AFC West Preview

The AFC West has 2 legit Super Bowl contenders who also could fail this year. But with a bad Charger team and an old Raider squad…the Broncos and Chiefs should be the only ones fighting for the division crown. You have two of the best RB in the NFL in this division….as well as some gun slinging quarterbacks. So this, again, should be an exciting season for this division.

1-KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
There is no way in hell that Priest Holmes will have the season he did last year. 27 TDS!!! Absurd.  But getting 20 isn't all that bad either.  However, all of the pieces are in place for this team to repeat as AFC West Champions. But, to go any further, they need to get their defense shored up. It is abysmal. They lack depth and size. So you are sure to see more 40-34 games. Their offense is still solid. Trent Green is durable; Morton, Kennison and Hall are good receivers; and Gonzalez roams the middle and is the best TE in the game. They just better pray that opposing defenses can’t shut them down….or they could be in for an Oakland-type collapse.

2-DENVER BRONCOS
I’d rate them a tad bit higher…but the loss of Clinton Portis will be big. Sure, the defense becomes much better…but the running attack, a staple for Shanahan, won’t be as easy to come by. But, you know Denver, someone will emerge. And that someone could be rookie Tatum Bell. They better get the running game going….so Plummer doesn’t have a chance to get knocked out of games. Their backup situation is iffy. And his targets are limited. Shannon Sharpe and Ed McCaffrey have retired and Rod Smith is 34. Ashley Lelie was a disappointment when he got the shot at starting last year. And this year will be even tougher. And all that lends to Plummer making mistakes. And the Broncos can’t have that if they want to make the playoffs.

3-OAKLAND RAIDERS
This team has young talent and old stalwarts. However, this was a mutinous team last year that basically quit on its coach. The age comes in the offense…where Gannon will try to get his 2002 form back. But he may not get the opportunity if Kerry Collins takes his job in camp. Tim Brown and Jerry Rice are two of the greatest receivers ever…but last year they looked slow. It didn’t help that Jerry Porter, the future of the franchise, was injured. They will use a running back by committee to replace Garner who is now in Tampa with Gruden. Their defense is typical Raider defense. They should improve….but not enough to matter.

4-SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
The sad thing about this franchise is what it could have been. Tomlinson is one the best, if not THE best, back in the NFL. The problem is that have no idea who they want to hand him the ball. Doug Flutie is NOT the future…so he shouldn’t get a look. Drew Brees may get one last shot at getting the starting job. If he fails…Schottie will bring out the hook and bring in stud QB Phillip Rivers….and he has pretty much no WR to throw it to. And, once you do that…then teams will pretty much be geared to stop LT. Their defense isn’t cohesive and their special teams specialist are unproven. So, LT will get his big yardage and the team may win 4 games.