Tag: AFC West

The AFC West gets high marks for their draft picks

Dayna O’Gorman
Senior NFL Reporter
NFC West/AFC West

By Dayna O’Gorman // @DaynaOG

For most teams, a lot rides on the draft each year. This year for the AFC West, a great draft was desperately needed to bring back some balance to the division.

The Kansas City Chiefs are Super Bowl Champions and are bringing back most of that winning team. The other three teams needed a lot of help.

The 2020 NFL Draft brought that help and now the division is looking to be very competitive. Let’s take a look at who the teams selected, and the grades the “experts” gave them.

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The AFC West has a strong night in Round 1 of the 2020 NFL Draft

Dayna O’Gorman
Senior NFL Reporter
NFC West/AFC West

By Dayna O’Gorman // @DaynaOG

When your division has the current Super Bowl champions in it, you know it is time to step it up. The teams not named Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West are looking to do just that in the 2020 NFL Draft.

It looks like the main thought in the AFC West is if they can’t beat him, try to keep up. The “him” being the Chiefs offense. Going in heavy on offense proves that the Broncos, Chargers, and Raiders are showing it’s going to be all about scoring a lot of points in this division.

Let’s take a look at the new players headed to the AFC West.

Continue reading “The AFC West has a strong night in Round 1 of the 2020 NFL Draft” →

Is it time for Tyrod Taylor to take the helm in Los Angeles?

Dayna O’Gorman
Senior NFL Reporter
NFC West / AFC West

By Dayna O’Gorman // @DaynaOG

The Los Angeles Chargers have had the same leader for 16 years. No, I’m not talking about the head coach, because we all know that there have been many changes in that area. I’m talking about quarterback Philip Rivers. With Rivers, 38, having an inconsistent and rough season, and the Chargers starting a new era in a new stadium in 2020, is it time for the team to see what they have in back up QB Tyrod Taylor?

There have been a bunch of articles this week regarding Rivers. Is week 17 his last game in a Chargers uniform? Will he continue to play? Rivers is a probable future Hall of Fame QB, and while no one should downplay that, we are coming up on a changing of the guard in the NFL. The star QBs of old, Rivers, Brees, Brady, Roethlisberger, etc, are aging, and with that, we are seeing a surge of new, young QBs taking their place.

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Frustration in Oakland

Dayna O’Gorman
Senior NFL Reporter
NFC West / AFC West

By Dayna O’Gorman // @DaynaOG

Back at the beginning of the season, I wrote an article about the Oakland Raiders and whether or not head coach Jon Gruden could handle all the big personalities he had put on the team.

Fast forward to week 15, the drama that surrounded the Raiders wasn’t just about the players they have, the players they’ve lost, and the coach, but now we get to add the fans to the mix. 2019 has been a rollercoaster for Oakland and their fans, and the tension boiled over on Sunday.

This was not what the Raiders had in mind for their final season in Oakland. In the offseason, they amassed talent and depth in order to give the fans and franchise a top-notch, competitive season. As we all know too well, those plans started to crumble before the season even got started, but even until a few weeks ago there was still a chance to make the best of it.

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A Battle Brewing: A big week in the race for AFC West

Dayna O’Gorman
Senior NFL Reporter
NFC West / AFC West

By Dayna O’Gorman // @DaynaOG

There is a battle brewing in the AFC West. A battle that not anyone, except the most die-hard silver and black fan, would have predicted. The Kansas City Chiefs (7-4) are sitting at the top of the division, just like those who do preseason predictions thought they would be. Yet, sitting right behind them are the Oakland Raiders (6-4). With the Chiefs on a bye week, could the Raiders pull even this weekend, setting up a race for the finish line? Week 12 in the AFC West may set the pace for that race.

The Chiefs beat the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football in Mexico City, putting them at 3-0 in the division. Both teams now have a desperately needed bye week. The Denver Broncos (3-7) are heading up to Buffalo to play the Bills (7-3), which with the way the Bills have been playing, will be a difficult task for the struggling Broncos.

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Midseason check-in: AFC West Quarterbacks

Dayna O’Gorman
Senior NFL Reporter
AFC and NFC West

By Dayna O’Gorman // @DaynaOG

I’m not sure how it happened, but it has. We have reached the midpoint of the 2019 NFL season. The year is flying by so let’s take a few minutes to check in on the AFC West and their quarterbacks.

It has been a rollercoaster in the West, to say the least. For some teams, early season promise has turned into concern. For others, they never even got out of the gate. The media likes to put wins and losses on the shoulders of two people- the coach, and the QB. While in reality, that isn’t always where the fault lies, the quarterbacks of the AFC West are taking the punch.

The Los Angeles Chargers (3-5) are obviously not where they want to be. Many of us, and yes I’m including myself in this, thought it would be the Chargers who would battle the Kansas City Chiefs for the division. While they squeaked out a win against the Chicago Bears yesterday, not many feel the Chargers are a threat.

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Week 5 stand outs in the AFC West

Dayna O’Gorman
Senior NFL Reporter
AFC and NFC West

By Dayna O’Gorman // @DaynaOG

The AFC West proved surprising in week 5, with one divisional matchup, a London game, and a Sunday Night Football showcase. At the end of the week, Kansas City is still holding the top spot with room to spare, but they showed some vulnerability, and now there is a battle for position in the rest of the division.

The Oakland Raiders beat the Chicago Bears in London, 24-21, in what was a surprise of a game for many. While we knew the Raiders had a solid team, they are beginning to look more and more like a very good team.

The winless Broncos headed to Los Angeles to play the Chargers and came out with a win, 20-13.

The Kansas City Chiefs played the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday night, which many perceived to be a cakewalk for the undefeated team, but it turned out to be a fantastic battle with the Colts winning 19-13.

Continue reading “Week 5 stand outs in the AFC West” →

Week 4 preview for the AFC West

Dayna O’Gorman
Senior NFL Reporter
AFC and NFC West

By Dayna O’Gorman // @DaynaOG

While we know that the Kansas City Chiefs are exactly who we all thought they would be this year, it’s fair to say the rest of the division is a bit of a question mark. Many had the Chargers keeping pace with the Chiefs, which they still may, and the Raiders possibly competing too.

My fellow Our Turf writers and I have often commented that you don’t really know who a team is until week 4 through 6 on the season. For the AFC West, week 4 could bring a lot of clarity for fans, and give them an idea of who their team will be this year.

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The AFC West was a rollercoaster ride in week 3

 

Dayna O’Gorman
Senior NFL Reporter
AFC and NFC West

By Dayna O’Gorman // @DaynaOG

It was an up and down day for the AFC West. All four teams had very tough opponents, a lot on the line, and it showed in the games.

The Kansas City Chiefs were the only undefeated team in the AFC West, the Los Angeles Chargers and Oakland Raiders had split the first two games, and the Denver Broncos were still looking for their first win of the 2019 season.

What would week 3 bring for the AFC West? Well, it was a rollercoaster for sure. One with expected losses, expected wins, and two games that were fantastic down to the last minute!

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Stand outs from preseason week 3 in the AFC West

 

Dayna O’Gorman
Senior NFL Reporter
AFC and NFC West

By Dayna O’Gorman // @DaynaOG

Its been often said that week 3 of the NFL preseason is the dress rehearsal for the season. As I mentioned in my NFC West injury report, Rams head coach Sean McVay has turned that theory on its head but sitting his starters, and a few other teams are following suit. This gives some unknowns extra time to shine, and increase their chances of making the team.

In the AFC West, we all know the major superstars that are starters, but who are the new guys? Who is making a strong case for themselves?

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