This isn't what the Chiefs had planned, by any means. It's nice to think that the Chiefs just wanted to give Brodie Croyle some reps in a blowout, and Cassel was victimized by some poor work by his receivers, but his line -- 10-of-29 for 84 yards -- is just terrifying. With one more incomplete pass, he would've been fourth in the Lowest Yards Per Attempt stat we mentioned in the Kyle Boller comment. It's hard to judge him when his best receivers are castoffs Chris Chambers and Bobby Wade, but right now, Cassel doesn't even look like a borderline NFL starter, let alone the franchise quarterback the Chiefs are paying him to be.

4. San Diego (9-3). "Best team in football,'' one NFL coach told me Saturday. Don't laugh.

Buck-Buck-Brawckkkkkkk No. 2: Trailing San Diego 13-0 in the third quarter, Denver's Josh "When Does the Frat Party Start?" McDaniels sent the kicking unit onto the field on fourth-and-goal from the Bolts' 5. Needless to say, Denver went on to lose, by a final of 32-3. Down 13 in the second half, you need touchdowns, not figgies; Denver would have been better off going for it and failing, thus pinning the Chargers deep, than launching a mincing kick. The Broncos did follow with an onside -- but the gamble should have come from the San Diego 5. In the endgame, trailing 26-3 and facing fourth-and-15 on the San Diego 19, then McDaniels went for it. This is the classic example of the football coach who does the conservative thing when a gamble might still win the game, then gambles when it makes no difference.

SD has owned the AFC West for 4 years, maybe we should just admit it????

Let’s face it: as long as Rivers is the SD QB, we are in trouble. He came along after the time when SD could never win in Denver…………. in fact, he is the Hoculi call short of being 4-0 in Denver with a couple of thrashings (41-3, 32-3.) He loves playing against us, whereas the previous SD QBs feared coming to town. And he’s only 28 – I don’t like how the next 5+ years are shaping up.

I guess that we are just an average team that got off to a great start……….. too bad the momentum did not come later in the year, because we look pretty dead right now. Pitts has the tiebreaker over us and we are not going to catch SD. Mike Shannihan is probably smiling (finally)

Understanding the NFL Running Game

The Broncos' defense isn't what it used to be: It is time to worry about the Broncos' defense, as the inept Redskins posted their most offensive points of the season. The Denver defensive line is very short on talent and depth. Its play in the trenches is not as stout as it was early in the season. As concerning, the collective age of this defense is an issue. When they rebuilt, the Broncos brought in a lot of veteran players. Now, as the season has worn on, it is conceivable that the rigors of the season are catching up with these aged bodies.