Last year’s AFC west was one of the most interesting competitive divisions in the NFL last year. The Chiefs won the division with a record of 10-6, the Chargers were a game behind at 9-7 while the Raiders surprised everybody at 8-8, the Broncos picked up the rear of the division and went 4-12. This year I ultimately see the Chargers winning the division because they have the best player at quarterback in the division.
The Oakland Raiders surprised everyone last year by going 8-8. Except for the die hard and out of touch reality fans, there was no one who saw that coming. Drafting Pryor will only cause more trouble for the Raiders. There is no outstanding quarterback for the Raiders now this will open the door for conversations of when and if Pryor should get the starting job after he serves his suspension. Jason Campbell has done a very good job managing the offense but he will not be leading the Raiders to any playoff appearances in the near future. The best part of last year for the Raiders was the improvement of running back Darren McFadden. McFadden was the fourth overall pick in the 2008 draft and never rushed for me than 500 yards in his first two years in the league. Last year he rushed for 1,157 yards and 7 touchdowns, his best year by far statistically. The Raiders lost both defensive back Nnamdi Asomugha and left guard Robert Gallery to free agency this past offseason. Look for the Raiders to ride McFadden for around 1,200 yards again this year but also watch their wins drop as they go 3-13.
The Denver Broncos have had more preseason drama than any other team in the NFL. Maybe now that it appears that Kyle Orton will be the full time starter some of the drama will die down. The Broncos still have a good team but off field distractions will keep them from doing any better than last year. Their defense will win more games for them then their offense will. With Champ Bailey and Brian Dawkins in the secondary you always have a chance to make big plays. Running back Knowshon Moreno needs to do better if they want to win, last year Moreno only put up 779 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns in thirteen games. Orton will be average in the passing game but not great, and with an average passing game, a sub-par rushing game and a good but not stellar defense, expect the Broncos to go 4-12 again this year.
Hello San Diego, and allow me to sympathize with you as you are going to finish second to the Chiefs and miss the playoffs again. First strike against the Chargers is the loss of Darren Sproles. I know I know the Chargers have Ryan Mathews and Mike Tolbert at running back. But neither Mathews nor Tolbert ran the ball like Sproles could. Sproles was only third on the team in rushing but he was first in receptions and third in receiving yards. Sproles had more receptions and yards than Mathews and Tolbert, combined. Plus his ability to return punts and kicks. So you cannot say that the Chargers will not miss Sproles. Phillip Rivers might not have had to rely so much on Sproles however, if Vincent Jackson, Malcom Floyd, and Antonio Gates had been healthy enough (or Jackson decided to not hold out) to play all sixteen games last year. Between the three of them they only played in twenty six games, Gates 10, Floyd 11, and Jackson 5. Despite all of this Phillip Rivers still had one of his best years last year and you can expect him to have a similar year this year. Originally I figured the Chargers would win the division this year, but when I see how they have crumbled in the past in big situations I can’t see them edging out the Chiefs this year. Chargers go 8-8 and barely miss the playoffs.
The Kansas City Chiefs surprised just about everyone by going 10-6 and winning the AFC west last year. I was not convinced the Chiefs would repeat as division champs this year until they acquired Steve Breaston and I remembered about Eric Berry. Matt Cassel has not looked impressive in the preseason and some analysts have doubted that he is ready to play this season. All I have to say is, remember 2008 when he had an amazing year in New England after he was thrown in the starting position when Tom Brady went down with a season ending knee injury, happened to be against the Chiefs too, oh how the sports world turns. Basically Cassel will be fine, he stepped in right away with no preparation as a starter then and he will be great this year with Dwayne Bowe and Steve Breaston at wide receiver and Jamal Charles in the backfield. All of a sudden the Chiefs are looking like they could almost, can’t believe I’m saying this, make a run in the playoffs. And that Eric Berry guy, in case you missed his stellar rookie performance last year, Berry had 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 4 interceptions and 1 touchdown. In one word Berry is a playmaker. Chiefs only go 8-8 and take the division but they won’t be a fun matchup for the visiting wild card team.
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