AFC West Preview

The AFC West turns out to be a very similar division to the AFC East in 2013.  One clearly dominant force, one up and coming young team that could potentially take big strides forward, one team with talent but not enough to make use of it, and one team that is straight up awful.  You can probably guess which is which, but let’s look at each team a little more closely…

4. Oakland Raiders

            If you’re part of Raider nation then I feel sorry for you, because, frankly, this team is a joke.  They made some decent moves and are in a better position than last year, but they are still very much rebuilding and have no shot at relevance this year.  They traded in Carson Palmer for Matt Flynn, so they have more flexibility at quarterback going forward, and perhaps Flynn can step up and show why he was a hot trade target a couple years ago.  But there’s no way he will make too much of an impact, and when you’re only receiver of note is Denarius Moore there’s not much that any quarterback could do to be honest.  Darren McFadden is a potential all-star, but has so many health and consistency concerns that he can barely be expected to be a starter, much less a guy that will carry a team a la Adrian Peterson.  Charles Woodson is great and maybe the defense will improve, but this team just has too many problems to be anything more than a spoiler at the end of the year.

3. San Diego Chargers

            I used to hate this team.  Back in the day, when they were knocking Peyton Manning out of the playoffs with a nasty Phillip Rivers-Antonio Gates combo and LT and this kid named Sproles, I loathed them with a passion.  That loathing eventually changed into gloating, and then confusion, and finally now, when they steal Dwight Freeney from us, I only feel a little bit of pity.  This team has talent – Rivers, Gates, Freeney, Mathews.  They got Danny Woodhead, a solid backup, and Manti “hoax” Te’o.  Their receivers are very solid with Malcolm Floyd and Danario Alexander (another potential fantasy target of mine) leading the way.  If Rivers could return to his elite play of the past, Gates and Mathews could shake off injury problems, this could be a playoff team no doubt, especially in a weak AFC.  But I feel like Norv Turner and AJ Smith have done their damage, and it is just going to take more time and change for this team to get back to its winning ways.  They’ll be back eventually, just not this year.

2. Kansas City Chiefs

            The Chiefs are going to be good this year. That’s what I said last year. But this time I really mean it.  Also what I said last year.  No seriously, things have changed, they’re due for a breakthrough. You get the message.  I was seriously fooled by the Chiefs last year and in past years as well.  They always seem like they should be better than they are.  Jamaal Charles is a beast.  Dwayne Bowe, also a beast.  Solid defense, solid quarterback, what else are they missing?  Apparently, Andy Reid.  We all know how great Reid is, and even though he sort of dive bombed in Philly at the end, the addition of an incredible coach and a quarterback in Alex Smith who was set to break the completion percentage record last year before being randomly ousted by Colin Kaepernick.  So yeah, I have a feeling both those guys are pissed and ready to show their old teams what they missed out on.  Plus, Dwayne Bowe is better than any of the receivers Smith had in San Fran.  They’ve got a good solid team with a couple stars, and now the quarterback play and coaching to really bring out the best in the players.  I think the Chiefs are poised to contend for a wild card spot.

1. Denver Broncos

            It never ceases to amaze me how quickly Peyton Manning made this team into a Super Bowl favorite.  No one knew who Demaryius Thomas or Eric Decker were, and now they are stars.  And now they have Wes Welker too?? Willis Mcgahee (my namesake) is a tough loss, but Knowshon Moreno has potential and Montee Ball in a situation where pressure on the run game will be minimal could do big things this year.  Elvis Dumervil is also a tough loss, but you’ve still got an awesome defense with Von Miller and Rodgers-Cromartie. And John Elway leading the way? And John “Carolina on my Mind” Fox as your mastermind?? This team is nasty.  In the words of one of Ocean’s 13, nuff said.