NFL Week 8 Picks: Chiefs Will Top Chargers to Tie Up AFC West

If you'd told me a month ago that the Kansas City Chiefs would be tied atop the AFC West with the San Diego Chargers, I would've said you were nuts and maybe even have recommended you find yourself a prescription for Thorazine.

Now, it's looking like the Chargers faithful are the crazy ones to think they'll hang on in the division.

The Bolts find themselves back on the road after blowing an 11-point, third-quarter lead to the Jets in New York in Week 7.

Philip Rivers, in the midst of yet another early-season funk, posted his worst game of the season—16-of-32 for 179 yards, a touchdown and two picks—while the San Diego defense surrendered 162 yards to Gang Green's ground game, including 112 yards by perennial disappointment Shonn Greene.

The Chiefs, on the other hand, are riding high after shutting out the Raiders in Oakland, 28-0, to earn their third win in as many weeks. The victory evened KC's record at 3-3 on the season, a remarkable feat in and of itself, considering how bad the team looked after losing its first two games by a combined score of 89-10 amidst season-ending injuries to Tony Moeaki, Eric Berry and Jamaal Charles.

Todd Haley has quickly worked his way off the hot seat and into contention for NFL Coach of the Year, merely by leading his team from what seemed like an inevitable collapse to the brink of the playoffs.

Quite the opposite could be said of Chargers coach Norv Turner, whose team seemed to be out of the woods after surviving its first five games with a 4-1 mark, but was entirely disappointing against the Jets last week. Norv came into the 2011 season on a quietly short leash after his Bolts failed to reach the postseason for the first time on his watch in 2010.

As for Monday night's game, it will be a Tale of Two Offenses. On the one hand will be the Chargers, whose vertical passing attack has practically disappeared behind a Jekyll-and-Hyde ground game. Berry's absence for KC should allow Rivers to hit his receivers over the middle as he did in a 20-17 win in Week 3. Rivers was far from perfect in that game, though, with two interceptions to his credit, bringing the importance of Ryan Mathews out of the backfield back into focus.

And, on the other hand, will be the Chiefs, who've gotten steady play from Matt Cassel of late, thanks to the efforts of Dwayne Bowe and Steve Breaston, and sport an emerging rushing attack behind the trio of Thomas Jones, Jackie Battle and Dexter McCluster.

The Chiefs have only improved since that aforementioned 20-17 loss in San Diego five weeks ago. With that in mind, look for KC to give the fans at Arrowhead Stadium plenty to cheer about in a Wild West shootout on ESPN.

Prediction: Chiefs 31, Chargers 24