AFC West Roundup: Week 2
Through two weeks of the 2016 NFL season, the Broncos are still on top of the AFC West while the rest of the division is bunched up at 1-1. (AP Images)
The Broncos finally found a way to shut down Colts quarterback Andrew Luck and improved to 2-0 on the season. This marks the fourth straight year that Denver has accomplished that feat. This year's win came largely on the back of the defense, which scored two touchdowns and hit Luck all afternoon. Running back C.J. Anderson tacked on an offensive touchdown, and kicker Brandon McManus made four of five field goals to make up the rest of the 34-20 margin. The Colts provided a tough challenge as Frank Gore and Luck made plays, but they didn't have enough to steal a win at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.
It was over when: Von Miller slipped by Colts offensive tackle Joe Reitz and grabbed the football out of Andrew Luck's hands. The Colts had 75 yards to travel with under two minutes to go, but Miller and the Broncos never gave them the chance. After Miller ripped the ball out, Shane Ray picked it up and took it all the way to the end zone. The play gave the Broncos a 14-point lead and ended the Colts' last gasp at a comeback win.
Player of the game: Von Miller -- 3 sacks, 1 pass deflection, 1 FF
With a tough 19-12 win over Kansas City, the Texans got a little bit of revenge for the Chiefs' 30-0 playoff win over Houston in last year's Wild Card round. Houston opened the game driving to the Kansas City 2-yard line before turning the ball over on an interception in the end zone. But a bad snap gave the ball back to Houston and quarterback Brock Osweiler found wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins for a touchdown. The rest of the game would be a defensive battle with Kansas City unable to get more than field goals, leaving a one-touchdown deficit until time expired.
It was over when: WR DeAndre Hopkins came down with Kansas City's onside kick attempt down a touchdown. QB Brock Osweiler would kneel twice to end the game.
Top performer: Cornerback Marcus Peters wrangled two interceptions and returned them for a combined 47 yards.
For the second week in a row, the Oakland Raiders found themselves trailing against an NFC South opponent. This week, they couldn't find a way to fight all the way back. While the Raiders looked good again on offense, their defense couldn't find a way to slow down Falcons QB Matt Ryan. Atlanta wide receiver Justin Hardy caught a deflected pass for a touchdown midway through the fourth quarter that gave the Falcons the lead for good.
It was over when: Oakland went for it on fourth down from its own 49-yard line with 7:18 still to go in the game. After head coach Jack Del Rio succeeded with a fourth-down gamble last week, this one backfired. The Raiders couldn't convert and the Falcons went right down the field to go up by 14 points with 4:35 to go in the game. The Raiders would close the gap but couldn't complete the comeback. The fourth-down attempt followed an apparent 51-yard touchdown pass from Derek Carr to Amari Cooper. The play was called back after the officials ruled Cooper went out of bounds before coming back into the field of play to make the grab.
Player of the Game: Derek Carr -- 34-of-45, 299 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs
After an underwhelming season opener in which San Diego gave up a three-touchdown second-half lead to Kansas City, the Chargers recovered with a dominant performance against Jacksonville for a 38-14 lead. After a scoring drive to open the game, San Diego forced an interception, a missed field goal and a fumble on the Jaguars next three drives to help build a 21-0 lead before halftime. In the second half, quarterback Philip Rivers continued the onslaught, throwing a 44-yard and 45-yard touchdown to build the lead to 35 points while still shutting out Jacksonville. The Jaguars would add two touchdowns in the final quarter to avoid the shutout.
It was over when: wide receiver Tyrell Williams took a short crossing pattern across the field and past the Jacksonville defense for a 44-yard touchdown on San Diego's first drive of the second half. A 28-0 deficit would be insurmountable, especially with the Chargers' defense holding the Jaguars to just two third-down conversions.
Top performers: Defensively, linebacker Melvin Ingram had a great game with two sacks and a forced fumble. Offensively, running back Melvin Gordon had his first career 100-yard game and scored a touchdown, his third of the season. Wide receiver Travis Benjamin also had a great outing, catching six passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns.
