The NFL’s Wild Wild West

Before the season started, everyone knew that the San Diego Chargers and San Francisco 49ers were going to run away with their divisions. As they say “out with the old, and in with the new”. The Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs have surprised us all, and climbed to the top of the standings out west, and from the look of things, they’re going to be staying there.

In Seattle, the Seahawks were supposed to be a team in transition. A new Head Coach and an infusion of youth had fans looking to the future. In an unusual manner in today’s NFL, the Seahawks  rebuilt their roster via trades: trading for players like Lendale White (later released), Leon Washington, and Charlie Whitehurst. The biggest move they made was during the season, bringing in former Buffalo Bills starter Marshawn Lynch. Together with Justin Forsett, the Seahawks seem to have finally found the rushing element that they have been missing since Shaun Alexander.

The Seahawks are still lead by veteran signal-caller Matt Hasselbeck. In 2006, Hasselbeck led this team to their only Super Bowl appearance. Now he is being asked to provide veteran leadership to a much younger offense.

Pete Carrol brought in former USC, and NFL wash-out, Mike Williams for a look, and Williams has delivered with a team leading 32 catches and 348 yards. Second year wide-out Deon Butler leads the Seahawks in touchdown receptions, and rookie Golden Tate is expected to play as a slot receiver and return man. John Carlson remains the starter at tight end.

By beating the Arizona Cardinals in Week Seven, Seattle is in sole possession of first place in the NFC West. The Seahawks also still have 5 remaining home games on the schedule. They are a perfect 3-0 at Qwest Field this season, and with road games remaining against Oakland, Arizona, Seattle, San Francisco and Carolina, it’s easy to see the Seahawks staying on top.

Perhaps the most surprising Division leader in the NFL is the Kansas City Chiefs. The San Diego Chargers were expected to run away with the AFC West. But despite ranking first in the league in both offense and defense, turnovers and poor special teams play have sunk the Chargers to 2-5 and last place. The Oakland Raiders have looked both very good and blatantly hopeless in their 3-4 start, while the Denver Broncos are 4-13 since beginning 2009 with six straight wins.

Kansas City has lost only two of their first six games, but both were hard fought contests. The Chiefs lost, and some would say were robbed by a bad call, a high scoring shoot out to the 4-2 Houston Texans. Perhaps the most impressive feat this season was keeping Peyton Manning out of the end-zone in a hard fought, defensive battle that the Chiefs would lose to the Colts in Indianapolis.

The Chiefs have surged to the top of the weak AFC West mainly due to having the NFL’s number one rushing attack. Kansas City is averaging 176.5 yards per game on the ground. Both Jamal Charles (6.0 yards per carry)  and Thomas Jones (4.7 ypc) are on pace to be 1,200 yard rushers. Even versatile rookie Dexter McCluster is averaging 5.5 yards per carry behind the Chiefs impressive offensive line.

Though a run first team,  Matt Cassel has looked vastly improved as the starting quarterback. He has a passer rating of 91.5, and a touchdown to interception ration of nine to three. Rookie tight end Tony Moeaki leads the team in with 21 catches. Dwayne Bowe has 341 yards and five touchdowns, while Dexter McCluster has also made a big impact in the passing game with 15 grabs.

Now that the Chiefs are leading the AFC West, the schedule makers might have ensured that they will stay there. They have five home games left at Arrowhead Stadium including the winless Bills, two win Broncos, and also the Cardinals, Raiders and Titans. The only remaining road game the Chiefs have with a team above .500 is on November 28 against the 4-3 Seahawks.

NFL fans might be surprised to see the Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs leading their respective divisions nearly half-way thorough the season. With veteran quarterbacks, improved run games, and easy schedules, it won’t be such a shock for these two teams to finish this year right where they are now…Western Division Champions.