AFC West up for grabs (Almost)

Despite the Raiders' best efforts to hand a win over to the Chiefs, Matt Cassel and friends let the game slip from their grasp.  The entire game was filled with penalties and sloppy, undisciplined play.  Although the Chiefs took a 10-0 lead into the intermission, there were several missed opportunites to add more points to the board.  Penalties negated a touchdown and a field goal, and Matt Cassel threw a costly pick in the endzone in the closing minutes of the half.

Although the Chiefs were outplaying the Raiders and had a 10 point cushion going into halftime, the turnovers and missed opportunities left a sour taste in my mouth.  This game could have easily been over by halftime.  Instead, the Raiders proceded to score a pair of touchdowns in the second half and took a one point lead into the fourth quarter.  In a way, you have to tip your cap to the Raiders defensive front.  They managed to contain the league's best rushing attack in Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles, causing Matt Cassel to drop back and throw the ball more than the Chiefs would have liked to.  Richard Seymour caused problems for the Chiefs all day long.  Although Cassel was effective and played a very solid game, the Chiefs recievers did not rise to the occasion.  Despite catching a touchdown pass to take the lead in the fourth, Dwayne Bowe had several key drops including one on 3rd down with time winding down in the fourth quarter.  He had a chance to seal the game and choked.  D-Bowe's been great at times this year, but if you want to be a number one reciever in this league, those are the catches that need to be made.  This allowed Oakland to get the ball back and somehow get in field goal range for Janikowski who tied the game and ultimately sealed the deal in OT.

In hindsight, you could point the finger at coach Todd Haley for poor clock management toward the end or playcall issues, but ultimately what it came down to was execution.  If you protect the ball and avoid silly penalties in the first half, you win the game.  If you make the catches that should be made in crunch time, you win the game there too.  The Chiefs had four or five opportunities to put this thing away and did not execute.  You have to give credit to the Raiders, they took advantage of their opportunities late and found a way to win.  With that, the AFC West is wide open and anyone's for the taking.  Three teams, Oakland, San Diego, and still frontrunner Kansas City all have a legitimate shot to win the thing.  It should make for an interesting second half to the season.  One thing's for certain: Chiefs fans will be circling January 2nd on their calendars and Arrowhead will be rocking as the Chiefs look to seek revenge against the Raiders in a grudge match.  Looking forward to the Denver game next week...