so San Fran is still just 4-10 and has absolutely no shot at even coming close to a playoff spot. However, the Niners deserve this high praise for heading in a very good direction towards a bright future. Plenty of other franchises are probably jealous of San Fran due to the fact that they have found a franchise QB. quality QB’s are a hot commodity nowadays. However, San Fran still lacks a few key pieces on both sides of the ball. Also, they really need to work on red zone efficiency. During their 3 game win streak they have scored just three touchdowns while kicking 15 field goals. Too many points left on the board.

Side note: imagine next year’s NFC West with a much improved 49ers squad?

Image result for jimmy garoppolo 49ers win

Week 15 Losers

Seattle Seahawks: 42-7 L vs LA Rams

Cringe-worthy loss in week 15 for Seattle. Of course, key injuries have made it nearly impossible for Seattle to dominate like in years past, but come on, 42-7 at home with massive playoff and division title implications on the line? Not impressed. This loss really made the playoffs seem like a stretch for this years Seahawks. Still though, credit the Rams, who rolled into Seattle seeking revenge from their last meeting and got what they wanted. Also, credit Todd Gurley for being pretty much unstoppable. He ran for 152 yards and three TD’s on 21 carries. Oh and he had three catches for 28 yards and another TD. Imagine if it was a close game and Gurley remained in the lead-back role for all four quarters? He probably would have had six touchdowns and 300 total yards. Oh… right, this was supposed to be about the Seahawks. Oh well, it’s onto Dallas for Seattle for a true “must win”.

Image result for russell wilson loss vs rams

Los Angeles chargers: 30-13 loss @ Kansas City

I was really hoping that the Chargers would prove to me that they are legit. I can not help but root for those guys. Phillip Rivers is often criticized for turnovers and poor attitude. However, he is a very good QB and is putting together a very solid season. Entering this game he had 19 TD’s and just three interceptions over his past 10 games. His most impressive characteristic in my opinion is his competitiveness. If you watch this guy, it is easy to tell he wants to win. Some claim he is a cry baby or a poor sport, I think those people are confusing his fire and passion for whining. Anyways, it was time for LA to prove to the league they are for real. Fighting for the division title on the road, a win could have been a statement,  so what did they do? Flop.

Fortunately, it is not over for LA who currently hold a record of 7-7. Kansas City is only a game ahead in the AFC West while Buffalo, Baltimore and Tennessee are also only a game ahead in the wild card race.

Oakland Raiders: 20-17 loss vs Dallas

What was supposed to be a fantastic season for Oakland turned out to be a disaster. The home loss to Dallas put Oakland at 6-8 for the season. Theoretically, the Raiders could still sneak into the playoffs but the Chiefs, Chargers, Ravens, Titans, Dolphins and Bills would have to lose a combined 8032753238203 games, pretty unlikely. Really not sure what to think of this team moving forward. Hoping, for their sake that this year was the fluke and not last year, but I am not convinced. Also, what the bleep was Derek Carr thinking trying to score on that final play of the game? I understand he was trying to win the game for his team, but he already had the first down and needed just a field goal in order to tie the game. It would have been first and goal from the three yard line had he just ran out of bounds. This one is one is on him. Come on Derek Carr, you’re better than that… or are you?

Image result for derek carr loss

 

 

*Questions or comments? Find me at @MLBfromNH (Kevin Civiello)*

 

 

NFL Week 15 Playoff Implications: Win or Out

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Playoff Race Heats Up

Well, it’s Week 15 and nearly every game carries playoff implications. In fact, every game aside from the one that already occurred (Denver at Indy) carries playoff implications. Some teams are fighting for the division title, while others desperately try to claw their way into wild card contention. Only two divisions have been clinched thus far as the two teams representing Pennsylvania have clinched their respective divisions. In the rather weak AFC, it seems as though almost every team still has a shot to get it. The Jags and Titans are still battling for the AFC South crown. The AFC West is as hectic as you will ever see. The Chiefs, Chargers and Raiders are all within a game of each other. With a lack of quality teams in the AFC, it appears nine wins will be enough to earn a playoff spot.

Over in the far more competitive NFC, nine wins ain’t going to cut it. I’m not even sure if 10 wins will be enough. The NFC currently contains ten teams with a winning record. Tight battles are still being fought for the NFC West crown as well as the NFC South. Football fans have the luxury of witnessing the Rams roll into Seattle this Sunday. LA will certainly be seeking revenge on their rival as they lost 16-10 at home vs Seattle in Week 5. Also, the three team race for the NFC South ensues as the Falcons, Saints and Panthers are all separated by just one game.

So, which teams face an absolute must win scenario if they wish to keep their playoff hopes alive?

Detroit Lions vs Chicago

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The Lions continue to fly under the radar in the NFC. Detroit lurks in the shadows of the NFC bullies such as the Eagles, Saints, Rams and Vikings. However, the fact of the matter is that Detroit (7-6) still has a shot at making the playoffs. Their final lunge into the playoffs will start this week with a very winnable home game against the Bears. Their luck will continue into Week 16 as they will travel to Cincinnati to face a team that will only be playing for pride. Unfortunately, their luck will end there because healthy Aaron Rodgers and the Packers will roll into town, also fighting for a playoff spot. Lions fans: when Week 17 arrives, it’s best you wish for two things:

1. Aaron Rodgers is still a little rusty

2. Stafford will have one final fourth quarter game-winning drives left in the tank.

Green Bay Packers at Carolina

 

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Very tough test here for the Pack. Luckily they have their superstar QB returning this week. Unfortunately, they have to travel to Carolina to face a team that has won five of its last six games. Carolina has been scoring in bunches over their past four games, averaging 33 points during that span. Hopefully for Packers fans, Rodgers will be fully healthy, any signs of rustiness could be the difference this week. Also, much unlike the aforementioned Detroit Lions, the Packers have a harsh schedule to close out the season. After Carolina will be Minnesota at home and then of course at Detroit. Green Bay will need Aaron Rodgers to be Aaron Rodgers if they want to participate in the playoffs this season.

Dallas Cowboys at Oakland

Both teams are featured in bold in the headline because they both MUST win this game to keep playoff hopes alive. It will be a tall task for either team to make the playoffs as they both have tough remaining schedules. Oakland of course starts with Dallas at home then travels to Philadelphia and then to LA to face the Chargers. The Eagles sans Wentz are certainly less intimidating but still a force to be reckoned with. The road tilt in LA will not be any easier as the Chargers are playing as well as almost anyone in the AFC. It will be tough, but if Oakland manages to win out, then they will have a great shot at getting into the playoffs.

It will not be any easier for the Cowboys. Starting with the match up of iconic franchises in Oakland. Dallas will attempt to get by one final time without their superstar running back. If they manage to win in Oakland and get Ezekiel Elliott back for the Seahawks and Eagles then they certainly have a chance. However, never mind Seattle and Philadelphia for now because it is “win or out” for Dallas as they will need 10 wins to make the playoffs.

Miami Dolphins at Buffalo

Well it certainly seems as though the ‘Fins season was over long ago after suffering some embarrassing losses this year. However, their embarrassing losses seem to be cancelled out by impressive wins, most notably their Week 14 win. Miami pulled off what was potentially the upset of the year as they handed New England a 27-20 loss. It is quite remarkable that Miami ranks 27th in the NFL in point differential at -82 but they are still fighting for a playoff spot. It will be a very tough road for Miami as they are at Buffalo, at Kansas City and then back home against Buffalo to wrap up the season. Miami will need to win all three of their remaining games if they wish to be playing in mid-January. Unfortunately, KC and Buffalo are both fighting for a playoff spot as well so Miami will have to be at their very best.

 

Image result for dolphins vs bills

 

 

*Follow me on twitter @MLBfromNH (Kevin Civiello)*

 

An Unlikely Best of the AFC West Emerging?

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2016 AFC WEST ELITES

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

In 2016 the AFC West was the best division in football. It featured Andy Reid’s Chiefs, a rejuvenated Raiders team, and the Super Bowl 50 Champion Denver Broncos. The Chiefs are known for consistency, elite coaching, great defense, and taking care of the ball. Since Reid joined the team as head coach in 2013, the Chiefs have finished each season with at least nine wins. Entering this season, their record with Reid as head coach is was 43-21; nothing too shabby. In 2016 they finished 12-4 with a viable offense (7th in AFC) and a stellar defense (3rd in AFC). Kansas City also ranked second in net points at 78.

DENVER BRONCOS

The Broncos have had one of the toughest defenses the league has seen over the past decade. Denver finished among the top three in the AFC in points allowed in 2015 and 2016. Denver’s defense struck fear in the eyes of opponents. It was nearly impossible to run or throw against this unit as it featured dominant defensive players in both the front seven and the secondary. The secondary is led by Aqib Talib, one of the leagues best corners as well as Chris Harris who is arguably the leagues best slot corner. The pass rush was an absolute nightmare for opposing QB’s and O lines as it seemed like Von Miller would be hitting the QB on every play. Denver has been a dreadful place to play for opposing QB’s over the past few years.

OAKLAND RAIDERS

Oh man, the Raiders had a really tough stretch over the past 13 seasons prior to 2016. From 2003 to 2015, they failed to finish any season with a winning record or finish higher than third place in the AFC West. Their overall record during that span? 63-145. How many head coaches? Nine. Finally though in 2016 they emerged in a big way as they quickly became one of the best teams in all of football. Oakland finished 2016 with a record of 12-4 despite playing in the toughest division. They were led by young QB Derek Carr who finished fifth in MVP voting. Carr lead the Raiders offensive attack as they finished second in the AFC in points scored. This group was certainly poised for greatness in the 2017 season.

Image result for derek carr 2016

 

THE AFC WEST’S FORGOTTEN MEMBER: THE LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

Over the last seven season, the Chargers have lived in the shadows of their AFC West rivals. The Chargers have just one lone playoff appearance since 2009. You have to go back to the LaDainian Tomlinson days to remember the last time the Chargers were a real force in the AFC. Football fans expected the same old thing in 2017, dominance by the Chiefs, Broncos, and now the Chargers’ old basement buddy, the Oakland Raiders. Those poor, gritty Chargers would play tough but once again fail to escape their inevitable fate of dwelling in the AFC West basement. However, the Chargers seem to have something else in mind this year and it seems that the other division members may, oddly enough, be on board with the plan.

HOW THE TABLES HAVE TURNED

Well, the start of the season was anything but pretty, as the Chargers lost their first four games upon moving to Los Angeles. However, they have quickly turned things around and won five of their last seven games. The Chargers have had one of the toughest schedules this year and in play a premiere division yet they still have won five games. Okay, five wins does not display overwhelming success but I want to break down their season one game at a time and prove that this team could be 8-3 at this point of the season had some luck had gone their way. I also want to demonstrate that this team is playoff caliber and could certainly make it in considering the wide open AFC West and AFC wild card races.

Week 1- Younghoe Koo misses 44-yard game tying field goal to force OT in Denver (blocked). 0-1

Week 2- Younghoe Koo misses 44-yard game-winning field goal vs Miami. 0-2

Week 3- Fair and square 24-10 loss vs Kansas City. 0-3

Week 4- 26-24 loss to leagues best team: Philadelphia. 0-4

Week 5- 27-22 win at NY Giants. 1-4

Week 6- 17-16 win at Oakland. 2-4

Week 7- Dominant 21-0 shutout win vs Denver. 3-4

Week 8- One possession loss AT New England. 3-5

Week 9- BYE

Week 10- Rookie Austin Ekeler fumbles with less than two minutes remaining in own territory while leading 17-14. Then Joey Bosa late hit on Bortles to move Jacksonville into field goal territory to tie the game. Jacksonville wins in OT 20-17. 3-6

Week 11- Dominant 54-24 win vs Buffalo. 4-6

Week 12- Dominant 28-6 win at Dallas. 5-6

Evident of some of their unfortunate losses this season, the Chargers could certainly have a much better record. If Koo had made both of his field goals in weeks one and two and Ekeler did not give up the costly fumble then this team could easily be 8-3 right now. Sure, every team has their “what if” scenarios but the Chargers have been extremely unfortunate. Anyways, back to my hypothetical 8-3 Chargers team: their losses would have been to the red-hot Chiefs, the leagues best team (Philadelphia) by two points and AT New England by one possession, quite impressive list of losses if there is such a thing. So, at 5-6 what has the Chargers in great position to make a playoff push? the downfall of their AFC West rivals.

THE REGRESSION OF THE AFC WEST

Well for starters, the Oakland Raiders, who were a favorite to win the division, have looked pretty mediocre for the majority of the season and are just 5-6. The Broncos have lost seven straight and are just 3-8 on the season. Their issue is the offense, which is ranked 26th in the league averaging just 17.9 points per game. The Brock Osweiler, Paxton Lynch and Trevor Siemien experiments have all failed, leaving Denver’s now ex-offensive coordinator Mike McCoy scratching his head about what to do about that mess. Lastly, the Kansas City Chiefs, perennially a quality team under Andy Reid. They began the season as the Superbowl favorite of many people as they started 5-0. Since then it has been an epic collapse as they have lost five of their last six contests. A collapse of this magnitude is very surprising to see from an Andy Reid-coached team.

Side note: I find it interesting that the Chiefs won in New England and against the Eagles yet, somehow managed to lose to the inferior Giants. Hey, that’s just football I suppose.

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CHARGERS PLAYOFF RUN

Los Angeles has made some huge mistakes at the most inopportune moments this season and it has costed them multiple wins. However, at 5-6, they are still very much alive in the wild card and divisional playoff race. If they want to advance to the playoffs they need to forget the critical mistakes they have made and learn from them. They need to capitalize on fourth quarter leads and avoid costly penalties and turnovers. what remains on the schedule for the Chargers? Cleveland and Washington at home, a short road stint at Kansas City and NY Jets, and home against Oakland. If they win four of those five games then I like their chances of making the playoffs.

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*Follow me on Twitter: @MLBfromNH (Kevin Civiello)*