NFL'S AFC-WEST: BRONCOS & THE CHIEFS, RAIDERS VERSUS CHARGERS

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NFL ---   OF course, the 8-7 Denver Broncos want to win Sunday's game versus the Kansas City Chiefs because they are professional football players and that is what professional football players are paid to do---try to win, give their all.

But there are other reasons for the Broncos claiming victory over the Chiefs, for instance, finishing the NFL season at 9-7 instead of 8-8, therefore as a winning team above .500.

Moreover, by beating the Chiefs, and if the Oakland Raiders lose to the San Diego Chargers this weekend, the Broncos will be be set for post-season play as top dog/AFC-West.

Also, a Denver quarterback Tim Tebow win over a Kansas City QB Kyle Orton win could undo the publicly accepted idea of an Orton vendetta existing from Orton being let go by Denver at mid-season this year, even if the idea doesn't exist full-bloom (if it exists, at all), and at the same time a win over the Chiefs could put to rest whether Orton should still be with the Broncos, Tebow then remaining a bench QB (another silly notion).

The big question, however, is how can the Broncos prevail against the Chiefs on New Years Day?

Truth be told, a Broncos win has to include reliance on football fundamentals, for example, where Denver's offense is an issue the Broncos will need unyielding pass protection enabling Tebow to keep from being sacked and so he can find the right targets for handing off or passing the football, which means that Denver's running backs and wide receivers will have to keep evading the Chiefs defense successfully, with Tebow's passes containing the accuracy that empowers a successful catch.

So, a Tebow "possession result" will have to be that which has been his in past won games, in effect, numerous first downs leading to end-zone appearances, with Tebow having rush, short wide-angle pass or easy field goal options available.

As for the Broncos defense unit, more of "the basics" will be required, such as consistency at being a mobile and yet seamless wall keeping QB Orton from pass completions and from rushing well enough to achieve first downs, therefore denying the Chiefs from having red zone opportunities, "which means that the Broncos defense will have to rev up and improve its ability to force the Chiefs offense into positions where Orton and his unit could only fail."

RAIDERS & CHARGERS ---IF being motivated were all that it takes to win a football game, it would appear that the Raiders could have little trouble lording it over the Chargers this weekend. From beating the Chargers, and if Denver loses to the Chiefs, the now 8-7 Raiders could own the AFC-West, while it's too late for the Chargers to have a playoff billet under any circumstances. Yet this doesn't mean that the 7-8 Chargers would go soft vs. the Raiders, for the Chargers certainly want to end the season at .500 and not be recorded officially as a losing franchise.

Also, the Chargers winning its last game of the season could help erase that the team lost six games since Bye week, which followed a loss and then four wins that gave false hope. Whenever San Diego wins a football game, it's usually from "the fundamentals (Football 101)," from a ground-rushing offense finding holes in the opposing defense, while its defense keeps finding pass interference opportunies. Without that happening, the Raiders deep passing offense could overtake the Chargers.

ALL of this said, this page wishes all readers a most successful 2012, hoping, of course, that readers will continue to check us out during and after prefferred games.

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