These are troubling times for two of the Chiefs’ biggest rivals

These are tough times for half of the AFC West.

While the Chiefs, 5-1, and Chargers, 4-2, are on the right path toward making the playoffs, the 2-4 Broncos and 1-5 Raiders are struggling big time.

Those troubles can be seen in different ways.

Let’s start with the Broncos, who entered the 2018 season with a defense that was expected to dominate. But during an interview with a Denver radio station earlier this week, Broncos general manager John Elway called the unit “soft,” particularly because of its inability to stop the run.

“Obviously, we’ve (gotten) very soft in there,” Elway said, per the Denver Post. “To give up the amount of yardage the last two weeks has been tough. We’re not playing very well inside. … That is a big concern. We have to figure out how to get that solved.”

Denver’s run defense is ranked dead last in the NFL, allowing 161.3 yards per game.

The Broncos play the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday night, and it sounds like a must-win game.

“Hopefully we can . . . take a mentality into that Thursday night game where we’re fighting for our lives,” Elway said, according to NBC Sports.

The defense isn’t the only problem. Quarterback Case Keenum briefly left Sunday’s loss to the Rams and backup quarterback Chad Kelly heard cheers ... when he took a knee to end the first half.

Keenum said knows fans have been booing him.

“Yeah, I heard it,” Keenum told reporters. “It’s not the first time the crowd has been unhappy with what’s going on. They should be pissed. I’m pissed.”

Fans are unhappy in Oakland, too.

The euphoria over the return of coach Jon Gruden has vanished.

In fact, one fan has started a website called “Is Gruden Gone Yet,” and it shows how much money he has made, how much he is owed and how long until his contract ends.

Here is a what it looks like:

San Jose Mercury News columnist Dieter Kurtenbach wrote a piece with the headline: “Jon Gruden is giving every indication that he’s in over his head.”

Oh, and the Raiders also have fallen to dead last in NFL.com’s power rankings. Elliot Harrison wrote that Oakland would have problems even if they had not traded Khalil Mack to the Chicago Bears: “The Raiders are so bad, not even an elite pass rusher could save them. ... This team is in really rough shape.”

This story was originally published October 17, 2018 at 9:45 AM.