AFC west

DENVER BRONCOS

With RB Tatum Bell (shoulder) likely out for the year, the team will have to live with Reuben Droughns' fumbling problems. Droughns is a bruising runner, but the team will miss Bell's game-breaking speed.... With P Micah Knorr released, the team has turned to Jason Baker to handle punts and kickoffs. Baker, however, squibbed his first three kickoffs.... SS John Lynch has been much more aggressive in the second half of the season. He has blown some assignments in coverage, but Lynch excels in run support and blitzing. He has excellent timing and knows how to take the proper angles to reach the quarterback. PROBLEM SPOT: QB Jake Plummer continues to make a lot of poor decisions that result in drive-killing interceptions near the goal line. Plummer always has been a gambler, someone who tries to make something out of nothing. But he lacks the cannon arm that allows him to drill the ball through a small space in coverage. The result is too many tipped balls and interceptions.--Patrick Saunders

OAKLAND RAIDERS

Second-year WR John Stone (5-10, 182) has replaced injured starter Ronald Curry (Achilles') and has done a respectable job. He's one of Oakland's fastest receivers but is inexperienced and not big enough to catch passes in traffic. He figures to be a No. 3 or 4 receiver.... Rookie C Jake Grove didn't beat out C Adam Treu for the starting job, but a knee injury to starter RoB Stone allowed Grove to play right guard. Grove has played well enough to get a shot at keeping the job after this season, especially considering Stone makes more money than Grove and has been prone to injury. Grove (6-3, 300) isn't big for a lineman but compensates for that with tenacity and solid technique. PROBLEM SPOT." The running game is just bad. Entering the week, the team was last in rushing yards per game and was almost resigned to running a pass-heavy attack the rest of the season. Tyrone Wheatley (hamstring) and Justin Fargas (toe) have been injured, and neither has seized the lead role vacated by free agent Charlie Garner. Signing a top running back will be a high priority this offseason.--Steve Corkran

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

RB Priest Holmes appears motivated to ensure his career doesn't end with his midseason knee injury. Holmes is at his best when he has something to prove, so look for him to come back next year with a strong season. He'll be 32 next October but still has plenty left in the tank.... Lack of depth at receiver hasn't been a huge problem. Johnnie Morton is getting separation from coverage and making the difficult catch. Chris Hum is capably filling the void left by Marc Boerigter (knee). Horn isn't fast, but he is a meticulous route runner and has good hands. Still, the team needs to add at least one young wideout during the offseason. Boerigter is best suited to being a No. 3 receiver. Morton, 33, and Eddie Kennison, 31, are aging. PROBLEM SPOT: The team must force more turnovers. It isn't getting enough consistent pressure on the quarterback to force bad throws that can be intercepted easily. Too often, pass defenders aren't in position to make plays on the ball. In the running game, the team isn't making big hits that lead to fumbles.--Adam Teicher

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

The team has won six in a row at home in large part because its defense has been stout early. The unit has not allowed a point in the first quarter during the streak and has not given up more than seven points in the first half of any of those games. Preparation and execution are keys.... ILB Donnie Edwards (6-2, 227) is well suited for the 3-4 scheme because he is smart and athletic. He is smooth when changing direction and has excellent jumping ability. Defenders have bad their greatest success running right at Edwards because he is not physically strong enough to consistently take on linemen and fullbacks. PROBLEM SPOT: Defenses are doing a better job of putting pressure on the offense. QB Drew Brees has thrown three interceptions in the past two games after throwing 194 consecutive passes without being picked. Defenses also are doing a better job of covering TE Antonio Gates, who has just three catches in the past two games. The Broncos and Buccaneers had one defender jam Gates at the line and another provide help over the top.--Jim Trotter

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