Chiefs at Chargers - Week 17 - Record 12-4 and AFC West Champions!

We did it.

Just like exactly ten years ago yesterday, we got all the games we needed to get in the best playoff position. Ten years ago we needed four games to go our way just to get into the playoffs, this year it was a bit simpler.

Chiefs win, Raiders lose, and we take the AFC West and get the No. 2 seed along with the bye and the divisional game at Arrowhead.

And it happened.

Denver had no problem with a Derek Carr-less Raiders team at home. They went up on Oakland 24-0 before Oakland scored at touchdown, but that was all the Raiders could muster.

The Chiefs meanwhile got their offense going and the defense made just enough stops to throttle San Diego, winning their game 37-27.

Key impressions...

Good: Our offense was humming. I don't specifically remember what happened with 3rd down success deep into the 4th quarter, but I did note at the beginning of the frame that Jeremy Maclin's catch for a 1st down made us 7-for-8 on 3rd downs in the game. We were converting 3rd downs like crazy!

Now yeah, I'd heard San Diego's defense isn't the best, but the numbers graphics they were putting up on the television screen seemed to show that it wasn't that bad. Here's to hoping it was mostly our offense really clicking that made the difference.

I mean, Travis Kelce hardly touched the ball. But I must say his blocking was so critical in so many of our plays. It was nice to see other guys get the ball a lot and do well. In fact Tyreek Hill didn't even do much on offense. It was all Charcandrick West running well, Chris Conley getting those targets we've been waiting for, Jeremy Maclin looking good again, and Albert Wilson ripping off a terrific run from one of those wide-out quick-hitches.

Bad: Our run defense. It was really really soft today. The Chargers O-line was just getting the better of us as their backs got more than 100 on the day, constantly getting to the second level. We still stiffened when we needed to, and got a couple clutch picks including a spectacularly athletic interception by Daniel Sorensen in the end zone.

That Chargers long winding 95-yard pick-six made me very nervous because we were about to go up 27-10 and suddenly the lead was only 20-17. It was still early, however, and it was on a tipped pass so Alex didn't do anything wrong. Smith still had a good day, even getting bolder with the run when he needed to -- oh do we need him trusting in his ability to move to make a nice playoff run, do we ever.

Really Good: That punt return by Tyreek. I mean.

When he backed up to the five I'm actually thinking, did he call for a fair catch? Because he's going to field that ball right there at the five. You are kidding me. When the two Chargers up men pulled up, that gave him just enough space to slip by the next level and -- damn -- he was gone.

Steven Nelson was trying to block the last guy in his way but he almost inadvertently knocked Hill out of bounds. Hill just kept his balance, tiptoed the sideline, zipped past him, and wouldn't you know it

Did it again.

That was the clincher. That put us up 34-17.

When we were up 34-20 we churned out clock-chewing yardage to get our last score to put it out of reach.

Lots of very good things about this one, and some things to cause concern, but that's all for a playoff preview post to come next week when, yes, we get the bye.

That'll be really nice for getting Spencer Ware and Justin Houston physically ready, and they said Eric Berry had a heel thing going pretty early and didn't return. I know nothing about that injury. Let's hope we're good for a two-week recuperation session and ready for the divisional game

At Arrowhead baby!
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