Inside The Afc West

Sporting News, The, Oct 16, 2000

GAME OF THE WEEK

Oakland at Kansas City. The first of five straight division games for the first-place Raiders, they need a win to avoid two losses to division foes. The Chiefs, who have a 3-0 record in division games, are rested for their hated rivals. For the Chiefs, a win also could build confidence for their "Show Me" showdown with the Rams.

MATCHUP TO WATCH

Seahawks LBs Anthony Simmons and Chad Brown vs. Colts RB Edgerrin James, Simmons and Brown are the most consistent parts on a defense that has been disappointing, allowing over 120 rushing yards per game, Their task this week is wrapping up James, one of the AFC's top rushers but coming off a sub-par week.

ON THE SPOT

Broncos LB Bill Romanowski. Are his best days behind him? Never known as a good cover man, he looked slow and stiff trying to keep up on TD passes in back-to-back weeks, Along with his teammates. the controversial "Rome" could use a refresher course in tackling.

KEEP AN EYE ON

The Raiders' Tim Brown and Andre Risen against the Chiefs' youthful secondary, where rookies start at SS and LCB. Brown is savvy enough to take advantage of young corners, and former Chief Risen should get open. K.C. can't pack the box with these guys loose.

ROOKIE REPORT

Return specialist Dante Hall, a fifth-round pick out of Texas A&M, could see more action as a third-down back with the run-challenged Chiefs. Hall didn't have a big night against the Seahawks a week ago Monday, but he showed good vision, quickness and confidence.

FEARLESS FORECAST

Don't expect to see K Pete Stoyanovich in a Chiefs uniform after this season. Stoyanovich, 33, is off to a slow start with two misses inside the 40, He is eligible for a $1 million roster bonus in February, and he has given the team no reason to give him that kind of money.

FANTASY SOURCE

The Chiefs are back in action after resting their finely tuned passing attack for a week. In town are the rival Raiders, who are allowing more than 20 points a game. With the way Elvis Grbac is playing and the emergence of the team's top three receivers, look for another big day from the K.C. offense.

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Denver

3-3: 3rd

Chargers pay the Pryce for net double-teaming lineman

After seeing what DE Trevor Pryce did to the Chargers, it's doubtful that future Broncos foes will copy San Diego's game plan. To use four wide receivers, the Chargers took some basic pass protection away from the line of scrimmage and the backfield. So, for the first time all season, Pryce was not double-teamed all day. He finished the game with three sacks and seven total tackles and showed why he's one of the game's dominant defensive linemen. Pryce described himself as being "as happy as a pig in slop" but said he expects the double teams to be back when the Broncos play host to Cleveland.... Teams are beginning to figure out rookie RB Mike Anderson. While he is a good north-south runner, he lacks the cutback skills that make Terrell Davis so dangerous. Teams know that if they penetrate the backfield or push Anderson to the outside, he's not going to hurt them. To combat that, the Broncos put 5-foot-7 scatback KaRon Coleman in the backfield. He provided a change of pace that the stale running game needed the last few weeks. Until Davis' sore left foot heals, look for the Broncos to use a backfield by committee.

SCOUTING REPORT: After two minicamps last spring, coach Mike Shanahan was raving about the smarts and aggressive play of SS Billy Jenkins, who came to Denver from St, Louis. But until Jenkins' crucial pick against San Diego, he was having a shaky season. Jenkins can hit, but he wasn't wrapping people up, so he was missing tackles. He was also missing some assignments. Because Jenkins is 5-10, he can have problems with big, powerful tight ends. Jenkins is smart, and he's getting to know the system better each week. Shanahan still has faith in him, but Jenkins has got to prove he can lay out a receiver with a really big hit or stop running backs near the line of scrimmage.

SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: CB Terrell Buckley relishes man-to-man battles with wide receivers. If it were up to Buckley, he would play man-to-man every game. Buckley says good, aggressive cornerbacks need swagger and cockiness and that they must think they can make any play. It also helps to have a short memory. Buckley says he has been burned hundreds of times, but 10 minutes later, he has already forgotten it. Buckley thinks cornerbacks are the best all-around athletes in football. They have to be fast and have an instinctive sense for the football. They must also be able to leap with bigger, stronger receivers. --Patrick Saunders

GRADING OUT vs. San Diego

OFFENSE B-

The Chargers stalled the running game, but the red-zone drought is over.

DEFENSE A-

Buckley made plays, and so did Pryce. Finally, the "D" rose to the challenge.

SPECIAL TEAMS B

O'Neal appears to be coming on. His long return set up a touchdown.

COACHING B

Shanahan's input on defense paid off, and the offensive game plan was creative.