Broncos 2015: AFC West Preview – Week Fourteen
By Craig Hurst
Dec 6, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Brock Osweiler (17) hands the ball off to running back Juwan Thompson (40) during the fourth quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
For the second week in a row the AFC West teams are facing each other which means each game could have major playoff implications. The Oakland Raiders visit the Denver Broncos while the San Diego Chargers travel east to face the Kansas City Chiefs for the second time in four weeks. For my analysis and opinion on each game, as well as predictions, please continue reading.
Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos: The Broncos went to Oakland in week five of this season and escaped with a narrow 16-10 victory. The Broncos team that visited Oakland two months ago is not the same team that we will see this week. For starters, Brock Osweiler is getting his fourth consecutive start while Peyton Manning continues to rehab his injured foot. While Brock hasn’t been spectacular, he has done a great job managing the game and executing when the team needed it most. Mistakes will happen and it appears that on the surface he has kept the mistakes to a minimum. It is obvious that with Manning’s injury, Gary Kubiak is focusing more on the running game. C.J. Anderson is questionable this week due to an ankle injury suffered last week against the San Diego Chargers. Ronnie Hillman will get the start but I expect to see Juwan Thompson get a larger number of touches as well.
The defensive side of the ball for the Broncos will also be without starters T.J. Ware and Danny Trevathan. I think the biggest key today will be how the Broncos adapt to playing without the key players previously mentioned. The last quarter of the season starts today and considering that the Broncos are seeded number two in the AFC and have a very legitimate shot at securing home field advantage, this is obviously a must win game today. I think/hope the Broncos win today; as much as I would see a blowout, I think the Raiders will keep it close!
San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs: If the Broncos win and the San Diego Chargers upset the Kansas City Chiefs today, the Broncos will secure not only a playoff spot but another AFC West championship. I would love to see that happen but unfortunately, it is probably not likely this will occur! The Chiefs hammered the Chargers 33-3 in week eleven. I have no reason to think that this game will be any different. I hate to say it, but the Chiefs are clicking right now. Hopefully, they have peaked too soon and will eventually stub their toe; maybe today is the day? The Chargers are sitting at 3-9 and have absolutely nothing to lose. In addition to todays game against the Chiefs, the Chargers will also face the Raiders and Broncos in the last month of the season so they are in a perfect spot to play the spoiler in 2015!
Go Broncos – beat Oakland!