AFC West Recap - Week 1
This was an offensive clinic from start to finish. Not only was Sammy Watkins in perfect position all game (9rec, 198 yards 3 TDs), but he also ran with some serious speed. Mahomes showed no signs whatsoever of a regression either, throwing for 3 touchdowns and 378 yards. LeSean McCoy arguably very much still has it, rushing for 81 yards on 10 carries and tacking on a 12 yard reception as well.
Defensively, it was a bit more of a struggle than you like to see. They let 6th round pick Gardner Minshew, best know for getting tackled through the earth’s crust this preseason, enter the game and shred them for 275 yards with only 3 incompletions all game. Charvarius Ward and Kendall Fuller were toasted DJ Clark for huge gains, which has to make you think they haven’t solved the problems with their secondary from last year.
Notes: Was Frank Clark worth the price tag? Tough to say at this point, but he did have a pretty nice pick. Tyreek Hill got some sort of “sternoclavicular joint injury”. There hasn’t been a concrete timetable for return but here’s a snippet:
Notes: S Jordan Lucas LB Reggie Ragland OL Ryan Hunter OL Nick Allegretti OL Martinas Rankin TE Deon Yelder and DL Khalen Saunders were all inactive. They go to Oakland next Sunday to play the Raiders on a short week.
The Chargers went up early in what looked to be a promising season opener only to revert to the same ole team blowing a lead in the fourth quarter. Luckily, they pulled away and beat the Colts 30-24.
I blogged most of my immediate thoughts here, and not much of that has changed. The offense played relatively well outside of allowing too much pressure on Rivers. The defense, however, was BULLIED off the line by the colts in the run game. Marlon Mack was the leading rusher week 1 and broke off what felt like 5 yards minimum every play. Their O-line is tremendously improved, but the Chargers front 7 is big and talented enough to do better. Bosa and Ingram were a force coming around the edge as always, and it was great seeing Tillery getting in on the action.
Notes: Just get better at stopping the run. And for the love of all that is holy STOP LETTING DESMOND KING RETURN PUNTS! And not because he muffed one, but because he is way too fucking important to the team with Derwin gone. Mike Williams left the game in the 4th quarter with a knee stinger but is apparently fine. Easton Stick, Michael Badgley, Geremy Davis, Trevor Williams, Roderic Teamer, Jatavis Brown and Cortez Broughton all didn’t suit up. Badgley sitting is extremely concerning, but punter Ty Long stepped up big in a bad situation hitting all of his extra points and a 40 yard field goal with a brand new long snapper and holder. The Chargers go to Detroit next sunday.
The Raiders played pissed off and the Broncos got pissed on in a 24-16 win for Oakland.
In what could only be described as “The ultimate thrill ride of a football game”, the Derek showed they don’t need AB as they shredded apart Denver’s suspect DBs to the tune of 259 yards and a beautiful TD to Tyrell Williams. Williams Caught 6 for 105 yards in WR1 duties, and first-time starter Darren Waller caught 7 for 70 in a great debut. Rookie RB Josh Jacobs got the lion’s share of caries (23) and did pretty well with them, totalling 85 yards and 2 touchdowns vs what is normally a stout defensive line for Denver.
I can’t tell if Oakland’s offensive line is good or if Vic Fangio just can’t figure out how to use his guys correctly. Their unit was tied for 4th in the league in sacks last year, but couldn’t get a single one on Carr. I’ve been extremely vocal of my doubt that Vic Fangio isn’t the right pick to be a HC, and this was a terrible first outing for him. His secondary looked confused in coverage, and their inability to generate pressure with Von Miller (14.5 sacks) and Bradley Chubb (12 sacks) vs the likes of Kolton Miller (constantly near the bottom of O-line PFF rankings) is very bad. Offensively for Denver, Joe Flacco’s debut was not bad by any stretch. He finished 21/31, 268 yards with a touchdown to Emmanuel Sanders (5 rec 86 yards).Courtland Sutton looked fucking great and ready to step into a role as the man. He racked up 120 yards including a fantastic 30-yarder. I expected Lindsay to get more carries than last year, but he split with Royce Freeman and neither were able to get much going.
Notes: The Raiders have some moxy, and I can’t help but want to see them succeed. They still have some issues in the secondary (Jonathan Abrahams ily but please stop throwing your shoulder into every hit like Bob Sanders) to work out to make themselves a complete team. Fangio needs to figure out how to use his generationally great pass rusher and defensive lineman in pass rush scenarios correctly.
Juwann Winfree, Bryce Callahan, Andy Janovich, Joe Jones, Todd Davis, Corey Levin and Dre’Mont Jones were all inactive for Denver. Ja’wuan James and Tim Patrick both left the game with injures. For Oakland, Jonathan Cooper, Keelan Doss, Gabe Jackson, DeShone Kizer, Dallin Leavitt, Corey Liuget and David Sharpe were all inactive. Gareon Conley had a scary neck injury and left the game, but is apparently ok. Fangio hosts his ole bears on Sunday and Oakland has the Chiefs coming to town.