Chiefs Keep Hopes Alive in AFC West with Narrow Victory

The Kansas City Chiefs, led by fullback Tony Richardson, believe they still have the Denver Broncos right where they want them in the AFC West race. Despite a one-game deficit, the Chiefs are optimistic about their chances, citing a Broncos' 1-14 record in Kansas City in December and 0-4 record in coach Mike Shanahan's tenure. The team's next game against the Broncos is on December 4, with the Chiefs also facing the San Diego Chargers, who improved to 5-4 with a victory over the New York Jets, on December 24.

Key Takeaways:

• The Chiefs' victory over the Oakland Raiders came on the game's final play, a 1-yard touchdown run by Larry Johnson, moving them one game behind the Broncos in the AFC West race.
• The Broncos have a 1-14 record in Kansas City in December and 0-4 record in coach Mike Shanahan's tenure, giving the Chiefs an advantage.
• The Chiefs have the San Diego Chargers at Arrowhead Stadium on December 24, with the Chargers improving to 5-4 with a victory over the New York Jets.
• The Chiefs' schedule includes six teams with winning records, four of which are at home, while the Broncos have five of their last eight games on the road, including four of the next six.
• The Chiefs' coach, Dick Vermeil, believes the game may catapult the team forward to become a more complete football team.
• The Broncos can end most of the Raiders' division hopes next weekend, and the Raiders are now at the bottom of the division after a loss against the Chiefs.

Statistics:

• The Chiefs are 5-3 at the halfway point of the season.
• The Broncos are 6-3, leading the Chiefs by one game in the AFC West.
• The San Diego Chargers are 5-4, having improved with a victory over the New York Jets.
• The Raiders are 3-5, with two games left against the Broncos and a loss against the Chiefs.
• The Broncos have a 1-14 record in Kansas City in December and 0-4 record in coach Mike Shanahan's tenure.

Sources:

• "KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Maybe it was the win talking, a heady tonic of last-minute heroics." - Rocky Mountain News
• "Denver, San Diego, they have to come in here and play us now," Chiefs fullback Tony Richardson said. - Rocky Mountain News
• "At the start of the season, if you would have said, 'OK, at the halfway point we'd be 5-3 with the tough teams we had to play early on, how our schedule looked,' you'd say we were sitting where we want to be right now," Richardson said. - Rocky Mountain News
• "When teams come in here, we always feel like we're going to have an advantage," Chiefs defensive end Eric Hicks said. - Rocky Mountain News
• "You've got to go out and try to get all your AFC West games," Raiders receiver Jerry Porter said. - Rocky Mountain News