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In March, we ranked the AFC West quarterbacks after the arrival of Peyton Manning in the division. We are continuing our post-draft tradition of ranking the positions every Monday. Today, we’re look at the tailbacks.

Here are the guidelines: My rankings are based on past play and projected 2012 performances and roles. Rookies are eligible. I only rank players who I am sure will have a role. If I think a third stringer is worthy, I’ll list him. If I don’t think a second stringer is worthy, I won’t list him.

1. Darren McFadden, Oakland: This was a tough choice between McFadden and Jamaal Charles. I went with McFadden because he played more last season and his foot injury was less serious than Charles' knee injury. When healthy, McFadden is a game changer but he has to show durability.

2. Jamaal Charles, Kansas City: I think Charles will come back from his torn ACL. If he still has the same game-breaking speed, the Chiefs will be in great shape.

3. Willis McGahee, Denver: McGahee was my division MVP last season. He will turn 31 this season and he was dinged up last season. I think McGahee can still be very effective if he gets some help. He is a tough player.

4. Ryan Mathews, San Diego: Mathews is a good player and I expect him to be higher on this list next year. Entering his third year, Mathews could be a breakout player if he stays healthy and focused.

5. Peyton Hillis, Kansas City: He was an intriguing pickup in free agency. Hillis is a tough runner who will help the Chiefs.

6. Taiwan Jones, Oakland: I would like to see Oakland get a veteran running back and make Jones a change-of-pace option and not McFadden’s primary backup. I think Jones will be most effective that way.

7. Ronnie Hillman, Denver: He is a home-run hitter who could excel in Manning’s offense. I expect exciting things from this third-round pick.

8. Knowshon Moreno, Denver: I’m only putting Moreno here because he was a first-round pick three years ago. He is coming off a torn ACL and an arrest for drunk driving. He could surprise me, but I’m not expecting much.

Weekend mail call:

Justin R. from Blacksburg, Va., wants to know what we should expect from San Diego Chargers first round pick Melvin Ingram.

Bill Williamson: I think we will see an immediate impact. Ingram is versatile, but his primary spot will be as a 3-4 outside linebacker. He will be put in position to pass rush and be a disruptive force on the edge. However, he can also play on the defensive line in some instances and is a complete player. I think he will improve every layer of the San Diego defense.

Ben from Astoria, New York, wants to know if I think Knowshon Moreno is finished in Denver.

BW: I think he could be. Denver drafted Ronnie Hillman in the third round out of San Diego State. Willis McGahee will still be the starter. Denver could give Moreno a chance, but I don’t think the team is counting on him to do much. He is coming back from a torn ACL and he was arrested in the recent past. I don’t think he is a player that is truly on Denver’s radar. If he has a good camp, maybe he will be given a chance. But don’t expect much.

Peter from New York wants to know if I think Ricky Stanzi could push starting Kansas City quarterback Matt Cassel this season.

BW: I don’t see it. Stanzi, a fifth-round pick last year, will need to bypass No. 2 quarterback Brady Quinn. Stanzi needs to make big strides in 2012 for him to get into the team’s plans. I think right now his ceiling may be as a backup. But if he progresses well, that could change.

After a strong second round in the AFC West, I thought there were some interesting developments in the third round in the division as well.

Let’s take a look:

Denver will worry about getting a bigger back later, but it was clearly interested in getting a faster, smaller running back in the third round. The Broncos traded up 20 spots (it gave up one its three fourth rounders as well as No. 87) to take San Diego State's explosive Ronnie Hillman.

He has been compared to Darren Sproles and he should have a place in Peyton Manning's offense. Denver’s trade was made shortly after San Francisco took Oregon’s speedster LaMichael James, so I think the Broncos wanted either James or Hillman and decided to pounce on Hillman after James was taken.

Willis McGahee will remain the starter, but Hillman should be dangerous. I wonder where this leaves 2009 top pick Knowshon Moreno. He will either be a 5-8 carry option behind McGahee or he could be on the outside looking in.

Moreno blew out his knee last year and he has since gotten a DUI. Hillman is clearly more in Denver’s plans than Moreno. Again, Denver will need to find a young power back sometime, but Hillman has an immediate place in this offense.

While Denver traded up for Hillman, San Diego moved up to take LSU safety Brandon Taylor.

Folks, San Diego is killing this draft. It is just slaying it. A trio of pass-rusher Melvin Ingram (No. 18), defensive lineman Kendall Reyes (No. 49) and Taylor (No. 73) is a wicked group to bring into one defense. All three players were taken later than projected and could all make immediate impacts. Major kudos to San Diego for having a strong plan.

Kansas City took its second offensive lineman of the day at No. 74 in the form of Oklahoma tackle Donald Stephenson. He is a one-year starter who has a lot of potential. I think he is a developmental player who gives the Chiefs options if they don’t want to re-sign left tackle Branden Albert after next season.

This draft may give a hint into what the Chiefs think of Albert, the No. 15 overall pick in 2008. In the second round, the Chiefs took guard Jeff Allen. If Albert doesn’t have a good year or if he does prices himself out of the Chiefs’ plans, Kansas City has options.

Oakland made its 2012 draft debut with the final pick of the day when it took Utah tackle/guard Tony Bergstrom.

I know some Oakland fans were disappointed that the choice was a developmental lineman while there were some sexier names available. But the truth is, picking at the spot is difficult and the new Oakland regime has a plan. Bergstrom is a good player, who is tough. He is a fine zone-blocking player. He deepens the line and he could vie for a starting spot in a year or two.

Unless the Raiders get extremely lucky, getting solid developmental players in this draft has to be the goal.

Here are some reactions from ESPN’s network of analysts on the pending singing of Peyton Manning in Denver:

On Manning’s relationship with John Elway being a key part of the decision…

“What started out as a friendship between the two men -- them having played golf together before in the past -- grew over the course of the last 10 or so days, and I think without John Elway in the front office, the Broncos probably would not have been able to bring home Peyton Manning. That was probably the key element here.”

- NFL Insider Adam Schefter

“Everyone just got better, particularly on the offensive side. If you’re Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas, wide receivers, you are just thrilled, because the ball is going to come out with perfect timing in every single play. If you’re Knowshon Moreno or Willis McGahee or someone they draft, you know you’re always going to run into good looks, because if you get eight in the box, Peyton is going to get out [of] the play and throw the ball down the field. … Besides the skills set, the intelligence set, all players around him know they got a better quarterback.”

-- NFL studio analyst Ron Jaworski

On why Manning might have chosen Denver…

“Knowing Peyton Manning, he wants to be part of the process. It’s very important to him what the coaching staff is like, how flexible they are, how engaged they are in doing it maybe a different way, not just the way they’ve done it before. … Peyton is just smarter when it comes to football than most people in the NFL. His functional football intelligence is greater than 98 percent of the league. So, he sees things a little bit differently. He wants to go somewhere where he knows he can put his fingerprint on it, that the organization will support him, and I think Denver was probably the best fit from day one. … Peyton Manning makes everybody around him better. Not just players. He makes coaches better. He makes front-office people better. He puts everybody at a heightened awareness, and they do their jobs more efficiently and more diligently when he’s in the building.”

-- NFL studio analyst Trent Dilfer

“We can all speculate on why he made the decision. I think there’s no doubt that what he has in mind is to end his career by winning the Super Bowl. John [Elway] was able, along with [Broncos owner] Pat Bowlen, to sell that to Peyton Manning.”

-- NFL analyst and former Broncos linebacker Tom Jackson

On what the addition of Manning means to the Broncos and the NFL overall…

“He can really make a big huge difference for this team. It’s not just the one incremental step to the Super Bowl. If he can take this team to the Super Bowl, it really says ‘I did it.’ … There’s a lot of upside there for Peyton, and a nice comfortable fit. … This is a team -- young coaches that obviously can make adjustments. I think Peyton will be very careful. I don’t think he’s going to come in and break a lot of glass, but he will be collaborative and make sure he does his system.

“It’s going to force the whole country to kind of look west, and that will be good for everybody in the AFC West, but it will be a balance of power. Peyton Manning doesn’t have five or six, seven years to do this. He needs to do it now. The immediate result of him coming to Denver is Denver now needs to go win a Super Bowl -- quickly. That’ll be the story of the year. It will be interesting to see how quickly they do manage to get into the playoffs. They got into the playoffs with Tim Tebow. Now can they extend that with Peyton Manning?”

-- NFL analyst Steve Young

On how the Broncos will measure success with Peyton Manning …

“In the next two or three years, if they don’t win the division and win a playoff game, then it didn’t work. … The pieces are in place to be successful going forward throwing the football. Those pieces were not in place with Tebow.”

– "Monday Night Football" play-by-play voice Mike Tirico on ESPN Radio’s "Scott Van Pelt Show"

On what’s next for Tim Tebow with the Broncos’ addition of Manning …

“They’re going to try to do anything they can do to trade him. Ultimately, from a football perspective, if you talk to football people within this league, I don’t think any football people really want him on their football team … I don’t think they want to deal with the circus that is Tim Tebow, and also the fact that he doesn’t have the quarterbacking skills necessary to play in this league … I think the guy’s a good football player. I don’t think there’s any question about that. I don’t think he’s a good quarterback. I don’t think he has the skill set that you have to have to play quarterback in this league. And there’s a lot of teams, I mean, let’s face it -- I live in Denver -- I saw that circus on a week-to-week basis in person. And there’s not too many teams I think that really want to deal with that in their city.”

-- NFL analyst Mark Schlereth, a two-time Broncos Super Bowl champion who still lives in the Denver area

“The more I studied him in an NFL setting, the more disturbed I was that he has no clue what he’s looking at. His IQ as a football player is not very good. That is why they have to come down and make it some [kind] of a college-form system that he’s comfortable with in Florida. He can’t execute, from a cerebral aspect, a pro-style system.”

-- NFL analyst Merril Hoge

Being arrested on the suspicion of drunk driving is not exactly the formula a player on the roster bubble should follow.

That is the position Denver running back Knowshon Moreno is reportedly in. A Denver television station reported that the No. 12 overall pick of the 2009 draft was arrested on drunken driving charges near Denver in his Bentley convertible.

Moreno is rehabilitating a torn ACL he suffered during the season. Denver is expected to bring in a running back either early in the draft or in free agency. Moreno lost his starting job to Willis McGahee last season.

His best chances of having a role in Denver in 2012 is probably as a third-down back.

"We take the incident involving Knowshon Moreno very seriously, and are thoroughly reviewing this matter," the team said in a statement. "Our organization will continue to gather information and closely monitor this issue while the legal process takes its course."

Denver linebacker D.J. Williams and kicker Matt Prater have been arrested for drunk driving in the past.

In other AFC West notes:

Raiders’ legend Willie Brown is not currently listed on the team’s list of coaches.

The Raiders have made their primary coaching additions, but they still have some hires to make.

Denver quarterback Tim Tebow said in a radio interview that he was a Dallas Cowboys’ fan growing up.

With the Denver Broncos' season over after a 9-9 season, let’s look at five keys for the Broncos as they move forward:

The quarterback: It is expected to be Tim Tebow’s job next season. He will need to improve in the offseason. The Broncos will want to see his footwork improve and they will want to see him become a more consistent passer. Tebow’s improvement will be a key in the offseason.

Secondary help: Denver could be looking for a lot of help in this area. Right cornerback Andre Goodman had a tough night at New England and he was picked on at times. I could see Denver looking to draft a cornerback early. Also, safety Brian Dawkins may retire and the Broncos have some unproven youth at safety. I could see that position being an area in which Denver adds a veteran.

Running back help: The Broncos ran the ball great in 2011. They were the NFL’s top-ranked running team. But Willis McGahee, 30, got nicked up a lot and he will need some help. Knowshon Moreno is coming off an ACL injury and he may be best suited as a third-down back next season. Watch for Denver to pursue a running back either in free agency or early in the draft.

Defensive line: Every year Denver is expected to add a stout defensive tackle in the draft and they don’t. Defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley and Marcus Thomas played well this season. They are both free agents and Denver will want to bring them back, especially Bunkley. Ty Warren will also be back next season after missing all of this season. Still, Denver may add some reinforcements.

Receiver help: Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker are a nice starting point, but Denver will need another reliable option, perhaps a veteran possession player. It may be a long shot that free agent Eddie Royal comes back.

When Willis McGahee was cut by Baltimore this past summer, he was simply looking for a situation where he could contribute.

He found a perfect situation in Denver, where the Broncos were looking for a veteran complementary back. McGahee said in camp he was looking forward to a new start and he joked that he had so few carries in recent years that not only did he have plenty of tread on his tires as he neared his 30th birthday, he didn’t even need a "tire rotation."

Fast-forward five months later and McGahee -- who turned 30 in October -- has been the driving force in the Broncos’ surprising playoff push.

With quarterback Tim Tebow struggling to provide a consistent passing game in recent weeks, Denver’s primary chance to move the ball Sunday against visiting Pittsburgh in an AFC wild-card matchup will be on the ground. Denver had the No. 1-ranked run game in the NFL this season.

It all starts with McGahee.

McGahee has been one of the best free-agent acquisitions in the NFL this year. He has easily been Denver’s MVP in a surprise turnaround season for the franchise. A first alternate to the Pro Bowl, he had 1,199 yards and averaged 4.8 yards per carry. In 2010, he had 380 yards on 100 carries for the Ravens.

McGahee’s resurgence has been stunning. In the two previous seasons, he had a combined 209 carries for the Ravens. Usually, running backs slow down when they turn 30. McGahee has been revitalized.

McGahee has been the best running back in Denver since training camp started. He was signed to help 2009 first-round draft pick Knowshon Moreno. However, McGahee performed better than Moreno from the start of camp and was soon the No. 1 back. And when Moreno was lost for the season with a torn ACL, the Broncos didn’t look back.

It was McGahee who sparked the offense when Tebow took over. McGahee adjusted to the option offense with Tebow at quarterback and had seven 100-plus-yard games this season.

According to ESPN Stats & Information, McGahee has been especially dominant up the middle. He is averaging 5.3 yards per carry up the middle, which is the fourth-best average in the NFL. He converted 26 first downs and had five carries of 20-plus yards.

As part of Denver’s varied offense with Tebow running the show, McGahee also has been effective out of the shotgun formation. According to ESPN Stats & Information, he has the second-most rushing yards out of the shotgun this season with 388.

Expect the Broncos to force a heavy dose of McGahee against Pittsburgh in all running situations as they try to build a comfort level for Tebow and try to kill the clock.

McGahee’s teammates know what a key he has been and how important he will be against the Steelers. The nine-season veteran has earned his teammates' respect for being a grinder.

“He rarely gets tackled by one person,” Broncos tight end Dante Rosario said. “You always see his legs churning and he’s always trying to get that extra yard.”

McGahee has dealt with several nagging injuries this season. He did miss one game, but he has kept coming back for much more work than he was originally tabbed for this season.

“The guy works hard,” rookie tackle Orlando Franklin said. “He’s always here; he’s doing rehab all the time. He’s doing treatment. He’s always looking to get better, whether it’s in the ice tub, whether it’s watching film, whether it’s running extra gassers. He definitely works hard, and he proves it on the field. It’s definitely paying off for him.”

The Broncos’ top-ranked run game will face off against the NFL’s No. 1-ranked defense (and the No. 8-ranked run defense). Pittsburgh allowed an average of 99.8 yards per game. McGahee has often said he feels that he gets stronger as the game progresses. That will need to happen Sunday if the heavy-underdog Broncos (8-8) are to have a chance of beating the Steelers (12-4).

Broncos coach John Fox hopes McGahee can win a battle of attrition against the Steelers.

“There’s a wear-down effect on your opponent, as well,” Fox said of McGahee’s impact on opponents earlier in the season. “It’s like body blows in a heavyweight fight. They might take their toll, maybe not in the first five rounds but in the last five rounds. Part of that’s just a culmination of sticking to it and pounding it until you open it up.”

That has been the story of McGahee’s unexpected success all season.

Mid-week mail call:

Benjamin from Astoria, N.Y., wants to know if Denver running back Knowshon Moreno will have any trade value in the offseason.

Bill Williamson: I don’t think so. He has been injury-prone and hasn’t been productive when he has been healthy. I don’t see any teams trying to get Moreno. I think his best bet in 2012 is to return from a torn ACL and to try to be an effective third-down player in Denver. I do not think Denver will look for him to be a primary tailback. If he doesn’t find success next year, I think it will be the last in Denver for the No. 12 pick of the 2009 draft.

Sean Bell from Salt Lake City wants to know what I think the Chargers will do at left tackle next year.

BW: It’s an interesting question, Sean. Marcus McNeill has dealt with repeated neck injuries, and his agent has gone on the record saying that there is no guarantee he will play again, although the plan is for him to play next season. Still, the Chargers can easily get out of his contract. Jared Gaither has played well in a limited time with San Diego. If healthy, Gaither is near or at McNeill’s value. So, the Chargers do decide to move forward with Gaither.

Jack Chadic from Medford, Ore., wants to know if I think Tim Tebow’s success this season will help Josh McDaniels get another head-coaching job.

BW: I don’t think so. Someone was going to draft Tebow at some point. His success isn’t more impressive because McDaniels spent a first-round pick on him. If anyone should get credit for Tebow’s NFL development, it is current Denver head coach John Fox and his staff. They are the coaches under whom Tebow has made strides — and the coaches who have adjusted their offense to Tebow’s abilities.

The Denver Broncos have a key game against the visiting New York Jets on Thursday night. Denver has won three out of the past four games under new quarterback Tim Tebow. The Broncos have gone from a serious contender to win the Andrew Luck sweepstakes to a 4-5 team that is one game off the pace in the AFC West. Let’s look at what Denver must do against the 5-4 Jets, who are 1-4 in the past five road games in the regular season:

Keep your options open: Perhaps the Broncos are bringing the 1950s back, but as long as they continue to win with the option offense, it will continue to be used. Denver has been using the option (it even broke out the triple option Sunday at Kansas City) well under Tebow. It will be challenged Thursday night because New York coach Rex Ryan is known as a creative defensive coach. Still, Denver will give Ryan plenty of chances to stop it. According to ESPN Stats & Information, the Broncos gained 95 yards on 16 rushes at Kansas City. Tebow kept the ball four times for 31 yards while using the option. Tebow ran the ball nine times and passed it just eight times at Kansas City. According to Elias, Tebow became the first quarterback with more rushes than passes in a game in which the quarterback threw every pass for his team since 1974 when Buffalo’s Joe Ferguson threw twice and ran 10 times in a game that was affected by high winds. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Tebow dropped back to pass on 14.3 percent of the Broncos’ plays at Kansas City. It’s the lowest percentage of drop backs by a team in a game since the start of 2008. Don’t expect Denver to suddenly change course on a short week and have Tebow unleash 40 passes. The option offense should continue.

Keep on running: Tebow’s presence has made Denver a great running offense. It his averaging more than 200 yards on the ground in the past five games and has led the NFL in rushing in that time span. For the season, Denver is second in the NFL in rushing, averaging 158.2 yards per game. The presence of Tebow has enhanced the Broncos’ running backs. Willis McGahee, who is enjoying a career resurgence at the age of 30 and in his first season in Denver, had 640 yards this season. He suffered a hamstring injury at Kansas City. But the Broncos hope he can be a factor. With Knowshon Moreno out for the year with a torn ACL, new backup Lance Ball will be given a chance to continue to impress. He had 96 yards on 30 carries against the Chiefs. Expect the Broncos to try to ram the ball down the Jets’ throats. The Jets are giving up 116 yards on the ground per game, which is 15th in the NFL.

Doing it Fox’s way: This game will give the Broncos a chance to show a national audience they are improved under first year John Fox. He deserves a lot of credit for this turnaround. The Broncos are starting to play just the way Fox likes -- by running the ball and by stopping the run on defense. Denver’s ownership has to be thrilled with the work Fox is doing with this young roster that is still very much rebuilding.

Hit Mark Sanchez: The Broncos have become a strong pass-rushing team in recent games with Elvis Dumervil finally becoming healthy. Dumervil and rookie Von Miller are a nasty pass-rushing duo. Denver had four sacks and constantly harassed Kansas City quarterback Matt Cassel (who suffered a serious hand injury in the game) Sunday. Watch for the Broncos to try to unleash Dumervil and Miller -- who has eight sacks and who is a legitimate defensive rookie of the year candidate -- on Sanchez.

Secret weapon: Denver punter Britton Colquitt has become a strong weapon for the Broncos in his second full season with the team. He has become particularly solid in pinning opponents inside their own 20-yard line. He pinned the Chiefs between their own 7- and 15-yard line four times in Week 10. Putting New York in poor field position will be critical in this game.

A player to watch from each AFC West team in Week 11:

Denver Broncos, Lance Ball, running back: Ball had 96 yards on 30 carries Sunday at Kansas City. With Willis McGahee and Knowshon Moreno hurting, Ball could get more opportunities Thursday night against the New York Jets.

Kansas City Chiefs, Jackie Battle, running back: Battle averaged 6.8 yards per carry Sunday against Denver. His per-carry average decreased for three straight games prior to the Denver matchup. By getting 61 yards on nine carries against Denver, Battle gave the coaching staff confidence in him heading into Monday night at New England.

Oakland Raiders, Darrius Heyward-Bey, receiver: Heyward-Bey has not had a catch in the past two games, even though he has been the Raiders’ best receiver for much of the season. The Raiders have to find a way to get Heyward-Bey in sync with new quarterback Carson Palmer, beginning Sunday at Minnesota.

San Diego Chargers, Corey Liuget, defensive end: The first-round pick needs to start making an impact. The Chargers are banged up on defense it’s time for Liuget to get going. He has had his moments, but he needs to start making a more consistent contribution, beginning Sunday at Chicago.

A look at some key injury developments in the AFC West:

It’s no surprise the Chargers put standout guard Kris Dielman on the injured reserve after he suffered a serious concussion Oct. 23 at the New York Jets.

There was initially hope Dielman would be able to return this season, but he is still dealing with issues form the concussion. Dielman suffered a grand mal seizure near the end of the team's charter flight from a game against the Jets.

One of the reason why Dielman was put on the injured reserve is he is several weeks from returning, and battered San Diego needs help. The San Diego Union Tribune reported the team signed veteran Ike Ndukwe. The Chargers signed Tony Moll on Tuesday. The newspaper reports Moll could start at Dielman’s spot Sunday because his replacement, Tyronne Green, is also dealing with an injury.

• In Kansas City, quarterback Matt Cassel had hand surgery after being injured Sunday against Denver. Kansas City coach Todd Haley said Cassel could possibly return this season. However, a lot of it will likely depend if the Chiefs are in contention later in the season.
• For Denver, running back Willis McGahee is listed as questionable to play Thursday night against the visiting New York Jets; McGahee has been limited in practice this week with a hamstring injury he suffered early Sunday at Kansas City. The team is hopeful McGahee can play Thursday, but it will likely be a game-time decision. The Broncos will need McGahee with backup Knowshon Moreno out for the rest of the season with a torn ACL.
• In Oakland, running back Darren McFadden is making progress from a foot injury he suffered in Week 7. Still, he may be challenged to play at Minnesota on Sunday.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

FALLING

1. The future in San Diego: The Chargers have lost four straight games and are now 4-5. This team looks incapable of doing what it takes to win right now. If the Chargers continue to flounder and don’t make the playoffs for the second straight year, there will be calls for general manager A.J. Smith and coach Norv Turner to be fired. The Chargers have long been a sexy Super Bowl pick. But they look far from a Super Bowl team right now.

2. The Chiefs’ playoff chances: The Chiefs’ chances of winning the AFC West took a hit the past two weeks when they lost back-to-back games at home to Miami and Denver to fall to 4-5. Now, the Chiefs enter a tough stretch in which they play five games against 2010 playoff teams. It starts at New England next Monday.

3. Denver’s need to throw: Denver quarterback Tim Tebow threw just eight times in 17-10 win at Kansas City. Denver won for the first time with two or fewer completions. According to ESPN Stats & Information, the only other team in the past 25 years to win a game with two or fewer pass completions and have only one quarterback attempt a pass was the Browns in Week 5 2009 at the Bills.

RISING

1. Kamerion Wimbley, linebacker, Raiders: Wimbley can get sacks in bunches and he had a bunch Thursday night at San Diego. Wimbley had four of the Raiders' six sacks. He set the tone for a ferocious defensive effort. Wimbley can be streaky, but when he is on, he can be unblockable.

2. Denver’s running game: Denver had 244 rushing yards at Kansas City. The Broncos have led the NFL in rushing in the past five weeks. Willis McGahee and Knowshon Moreno are injured, but Lance Ball took the lead with 96 yards against the Chiefs. Tebow’s presence had clearly helped the run game as the Broncos have dominated on the ground by using the option.

3. Carson Palmer's arm strength: There are no worries, folks. Palmer may not be the 2006 version of himself, but he can still fling the ball. According to ESPN Stats & Information, he was 4-for-4 for 146 yards on passes of 21-plus yards in the Raiders’ win at San Diego. He threw the ball long at ease. Expect him to continue to shine in that area as the season progresses.

Oakland running back Darren McFadden and receiver Jacoby Ford did not practice Monday. The team is not saying if they are on track to play Sunday at Minnesota. McFadden has been out since Week 7. Ford was injured Thursday at San Diego.

In this Insider piece , Adam Schefter explains why he thinks the Raiders are the favorites to win the AFC West. Oakland is 5-4 and the other three teams in the division are 4-4.

The Broncos are hopeful Willis McGahee can play Thursday night against the Jets. He left Sunday’s win over the Chiefs with a hamstring injury. He could have come back in an emergency situation. Denver will need him with Knowshon Moreno out for the year with a torn ACL in his knee.

The Raiders worked out six lesser-known players Monday.

The Chargers were missing several players at practice Monday.

You have to wonder what Knowshon Moreno’s future is with the Denver Broncos.

The oft-injured No. 12 pick of the 2009 draft has suffered a major setback. Broncos coach John Fox said Monday that Moreno tore his ACL in the first quarter of a 17-10 win at Kansas City on Sunday. He is lost for the season. Moreno's goal is now to be ready for 2012 training camp, which begins in late July.

The question is, how much of a role will Moreno have in Denver?

The Broncos probably will consider other running back options next year to pair with Willis McGahee, 30.

Moreno has been hampered by injuries and ineffectiveness in his short Denver career.

The ironic thing is, Moreno was having a solid day Sunday. He had 52 yards on four carries and two runs of 20-plus yards before he was injured. A lack of explosiveness has been Moreno’s biggest problem, as well as a lack of good health. He has missed five games since the start of last season.

If I had to guess, I’d say Denver will give Moreno one more season to prove himself, but he will not be the primary running back. The fact that McGahee has outshined him and that unheralded Lance Ball had 96 yards Sunday have to make the Broncos wonder if Moreno is expendable.

I could see Denver considering taking a running back high in the draft or during free agency next year, all while Moreno recovers from this most serious NFL ailment.

The Tim Tebow issue continues for Denver Broncos brass.

Tebow is clearly not making strides as a passer. That can't be sugarcoated after his extremely conservative approach Sunday (2-for-8, 69 yards passing).

But there's no denying that Tebow is a winner.

So Broncos executive VP of football operations John Elway and head coach John Fox will likely stick with Tebow for the foreseeable future despite his weaknesses as a passer. After all, winning is more important than effective pocket-passing.

Remarkably, the Broncos are back in the AFC West race with Tebow as their starter. After a 17-10 win at Kansas City on Sunday, Denver is 4-5 and tied with San Diego and Kansas City for second place. Oakland is first at 5-4.

The Broncos are 3-1 with Tebow as their starter this season. Since the start of last season, Denver is 4-3 with Tebow as its starter, 4-14 with Kyle Orton. All three of Tebow’s victories this season have come on the road. The truth is the Broncos just play better with Tebow as their quarterback. With the exception of the complete stinker at home against Detroit two weeks ago, Denver’s play has been very competitive with Tebow.

Denver, which enjoyed a spirited defensive effort Sunday led by a strong performance by rookie pass-rusher Von Miller, will be tested on a short week when the New York Jets visit Denver on Thursday night. If the Broncos can find a way to beat the Jets, they will be considered a real threat.

At some point, Tebow must win a game with his arm, but it's obvious Fox doesn’t think he's ready to do that. Denver ran the ball 55 times and threw it just eight times at Kansas City. Tebow, who was 0-for-4 passing at the half, made one of his tosses count in the second half, throwing a 56-yard TD pass to Eric Decker. Denver relied on the read option as it ran for 244 yards (43 by Tebow) without top rushers Willis McGahee and Knowshon Moreno for much of the game. Denver, which has won back-to-back games for the first time in 29 games, has led the NFL in rushing for the past five weeks.

Interestingly, Denver won for the first time with two or fewer completions. According to ESPN Stats & Information, the only other team in the past 25 years to win a game with two or fewer pass completions and have only one quarterback attempt a pass was the Browns in Week 5 2009 at the Bills. The quarterback was Derek Anderson, who went 2-for-17.

This type of unbalance is certainly not the way to win games in the NFL, but Denver is winning. Elway recently said Tebow’s starting status is based on week-to-week performance. His numbers suggest that he is on the way out, but the fact that Denver is winning overrides the numbers.

So, no matter how unconventonial it may be, the Tebow experiment continues.