The AFC West has turned into the most exciting division in the NFL. Notable aspects include the dominance of the Chiefs in the past couple seasons, the talented Chargers squad, Russell Wilson joining the Broncos, and Davante Adams teaming back up with Derek Carr in Las Vegas. There is no doubt that this division will put up some electric numbers and most likely send three teams to the playoffs this year This division is up for grabs and any of these four teams have the ability to bring home a division championship.
What to Expect from the Raiders this Season?
The Raiders added the most talented wide receiver in football to their team this season, Davante Adams. Davante Adams is capable of matching up with any corner back and putting up monster numbers. Adams and Derek Carr were teammates in college at Fresno State and will look to build back that chemistry for the Raiders. With the addition of Adams, this Raiders offense has great depth with the likes of Josh Jacobs, Darren Waller, and Hunter Renfrow and can be a scary site to these defenses in the AFC West.
The defense of the Raiders is where things come into question. They finished ranked 26th in overall defense last year. The Raiders needed to add some reinforcements to their defense if they were going to compete in this division. Therefore, they signed Chandler Jones from the Cardinals to lead their defensive line. I think the Raiders will have a great offense this year, but their defense might hurt their record. I see the Raiders finishing 8-9 and coming in fourth place in the AFC West.
Can the Broncos Get Back into the Playoffs?
The Broncos had one of the best defenses in the NFL last year. With the likes of Bradley Chubb and Pat Surtain II, I don’t see them falling. Playing at Mile High with the elevation is as tough as it gets, but playing this defense makes it even tougher. This defense will get better every week playing together and will be an intimidation around the NFL.
The Broncos offense is what keeps them from making it to the playoffs. The Broncos needed a quarterback that could lead this team back to the playoffs. Therefore, they went out and got veteran Russell Wilson. Russell Wilson has proven himself as one of the best all-around quarterbacks in the league and I believe he is Denver’s missing piece. This offense is capable of putting up some serious numbers with Javonte Williams, Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, and now Russell Wilson under center. I see the Broncos finishing 11-6 and securing a Wild Card spot in the playoffs this year.
What to Expect from the Chiefs Without Tyreek Hill
The Chiefs have proved that they are a force to be reckoned with in the NFL. They have one of the best home field advantages and one of the, if not the best, quarterbacks in the league. Even with the loss of Hill, the Chiefs will still be one of the top-rated offenses this year. With the likes of Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and newly acquired Juju Smith-Schuster, this team can produce some significant numbers.
The one thing stopping the Chiefs from being a front runner at winning the Super Bowl is their defense. They were rated the 7th best defense last year, but lost Tyrann Mathieu. Therefore, I think their defense will take a hit in the rankings. I see a lot of their games being a shootout this year and finishing with a 11-6 record and securing a Wild Card spot in the playoffs this year.
Can the Chargers Get Back to Winning Ways?
The Chargers had a top 10 offense last year in the NFL and I see them jumping even higher this year. Justin Herbert has proven he is one of the best quarterbacks in the league even though he only has two seasons under his belt. With weapons like Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and Austin Ekeler, Herbert will continue to show the capability of this offense. This Chargers offense has the potential to jump to a top five offense in this league.
The one thing stopping the Chargers from a winning record these past two seasons is their defense. Their defense was ranked 27th overall last season. Therefore, they knew they needed to make some changes. They went and signed Khalil Mack and JC Jackson, the two top rated defenders on the marker this offseason. With these two additions, plus Joey Bosa, Derwin James, and Asante Samuel, I believe they will make a significant jump in defensive rankings. Therefore, they have the potential to jump into a top ten defense this year. I see the Chargers finishing the season with a 12-5 record and winning their first division championship since 2009.
How Good is the AFC West?
The AFC West is going to be the best division in the NFL without a doubt. Anything can happen with these four talented teams, and anyone can bring home a division championship. The Chiefs have dominated this division the past six years, but is it someone else’s time to shake up the division and become the new leader?
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