The playoff picture is slowing coming into focus for NFL teams as they make the final dash to the end of regular season play.
Eastlake High School alumnus Tony Jefferson and the Baltimore Ravens and Bonita Vista Middle School/Helix High School alum Alex Smith and the Kansas City Chiefs both appear to be in contention to make playoff appearances.
The Chiefs remain atop the AFC West Division standings despite a recent 1-5 plunge while the Ravens remain in contention for a wild card playoff berth.
Jefferson had one interception and three tackles in Monday night’s 23-16 Baltimore victory against the Houston Texans. The win advanced the Ravens’ record to 6-5. With five games remaining, Baltimore sits three games behind the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North standings and is tied with the Buffalo Bills (6-5) for the final wild card playoff berth.
Jefferson’s interception set up Baltimore’s second touchdown in the game broadcast as part of ESPN’s MNF package. He returned the pick 13 yards.
On the night, the Ravens intercepted Houston quarterback three times, including one pick by former Charger Eric Weddle.
For those watching the TV broadcast, Jefferson made a subtle yet meaningful tribute to former Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor by wrapping small pieces of tape around portions of his face mask.
Jefferson said the gesture was a tribute to Taylor on the 10th anniversary of the former Redskin’s death.
Taylor, whose NFL career lasted just 55 games but was idolized by a nation full of youth football players — Jefferson included — died of a gunshot wound during a robbery attempt in his South Florida home on Nov. 27, 2017.
“I had to show respect,” Jefferson, a defensive back, told ESPN reporters.
The interception was the first in two years for the former Titan prep standout, who spent four years with the Arizona Cardinals before signing as a free agent during the offseason with the Ravens.
Jefferson called the interception against the Texans a “long time coming.”
On the season, Jefferson has made 50 tackles — 34 unassisted with 16 assists. He has two sacks, one interceptions and one pass deflection. He has logged 326 total tackles in his five years in the NFL with seven sacks, two fumble recoveries and three interceptions.
Jefferson made four tackles in a 23-0 win at Green Bay on Nov. 19 and had five tackles in a 23-20 loss at Tennessee on Nov. 5.
The Ravens host the Detroit Lions (6-5) in a non-conference game on Dec. 3 and play at Pittsburgh on Dec. 10 in a key divisional showdown.
Seeing red
Smith and the Chiefs may have hit a low point this season following Sunday’s 16-10 loss to the visiting Buffalo Bills. Smith completed 23 of 36 passing attempts for 199 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He was sacked twice and finished with a quarterback efficiency rating of 76.0.
Smith threw a touchdown pass to Albert Wilson in the third quarter as the Chiefs played catch-up to the Bills throughout the contest. Buffalo led 13-3 at halftime.
The Bills capitalized on a 63-yard interception return for a touchdown by Tre’Davious White to compound Smith’s woes.
Following the loss — the third consecutive by Kansas City — many fans called for Smith to be replaced by rookie Patrick Mahomes, the team’s first-round draft pick in April. Smith has one more year left on his contract with Kansas City and had started off the season with a career best showing.
That has since turned into a bad dream.
Smith has thrown for 2,873 yards with a 68.8 completion percentage — still among the top marks in the league. He has thrown 19 touchdowns against four interceptions and has fumbled twice.
It’s been a night/day turnabout experience for Smith. He has completed 71.4 percent of his passes and thrown 12 touchdowns without an interception in six wins for a 117.9 QB rating but has completed 66.1 percent of his passes with seven touchdowns and four interceptions in five losses for a 90.5 QB rating.
Not all the blame for the Chiefs’ sudden about-face performance can be laid on Smith. Rookie running back sensation Kareem Hunt’s numbers have tumbled the second half of the season. He rushed just 11 times for 17 yards in the loss to Buffalo, a 1.5-yard-per-carry average.
Hunt has rushed for 890 yards with four touchdowns on the season.
The AFC West leaders will have to make a turnaround if they want to be party to this year’s NFL playoffs.
Kansas City holds a tenuous one-game lead on both the Chargers (5-6) and Oakland Raiders (5-6) in the division standings.
With five games remaining and head-to-head matchups yet to be played against both the Chargers and Raiders, the Chiefs have yet to take control of the division title race. In fact, it now becomes a chase from the perspective of both the Chargers and Raiders. Oakland already owns a head-to-head win over Kansas City, should a tiebreaker come into play.
The next three weeks should determine whether the Chiefs can solidify their hold on the division title — or see it evaporate before their eyes.
The Chiefs travel to the East Coast to take on the New York Jets on Dec. 3 and host the Raiders on Dec. 10 before hosting the Chargers on Dec. 16.
