The AFC West is shaping up to be a three-tier division if the first three weeks are any indication of what will happen the rest of the season. The three-way deadlock at first place the previous week has given way to the San Diego Chargers and the Oakland Raiders at the top of the division standings.
However, the Chargers had a close call against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday afternoon. The Chiefs, blown out 89-10 over their first two games, kept the game fairly close throughout the day, but Matt Cassel came up with a most egregious error on the team's last drive. He threw an interception into the waiting hands of safety Eric Weddle. Philip Rivers, who had zero touchdowns and two interceptions, put a knee to the ground on the following drive to end the game. The Chargers won, 20-17.
The Raiders had an easier time with the New York Jets, though it did require a strong second half. The Raiders tied the game at 17 at the end of the first half on a Darren McFadden 70-yard touchdown run and a Sebastian Janikowski field goal. McFadden finished the game with 171 rushing yards on 19 attempts. He had two touchdowns in the first half but none in the second. In the fourth quarter he left with a hamstring injury.
Raiders receiver Denarius Moore had a 23-yard rushing touchdown at the end of the third quarter to put the team in the lead. The Jets could only muster a Plaxico Burress touchdown in the second half, while Michael Bush and Janikowski added a touchdown and a field goal in the fourth quarter to win, 34-24.
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