Atlas
11-28-2005, 05:33 AM
The NFL's best? It's the AFC West
It's win or else in football's best division
SoCals link: http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/112805dnspogosselin.2f66d33.html
11:26 PM CST on Sunday, November 27, 2005
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – So competitive is the AFC West that its teams cannot afford to lose. And they don't.
The San Diego Chargers rallied from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit on the road Sunday to topple Washington in overtime, 23-17.
The Chargers had no choice but to rally. Denver and Kansas City continue to win, so the Chargers must continue to win.
This weekend reinforced the fact that the AFC West is the best division in the NFL.
The Denver Broncos went into Dallas on Thanksgiving and toppled the NFC East-leading Cowboys, 24-21. San Diego made its fourth trip to the East Coast this season and came away with its fourth victory. The Chiefs hosted defending Super Bowl champion New England and routed the Patriots, 26-16.
Denver leads the AFC West with a 9-2 record with Kansas City and San Diego both two games back at 7-4. Denver has won four games in a row to hold onto that lead – but the Chargers also have won four in a row and Kansas City two.
There is no margin for error in the West. There are six playoff spots in the AFC, and four of them go to division winners. That leaves two wild-card spots.
"We know we have to win five of our last six to have a shot at the playoffs in the AFC," Chiefs defensive end Eric Hicks said.
Kansas City has the toughest road home. Starting with the Patriots, the Chiefs close the season with six consecutive games against fellow playoff contenders with winning records. Pivotal division home games remain against Denver on Dec. 4 and San Diego on Dec. 24.
"The pressure is on us," Chiefs coach Dick Vermiel said. "This is our playoff run. But we have the type of players who use that pressure to our advantage. Our guys have bought into using that pressure as motivation. It brings out the best in us."
The Chiefs had lost their three previous meetings to the Patriots but didn't flinch at the sight of the champs Sunday. Trent Green passed for 323 yards, Larry Johnson rushed for 119 yards and the defense roughed up Tom Brady for four interceptions and three sacks.
Green was perfect in the first quarter, completing all six of his passes for 104 yards as the Chiefs built a 10-0 lead. Kansas City sprinted to a 26-3 lead late in the third quarter. Green was 19-of-26 with a touchdown and no turnovers to put the Chiefs in control.
"Trent is coming on for us at the right time," Vermeil said.
So are the Chiefs. So is the AFC West.
In October, the NFC East appeared to be the best division in the NFL with the Cowboys, Giants and Redskins all off to fast starts. By November, the NFC South appeared to have emerged as football's best division with the play of the Bucs, Falcons and Panthers.
But now that cold weather has arrived and the NFL is entering its stretch run, the AFC West is again flashing its supremacy.
The NFC East? Not even close. The AFC West holds an 8-5 edge in head-to-head competition with the East this season. Washington would be in the playoff chase itself if it weren't for the AFC West. The Redskins are 0-4 against the West to sit at 5-6.
The Patriots are atop the AFC East with a 6-5 record but can blame the AFC West for the diminishment of their championship luster. Three of those losses have come at the hands of the West, and the Patriots were dominated each time, losing 41-17 to the Chargers, 28-20 to the Broncos and now 26-16 to the Chiefs.
The strength of a division is judged by its weakest team. Oakland is a more formidable fourth team in the AFC West than the hapless Saints are in the NFC South or the injury-riddled Eagles are in the NFC East. The Raiders have a victory over the Cowboys in addition to one over the Redskins.
"You have to show up every week in this division," Green said. "We play each other eight times and there are no off weeks. Any team that comes out of this division has to feel good about its chances."
It's win or else in football's best division
SoCals link: http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/112805dnspogosselin.2f66d33.html
11:26 PM CST on Sunday, November 27, 2005
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – So competitive is the AFC West that its teams cannot afford to lose. And they don't.
The San Diego Chargers rallied from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit on the road Sunday to topple Washington in overtime, 23-17.
The Chargers had no choice but to rally. Denver and Kansas City continue to win, so the Chargers must continue to win.
This weekend reinforced the fact that the AFC West is the best division in the NFL.
The Denver Broncos went into Dallas on Thanksgiving and toppled the NFC East-leading Cowboys, 24-21. San Diego made its fourth trip to the East Coast this season and came away with its fourth victory. The Chiefs hosted defending Super Bowl champion New England and routed the Patriots, 26-16.
Denver leads the AFC West with a 9-2 record with Kansas City and San Diego both two games back at 7-4. Denver has won four games in a row to hold onto that lead – but the Chargers also have won four in a row and Kansas City two.
There is no margin for error in the West. There are six playoff spots in the AFC, and four of them go to division winners. That leaves two wild-card spots.
"We know we have to win five of our last six to have a shot at the playoffs in the AFC," Chiefs defensive end Eric Hicks said.
Kansas City has the toughest road home. Starting with the Patriots, the Chiefs close the season with six consecutive games against fellow playoff contenders with winning records. Pivotal division home games remain against Denver on Dec. 4 and San Diego on Dec. 24.
"The pressure is on us," Chiefs coach Dick Vermiel said. "This is our playoff run. But we have the type of players who use that pressure to our advantage. Our guys have bought into using that pressure as motivation. It brings out the best in us."
The Chiefs had lost their three previous meetings to the Patriots but didn't flinch at the sight of the champs Sunday. Trent Green passed for 323 yards, Larry Johnson rushed for 119 yards and the defense roughed up Tom Brady for four interceptions and three sacks.
Green was perfect in the first quarter, completing all six of his passes for 104 yards as the Chiefs built a 10-0 lead. Kansas City sprinted to a 26-3 lead late in the third quarter. Green was 19-of-26 with a touchdown and no turnovers to put the Chiefs in control.
"Trent is coming on for us at the right time," Vermeil said.
So are the Chiefs. So is the AFC West.
In October, the NFC East appeared to be the best division in the NFL with the Cowboys, Giants and Redskins all off to fast starts. By November, the NFC South appeared to have emerged as football's best division with the play of the Bucs, Falcons and Panthers.
But now that cold weather has arrived and the NFL is entering its stretch run, the AFC West is again flashing its supremacy.
The NFC East? Not even close. The AFC West holds an 8-5 edge in head-to-head competition with the East this season. Washington would be in the playoff chase itself if it weren't for the AFC West. The Redskins are 0-4 against the West to sit at 5-6.
The Patriots are atop the AFC East with a 6-5 record but can blame the AFC West for the diminishment of their championship luster. Three of those losses have come at the hands of the West, and the Patriots were dominated each time, losing 41-17 to the Chargers, 28-20 to the Broncos and now 26-16 to the Chiefs.
The strength of a division is judged by its weakest team. Oakland is a more formidable fourth team in the AFC West than the hapless Saints are in the NFC South or the injury-riddled Eagles are in the NFC East. The Raiders have a victory over the Cowboys in addition to one over the Redskins.
"You have to show up every week in this division," Green said. "We play each other eight times and there are no off weeks. Any team that comes out of this division has to feel good about its chances."