Chiefs, Raiders hope QBs can lead them to playoffs

The defending division champions need to beat Oakland and Denver in their final two games, Buffalo to upset the Broncos on Saturday, and the Chargers to lose one of their two remaining games.

Of course, the way this season has gone, they'll take whatever the odds might be.

There have been devastating injuries to star players like Jamaal Charles and Eric Berry, a three-game losing streak that was among the worst in NFL history, and a four-game winning streak that put them in a brief tie atop the division. There was another losing stretch that culminated in the firing of Todd Haley last week, and a buoyant victory over the Super Bowl champion Packers last Sunday.

If it's been a nauseating rollercoaster ride for Oakland, it's been more so for the Chiefs.

"This Raider team, they're in the same situation we are, they need to win like we need to win, so they'll be ready to go," said the Chiefs' Romeo Crennel, who was elevated to interim coach last week and whose calming influence has helped stabilize a team in disarray.

"We have to put the best effort out there," Crennel said. "We really have to play our best game of the year, so that's what I talked to them about, and try to get that done. Hopefully they listened, they took that in and they'll apply it in their preparation."