AFC West: Week 4 Recap
The Denver Broncos have much to celebrate through the first four weeks of the season.
While there are plenty of questions to be answered over the next 12 weeks, one thing is abundantly clear following Week 4 in the NFL; unlike 2012, the AFC West will not be the league’s doormat.
Thanks to high-scoring performances from the Denver Broncos and solid, proficient outings from the Kansas City Chiefs, the division sports two of just five undefeated teams in the league, both of which look like the real deal heading forward. Meanwhile, the San Diego Chargers continue to look like a side with enough potential to threaten for a playoff position in December.
BettingSports.com now brings you a rundown of Week 4’s AFC West action, starting with an offensive onslaught in the Mile High City.
Philadelphia Eagles 20, Denver Broncos 52
Sunday saw Peyton Manning breaking more records.
The league’s top two offenses took to the field on Sunday as the Philadelphia Eagles visited the Denver Broncos. The Eagles have spluttered since the first half of their opening game against the Washington Redskins, scoring plenty of points but leaking more on defense. The Broncos meanwhile have had no problem crushing all-comers.
Peyton Manning and the Broncos took control early on, with Manning throwing a touchdown strike to Wes Welker before the team benefited from a 105 yard kickoff return by Trindon Holliday. A Knowshon Moreno scoring run made it 21-13 at the half.
As they have done so often already this season, the Broncos then used a second half onslaught to put the game out of reach. A 21-0 surge in the third saw Manning connect twice with Demaryius Thomas in the end zone before hitting Welker again. Steven Johnson blocked an Eagles punt in the fourth, returning the ball 17 yards for a second special teams touchdown. The 52-20 final score was clear evidence of the Broncos’ dominance, while the 52 points scored marked a franchise best.
Manning, who was 28 of 34 with four touchdowns, has thrown 16 touchdowns since the beginning of the season, breaking the previous record of 14 set by Don Meredith (1966) and Kurt Warner (1999). Meredith’s Cowboys reached the conference final game while Warner’s Rams won Super Bowl XXXIV. It’s looking more and more likely that Manning and the Broncos will follow suit.
Vegas Impact: The Broncos (3-1-0 ATS) covered the spread for the third time this season while the Eagles (1-3-0 ATS) failed to cover for the third straight week. The total went over, as has been common with both Denver (4-0-0) and Philadelphia (3-1-0). Denver covering the spread with the total going over is becoming a theme.
Up Next: Denver (4-0, 1-0 road) travels to the Lone Star State next Sunday (4:25 p.m. ET) to take on the Dallas Cowboys (2-2, 2-0 home). The Broncos are 6-5 all-time against the Cowboys and have won the last four meetings dating back to 1998. John Fox’s side will be favored in this Super Bowl XII rematch.
Opening Odds – Favorite: Denver Spread: 3.5 Over/Under: 54 (matchup)
New York Giants 7, Kansas City Chiefs 31
Alex Smith led the Chiefs to a 4-0 record Sunday.
As the Broncos continue their unbeaten march through all opposition, the Kansas City Chiefs too remain undefeated having put a 31-7 hurting on the New York Giants this past Sunday.
Alex Smith completed 24 of 41 passes for 288 yards, throwing touchdown passes to Sean McGrath, Jamaal Charles and Dwayne Bowe. His two interceptions proved not to be costly as the Giants’ offense struggled throughout the game. The Giants’ solitary score came on a 69-yard pass from Eli Manning to Victor Cruz in the second quarter. The Chiefs’ final score was bolstered by Dexter McCluster’s 89-yard punt return for a touchdown in the third quarter.
The Giants slipped to 0-4 while the Chiefs moved to 4-0, the team’s best start to a season since 2003. That season saw the side finish 13-3.
Vegas Impact: The Chiefs (3-1-0 ATS) covered the spread for the second straight week and third time this season. The Giants (0-4-0 ATS) meanwhile have yet to cover. The total went under for the fourth straight time in a game involving the Chiefs.
Up Next: The Chiefs (4-0, 2-0 road) will look to remain unbeaten next Sunday (1:00 p.m. ET) as they face the Tennessee Titans (3-1, 2-0 home) in Nashville. The Titans thrashed the New York Jets in Week 4 and will be playing a third straight game at home. The Chiefs are 28-20 all-time against the Titans, but just 2-3 since that franchise moved from Houston. Kansas City scored a 34-14 victory the last time the two sides met (Dec. 2010).
Opening Odds – Favorite: Kansas City Spread: 2.5 Over/Under: 40.5 (matchup)
Dallas Cowboys 21, San Diego Chargers 30
Antonio Gates had a big afternoon against the Cowboys.
Having blown two big leads already this season, the San Diego Chargers were happy to play the role of come from behind victors Sunday afternoon, defeating the Dallas Cowboys 30-21.
The Chargers took an early lead on a 26-yard strike from Phillip Rivers to Danny Woodhead before the Cowboys scored 21 of the next 24 points to take a lead late in the second quarter. A 42-yard field goal from Nick Novak saw the halftime score 21-13.
After the break San Diego shutout the Cowboys as Rivers completed a second touchdown to Woodhead and hit Antonio Gates for a 56-yard score. Novak’s third field goal of the game helped to seal the game. Rivers was 35 of 42 for 401 yards on the day, with Gates catching 10 balls for 136 yards, while the Chargers managed to negate Sean Lee’s 52-yard pick six.
Moving to 2-2 on the season, the Chargers showed there is some grit about the team this season. If Rivers and Co. continues to play like this, they should be at least on the outside of the playoff picture when the season comes to a close. Of course, the Chargers have made a habit all too often lately of slipping off the pace midseason so bettors should still be wary of the improved side.
Vegas Impact: The Chargers (3-0-1 ATS) covered the spread for the third time in four games while becoming the first team to prevent the Cowboys (3-1-0 ATS) covering. The total went over for the third time in four San Diego games.
Up Next: San Diego (2-2, 1-1 road) will travel to the Bay Area to face the Oakland Raiders (1-3, 0-2 home) on Sunday (11:30 p.m. ET), the Chargers’ first intra-divisional game of the season. The Chargers have won the last three meetings between the sides, and 16 of 19 dating back to 2003.
Opening Odds – Favorite: San Diego Spread: 3 Over/Under: 44 (matchup)
Washington Redskins 24, Oakland Raiders 14
Matt Flynn started in a loss for the Raiders.
The Oakland Raiders failed to make it a clean sweep for the AFC West over the NFC East this weekend, falling 24-14 to the Washington Redskins.
The Raiders got off to a fast start with Jeremy Stewart recovering a blocked punt in the end zone for a score. Matt Flynn, starting in place of Terrell Pryor (concussion), then found Mychal Rivera for an 18-yard touchdown and a 14-0 lead before the end of the first quarter. Sadly for the Raiders, it was all Washington from there on out.
David Anderson picked off Flynn in the second quarter, returning the ball 45 yards for a touchdown to bring the score to 14-10 at the half. Robert Griffin III then connected with Pierre Garcon for a 5-yard go-ahead touchdown late in the third before Roy Helu ran the ball in from 14 yards for a 24-14 final.
Flynn went 21 of 32 for 227 yards in his first start for the Raiders, throwing a touchdown and interception. However, he was sacked seven times in the game. The Raiders meanwhile only managed 104 yards rushing as Darren McFadden (hamstring) and Marcel Reece (knee) were both forced out of the game. Neither injury looks serious, which is good news for the Raiders.
Vegas Impact: The Raiders (3-1-0 ATS) failed to cover the spread for the first time all season while Washington (1-3-0 ATS) covered for the first time in addition to winning for the first time. The total went under for the third time in four Raider games this season.
Up Next: The Raiders host the Chargers in a late game Sunday night. Oakland leads the all-time head-to-head between these longtime rivals 58-47-2. Against the Chargers, the Raiders are 18-15-1 in games played at O.co (Oakland-Alameda County) Coliseum, but just 7-11-0 since returning to the city in 1995. Kickoff has been moved back to 11:35 p.m. ET to give the grounds crew more time to reconfigure the stadium after Saturday’s ALDS Game 2 between the Oakland Athletics and Detroit Tigers.
Opening Odds – Favorite: San Diego Spread: 3 Over/Under: 44 (matchup)
